Archive Record
Metadata
Object ID number |
2015.05 |
Title |
Myrtle Odlum Oral History Interview |
Date |
2001 Aug 02 |
Scope & Content |
In this interview, Myrtle (aged 89 at the time) recalls growing up on a farm on 347 Main Street in South Windsor, and helping her father with farm chores and the tobacco crop and sheds. She remembers joining the Democratic Party where she met her husband, Harry, and remaining active in politics throughout her life. She reflects on how politics - and South Windsor - have changed over the years. |
Orgnaizational or Biographical History |
Myrtle Odlum (1912 - 2007) was born on Main Street and lived her entire life at 347 Main Street. She was the daughter of James H. Reardon and Ellen "Nellie" (Grosch) Reardon, and the widow of Harry James Odlum. She graduated from East Windsor High School in 1929 and attended Morse Business College. She worked for the State of Connecticut Highway Department, Travelers Insurance Company, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Active in the Democratic Party, Myrtle served as Tax Collector for the Town of South Windsor; she was also President of the Democratic Women's Club and a delegate to the National Convention, which selected John F. Kennedy as their candidate for president. Myrtle and her husband attended JFK's inaugural ball. Throughout her life, Myrtle was a great supporter of her church, St. Francis of Assisi. She also had a passion for history which led her to become active I the South Windsor Historical Society, the South Windsor Historical Commission and the State of Connecticut Historical Commission. Myrtle served as the first president of the Friends of Wood Memorial Library and was a volunteer there for many years. |
Creator |
Odlum, Myrtle |
Other Creators |
Serdensky, Elaine |
Collection |
Oral History Collection |
Interviewer |
Serdensky, Elaine |
Interview date |
2001-08-02 |
People |
Odlum, Harry James, 1911-1983 Odlum, Myrtle Josephine (Reardon), 1912-2007 Reardon, Barbara Reardon, Ellen Grosch Reardon, James H. Serdensky, Elaine Shepard, Mary Elizabeth (Beach) "Bunny", 1921-2017 |
Subjects |
Blind persons Democratic Party (Conn.) Farming Tobacco industry -- Connecticut |
Search Terms |
347 Main Street Adler & Dobkin (cigar wrapper business) Bancroft Pond East Hartford High School Friends of Wood Memorial Library Lake Hayward, East Haddam, CT Old Town Hall Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company Rockville High School St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church Station 31 Tobacco Travelers Insurance Company Union District School Wood Memorial Library |