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'Marie' was born on 12/7/1900. On 11/24/1925 she married 'Franz' Francis Frederick Trefzger. She died on 6/6/2002 in Cincinnati, OH.
Below are excerpts from Franz' autobiography: 1914-1920
Marie lived it 3949 Regent Avenue in South Norwood. The house was frame, with a large frame porch across the front. One entered into a hall which land led into the kitchen. To the left of the hall was a rather large living room, opening into a dining room with a nice bay window. Both the living room and dining room had a mantle. The one in the dining room burned gas, along with an asbestos front.
There was a definite air of hospitality in the Niland household. I cannot remember whether I met Marie's mother on that first date or not, but anyway I had the feeling that it would not be a bad place to came back to. As for the girl, my blind date, she was more beautiful than her picture, which had enticed me - she was very different from the kinds of girls I had dated in the past. She was stylish in her dress, had perfect manners, and was rather sophisticated -or at least that is what I thought that night. Maybe she was just giving the Westwood country boy something to think about. If so, she succeeded, because she never could get rid of me after that night. The six of us went to the Alms Hotel to dance. It was a first-class place then. The hotel had a circular ballroom with a very large ball candelabra hanging in the center. On this ball were thousands of small mirrors which reflected colored lights from spot lights in the corners. Every once in a while they would have a moonlight dance with just the spots in various colors reflecting the small mirrors. As Herb had said, my date was a marvelous dancer. Unfortunately, I was mediocre. I had difficulty making conversation because I was not one of the university group. I can remember showing Marie my new watch which evidently dad had given me before my birthday (December 7th). I evidently talked too much about my ability to sing -but what was a poor guy to do. Well, that was the fatal night -Marie had cast her spell upon me.
"Our old Ford was of much use because of the great distance between Westwood and Norwood, and by Decemher of 1921 Francis F. (now Franz) Trefzger had decided that the trip was nothing compared to the prize. So, a-courting he went, usually on the streetcar - the Westwood, then the Crosstown, finally the Norwood car."
"My persistency finally got her interest, however. Marie was a girl who had plenty of dates and many friends."
"The story of our courtship is long and involved. Unfortunately not being a writer, I could never do this beautiful period justice. Because of my singing engagements it was necessary for me to keep date books which I still have in my possession and which go back to the year 1922."
"As our wedding plans developed Marie informed me that before we became formally engaged and she wore her ring, I had to ask her father for her hand."
To read more of Franz' comments on his courtship, marriage and honeymoon click the link to his Autobiography: 1921-1928.
Comment:
Aunt Marie was a very sweet and loving person. In all the time I spent with her on the Hill I never heard her raise her voice or get upset with anyone.
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