Group Shot

Joy Evelyn Treme, Lillie May Luke, and James Brice Treme

Most likely taken in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Grandpa Pete's House in St. Louis

Front View 910 Morrison Avenue

Starting from the time that I was four years old, my mother would take me to visit Grandpa Pete in St. Louis. We went every summer for two weeks. This house is where Grandpa lived during that time. The house is located at 910 Morrison Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri. If you use Google maps, you can see the entire tree lined street. As I remember it, the street was always tree lined; however, when I visited Grandpa the neighborhood wasn't as grand as it is these days.

The house was built in 1890 and includes 2,428 square feet with four bedrooms and two baths. According to real estate records, the house has been subdivided into a residence and a one-bedroom, one-bath condo. When grandpa had the house, he frequently had tenants on the first and second floor. He lived in the attic apartment. I remember a simple but elegant dark wood stairway that ran along the right side of the house. It went up three stories to the attic with a large landing on the second floor. When I was older, Grandpa moved down to the second floor. I remember open, airy rooms with high ceilings. I have very happy memories of being in this house with Grandpa and his dogs. 

Rear View 910 Morrison Avenue

The rear of the house is different. Grandpa had the back closed off with a garage where he kept his Thunderbird. Every other year, Grandpa would buy a new Thunderbird. I come by my love of Pontiacs honestly via Grandpa. 

The house has basements--two as I remember it. They are a necessary item given the frequent tornados that occur in the Saint Louis area. I went into them only when Grandpa took me down there which wasn't too often. However, the dogs who had the run of the house, would flat out run down the flights of stairs and go to the basement door, which had a doggie door in it. You could hear them clattering down another flight of stairs below and they would come out in the backyard via the outdoor basement doors. They barked and pounded the stairs and floors most of the way so it was easy to figure out where they were in their dash for the backyard. 

Pamela Treme

August 2012

James Treme in 1940 Census

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Dad's name is highlighted yellow in the partial copy of the 1940 census. The family is listed as follows:

Peter Treme (43) widowed living 5251 N. Broadway, Saint Louis, Missouri

Joy Treme (12)

James Treme (11)

Josephine Eppling (49)

Josephine was Grandpa Pete's sister. She went to live with Grandpa to help him raise Dad and Joy after their mother (Marguerite Murphy Luke Treme) died.

James Treme

Other than recognizing this as a photograph of Dad, I have no additional info. The houses around provide no additional info either. So I'm at a loss as to the circumstances that caused this picture to be taken.

Update: My mother told me that this photograph was taken in Houma, Louisiana when she and my father went to visit her grandparents. My mother took the photograph. It was very early in their marriage--I hadn't been born yet. So it would be sometime between July 1950 when they married and my birth in April 1951.

Pamela Treme

Pamela Treme, age 16

James Treme holding Pamela Treme

This photograph was taken on the front porch of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bordelon's home in New Orleans. Mrs. Bordelon (Miss Agnes) took care of me from the time I was 6 months old until I went into first grade. For first and second grade I was in boarding school at St. Maurice.

While I was living with the Bordelon's, Dad would stop by each day on his way home to say hello to me. He'd stay for a few minutes to find out what I had done that day. I'm about 4 years old in the picture, which means it was taken some time in 1955.

James Treme and Ray Lytell

James Treme and Ray Lytell

I would guess they are on or near Canal Street. The sign behind them looks like the Adler's Jewelry store sign. The store is located at 722 Canal Street. Based on the package Ray is carrying, I would guess the picture was taken at Christmas time.