"Boz": The Life of Ralph Boswell Jones (1897 - 1976)
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Chapter 5
Cleveland Heights: Work and Home Life
Within a few years of their move to Cleveland Heights, the
couple’s final two children were born: Thomas Boswell Jones (January 1931) and
Cynthia Jones (March 1935). Ralph (or “Boz” as he was also called) now provided
the sole financial support for a family of seven.
Photo of the Jones children, circa 1936
For whom he worked during those first depression years in Cleveland is not clear. Perhaps he moved to Cleveland Heights specifically to work for Edwin W. DeVand’s Funeral Home. The Cleveland city directories and the 1930 Federal census state only that he was a mortician and a manager in an undertaking business. By 1935, however, Ralph was plainly listed as a funeral director for E. W. DeVand [1] and he remained in that firm’s employ for at least twelve years.[2]
DeVand’s Funeral Home
For the kids, the funeral home was scary—and fun.[3] The family owned one car, so Dorothy drove Ralph back and forth from the funeral home, often with children in tow.[4] Sometimes the kids waited for Dad in the car; other times they traipsed through the garage and embalming room (cadavers and all). [5] Although Ralph’s family never lived at the funeral home, they once spent the night there, on which occasion daughter Barbara was “quite ready to go home the next night.”[6] Once an employee living on the third floor at DeVand’s got drunk and attacked one of his sleeping comrades with a hammer. [7] Another time Cynthia accepted her brother Tom’s dare to open a dead lady’s eyes: “I tried,” she says, “and they were kind of stuck hard shut.”[8] The kids also played the organ at DeVand’s (stealthily), climbed into showroom caskets (also stealthily), and rode in “jump seats” of big Buick family cars (not so stealthily, one presumes).[9] During high school Ralph’s oldest boy, Ralph D., worked as an apprentice at DeVand’s. There he and undertaker Red McGill would loiter in the basement, occasionally banging hammers on packing cases to convince Mr. DeVand that they were gainfully employed. [10]
Cleveland Heights residences
Throughout their years in Cleveland, the family remained within a two-mile radius. For the first ten years, in fact, they lived in three homes within a half mile of one another. The first home Ralph and Dorothy rented was located at 2987 Euclid Heights Boulevard, [11] a house that Ralph D. recalls “was next to a Doctor who was 90 years old.”[12] By 1932, they had moved nearby to 1915 Woodward Avenue, where they stayed for about three years.[13] In late 1934 or early 1935 they moved again— next door—to 2976 Lincoln Boulevard.[14] Their longest move within the city occurred in 1941 or 1942, when they hauled their belongings a mile and a half west to 11900 Carlton Road.[15]
(Current photo of the Lincoln Boulevard house.)In the late spring of 1940 Ralph also purchased a 92-acre summer residence near Windsor, a small farming community 40 miles east of Cleveland. This property, known as “B.J. Hills,”Ralph owned concurrently with the Carlton Road house.[16] Their city houses were large and elegant, as befitted Ralph’s taste in homes and the size of his family. The house at 1915 Woodward Avenue, for example, sported three stories with a formal dining room, living room, kitchen, solarium, cloakroom and pantry on the first floor.[17]
The Lincoln Boulevard home, where the family resided from about 1935 to 1941, was built in 1903 and is currently on a list of Cleveland Heights historical homes. A contemporary description of the home notes the following:
“This remarkable eclectic Tudor house is deeply positioned on its diamond shaped lot to project its complex profile at best advantage. The building's first floor brick exterior is offset by its upper floors' stucco and half-timbered surfaces, consistent with the Tudor style. The house's facade is dominated by its steeply gabled clay tile roof and its substantial front porch …while the exterior of the building is Tudor in style, the interior has a surprisingly Victorian floor plan and feeling. The mahogany and oak woodwork and paneling throughout the first floor evoke an earlier time period than its exterior would indicate.”[18]
In a room to the left of the front door in the Lincoln Boulevard house, Cynthia would linger in front of her father’s desk, anticipating his arrival, awaiting his dark suit and gold watch chain, his Kraft caramels and peppermint lifesavers.[19]
Christmas at the Lincoln Boulevard houseFrom 1941 to 1946 the family resided at the Carlton Road house and spent summers at the farm. At the entrance to Carlton Road sat Ursuline Academy, a school for Catholic nuns; during those years Ralph’s children would often spy nuns gliding along two-by-two in their black habits. The street itself was short, bordered by large well-kept homes and terminating in a cul-de-sac—perfect for playing street baseball. The house on Carlton Road also boasted three stories. It had six bedrooms, four on the second floor, two on the third. A white-pillared porch ran along the front of the house, and the entrance was enhanced with dark woodwork and leaded glass.[20]
Inside the Carlton Road house was a music room with baby grand piano, harp, reed organ, green leather chair, desk, Silvertone phonograph and radio. There Tom tooted clarinet, JoAnne played harp, and the radio proclaimed the escapades of Jack Armstrong, Captain Midnight and the Lone Ranger. Again the layout of the house included a kitchen and butler’s pantry at the rear. (From this pantry Ralph would awaken his sleeping children via intercom, saying, “It’s time to get up, little children. Rise and shine!”) Out the kitchen door was the backyard, at the rear of which stood a stone wall. Beyond the wall, steep woods plunged 25 feet to Cedar Hill, where noises of street cars and traffic reminded the family that they had indeed returned to the city.[21]
During the war, the family rented upstairs rooms in their Carlton Road house to defense workers. One room was let to Rodger Wright, who played clarinet in Ralph’s orchestra and who was clandestinely called “Roger the Lodger” by the Jones children. The other room was rented to a Mrs. Kruley who nearly burnt the house down when she left a cigarette in an overstuffed chair.[22]
Also at the Carlton Road house, on May 15, 1945—a week after the German surrender in Europe—JoAnne married Harold “Bud” Keiser. Her ten-year-old sister, Cynthia, acted as junior bridesmaid and led the procession down the big front stairs as the reed organ played the wedding march.[23] At the bottom of those stairs, JoAnne’s father turned to her and asked, “Are you all right?”—an expression of affection she still cherishes.[24]
Ralph’s musical interests
About the time the family moved to the Lincoln Boulevard house, Ralph’s love of orchestral music came forth. [25] He formed and conducted a symphony orchestra, perhaps drawing on his high school glee club experience. The symphony was first called the Cleveland Heights Symphony, later the Shaker Heights Symphony. [26] For many years music was to be Ralph’s only hobby. As JoAnne notes, “The symphony was Dad’s pride, joy, hobby and outlet for his musical talent. Early on he sang and had, I believe, a good baritone voice which Ralph [D.] inherited.”[27] He was very serious about the symphony, attacking the work with a strictness and discipline that characterized the rest of his life.[28]
Also at that time Ralph began directing choir at the Cleveland Heights Presbyterian Church, which the family attended for about ten years.[29] A history of that church pays tribute to Ralph Jones, as follows:
“During the Depression, Sunday attendance hovered at 50 worshippers, and Session talked of closing the church. Dr. Dickens-Lewis had moved on, the congregation was without a minister, and it had no choir. Then, Ralph Boswell Jones appeared. Despite the Session’s skepticism, he voluntarily organized a choir. Inspiration was what the congregation needed, and he provided it. By the time Rev. Bininger arrived in 1935, the pews and choir loft were full. Jones served as organist and choir director 1934-43. He developed a Chorus Choir that sang major works from Advent through Easter; the rest of the year was given over to soloists and the quartet.”[30]
Ralph’s religion
Though he directed the church choir, Ralph’s religion appears to have been largely superficial. The children took turns saying grace at the dinner meal, but Ralph himself did not pray.[31] The family attended church wherever Ralph was the music director,[32] and he moved freely from a Presbyterian to a Christian Science to a Methodist church, notwithstanding their great differences in doctrine. For Dorothy, religion provided strength to endure life’s troubles; for Ralph, church was a good way to meet people who would one day need an undertaker. Besides, Ralph loved music and leading the band. [33] As Ralph D. saw it, “I don’t think it [religion] was all that important except for the fact society looked at us as ‘church goers’”.[34]
Ralph was, nevertheless, well respected. He developed many friendships and acquaintances at work, the Masons, the Kiwanis Club, the orchestra and church. [35] One such friend was pastor at the Cleveland Heights Presbyterian Church, Clem E. Bininger. This zealous young minister, fresh from seminary, was installed as pastor in October 1935, and helped increase the congregation’s size from 65 to 500 during his tenure (1935 to 1943). He also established a Couple’s Class for married adults, formed alliances with groups such as the Christian Fellowship League, and organized birthday dinners each spring. Notably, the church’s mortgage was paid off during his pastorate. [36] Ralph’s relationship with Clem Bininger apparently included a measure of trust because Ralph asked Clem to counsel his daughter, JoAnne, on a great religious issue of the day: the morality of dancing. [37] Ralph’s friendship with Reverend Bininger cooled, however, one Christmas when the Reverend’s pre-school daughter, being introduced to Ralph, blurted out “You’re the one my Daddy said he got bucks out of!”[38]
Ralph’s demeanor at home
The family lived in the Carlton Road home from about 1941 to
1946,[39]
and one room especially abides in the thoughts of some of Ralph’s children. It
was to the left of the front door—a music room, where Ralph’s desk sat.[40]
There he lounged in a chair, wearing a smoking jacket, holding a score and
baton, conducting orchestral music that emanated from a Sears Silvertone record
player.[41] There also Ralph berated JoAnne—deriding her
for selfishness, laughing at her chubbiness, urging her to question whether she
belonged in the
family.
[42]
Ralph Boswell Jones could be strict and aloof, an emotionally absent workaholic. Around the house he was formal: suit, tie, white shirt.[43] In keeping with his reserved demeanor, Ralph spoke little about his involvement in the armed services, his politics, his views on topics of interest. When he was around, conversation was spare. The children remember little conversation with their father except “Eat your beans!” and “Please pass the gravy”.[44] Most of the time he was working, often returning to the funeral home after dinner to labor late into the evening. As a result, he seldom attended family outings to the lake or visits to metropolitan parks. He could be cynical, sarcastic, non-demonstrative. [45] He didn’t hug his children. [46] If the children didn’t eat their vegetable, they would get the vegetable—by itself—for their next night’s dinner. [47] If the children bickered too much, Ralph would punish them by striking the backs of their bare legs with a green willow switch.[48] “He was very strict,” Ralph D. recalls, “…never very friendly and I think I resented some of the things he did and the way he sometimes made me feel…Instead of being Welsh, he should have been German. In some ways he was like a little Hitler.”[49]
Though the children were undoubtedly wounded by these aspects of their father’s personality, as adults they made allowances. “With all due respect,” Ralph D. notes, “I guess he had a job to do and he did it as he felt he should.” About her father’s abuse JoAnne says, “In retrospect I know that I resembled his mother and she preferred Charles. Also he fought a weight problem all his life and I was always chubby….perhaps his self image from his youth colored all his relationships with people. … I felt sorry for him.” Tom notes that “Dad was outgoing, friendly, aggressive, a social climber who very often did things which were seemingly charitable or an act of kindness, but were often done to promote RBJ as undertaker, thereby, promoting business.” He adds, however, “I can’t fault him for this as he had many mouths to feed.”[50]
Photo of the Ralph Boswell Jones family, circa 1943Nevertheless, within Ralph’s soul also abided a certain unselfish generosity, although this aspect of his character appeared infrequently. Ralph generally treated his wife and children well. [51] He never raised his voice to Dorothy or spoke ill of her, even after they were divorced. [52] At times he brought the children gifts, such as a used bicycle for Cynthia[53] and pipe cleaner orchestra players for all the children.[54] Sometimes also he would creep into their bedrooms after work to offer sips of milkshake. As Barbara says, “I still remember how good it was.” [55]
[1] Social Security application of Ralph B. Jones, 295-01-6331, signed 20 Aug 1937, states that Ralph started his employment at E.W. DeVand’s Funeral Home on 1 Jul 1937. However, the Cleveland City Directory, 1935, shows that Ralph was employed by Edwin W. DeVand’s by 1935.
[2] E.W. DeVand’s Funeral Home was located at 11130 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, as of August 1937, per the Social Security application of Ralph B. Jones. As stated in the previous note, Ralph was working at DeVand’s by 1935; Barbara Jones Chaffee recalls that he was in business for himself by the time she was attending business college (est. 1947-48). Thus, he worked at DeVand’s for at least 12 years.
[3] JoAnne.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Questionnaire, Barbara Jones Chaffee, May 2002, c/o author. Hereinafter cited as Barbara.
[7] Tom B.
[8] Cynthia.
[9] Tom B., Cynthia.
[10] Ralph D.
[11] Cleveland City Directory, 1931, Cleveland Directory Company Publishers, Cleveland, OH. The 1930 Federal census (Cuyahoga County, OH, ED 569, Sheet 3B: Cleveland Heights: Other Townships) also lists their address as 2987 Euclid Heights Boulevard, Ralph’s occupation as a manager in the undertaking business, and notes that he was renting the residence. The census is dated 3 Apr 1930, so the family had moved to that location by that date.
[12] Ralph D.
[13] Cleveland City Directory, 1932 (Cleveland Directory Company Publishers, Cleveland, OH), lists Ralph at 1915 Woodward Avenue in Cleveland Heights.
[14] Cleveland City Directory, 1934 (Cleveland Directory Company Publishers, Cleveland, OH), lists Ralph at the same Woodward Avenue address; the 1935 directory gives his address as 2976 Lincoln Boulevard in Cleveland Heights. The date estimate is based on statements that Tom was old enough to walk to the new house, and to remember taking books in his wagon; estimated age 3-4 years old. The family was in the new house by the time Cynthia was born in March 1935.
[15] The Windsor farm was purchased in May 1940. They moved to the farm when Tom was 10 and Cynthia was five or six (1940-41). The family moved to the farm for a year (Jo and Tom), then moved to the Carlton Rd house (est. 1941-42). The 1941 Cleveland City Directory lists Ralph B. Jones as a householder at 11900 Carlton Road, Cleveland Heights. The house on Carlton Road was no longer standing as of November 2002; in its place is a small park near fraternity houses for Case Western Reserve University. The houses on Carlton Road have also been renumbered. The stone wall at the back of the family’s Carlton Road lot remains.
[16] Cynthia; also Mortgage Deed dated 14 Jun 1940, Dorothy Jones, et al., Windsor Twp, OH, to Orwell Banking Company, Orwell, OH, copy c/o author. Mortgage note between Dorothy D. Jones and Boswell Jones, dated 14 May 1940, as Grantors for $1,500 to Orwell Banking Company. Hereinafter cited as farm documents.
[17] Ralph D., JoAnne.
[18] URL: http://www.chuh.org. As of 30 Aug 2002; Cleveland Heights Historical Society.
[19] Zero to Twelve, p. 3.
[20] “Zero to Twelve Recounting,” (unpublished manuscript) by Cynthia Jones Brown, c/o author, hereinafter cited as Zero to Twelve; Cynthia; Barbara; JoAnne; Tom B.
[21] Cynthia; Tom B.; Zero to Twelve.
[22] Zero to Twelve; Tom B.
[23] Zero to Twelve.
[24] JoAnne.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Cynthia.
[27] JoAnne.
[28] Ralph D.
[29] Joan McVeen (see following reference) states that Ralph was the choir director at that church from 1934 – 1943; the Bible Cynthia received from the church is dated 11 Jun 1944. Hence, the family (or at least some of them) attended the church the entire tenure of Clem Beninger, and continued to attend there for a time after they moved to Carlton Road.
[30] Joan E. McVeen, In the Beginning…Our First 90 Years: The History of the Forest Hill Church (unpublished manuscript, Oct. 1993), pp. 18-19. Obtained from Lynda Bernays, Office Administrator, Forest Hill Church, 3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH (formerly Cleveland Heights Church, Presbyterian). Hereinafter cited as McVeen.
[31] Barbara.
[32] JoAnne.
[33] Tom B.
[34] Ralph D.
[35] Tom B.
[36] McVeen, p. 8-9.
[37] JoAnne.
[38] Ibid.
[39] See above for date estimate.
[40] Ralph D.
[41] JoAnne, Barbara, Cynthia.
[42] JoAnne.
[43] Ralph D., Barbara, JoAnne,
[44] Tom B.
[45] JoAnne, Cynthia.
[46] JoAnne.
[47] Barbara.
[48] Cynthia, Tom B., Ralph D.
[49] Ralph D.
[50] Tom B.
[51] Tom B., JoAnne.
[52] Barbara, JoAnne, Tom B.
[53] Cynthia.
[54] Zero to Twelve, p. 4.