| Story |
Ron Hart worked for TKWM from 1930 to about 1935 as a weaver, along with his brother Elvern.
Ronald Calvin Hart was born 28 Jan 1910 in Gales Creek, OR to William “Willie” and Ruth “Addie” Hart. By the time Ron was 10, his father and two older sisters were working in a woolen mill in Portland. A few years later, the family moved to the Salem area where Ron, at age 17, began working at Western Woolen Mill (Paris Mill) in Stayton along with his father and brother Elvern. The year was 1928.
By 1930, Willie and Addie had taken up truck farming in Turner. Ron and Elvern helped, but were also employed by the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, as weavers. By 1937 however, they had moved on to a woolen mill in Santa Ana, CA. Not long after that, their parents Willie and Addie joined them in Sothern California.
Elvern married in 1937 and Ron followed suit a year later when he married Bessie Opal Seeber on 24 Jun 1938. Ron and Opal took up residence in a rental at 124 S Franklin in Santa Ana. Their son Calvin was born in early 1940. Ron and Elvern continued to work at the Santa Ana Woolen Mills for many years. Ron was a weaver then a teasel dresser. This small mill was very successful from the 1930’s through WW2. Ron registered for the WW2 draft but never served as was common for critical textile workers.
Ron’s mother and father died in the same year, 1948, and are buried in Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster, CA which is only a few miles from Santa Ana where Ron and Opal lived.
Ron’s story fades a bit at this point until we find a record of his death on 11 Jul 1992 in Orange County at the age of 82. His burial spot is unknown at this time. |
| Census |
1910 Ronald Hart (newborn). Born in Oregon. Gales Creek, OR. White male son of HOH. Father born in Indiana. Mother born in Iowa. William E Hart 46 (laborer, water pipe co), Addie Hart 31, Gretchen Hart 11, Evalyn Hart 6, Gerald Hart 2, Ronald Hart 0.
1920 Ronald C Hart. Born about 1911 in Oregon. E Oswego, Portland, OR. Son of HOH. Father born in Indiana. Mother born in Iowa. Willie E Hart 52 (beaming, woolen mill), Ruth A Hart 41 (weaver), Gretchen M Hart 20 (weaver), Evelyn V Hart 16, Gerald E Hart 12, Ronald C Hart 9, Elvern W Hart 7, Merle V Hart 2.
1930 Ronald C Hart. Born about 1910. Single son of HOH. West Stayton, OR. Father born in Indiana. Mother born in Iowa. Weaver woolen mill. Willie Hart 66 (truck farm), Addie R Hart 52, Ronald C Hart 20, Elvern W Hart 17 (weaver), Merle V Hart 12.
1940 Ronald Hart. Born about 1910 in Oregon. Married HOH. Rents house at 124 S Franklin, Santa Ana, CA. Teasel Dresser, woolen mill. HS, second year. Weeks worked in 1939 36. Ronald Hart 30, Opal Hart 24, Calvin Hart 8 mos. |
| City Directories (Salem, OR unless otherwise shown) |
1928 Ronald Hart. Weaver Western WM
1930 Ronald C Hart. Weaver TKWM. Res RD1, Turner, OR
1937 Ronald C Hart. Weaver Santa Ana Woolen Mills. Res 152 W 2nd, Santa Ana, CA. |
