Pete,
You asked if anyone knew how Miss Margaret got the name Maggie Jim. It seems that New Gretna was like no other little town along the shore in regards to nicknames, especially the ladies of the town. Nearly every married woman in town was known by her first name followed by her husband's. For example, Maggie Bob was Bob Maxwell's wife, Lizzie Joe was Joe Mathis' wife, Helen Clarance was Clarence Mathis' wife, Ida Pug was Marvin "Pug" Mathis' wife, Sara John was John Mathis' wife, etc. and etc. [Moderator's note: Notice, if the husband had a nickname, his nickname was often transferred to his wife's nickname rather than his given name. Another example of this is that Booter Mathis' wife was called "Stella Boot".]
"Helen Clarence". The date of the photo is unknown. I'll just call it during the "era of the big hats". (Photo courtesy of Leila Mathis Pitts.)
Seeing as how Margaret Adams, commonly known as Maggie Jim, was single and never married, she took her nickname from her father, Jim Adams. He had a farm in west New Gretna in an area called Frog Town because it was swampy and near the Wading River and was therefore subject to frogs croaking in the spring when the swamps were flooded. His farm and homestead still stands today. It was purchased from the Adams family by the Leepa family who moved to New Gretna years ago. They had several children who attented the New Gretna School. I remember Kenny Leepa who was several years ahead of me in school.
Don Maxwell
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Click the link below to go to the October, 1998 issue of the Bass River Gazette and read the page 4+ article on "Bass River Nicknames" by Almira Cramer Steele. It's my all time favorite Gazette article.
We're thankful for Don Maxwell's input here at the blog. If it keeps up, and hopefully it will, we'll have to put him on the payroll. Tell you what, Don . . . I'll give you twice my salary!
Pete S
I am grateful for the mention of the Leepa farm as I lived there from 1940-1945. The last time I visited "Mom" Leepa was in 1958 shortly before I was married. Sometime in the 90's (I think) I drove from NYC to Ventnor City to visit my aunt Eugenia Magee and made a lightening visit to New Gretna. I say lightening because it was getting late, I was driving on unfamiliar roads and I didn't want darkness to overtake me. I drove by granddaddy's former home-the Boot Mathis mentioned in the article-and then went to the Leepa farm. Oh, what sadness I felt at the condition. Is anyone living there at the present? Who, if you know. For years I had wondered where the Leepas came from. Recently, I got interested in genealogy and in a census record, there it was-Russia! I remember Kenneth, Mildred and Alice. Kenny and Millie were in the armed services during WW2. Millie got married about 1944 in Philly where Alice, hubby Herb and kids Joey and Barbara lived. Alice, who was a classmate of my Mother's had contracted polio as a youngster. She had to wear some serious braces. When I stayed with her, we kids took turns each morning holding her crutches at the bottom of the stairs as she made her slow, painful way down. Sigh..I am going to have to get those photo albums down.
ReplyDeleteBeverly Mathis (Robinson)
Beverly,
ReplyDeleteGlad to get the Leepa info from you. I visited with Jeanie MaGee and her sister Julia about 10 years ago when they lived in Margate. We looked through the family photo albums together, and Jeranie allowed me to take them home and scan the photos into my computer. Unfortunately, two years later I had a computer virus which wiped out the photos and also my backup copies. I do, however, have Xerox copies, but the quality is not too good. I just had an email conversation with Jeanie's daughter, Peggy, who is presently in Florida. She promised that she would loan me the family albums, again, the next time she comes up north.
I would be interested in knowing what old photos you might have that are related to New Gretna and if you would allow me to scan them for our History photo collection which now numbers over 10,000 photos.
I don't know anything about the present situation of the old Leepa house, but I will do some checking and get back to you.
Pete S
Hi Pete: I have quite a few photos, I'll have to get the albums down to do an audit. I have several photos taken at the Leepa farm that include Mr. and Mrs. Leepa, Alice, Kenneth(in uniform), My grandparents (Boot Mathis),Barbara (daughter of Alice), among others. I also have photos of my grandfather in his duck blind, one of my grandmother when she was quite young and others that I'm not sure if they apply specifically to New Gretna history. As I said, I'll get the albums down and have a look.
ReplyDeleteBeverly Mathis (Robinson)
Thanks, Beverly. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. I don't have any photos of the Leepa farm or the Leepas.
ReplyDeletePete S
Hi Pete: I have looked through my albums and found the photos I already mentioned. What is the best way to get them to you? I can scan them, if that will work out, and then you can decide which ones are suitable for your needs. Let me know.
ReplyDeleteBeverly