Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk (1915-2008) oral history

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Transcription: TRACK 1 RA: What is your name and where do you live? EHK: At the present time? Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk and I live at 54 Wagner Road in Northfield. RA: And where did you live prior to that time? EHK: I lived at 1922 Wilmette Avenue in Wilmette. In fact, I was born there as were all but one of my brothers and sisters. The...my father and mother were both from Wilmette. My father lived at, I guess, the southernmost part of Ridge Avenue and my mother came from the northernmost part of Ridge Avenue. They were about a mile and a half apart. RA: Oh, yes. EHK: And when my mother and father were first married, they lived with Grandmother Hoffman in the Hoffman homestead, which is at about two hundred and four something Ridge is the address. It's right at Isabella. RA: And where, near Hubert Humphrey or Hoffmans? EHK: Yes. Right. Yes, the home that is next to the Hubert Hoffman Florist is the remodeled homestead. RA: I see. It still stands then? EHK: Yes, it was... well, it was gutted and completely remodeled in about, oh maybe, 1930 or '32. RA: I see. Do you know when it was first built? Would your grandfather have built that house? EHK: I would guess that he did. Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk, cont. 2 RA: It would be well over a hundred years old then? EHK: The...the...yes, because if ... well, my father was born there and he was born in 1865. RA: Well, there you are. EHK: Yes. And he was one of the younger ones. RA: Oh, yes. EHK: So that that house would... I imagine it was built maybe around in '45 or '50. RA: This is most interesting. EHK: See the Hoffman family came to this country in 1843. RA: I see. - EHK: Now I'm not exactly sure when my grandparents were married, but they were married here. RA: Here in Wilmette or in Gross Point? EHK: Um hum. RA: There were two brothers who came together? EHK: No - aah... RA: There was another Hoffman family living adjoining your grandmother in the 1880 census. That's why I asked. A Mary Hoffman, who was also a widow. EHK: A widow? well, maybe I can tell you - I think Aunt Tillie...that's Mrs. Blazer...was there a fire? And she was sent over to the other place and they asked her to stay for supper. "No, she didn't think she could stay for supper," and they went on talking and she said, Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk, cont. 3 "Well, she thought she had to go home," and they said, "Well, why?" RA: Oh. EHK: They said there was a fire. (Laughter) RA: Yes. This is so true. Now we've established that the other Hoffman family were no relations, but you have identified them. EHK: Well, I said that they ... I didn't think that there was... shall I mention this? RA: Yes. EHK: Are we talking at all? RA: Yes. EHK: Yes, the other Hoffman family is ... I remember my father speaking that there was ... and I believe his name was...no, his name was (indistinct) , but they were next door neighbors, but there was no relationship. RA: Oh, yes. EHK: No, when grandfather came - he and his wife and sister with six or seven children - I think that... RA: All those children had been born in Germany? EHK: In Germany because we have their, excuse me, baptismal records. RA: Oh, yes. EHK: That we brought along. RA: I see. Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk, cont.. 4 EHK: Along with ... it's always... that's listed in last. RA: Oh, yes. Of course. EHK: The record and then who they're baptized with. RA: Oh, yes. EHK: But, of course, if they came and wanted to be married, or even for their citizenship, I imagine they would have to have some record of the birth. RA: That's right. EHK: So -
Creators: Kirk, Elizabeth Hoffman, 1915-2008, Interviewee; Adler, Rhea Saul, 1906-1990
, Interviewer; Hoffmann, Mary
, Interviewee
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk and Mary Hoffman by Rhea Adler in 1976. ABSTRACT: Previous residences of Hoffman family--first 1843 -- boyhood of Hoffman brothers -- farming and raising produce for the Chicago Market, --South Water St.-- First retail store (general merchandise) at Ridge/Wilmette Ave. - burned Dec. 8 --well stocked for Christmas trade Ice house at Twin Lakes, Wisconsin Grandparent's journey from Germany described Childhood of John and --Phi Hoffman - father's death when John was 12 years old and Phil was 14 - boys ran farm Drove produce to South Water St. Market-- $.05 beer and a free lunch Decision that there were easier ways to make money than farming Hoffman Brothers first store on southeast corner Ridge and Wilmette Ave.-- business prospered -- fire in 1909 -- lumber yard fire - Ice House at Twin Lakes burned Wholesale houses who replenished merchandise Commerce to and from Wilmette by ships --Gage piers -- Drury builders Stores built on N.E. corner Ridge/Wilmette Ave. Witt's Dairy --livery stable -- first fire house Purchased Coal and Lumber Co. and called it Hoffman Bros. Coal and Lumber Co. -- John ran it and Phil ran the merchandise -- no accounting from 1888 until 1945 when Philip Hoffman died Gross Point from Central St., Evanston to Lake Ave., Wilmette had 13 or 14 saloons -- drinkers as well as "riff raff" came -- Lauermann's at Elmwood and Ridge (N.B. N.W. corner) Lauermann/ Vollmann family account Towns in Germany from whence they came Hoffman's trip to Denn, Germany in 1950 Elizabeth Hoffman manages merchandise store for 25 years -- Girl Scout leadership --people involved Father Netstraeter and St. Joseph parish Father Vattmann -- Spanish American War chaplain -- father -- typhoid fever 1908-09 St. Joseph's - parish in Chicago Dioscese -- old school and church in one building Discussion of higher education in latter 19th century in Illinois --originally post office was "Wynetka" in census of 1860 Hoffman family great travelers --travel much more prevalent than we realize Uncle Phil and Grandmother Hoffman's two European trips --an uncle and John Hoffman to Europe - Mrs. John Hoffman and three daughters and a niece went in 1950 for almost three months. John Hoffman, Jr. -- library board members--Police/ Fire Commission -- on first board of First Federal and Loan - Director of Wilmette Bank 1945 to 75 - brother Phil also served in various capacities in village -- brother Joe served in World War II with the "Seabees" for 4 years- managed the hardware store (now Spitzer's) Mary Hoffman an attorney -- younger sister Ann an artist and teacher -- American Academy of Art -- died suddenly very young Ridge Ave. - a "family street" --settled by a group who came together Treaties -- Chicago 1833 Gypsies at 17th Lawndale for weeks every year - Willows and willow whistles Visits to Lincoln Park -- open Cadillac--Leghorn hats -- popcorn balls -- cotton candy -- organ grinder/monkey man
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 1976
Subject(s): Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.)--History
Gross Point (Ill.) — History
Businesses - Wilmette, IL
Personal Name(s): Kirk, Elizabeth Hoffman
Local identifier: R 977.31 KI
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Date: 1976
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: Kirk, Elizabeth Hoffman, and Rhea Saul Adler. Elizabeth Hoffman Kirk. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1976.
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