The Red Coat

My mom found this pretty red coat in a dress shop on Fifth Avenue in Oakland, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA. She was going to school at the time at Mount Mercy College, a few blocks away.

It cost $100 which was a lot for 1954. It was wool with a Beaver fur collar and cuffs.

While Dolores was in college she worked part time at several places. She spent some time working at Kresge's 5 & 10 on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh. She also worked one summer at Stouffer's restaurant on Smithfield Street and another summer at Children's Hospital doing work in her field of study, dietetics. With her part time income and a little allowance money from her dad, she put payments on it until it was paid in full. 

Mom got married right after college and since she didn't have much money , she wore the coat till it wore out. The red wool is long gone but my mom clipped the stitches holding the fur in place and then she wrapped them up and tucked them into her cedar chest. Not as rich looking but still soft and lovely.  

When my mom tells me about the coat she always mentions how much my sister Karen loved the soft fur.

Rose and Frank's Wedding

On February 4, 1902 my great grandmother, Rose Wilczewski, married my great grandfather, Frank Nawrocki.

They were married in St. Adalbert Basilica, in Buffalo, New York.

The following information was provided by St. Adalbert's on June 15, 2002.

Here they are fifty years later on their anniversary.

Here are some photos I have of them through their life.

1939 On back of photo the note says that the dog is probably "Pinocle."

1928

Frank and Rose with their children. The back row from left to right is Genevieve, Leon, Ed, Henry and Katherine. Katherine had a twin named John but he died in 1930.  Photo marked Christmas, 1956

Henry T. Norwood AKA Granddad

My granddad was born in 1907 in Buffalo, NY. He was born with the surname Nawrocki but the family later used Norwood. 

I was excited to see this paper in my dad's box of special papers. I was surprised to see it was dated 1942.

Should read Henry T. Nawrocki. There is a strange scribble after "Henry."

I have to guess that the reason might have something to do with WWII. I also found these Baptism records, also dated 1942.

The witness, Frances Orloska, is Henry's aunt and sister to his mother Rose. 

Henry T, Leon, Genevieve and Edward