Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Mathilda Marie Kempe (1895-1981) oral history

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Track 13, Transcript p. 44-45: Track 13, Transcript p. 44-45
Transcription: TRACK 13 MMK: Oh, yes. Yes. He was very busy and he had no, um, help. BM No help? He couldn't find anyone? MMK: There was no one that was -- took to the trade. BM: Oh. I see. MMK: Um hum. BM: And your brothers didn't want to go into the business either? MMK: No, they didn't want to be tied down like on the inside. They wanted outdoor jobs to - going outdoors from house to house, you know. . BM: Um hum. Yes. Mathilda Marie Kempe, cont. 45 MMK: ....not in one place, you know. When you're a store keeper you're tied down., BM: Um hum. Yes,, that's true. (End of tape)
Creators: Kempe, Mathilda Marie, 1895-1981, Interviewee; Maselli, Briggs
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Mathilda Marie Kempe by Briggs Maselli on November 4, 1979 at 418 Ridge Road, Wilmette, Illinois.

Abstract: Born on Ridge Road across the street

Father Otto L. Kempe came via New York, Niles to Wilmette — was a shoemaker from Saxony - came as a young man in 1881 with a group of young men - Mother was from Chicago

Started a shoe repair business on west side of Ridge Road — put in a stock of shoes for sale
Built a new building at 418 Ridge (on east side) and moved and incorporated the first building within it
Mathilda one of four children 2 boys and 2 girls - Mother died in 1923 - Father lost interest in store — sister and brothers not interested in operating it so Mathilda tried and continued operation (43 years) until 1933

Moving day from west to east side of Ridge Rd. - Lived upstairs - all children worked in store until old enough to go from there and take jobs with other people — boys became plumbers - schooling - dressmaking in Evanston with a Frenchwoman
Contents of store — shoes — all rubber footware — men’s and boys’ clothing and headware — grocery goods. Father gardened and had fruit trees and sold fruits and vegetables — he had made shoes as well as repaired them

Gross Point School - eight grades - 1 through 4 on first floor in one room — 5 through 8 on second floor - east side of Ridge Rd. within Wilmette School District so Miss Kempe finished at Central School.
Home life while growing up - Mother canned fruits - made jams and jellies — knit woolen stockings - made sheets and pillowcases - girls’ clothing - quilts made with neighbors’ help - hot bricks and feather beds in winter

Elaborates on holiday celebration and father’s shoemaking.
Date of Original: 4 November 1979
Subject(s): Shoemakers
Oral histories
Gross Point (Ill.) — History
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): Kempe, Mathilda Marie ; Kempe, Otto L.
Local identifier: R977.31 KE
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: 1979
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: Kempe, Mathilda Marie, and Briggs Maselli. Mathilda Marie Kempe. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1979.
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
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