Dorothy's Diary
Epilogue, part 1

Part:. . 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • Whatever became of...?

Much of what occured just after October of 1946 is best told by my father (Dave). He wrote a short autobiography a few years before he passed away, in 2000, excerpts of which are below:

Dot's sister was dating Vertus, but Dot and I seldom went out with them. Vert and I played a lot of pinochle with Dot's father, Louis. Both Vert and I were in fairly solid with him.

We had a lot of parties, usually at somebody's house. Bob and Sunny were dating then, and later married.

Dorothy and I became inseparable.

My first job interview [after the blood testing business closed] was at the Englewood Electrical Supply Co., at 58th St. and Halsted. Englewood's program was to hire veterans on the G.I. bill.

The place looked good to me, and it was within walking distance from home, as I had no car. I progressed rapidly there, from the warehouse to counter sales, and then into the office area as second in charge of the appliance department.

Dave at work

The owner of Englewood, Art Anixter, once took me on a golf outing to Medinah Country Club, where we got involved in a dice game in the club's locker room. Art loaned me $50 to get started; I ended up winning over $700, a good portion of which I won from Art himself. I used my winnings to buy Dorothy an engagement ring [May of 1947] and to pay for our wedding [in September of '47].

I proposed to Dorothy the night of my brother Charlie's wedding [Jan., 1947]. I did the old-fashioned thing and asked Louie and Pauline, Dorothy's father and mother, for her hand.

We found a small two room apartment at 61st St. and Harper, cleaned it up, painted it, moved in second hand furniture, bought dishes and were ready to move in after the wedding.

(61st & Harper is in the Hyde Park neighborhood, not far from the Museum of Science and Industry. —D.)

The bride and groom, Sept. 13, 1947.

And that happened on a beautiful, warm fall day at St. Martin's Church at 59th St. near Wentworth Avenue.

Everyone turned out for our reception which was in a tavern hall at [McCarthy's Annex] 81st St. and Emerald. The gang from Englewood Electric, where I worked, most of my relatives, all the Poles and Lithuanians from Dorothy's side, and some people nether one of us seemed to know.

(McCarthy's Annex no longer exists. —D.)

It was a great reception, people said the best they had ever been to. Dorothy danced a Polish dance with Louie where everyone puts money in the bride's handbag. The envelopes and gifts overflowed the table set up to hold them.

We left at 2:00 a.m. My sister, Ruth, and her husband Bill drove Dorothy and me to our new apartment.

Dorothy and I stayed up for an hour or more opening envelopes and counting cash. In those days, hardly anyone wrote checks; a checking account was not common. I recall the whole floor being covered with money, cards, and gifts.

Early the next morning, we had a visit from my mother and my stepdad wanting to borrow money. Our great pile of cash was considerably depleted. We never did get repaid.

We later got a ride to Lake Bruce, near Winamac, Indiana, for our honeymoon. We had a great time there. It was late in the season, and we had the place to ourselves.

Lake Bruce, Indiana. The back of the postcard reads, “Hi Mom and Dad, Dave and I are really having a wonderful time. Everything is just perfect. We'll see you Saturday. –Love, Dorothy and Dave.”

Part 2 >

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< October 1946 entries | Epilogue:. . . 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5

< Dot's 1945 diary

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