[PRCo] Re: Allegheny City Book

[Dennis F. Cramer]

Anna Nicholson Cramer was born in 1881 and lived to 1972.  She was in the 
Johnstown Flood of 1889 and lived in the Widow's Home on the North Side from 
the late 1940's until the end of her life.  Life there was difficult to say 
the least.  She had a small coal stove to heat, cook and warm water.  One 
small sink with cold running water and the toilet (open pit) was in a 
building in the courtyard.  My mother would always have to check occupancy 
before the guys in the family could use the facility.

People laughed when Kramer on Seinfeld put up a screen door in his New York 
apartment, but many of the widows had screen doors in the home.  It was an 
incredibly dark and dreary place, made so from the coal smoke; but it was 
her home and I treasured visiting there.  She did use Pittsburgh Railways to 
get around.


Dennis F. Cramer
      Trombone