It might sound like an age-bashing question, but this newspaper clipping is from 1935. I saw that Thomas Graham, Jr was the driver of the vehicle, and at 23 I think it’s still safe to call him young but the reporter didn’t list anyone else’s age. Let’s fact check the youth of the rest of the people in the car:
Marguerite Corkery of 120 Butler Street was easy enough to find in the 1930 census. She was 18 years old and living with her parents, Police Officer John P Corkery and his wife Margaret (formerly Fitzpatrick) . All 4 of Marguerite Corkery’s grandparents were born in Ireland, and she was 23 at the time of this accident, same as the drver of the vehicle, Thomas Graham, Jr. Four months after this auto accident, local papers reported that Margaret and Thomas were married.
The other male in the vehicle was passenger Donald Calhoun. He was not registered as living at the Kearny street address in the 1930 census, but I was able to find him in 1940, We’ll come back to that.
Next up, let’s look up Elizabeth Ower, the resident of 114 Slater street who was injured in this accident. I saved her for last because she’s the only person listed as a resident of Slater House. Also, Elizabeth Ower is my cousin.* Following this car accident, she took Thomas Graham to court for her injuries:
Only, she wasn’t Elizabeth Ower for long… in 1940, Elizabeth and her mother Agnes lived with Elizabeth’s husband, at 114 Slater. That husband was none other than Donald Calhoun**, listed as the homeowner. They were married in New York, less than one year from the date of this car accident.
I don’t know the outcome of her lawsuit, that will be a loose end to tie up on another day. Today
*Elizabeth S Ower-Calhoun is my first cousin three times removed (1c3r). She was named after both of her grandmothers, Elizabeth Rosell and Elizabeth MacDonald, who is my great great great grandmother (3GGm). Elizabeth’s mother, Agnes MacDonald Orr***, was an older sister of my Great great grandmother Helen/Nellie Macdonald Brown Farnon. Agnes’ husband William J was a confectioner, he made candy for a living and I am 90% sure my Grandmother mentioned this man as a sweet-smelling source of treats in her childhood. Knowing this, I give him credit for our legendary, coveted family fudge recipe.
** Calhoun is spelled several different ways, across censuses and other sources. Coulquohoun is the most interesting spelling, in my opinion, but there are several.
***Just to be clear, Ower also has other spellings. I’ve seen members of her lineage using the spellings: Orr, Auer, Ouer, Ower, Owen, Moore, Orre, Ore……