Mildred Mary Aaron
From her pictures (See below to the right), you can see she was cute with a beautiful complexion, a great smile, and a petite build. The employment application notes she is 5-foot 1½ inches tall. I am told she loved clothes and took great pride in her appearance.
After graduation, she would eventually meet and marry Sonny Edwards and have two children, Vernon and Denise.
Eventually, Mil would begin dating Otis. However, I was unable to learn how they met. As a widower with two children, and a strong Christian upbringing, this new relationship had its’ share of problems, as expressed in her letters.
As time goes on, Otis and Mil start to have that all important conversation regarding marriage; however, her response has undertones of reluctance. It is unclear if this was due to the earlier passing of her husband, feedback from her parents, or the prospect of getting married again. Perhaps all of these issues contributed to her indecisiveness, but its’ clear that Otis does propose.
Referencing information from Mil’s application, she was employed at William & Grillo in Glassboro as a sewing machine operator, making $45.00 a week. That’s not a lot of money for a single parent with two children. Thankfully, she does have her parents and family to rely on. Mil attempts to improve her standing and applies for federal employment as a “clerk typist.” In October of 1956, she would write to Otis:
Well today I went to take my civil service examination. Doll I answered all of the questions but not saying how. I sincerely hope that made it all right. I was not too nervous after I got there. I pulled myself together put my shoulders to the act of what was to go on.
Unfortunately, she did not pass it. The employment issues continue for her as William & Grillo seems to have a lot of “temporary” layoffs due to slow business. When Mil was working, she speaks of a time when she had called her supervisor to confirm they had work for her that day as she hated the thought of clocking in and clocking right back out again.
Time and again, Mil proves that she is no quitter. Although she had not passed the civil service test, her plans were to take it again. In the meantime, she continues to practice typing and look for a better-paying job.
Reading on, I get the sense that in the background Mil’s mother, Lillie may have been encouraging her to become or go back to being a maid. There is a reference to Lillie saying, “at least it was a stable position and she knew she could easily gain employment as such” However, as I would come to know Mil, it was obvious that she had no intention of being a maid and was determined to do better for herself.
Of course, living with her parents and being a dutiful daughter, she had her share of chores, in addition to caring for her family. She talks about being busy in one instance and writes:
It is really cold today and I had a time trying to get my clothes hung out on the line. They are as stiff as a corpse. Well it is supposed to snow again tonight. I will have a time getting my work done so far as washing and drying is concerned.
How funny, “as stiff as a corpse.” Many of us can appreciate that statement, and yes, that’s an accurate description. Mil continues to take care of her children, help her family, look for a better job and build her relationship with Otis. This is a lot of responsibility, which becomes evident as I continue my research. She would tell Otis she is “feeling blue,” and at other times, “disgusted and prays that things will start to improve, but it’s up to God.” Her complaints (if we chose to call them that) are always brief, and she goes on to inquire how he is fairing. She reassures him that things will be fine, and that he is a good man, and that she still loves him.
No matter her state of mind as she begins her letter, she always inquires if he needs anything, like stamps or clothes, or if he needs money.
No Doll you are not asking for too much when you ask for some cookies, but I must be knowing just what kind. Because of this one reason, the small sugar cookies are so easy to break and crumble until I just can’t figure out how to send them such a long distance but whatever ones you prefer let me know in the following letter.
Denise and Michael would confirm what I already knew; she was a caring person and tried to help everyone.
Are they working you very hard darling? I hope not, but by the way you sleep when you are home makes me think back during the time when you worked on the railroad, how you used to go to sleep and die almost.
The above quote taken from her letter, shows her concern for him, and makes reference to Otis working for the railroad. Attempting to find more information, I consulted with Denise, but as she was too young, she didn’t recall. Therefore, I can only assume that he worked with his father for Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines before deciding to enlist in the military.
Although I would not have the pleasure of meeting Mil or know her personally, in some small way I have come to know her through letters. The following quote makes me feel exactly the way she is describing her style of writing to Otis.
Tonight, I am miserably hot. The locust are singing for more heat on tomorrow. This is some way to begin a letter but when I write I write just the way I think and feel. So, everyone or anyone that I write to can almost feel as if they’re right here where I am, talking to me.
Mil has an amazing ability to express her emotions that brings you directly into the moment, whether she is discussing the toils of her day, her family, or life in general. Yet again, this one line of text shown below speaks to her character and finds her explaining she has lost her good pen, apologizing for the poor quality of the letter and its smeared appearance.
“This pencil is terrible, and if you see a nice pen around anywhere please get if for me, I can’t get any. (Smiles) But don’t steal.”
No matter the subject or what she may be feeling, pleasant, angry, or at times a little sarcastic, she always adds “Smiles” and at that moment, I think of her or Otis with a smile coming across their face.
This is a picture of Mil and Denise, and in fact were two different photos which have been made into one. This is the origin of the picture. Strangely enough, Mil would have her picture taken while aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia and sometime later Denise would do the same.
As I shared with you previously, Mil wrote to Otis and mentioned Vernon’s school picture, and she goes on to say that she will have a picture taken of Denise and her together and send it to him later. Wanting to incorporate photos into this story, I sit down with Denise and go through her family albums. As we do, I refer to the letter and ask if Mil ever had the photo taken of the two of them. Unfortunately, she had not. Denise, not having a photo of the two of them together later in life, would take these two photos and have them made into the one you now see.
Most people did not own a camera until the late 1960s’, as it was not economical for home use. If you wanted a photograph of your children or yourself, you made an appointment with a photographer. It wasn’t until 1965 that you could purchase an affordable consumer level camera. Polaroid would introduce the Swinger Model 20. Unfortunately, the quality was poor. Later in the story, you will see a Polaroid picture of Michael Puriefoy next to a Friendly cab. When I was given the photo, it had actually turned blue over time, but with some help from a photo application, I was able to bring it somewhat back to life.
I hope you enjoy the photos I was able to include throughout the story and that you come to have a greater appreciation of your family’s old pictures, the ones you can actually hold in your hand that is.