Pop's Life Story

I was born on Aug. 15, 1895, in New York City, between 42^nd St. and 43^rd St. on Third Ave. on the 5^th floor of a brick tenement house.

The first thing I remember was the assassination of Pres. William McKinley in 1901, because at that time the windows had the President's picture draped in black bunting, in mourning for our dear President. I was about 5 or 6 yrs old.

I had a wonderful father and mother. My father had all my clothes made to order at Browning, King & Co. My father was a great sports fan. He loved prize fights and baseball games. In fact I was with him when he caught his death of cold which devolved into consumption. He was sick for quite a while at home. We were living at 134^th St. in Harlem. I was so small, I was lifted up to the casket to kiss my father good-bye.

My mother never married again. Things began to break very bad for my mother. My mother had to break up her home & go to work, so she placed my two sisters and myself in the N.Y. Colored Orphan Asylum abt. 143^rd St. & Amsterdam Ave., N.Y.C. Mother and my oldest sister Mildred stayed home with her. We were in the orphan home about two years. We were then brought home to 27^th St. where we lived on the top floor. A little later we moved downtown to 3^rd St. where my mother was the janitor in a big tenement house. After a while we moved around the corner to Carmine St. While at 27^th St., I was such a bad boy that mother had me put away in the N.Y. Juvenile Asylum for bad boys, where they stole my clothes and life really was tough here. From Carmine St. we moved to Waverly Place & from there we moved up to 69^th St. off West End Ave. This is where I started to run track. From here we moved to 40 St. and from there we moved up to 69^th St. It was here I started to work, dropping out of school. It was here I met Edgar Long, then Aunt Theresa Murphy who was a friend to my sister Mildred. That was about 1910 or 1911.

-2-

We then moved up to Harlem again, 133^rd St. We also lived in 131 St. and then over to Mad. Ave. This was a big 3 story house by the way. I was already married and it was here George was born [1915]. By the way our first child, Mildred was born [1914] at home in 131^St. Mildred only lived to be four months old. She was very pretty. She looked just like a little Japanese doll. She was buried in Long Island.

It was here that Mother pulled out on her own. When I came home from work, I found a note telling me that my wife had taken a room at 132 St. near 7 Ave. We actually did not have anything. From here we moved to 129 St., rear 3 room apartment and from here we moved to 5^th Ave. and 143 St.

World War I

I was then working in a coal yard. It was from here I went into W.W. I. Mother had given birth to our third child, Donald, born at Harlem Hospital [1917]. I went to the Hospital to see mother first before we sailed over sea. We were in a large convoy of about fourteen troop ships - and we were escorted by very small torpedo ships.

On Thanksgiving Day while at Camp Merritt N.J. I won the cross-country championship of my regiment.

Our crossing over to France was uneventful. We did not lose any ships and did not see any submarines. We had our Christmas dinner at sea. We had landed at Brest, France and rode down to St. Macaire. While here I was detailed to a Remount Station, where we cared for the horses & mules as they were shipped from the states. This was a very good detail.

It was while in St. Nazaire, we were attached to a French Division, under Gen Gouraud. He had only 1 arm. We were the second American outfit to reach France. Our regiment was then loaded out to freight cars for a long ride to the Argonne Forest. It was here that we received our first initiation to fire (Bombing). We were in artillery range and the Boshe - a term used by the French for Germans. We ran everywhere for cover. It was here that I wrote a news article to the N. Y. Amsterdam News of our experiences.

-3-

Since we were now a part of a French Division we exchanged our equipment for French. We were issued French rifles, ammo - bayonet, and all our food including tobacco and red wine 1 liter per day. Our uniforms were American and this continued thru out the War. We gradually moved up to the Front doing our marching at nite, 30 - 40 kilos per day. We were supplied with French rolling kitchen, consisting of a large compartment in the rear for cooking and the front for making coffee. They were very efficient.

I was attached to the kitchen as a 4^th cook and soon worked my way up to 1^st and then I was made acting mess Sgt. I cooked for the duration of the War and I cooked every day on the troop ship on our way back home. I also cooked at Camp Upton Long Island in N.Y. where we were discharged from the Army on Feb. 12^th 1917.

Return Home from the War

We put on a real home coming parade in N.Y. City. We marched from 34^th St. up 5^th Ave. to 110 St. up Lenox Ave. to 145^th St. and the cheers were just out of this world. Jim Europe's Big Band led the March, followed by your own Big Bill Hayward, our heroic Colonel. I was in Co. D, the first Battalion and when I hit 133 St. & Lenox Ave. my home territory, the crowds recognized me and I was in 7^th Heaven. I was at the extreme left flank along the curb stone. I was very proud and happy. That evening we were served a huge dinner at the Armory 34 St. & Park Ave. And it was here that I met my mother and sisters and we had a real happy reunion. While here, my mother felt both my legs and they were O.K. because news had reached home (N.Y.) that I had lost both my legs. But Hylda had failed to come to the Big Banquet and I must admit I was terribly upset at not seeing Mother.

Athletic Career

My athletic career was very successful. I won many medals, trophies and silver cups. I started out as a 100 yd. man running for my elementary school at West 13 St. Manhattan. We moved up to Harlem, where I joined a club called Salem Crescent A.C. a very strong Negro club that was affiliated to Un. Salem Methodist Church. It was here I was married to mother at Rev. T. Cullen's home. It was just a plain wedding, just ice cream & cake, no presents, no wedding gown.

-4-

From the sprint I went to middle distance 440 to 880 and then the mid and then X country and finally modified marathon. My greatest performance at the 13 mile distance was the Evening Mail Marathon out of a field of 1500. I did finish 48 for which I received a gold & bronze medal. I was the star long distance runner in my club. For a short period I did join the St. Christopher Club sponsored by the St. Philip's Church, an arch rival in sport. I also ran a rather commendable race at Pittsburg. I finished 14^th in the Pittsburg Press Marathon. I was leading in this race at the 2 mile mark, when I took the wrong road and never regained the lead. My last race was at 102^nd Armory. It was after I was discharged from the Army, when I won the gold medal, for winning a race closed to soldiers - first soldier to undress & dress properly. My greatest race was the 1 mile I won on at the 69^th Regiment Armory in N.Y. It was at the Emancipation Games, and mother was sitting in the balcony. I won very convincingly and I received a beautiful gold medal the size of a silver dollar. There is an exact duplicate along side of my gold life membership card. Mother lost the original medal. She always wore it around her neck and treasured it very dearly.

My mother gave me a marvelous dinner at my sister Mildred's home at 142 St. There were many friends in attendance, but there was one person missing and that was my wife. Well I was hurt deeply.

Jobs in New Jersey, Boston and Hawaii

After the party I came to Keyport where I found mother in the kitchen at 218 Atlantic St. living with her Dad and her two beautiful sons Georgie and Donald when both boys were introduced to their dad. My first job was at the Aeromarine Plane & Motor Co. in the polishing room where I worked a grindstone. I was the first colored man to work here. I then worked at the Matawan Piano Factory. It was here I worked in the clipping room where we were finishing piano plates for painting. From here I started at the Raritan Inn as waiter and busboy. I was hired by Rev. Ed. Carol who was the headwaiter. My job was to feed a gang of telephone men breakfast and dinner - and on Sat. & Sun. I would go into the main dining room to wait on small parties. Well I made good here and worked my way up to be the head waiter. I was here for about 12 yrs.

-5-

My next job was working at Jake Rippen's Seaford Restaurant down on Front St. on the waterfront. This was during the Depression. Here I cooked, washed dishes, took care of the fish dept. and waited on tables. It was very hard. I left here suddenly and went to work at Asbury Park, the Plaza Hotel as waiter. It was while working here that I met the waiter who was employed at the Hotel Bellevue in Boston. So as Labor Day neared, that was layoff time along the Shore area. So I was hit, but I had worked so hard that the headwaiter asked me if I would call to come to Boston, so I said yes. After I was laid off I went back to work at Rippen's in Keyport.

So one day during November, I received a telegram from Boston telling me to report at once. There was a job waiting for me as a room service waiter. So I came home and asked Hylda, what should I do, and mother without any hesitation, said go. So I quit again and headed for Boston. After working at the Bellevue Hotel for a short time, I was laid off, and I was advised by my landlady to go over to the Hotel Vendome where Mr. Johnson, my headwaiter, he put me on as an extra waiter (Party Man) and I worked so hard that Mr. Johnson put me on as a regular waiter taking care of the office dept. and all extra work was put my way.

I was real happy here and stayed here until I went over Seas to Pearl Harbor where I served with the Naval Supply Dept where I was placed in charge of a labor company. I stayed here for 2 years when I transferred home in order to stand up at Gwen's marriage to Percy Washington. I could not get to work in time so I went back to Boston at the Vendome Hotel. I was able to place Leon as a waiter, Donald as busboy & then into the kitchen, Georgette & Madge in the check room.

I stayed here for several years when I applied for a job as a janitor at the Keyport H.S. I was accepted and after giving my employers 2 weeks notice I left for Keyport where I stayed for 13 years until I retired in 1966 at the age of 71 yrs old.

-6-

Important People in My Life

Some of the people in my life that I am in debt to as long as I live were:

1 - Rev. F. Cullen, for his spiritual advice and guidance, who also married Mother and I.

2 - All my sisters, especially Hazel for helping Mother when things were real bad for her while in N.Y.C.

3 - To Mandy, Horace, Juanita (mom's sister) when Mother moved to Keyport about 1914. Their contribution consisted of food & money. Horace was extremely helpful to his sister, your beloved mother.

4 - I spent 13 years at K.H.S. and at first my work assignment was very hard, but I stuck it out and made good, and eventually put in charge. I was very much in love with my job and maintained a good relationship with the student body and the faculty, and upon my retirement in the gym, I was presented with a plaque by the Mother's Club and a purse from the faculty and a rising ovation from the entire student body. This to me was a tremendous tribute to your Dad.

5 - I have been extended an invitation by the Mothers Club each year at their Sports Banquet.

Mother's Illness

Mother began showing signs of her illness gradually, so we both went to Georgette's beautiful home at Hazlet. Mother was plagued with arthritis. We had the Visiting Nurse that would come once a week and a therapist from Mon. Med. Hosp. that gave mother a hot wax treatment to dip her hands in the hot wax several times. It did not seem to help her too much. So we discontinued after a brief trial. Mother would go into Red Bank once a month to see Dr. Kahn. After several visits, he advised that she should go to the Hospital. While mother was there she had to go thru several tests and after 3 weeks returned to Hazlet. Mother did not seem to get any better. She returned to her home in Keyport where she kept getting worse so back to the Hospital again. The Keyport first aid transported mother to Riverview this time for another 3 wks. Here she was taking whirlpool treatments that did not seem to help her. When mother returned home we had a hospital bed put up in the dining room for her. The bed was loaned to the family from the Britanak family for mother's use. They also loaned us a hospital table and a commode chair. A lady loaned us a wheelchair and some one loaned us a walker. We were very luck to have so many friends.

-7-

In Connecticut with Dad's family - the Creeds and Wrights

There was a time in my youth that I spent some time with Aunts and Uncles in Plainville, Highwood, and New Haven [CT]. These were relatives of my Dad's side. I lived with the Wright Family. Here I had a most happy time. My next move was with Uncle Robt. Creed at Highwood. Again I was real happy here. It was here that I met cousin Jimmy Creed - a very fine looking man but a little older than I. From Highwood I would walk to New Haven (2 mi) where I would visit my Uncle Cortland Creed. Here I had 9 cousins, 7 girls and 2 boys. I would stay here and go back to Highwood. I was very good while staying with my relatives in Conn.

Illness as a Child in New York with Aunt Tillie

While living at 3^rd St. I had my first real illness. I was about 12 or 13 years old, when I was stricken with rheumatism. I could not walk at all, so my Aunt Tillie came over from Brooklyn and took me over to live with her and I was taken to a hospital and they cured me. So I went to school in Brooklyn and I was the only colored boy in school and had no trouble. While living with my Aunt Tillie we moved from Bayridge 54^th St. & 5th Ave. down to Fulton Street where my Aunt Tillie owned a Chinese restaurant. I would work in the restaurant on Saturdays & Sundays as a busboy. My Aunt taught me many things - how to sew and work real hard. My Uncle Tom was a veteran from the Civil War and was employed at the Brooklyn, Navy Yard. Uncle Tom served in the Navy under Admiral Farragut. Every summer my Aunt Tillie would take on a Chinese American excursion up the Hudson. Aunt Tillie would teach English to many Chinese students.

My Communion

While we were living at Waverly Place, I attended the St. John's Evangelist Church on 11^th St. where I received my communion in the Episcopal Church.

My Sister Mildred

While we were in 27^th St., my sister Mildred got into bad company and my mother put my sister away in an institution for incorrigible girls. When she came out after about 2 yrs, she went into show business. She was a very successful Salomé Dancer. From dancing she went into a musical act called the Six Musical Spillers. She played several instruments and from this act Mildred went to nite club entertaining.

This I Remember

My great-grandmother was Mrs. Jordan who lived to the ripe old age of 92 yrs and died when we were living in 134th St. living with my Aunt Addie Adams. She was the mother of my grandmother Robinson, the mother of my mother, and had 4 daughters - Mary, Addie, Mahtilda, and Waitana. My mother died in her 80's at my sister Mildred's home in 142 St. My mother had nine children and raised four - 3 daughters and one son.

On My Father's Side
My grandfather was married twice and was the father of six children - 3 boys and 3 girls named George, Cortland, and Robert. The girls were Jennie, Damie and Sadie. Aunt Sadie is the one left - Oct 29, 1958. My father died at the age of 48 at 134th St. N.Y.C. having caught a cold coming home from a ball-game at Jersey City riding in the rear of a horse car on a Sunday afternoon.

George Duplex Creed, Jr. (1895-1972)
Keyport, N.J.