| Author | Message | ||
     Paul Melzer Unregistered guest |
Hello there, I am trying to find out something (anything) about a former resident of Maplewood, a Mr. Frederick W. Brown, who lived at 14 Ridgewood Terrace. Does anyone out there reading this know anything about this man? I live in California, so it is well nigh impossible for me to drop into the local library and research this myself, so I am asking here. He had been in communication with Harry Houdini in 1925 (I have a letter from Houdini asking Mr. Brown for a "list.") Many thanks, in advance, for assistance. Paul (please respond to me at my email address (paul_melzer@yahoo.com) thanks. | ||
| Durandhedden Citizen Username: Durandhedden Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2002 |
Hi Paul, I have not had any success writing to you directly so I thought I would post my response to your question about the identity of Frederick W. Brown. I am the president of the Maplewood historical group, the Durand-Hedden House and am glad to try to facilitate an answer. First of all, local historian Howard Wiseman noted that the name Brown was an early and fairly common name in Maplewood in the 18th through the early 20th centuries. In fact, the mother of one of our most famous citizens, painter Asher B. Durand, was a Brown (thus the intial "B".) Unfortunately, at this point we don't know if Frederick Brown was descended from one of these early families or was a relative newcomer. A Frederick R. (not W.) Brown was listed at 14 Ridgewood terrace in the Directory for Oranges and Maplewood in 1923. As for the discrepancy on the initial - Mr. Wiseman says there were occasional mistakes like this in these publications. Mr. Brown's occupation was listed as "Broker - NY". Early on Maplewood became a popular commuting town - due to its convenience to New York and Wall Street. Ridgewood Terrace was also a popular street for brokers and bankers. No children were mentioned. Mr. Wiseman feels there is a good chance there were. Once 18, young men qualified for a separate listing. So the children would have been younger than 18. He probably had a wife. However, women were only listed if widowed. Could the "list" Harry Houdini wanted be simply a list of stocks? Though this information is not definitive -- it is at least "something" -- as you requested. If you need us to dig some more, we will try. Susan Newberry } | ||
| Extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 121 Registered: 6-2001 |
There is, oddly, another letter from Houdini to Brown for sale on eBay right now! | ||
| Durandhedden Citizen Username: Durandhedden Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2002 |
Thanks for the lead Extuscan. The Houdini letter currently selling on e-bay with an asking price of $920 is the very one Paul Melzer was asking about. Apparantly Mr. Melzer often sells antiquarian books and memorablilia. I'm pleased to see he used the info. Howard Wiseman researched about Brown's occupation as a broker. | ||
| Durandhedden Citizen Username: Durandhedden Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2002 |
Thanks for the lead Extuscan. The Houdini letter currently selling on e-bay with an asking price of $920 is the very one Paul Melzer was asking about. Apparantly Mr. Melzer often sells antiquarian books and memorablilia. I'm pleased to see he used the info. Howard Wiseman researched about Brown's occupation as a broker. |
