A New World Record!

We have a new world record for the most distant record of a Biele showcase.  A recent email from Elsie in South Africa shared the following information:

“I am currently in possession of a glass and oak showcase, produced by the company of Charles F Biele, with the original engraved brass plate on the front and the name of the company painted on the bottom of the showcase.

This display cabinet was used by my grandfather in his general dealer shop in Calvinia, Northern Cape, South Africa. The cabinet most probably arrived in Cape Town by steamship and was via railway to Calvinia.

The cabinet has been in use in a shop until 1990, and after that has been in my home. It will now be sold to once again be used as a shop display cabinet in the little town of Stanford in the south western Cape.”

And he shared the following photo:

And here is where Calvinia is located:

1940 Census - Eduard (Edward) Biele

At the time of the 1940 census Eduard (Edward) Biele was living at 25 Cliff Avenue in Yonkers, New York.  Living with Edward (53) are his wife Edith (50), son Edward Jr. (22), daughter Adele (21).  There were also four boarders at the house.  Two of the boarders had lived there since 1935.  The home was owned with an estimated value of $10,500 at the time.

Regarding employment, Edward is listed as a laborer on a WPA streets project and had been out of regular work for 60 weeks.  Edward Jr. is also listed as seeking work as a “new worker”.  Adele is listed as a secretary for an “advertising concern”.  With the start of WWII, Edward Jr. would serve with distinction as a submarine officer in the Pacific and Adele was awarded the Legion of Honor for her work in military intelligence in the Army.  Edward died in 1946.

1940 Census - Carl F. Biele

The 1940 US session was released this summer after the mandatory 72 year delay.  I am making my way through the information and will be posting various Biele items of interest.

First up is Carl F. Biele who according to the census was living at 315 Cumberland Road in South Orange, NJ.  Living with Carl (62) are his wife Theresa (59), son Eugene (28), daughter Helen (27), and son Bernard (22).  His eldest son, Charles E. Biele (35) had moved out many years earlier and during the 1940 census was living with his wife and two children in nearby East Orange, NJ.

Regarding employment, Carl is listed as “President” in the “Tools” industry and Eugene is listed as “Owner” in the “Radio” industry.  Theresa is noted as engaged in housework, Bernard as a student, and Helen as “other”.

Carl was renting the home at 315 Cumberland for $60 per month.  According to Zillow, the house is 5,431 square feet and sits on a half acre of land.  It was built in 1905 and today has an estimated value of $665K.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/315-Cumberland-Rd-South-Orange-NJ-07079/38734063_zpid/