Eclectic Ann: Caroline Stone Betz Sinton

Caroline Stone Betz Sinton

26 Apr 1924 – 5 May 2002

Caroline was born the 10^th child of 13 to John Ellsworth Betz Jr & Charlotte Johns in Port Carbon, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Back - John, Emma, Richard, Charlotte, William, John E Jr

Middle - Dorothy, Gertrude, Ellsworth, Jean, Charlotte Johns

Front - Caroline, Lois, Ruth, Robert

Port Carbon, PA in 1931

In 1930, the family lived at 129 Spruce St. Port Carbon, with 3 more children joining the family. Caroline would have attended the newer Port Carbon Elementary school which had been built in 1915. The school had a bell tower whose bell signaled the start of school and recess times. At that time, her father worked on the trolleys. The Pottsville Electric Railway Co operated from 1891 until 1931 in Port Carbon. But in 1930, her father is listed as a Brakeman on the Reading Railroad in the census taken that year. At the time of his death, he was a lokie operator for the Bazely Stripping Company in St Clair.

I believe this to be 29 Spruce St, Port Carbon, from Google Earth

In 1933, when Caroline was just 9 years old, her father died of hypertension & vascular disease at the age of 47. By 1940, her mother had moved the family back to Tamaqua, in Schuylkill County. They lived at 251 Clay St. Her mother did not hold a job at age 53, but four older siblings of Caroline did work. Likely the income that supported the family that still had 8 children living at the home.

251 Clay St. Tamaqua, Google Earth

Caroline and her family always attended the Methodist church. In 1939 & 1941, Caroline attended a Christian summer camp near Pottstown called Camp Innabah. She was also always involved with the Methodist Youth group at her church. At some point, Caroline and her sister Ruth must have worked at the Atlas Powder Co. There is a photo showing them in the Atlas uniforms below.

There is also a photo of Caroline’s brother Ellsworth “Buddy” that he sent her while he was in the Army during World War II. He inscribed it “To Carrots”, a name he must have called her due to her red hair. I imagine Caroline as a little (4’11”) spitfire when she was young.

Caroline graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1942. She was a member of the Commercial Club at school which was a group for those interested in working in an office once they graduated. By 1943, at age 19, Caroline had found a clerical job in Middletown, PA. She lived at 30 South Catherine St. in Middletown. It was here that she met her future husband, Gary Sinton, who was from Pottsville. Gary worked at the Air Depot in Middletown in the engine shop doing repairs and running engine tests before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in 1944.

Tamaqua High School

Much of their courtship was likely done through the mail, as Gary had been assigned to a squadron in the Pacific where he stayed until the end of World War II in 1945. Gary & Caroline became engaged on July 4, 1946, at a Betz family picnic at the Atlas Grove near Tamaqua. They were married at the Methodist church in Tamaqua on Oct 12, 1946. Like many brides of that era, Caroline wore a gown that was made from Gary’s army parachute. After a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, they set up housekeeping with Gary’s parents at 2058 West Market St in Pottsville. Gary was working for the J H Brokhoff Dairy. Their first child Gary Jr was born in December 1947 in Pottsville.

First United Methodist Church, Tamaqua

The family soon moved to Chicago, Illinois so that Gary could attend the Aeronautical University there. He worked part time at the Marshall Fields department store until finishing his degree in Aeronautical engineering. In May of 1949, a daughter, Sharon, was born. One address that they lived at was 7833 South Evans Ave in Chicago. This house is still there today.

In September of 1950, Gary graduated, and the family moved to Baltimore where Gary would work for the Martin Aircraft Co. A third child, Janice, was born there in January 1952. They lived at 1628 Rickenbacker Rd, Apt C Baltimore. This address no longer exists.

In 1953, Gary found a better position at the Jacobs Aircraft Co in Pottstown, Pa, closer to home this time. They did not live long on Main St Pottstown Landing Rd. This job ended in 1954 and the family left once again for a new job in St Louis with McDonnell Aircraft. In November of 1954 a son was born, Thomas. The family lived at 837 East Essex Ave in the Kirkwood neighborhood of the St Louis area. Caroline would boast of being well off enough to employ a maid to help with her growing family.

Pottstown Home

Unfortunately, just as success was within their grasp, this job ended too soon due to Gary’s health. The family had moved back to Pottsville by Christmas 1955. Gary spent most of 1956 in the VA hospital in Wilkes Barre. Caroline and the four children lived at Gary’s parent’s home once again. After his release from the hospital, he was unable to work as an engineer any longer and he worked as a relief milkman for Lehigh Valley Dairy for about 10 years and later held other positions with the dairy until he retired on disability in 1973.

2058 W Market St Pottsville

The family was able to buy their own home with the help of Gary's war bonds and purchased 822 Pottsville St in Mechanicsville in 1958. During this time, the family added three more children, Laura in April 1958, Bill in July 1961 & Holly in September 1962. And Caroline stayed active in her church in Pottsville, First United Methodist Church, by being a member of the Joy Circle.

822 Pottsville St, Pottsville

During these years, Caroline worked at various jobs to help ends meet, including clerical jobs and as a sewing machine operator in local garment factories. She was known as a good seamstress and her work production was good. At one place she would sew women’s blouses and knew how to operate a Merrow sewing machine. She was also particular about which factories she would work at. Some were true sweatshops or had bad bosses and likely not good places to work. Some of the factories she worked in were in Mary D, New Philadelphia, Cumbola, Angela's in Port Carbon, Frackville and Pottsville. Caroline was a proud member of the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) and always looked for the union label or made in America label when shopping. She made a lot of her family’s clothing and most of hers over the years. Her husband, Gary, would say “if you could make shoes, we wouldn’t have to buy anything”. She also did clerical work at the Evans Delivery Co, Bel-Tone Hearing Aide Co and the Redco office in Pottsville where she learned to do data entry on a computer. In 1990, she worked as a census taker. Sometimes, Caroline would end up working at the same factory as a family member. I am told she worked at the Danville leisure wear factory in Frackville with her daughter in law’s mother and aunt, with her daughter Janice in Pottsville and in New Philadelphia with her sister, Lois.

Typical Garment factory floor

An old factory building in Pottsville that Caroline was supposed to have worked in,

at 14^th & W.Market sts. From Google Earth

In her leisure time, in addition to sewing, Caroline enjoyed knitting and a little cross stitch and crochet work. She was known in the family as being able to grow any houseplant. African Violets were a favorite.

In1968, their children began getting married and adding grandchildren to the family. So began a whole new chapter in their lives. They enjoyed their growing family, as well as traveling to such places as Salt Lake City Utah, Quebec, Holland Michigan, Rhinebeck New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New England, Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and Hawaii. They also enjoyed attending the many school and sporting events that their grandchildren participated in, with graduations being extra special occasions. They never missed anyone’s birthday and always sent a card or gave a gift. Holidays were always special times for Gary & Caroline, when all of their children and grandchildren would gather and catch up with each other. There were picnics on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Thanksgiving became a major undertaking as the family grew larger and larger, with tables stretching into two rooms until there was no longer room for everyone at their house on Pottsville Street. The dinner was then moved to Holly’s home, which was much larger and gave the family a few more years of being able to gather together. Finally, a hall was needed to accommodate everyone. As each child’s families grew, the tradition ended, but many memories were made.

Christmas was the other major family gathering. Almost everyone would gather at Gary & Carolines home to exchange gifts and have a light dinner. Sometimes two gatherings were necessary as Thomas lived out of town and was not always able to come home on Christmas Day. The family spread out all over the house with wrapping paper and gifts strewn about, children underfoot, and not an empty seat to be found anywhere. Unfortunately, illness began to take its toll on Caroline and soon Gary found himself without his life’s companion. Caroline passed away at St Joseph’s Hospital in Reading, Pa. in 2002. He survived with the help of his children, but finally joined Caroline in 2005 after almost 3 1/2 years of loneliness. Despite all the adversity and struggles in their lives, they had a true love for each other and their family. Final resting place is Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA.