Hazel Quinn’s story in the late 1920s and early 1930s is one of work, community involvement, and even a bit of adventure. Through city directories, census records, newspaper clippings, and a surprising passenger list, we can piece together the details of her young adult life.
1926–1927: Living at Home, Establishing Independence
The Randolph City Directory for 1926-27 lists Hazel and her parents, Marshall G. and F. Pearl Quinn, at “rear 547 N Main.” This tells us several things. First, Hazel was old enough to be included in the city directory, which typically listed adults or working members of a household. Her parent’s listing confirms her father’s continued employment with the Brockton Gas Light Company. The phrase “rear 547 N Main” suggests they lived in a smaller residence behind the main building, possibly a secondary dwelling or a tenement-style home.1
This small notation in the directory places Hazel firmly in Randolph during this period and confirms that, at least as of 1926-27, she was still living with her parents.
💡 Genealogy Tip! City directories can be invaluable for tracking ancestors between census years. They help pinpoint locations, occupations, and household members, though keep in mind that addresses may not be permanent residences—sometimes they indicate workplaces or temporary housing.
1928: Hazel Joins the Randolph Grange Fair
On August 13, 1928, 19-year-old Hazel Quinn was mentioned in The Boston Globe as a committee member for the Randolph Grange Fair. This agricultural and educational fair, held at Odd Fellows’ Hall, was a significant local event, bringing together farmers, artisans, and community members. Hazel served on the art and needlework committee, alongside her mother, Flora Pearl Quinn. Her father, Marshall Quinn, was also involved, serving on the manufactures and appliances committee.2
The Reverend Eugene S. Philbrook, Baptist Minister, was also involved with the Randolph Grange, he would go on to officiate Hazel’s marriage in 1933, and that of her sister Muriel in 1935.3
This tidbit gives us insight into Hazel’s community involvement—her participation suggests an interest in crafts or fine handiwork, or simply a willingness to contribute to local events.
💡 Genealogy Tip! Community events mentioned in newspapers can reveal more than just participation. They provide social context—what was important to your ancestor, who they worked alongside, and what local organizations they supported.
1930 Census: A Young Working Woman
Citation: 1930 U.S. census, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Randolph Town, enumeration district (ED) 120, sheet 21-B, dwelling 321, family 349, Marshall G. Quinn household; imaged database, “United States, Census, 1930,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R4G-S8K).
By April 1930, the U.S. Census places Hazel, now 20 years old, living with her family in Randolph, Massachusetts. The Quinns resided on “Maiden Lane,” though there is some evidence that their actual address was on North Main Street.
Hazel was listed as a waitress in a lunchroom—a modest but important job during the early years of the Great Depression. Her younger siblings were still in school, while her brother Arnold worked at the same gas company as their father. The census also records that the family rented their home for $25 a month and owned a radio, a small luxury in that era.
💡 Genealogy Tip! Census records often include rent and mortgage amounts, radio ownership, and even whether a home was on a farm. All of these hints can suggest the economic standing of the enumerated. A caution: be sure to check with an inflation calculator to get a more realistic picture of an ancestors financial situation.
1932: Hazel Takes a Trip to the Bahamas!
In a surprising twist, Hazel Quinn appears on a passenger list for the S.S. Munamar, sailing from Nassau, Bahamas, on March 13, 1932, and returning to the Port of New York on March 16, 1932. At 22 years old, Hazel had taken an international trip—something that might not have been common for a young working woman in the early 1930s.
She was traveling with at least one companion, Grace Humphreys, a single 23-year-old woman from Amherst, Massachusetts. Their reasons for travel are unknown, but a cruise advertisement from February 1932 suggests that Nassau was being marketed as an escape from the harsh New England winter. It was only 60 hours from New York to Nassau, and a round trip five day excursion was marketed at $90 total. However, the records available do not tell us if the young women embarked on the thirteen day trip priced at $132, or the discounted five day fare.4
This brief adventure raises many questions—was this a leisure trip? A work-related journey? How did Hazel pay for her passage? Did Hazel and Grace save for months—or years—to afford it, or was it a special gift? Unfortunately, as is so often in genealogy, records sometimes leads to more questions, and some of these questions we may never know the answer to.
Whatever the case, young Hazel had a taste of international travel in the midst of the Great Depression.
Notably, Hazel’s return trip was delayed by thick fog, as reported in The Brooklyn Eagle on March 17, 1932. The S.S. Munamar, along with five other ships, had to wait to dock in New York Harbor due to poor visibility.5
💡 Genealogy Tip! Passenger lists can be a goldmine for genealogists. They often reveal not just travel history, but also addresses, travel companions, and even nationality status. If your ancestor traveled abroad, check newspapers for possible delays, accidents, or even social columns mentioning their journey!
What These Records Tell Us
The records from 1926 to 1932 paint a picture of Hazel Quinn’s early adulthood, showing us how she balanced work, community involvement, and a touch of adventure.
- She lived with her family at various points, indicating strong family ties and financial practicality during the Great Depression.
- She was active in the community, participating in the Randolph Grange Fair alongside her parents, which suggests she valued local events and traditions.
- She worked as a waitress, an occupation that, while modest, was crucial in an era when many struggled to find employment.
- She traveled internationally, taking a cruise to the Bahamas with a friend, which raises intriguing possibilities about her interests, financial situation, and social circle.
Together, these details bring Hazel to life—not just as a name in a record, but as a young woman navigating the 1920s and 1930s with determination, community spirit, and perhaps a bit of wanderlust. Her story reminds us that even everyday records can reveal extraordinary moments in an ancestor’s life.
- Randolph, Holbrook and Avon Directory, 1926-1927 (Boston: R. L. Polk & Co., 1926), 97, Hazel E. Quinn; imaged database, “U.S., City Directories,” MyHeritage (https://www.myheritage.com), image 53 of 131. ↩︎
- “Committees Names For Randolph Grange Fair,” The Boston Globe (Massachusetts), 13 August 1928, p. 4. ↩︎
- For Hazel’s marriage certificate: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, marriage certificate no. 164 (1933), Bergquist-Quinn, Norfolk County Town Clerk’s Office. For Muriel’s marriage: “Miss Muriel Ellinor Quinn married Chester E. Gonier in Quincy,” The Quincy Evening News (Massachusetts), 30 September 1935. ↩︎
- “Beware the Colds of March. Take a Munson Cruise to Tropic Sunshine,” Atlantic City Press (New Jersey), 29 February 1932, p. 4; and “54 hours to Nassau,” Chicago Daily Tribune, 09 March 1932, p. 20; see https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm for inflation calculation. ↩︎
- “6 Incoming Liners Delayed by Thick Fog Over Harbor,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle (New York), 17 March 1932, M2-19. ↩︎
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