Family of Otto Streich and Emily Russell
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Fig. S-1. My paternal grand parents, Otto Strike (or Streich),
1877-1946, oldest child of Karl Streich and Henrietta Hohnke, and Emily
Russell (1880-1918), the third child of Thomas W. Russell and Ellen Hartley;
Probably a wedding photo taken in 1903 at Barnesboro, PA. These are my
father's biological parents. Tragically, Emily died in the Spanish
influenza epidemic of 1918, leaving Otto with a baby and 5 young children.
The baby, who was my father, was then fostered and eventually adopted by
Otto's married sister, Mrs. Martha Kramp, nee. Martha Streich. |
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Fig. S-2. Family of Emily Russell and Otto Karl Strike.
From left: Russell Strike, 1907-1996; Otto (father); Martha, 1909-1982;
Mrytle, 1905-1995; Emily (mother); in front: Gladys, 1913-1974: and Ruth,
1911-1986. Photo taken in Detroit, MI, about 1918. Reportedly, Emily was
pregant with my father, Robert Karl Strike; The mother died one week after
the baby was born. |
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Fig. S-3. My father, Robert Carl Kramp, nee. Robert Karl
Strike, 1918-1974. School Photo, 1930, Ramey, Clearfeild Co, PA. |
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Fig. S-4. Otto Streich traveled from Cresson, PA, to Alexandria,
VA, to visit his sons, Robert and Russell. about 1939. This is one of the
few times that Robert saw his biological father. |
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Fig. S-5. Adult children, including spouses, of Otto Strike and Emily
Russell, ca 1954. From left, Harold Vernon and Martha Stryke; Cal McKillop
and Gladys Stryke; Russell Stryke and Ruth Wolgomot (center); Ruth Stryke
and Mike Scord; Myrtle Stryke and Jim Lusk. Maiden surnames given. Robert
Kramp, nee. Strike, not present. |
Family History Note: The Strike children all changed the spelling of their
surname to Stryke when in High School. Russell Stryke had three daughters,
and Robert Strike adopted the Kramp surname. Thus, the Streich/Strike/Stryke
surname died with this branch of descendants.
Family Landmarks
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Fig. S- 6. Church of St John's United Methodist, formerly Episcopal
Methodist, Barnesboro, Cambria Co, PA. The corner stone was laid Nov 15,
1903, and Otto and Emily were married about a year later. The old church
records are disheveled, but I found the baptism records for 3 of the 6
Strike children. Members of the family of Thomas W. Russell also worshipped
here. Photo by RCK, 1992 |
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Fig S-7. Unit No. 1 of the Pennsylvania State (tuberculosis) Sanitorium,
Cresson, PA. Otto Strike was working as the ice plant operator for the
instutute, and living on campus when he died in 1946. The sanitorium was
transformed into a state prison in 1950's. Scanned from one of five old
post cards that I found at antique store. Good thing, because in 1992,
when I drove by the prison, I encountered "No photos allowed" signs. |
Family History Note: In the early 1900's,
Andrew Carnegie,
the steel magnate of Pittsburgh, bought several hundred acres of land at
Cresson, PA. The climate was cool and the atmosphere clear and healthy.
Andrew planned to build a mansion at Cresson for his mother so that she
could enjoy the health benefits of the climate. However, she died before
she could move to Cresson. Andrew then offered the land to the State
of PA for one dollar if they would agree to build a tuberculosis sanitarium
there. The State accepted.
Other well known persons visited the sanitarium. The following item
was copied from a booklet in the "Cresson Sanitarium" folder at the Cambria
Co, Historical Society, Ebensburg, PA:
"A great interest was taken in the Sanitarium by Mrs. Mary
Thaw of Pittsburgh who had a summer home near Cresson. She gave generously
in a financial way, particularly in the building of the chapel [see image
below], and she visited the Sanitarium frequently familiarizing herself
with its needs."
"On her visits she several times brought with her Helen Keller,
her friend and protege and Mrs. Keller's teacher, Mrs. Ann Sullivan
Macey. On one occassion Mrs. Keller gave a short talk to the sanitorium
children who were gathered in the assembly room."
NEW LINK: Chuck Felton who was a former TB patient at Cresson Sanitorium
is collecting historical information and posting it to his site,
"Cresson
Sanitarium Remembered".
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Fig. S-8. Grace Chapel, Pennsylvania State Sanitorium, Cresson, Cambria
County, PA. Scanned from old postcard. |
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Fig S-9. This park and fountain
occupy the former site of the Alexandria Gazette which was located at 317
King St. In the 1970's the old Gazette building was raised. Alas,
the effect of urban renewal on family history. Both of Otto Strike's sons
became printers for the Gazette- the oldest daily newspaper in the
States. Otto's son, Russell, began working there in the 1920's and
was eventually promoted to Composing Room Forman- a job he held for over
45 years. Earlier, about 1933, Russell drove to Ramey, PA; picked
up his biological brother, Robert, and brought him to Alexandria, to apprentice
him as a linotype operator. Robert later switched his employ to the The
Washington Evening Star and then to the Government Printing Office. Photo
by RCK, June 2000. |
NOTE: The Alexandria Gazette has changed its name to the Alexandria Packet.
A "packet" is a type of sailing vessel. The offices of the newspaper
are still in Alexandria, VA, at 1610 King Street, however, the newspaper
itself is now printed in Pennsylvania.
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