| Last Name |
Petrasy |
| First Name |
Steven |
| Middle Name |
James |
| Born |
1 Nov 1903 in Branford, Connecticut |
| Home Addresses (Salem)
|
1265 N 16th
1255 N 17th
625 S 19th
1446 Saginaw
635 N 19th
1635 N 19th
360 Norway |
| Died |
20 Sep 1982 in Salem, OR |
| Place Buried |
Restlawn Cemetery in West Salem, OR |
| Spouse |
1st – Sylvia A. Van Woert (divorced)
2nd – Edna Williams Brunelle |
| Date of Marriage |
1st – 4 Jan 1929 in Port Orchard, WA
2nd – 1952 |
| Children |
Mary Ellen, Adrienne, Darlene |
| Dates of Employment |
1934 – 1959 |
| Job(s) at TKWM |
Weaver |
| Life Story
|
Steve Petrasy worked as a weaver at TKWM from 1934-1959.
Steven James Petrasy was born in Branford, Connecticut on 1 Nov 1903 to Hungarian immigrants Jossef and Mary [Chreniel] Petrosz . He was one of five boys born to the couple. By the age of 6, his family had moved to Fairfield, Connecticut where he went to school until the 8th grade. At age 16 he had a job as a grinder for a typewriter factory. By the 1930 census he had enlisted in the U.S. Navy. When he was discharged from Bremerton, WA he stayed on the West Coast.
His physical description recorded on a military draft card was as follows, height of 5 ft. 9 in., weight 140 lbs. He had a dark complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes, also a tattoo on his left wrist.
He married Sylvia A. Van Woert, a Seattle resident on 4 Jan 1929 in Port Orchard, WA. The couple would have 3 daughters. They came to the Salem, OR area looking for work. Sylvia’s uncle had offered Steve a job making milk deliveries for his dairy in Pratum. In 1934 another of his wife’s uncles worked for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and suggested he apply for a job in the weaving department. He joined the mill just as the strike occurred and chose to join the striking workers.
He and Sylvia divorced 3 July 1951, with one daughter left at home. He remarried in 1952 to Edna Williams, a fellow TKWM employee. She was a native of Franklin County, ID that moved to Salem. He worked for the woolen mill for 25 years before taking a job at MacLaren School in Woodburn. He retired in 1969.
On 20 Sep 1982 Steven Petrasy died in Salem of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was buried in Restlawn Cemetery in West Salem. Wife Edna died 2 Nov 1989 and was buried beside him. |
|
|
| References |
| Name |
Remarks |
| Salem City Directories |
1932 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia R) radio repr, h 1265 N 16th
1934 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia A) h 1255 N 17th
1934 Petrasy Sylvia A Mrs. clk Metropolitan Chain Stores h 1255 N 17th
1935 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia A) weaver TKWM Co h 625 S 19th
1940-1941 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia A) weaver TKWM Co h 1446 Saginaw
1945 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia A) weaver TKWM Co h 1635 N 19th
1951 Petrasy Steven J (Sylvia A) weaver TKWM Co h 1635 N 19th
1955 Petrasy Steven J weaver Kay Woolen Mill h 360 Norway
1960 Petrasy Steven J (Edna) supervisor McLaren School h 360 Norway NE
1966 Petrasy Steven J (Edna) supervisor McLaren School h 360 Norway NE
1971 Petrasy Steve J (Edna W) retd h360 Norway St. NE
1974 Petrasy Steve J (Edna W) retd h360 Norway St. NE
1975 Petrasy Steve J (Edna W) retd h360 Norway St. NE
1980 Petrasy Steve J (Edna W) retd h360 Norway St. NE |
| Federal / County Census Records |
1910 Steve Petrash. Age: 6. Birth Date: 1904 in Connecticut. Home in 1910: 50b Sprue St. Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Single, son to HOH. Both parents born in Hungary. Additional household members: Joseph Petrash, age 35 (father), Mary Petrash, age 34 (mother), Joseph Petrash Jr. Age 13 (brother), Frank Petrash, age 10 (brother), Albert Petrash, age 5 (brother), Gassa Petrash, age 2 (brother).
1920 Steve Petrasy. Age: 16. Birth Year: abt 1904 in Connecticut. Home in 1920: Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport Ward 3, Fairfield, Connecticut. Single, stepson to HOH. Both stepfather and mother were born in Hungary. Occupation: Grinding in the Type Writer industry. Additional household members: Steve Geker, age 51 (stepfather), Mary Geker, age 43 (mother), Frank Petrasy, age 20 (brother), Albert Petrasy, age 14 (brother), Geza Petrasy, age 11 (brother).
1930 Steve Petrasy. No age listed. Birth Year: abt 1904. Home in 1930: Navy Yard, Washington. Occupation: Enlisted in U.S. Navy.
1940 Stephen J. Petrasky [sic]. Age: 36. Birth Year: abt 1904 in Connecticut. Home in 1940: 1446 Saginaw St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Highest grade completed: Elementary school, 8th grade. Native language: Hungarian. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Sylvia A. Petrasky, age 32 (wife), Mary E. Petrasky, age 10 (daughter), Adrienne Petrasky, age 8 (daughter), Darlene M. Petrasky, age 2 (daughter).
1950 Steven J. Petrasy. Age: 45. Birth Year: abt 1905 in Connecticut. Home in 1950: 1635 N. 19th St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Sylvia A. Petrasy, age 42 (wife), Darlene M. Petrasy, age 12 (daughter). |
| WW2 Draft Registration |
Steven James Petrasy. Residence: 1446 Saginaw St. Salem, OR. Age: 38. Date of Birth: 1 Nov 1903 in Branford, Connecticut. NOP: Mary Petrasy, 739 Wardin Ave. Bridgeport, Connecticut. Employer: Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Height: 5’9”. Weight: 140. Complexion: Dark. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Tatoo on left wrist. Date of registration: 15 Feb 1942 in Salem, OR. |
| Marriage Record |
4 Jan 1929. Steven J. Petrasy – Sylvia Van Woert. Married by a justice of the peace in Port Orchard, Kitsap, WA. |
| Divorce Return |
1951. Name of husband: Steven J. Petrasy. Residence: Marion County. Date of marriage: Jan 4, 1929. Date of final decree: 3 July 1951. Plaintiff: Sylvia A. Petrasy. Maiden name of wife: Sylvia A. Petrasy. Residence: Salem, OR. Was case contested: No. Cause: Cruel & Inhuman Treatment. Number of children affected by decree: 1. Divorce granted to: plaintiff. |
| Oregon Death Index |
Steven Jam[es] Petrasy. Age: 78. Birth Date: 1 Nov 1903. Death Date: 20 Sep 1982. Death Place: Marion [county]. Spouse: Edna. Certificate #82-15229 |
| Find-a-Grave |
Steven James Petrasy Birth: 1 Nov 1903. Death: 20 Sep 1982 (aged 78) in Marion County, OR. Burial: Restlawn Memory Gardens, West Salem, Polk County, OR. Memorial ID: 125970518
Edna Mae Williams Petrasy Birth: 5 Feb 1912 Treasureton, Franklin County, ID. Death: 2 Nov 1989 (aged 77) Salem, Marion County, OR. Burial: Restlawn Memory Gardens, West Salem, Polk County, OR. Memorial ID: 125970519 |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman 12 June 1951, p. 4 – Divorce complaint
Capital Journal 3 July 1951, p. 5 – Divorce decree
Statesman Journal 21 Sep 1982, p. 20 – Suicide reported (Steven)
Statesman Journal 21 Sep 1982, p. 12 – Obituary (Steven)
Statesman Journal 4 Nov 1989, p. 12 – Obituary (Edna) |
| WHC Materials
|
M3 1966-001 Mill Records
M3 1978-004-0004 Group Photo
M3 1994-016-0031 Oral History (Steve Petrasy) |
