[Photo by Richard F. Hope]

Northampton Apartments (525 Northampton Street, now Barber Shop)

3-story brick, with stone western wall on the first story.

This is roughly the western half of Original Town Lot No.241, which the Penn Family Proprietors sold to John Leidich (also spelled Leitigh) in 1807 for £35 11s. 3d. “current money of Pennsylvania in Specie”.1 Specie (silver coins) may have been worth much more than the erratic paper money in circulation at the time.2 There was apparently no building on this portion of the lot when Leidich’s heirs split it off and sold it to William Cawley in 1845 for $666.3

William Cawley, a builder by trade, apparently built his residence on this property by 1855. It was then numbered 213 Northampton Street.4 This early building may have been the brick structure referred to in 1874, or may have been a smaller structure of stone as reflected by the stone western wall of the first story found on the modern structure. At all events, by 1860 Cawley may have no longer been living in the property, since he was not found in the 1860 Census5 or the City Directory6 – which could indicate that improvements were being made to the building at that time.7

William Cawley died in 1862, at age “about 45 years”.8 No Cawley Family members were listed in Easton’s City Directory during the Civil War,9 but by 1870 William Cawley’s widow, Louisa, had again taken up residence here with her family,

which consisted of her son William H. Cawley and her daughter Anna (together with Anna’s husband, James Brodie,10 and their two sons).11

o The property was apparently assigned both Nos. 213 and 215 Northampton Street,12 suggesting that by this time the building had multiple apartments (as it does today). A few years later (in 1873-74), both Mrs. Cawley and her son William were listed at 215 Northampton Street,13 and the building had the same footprint on the property as it does today.14

1 Deed, John and Richard Penn to John Leitigh, C3 67 (16 March 1807); accord A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937)(John Leitich). The Original Town Lot No.241 had a 60’ front on Northampton Street. Today’s 525 Northampton Street property has a 29’ front, and the Leidich Property next door at 515-17 Northampton Street has a 31’ front on Northampton Street, which together make up the original 60’ front.

2 See Frank Fenwick McLeod, “The History of Fiat Money and Currency Inflation in New England from 1620 to 1789”, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 12 (September 1898), 57, at 76, available on the Internet at www.dinsdoc.com/mcleod-1.htm.

3 Deed, John Leidich Devisees by Attorney Charles Kitchen, Esq. to William Cawley, H9 23 (1 Oct. 1845)(no specific mention of a building, other than general conveyancing boilerplate language, which is suggestive although not conclusive).

4 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 19 (Cole & Eichman’s Office 1855)(William Cawley, building, 22 North 6th Street, home at 213 Northampton Street).

These street numbers do not line up with those on the other side of Northampton Street, unlike the case in other blocks. The Mt. Vernon Hotel (at the SE corner with 6th Street), for example, was 206-08 Northampton Street prior to 1874. However, the City Directory entries do consistently show that Leidich, Cawley, and Ricker were next to each other, in numbers in the 210s prior to 1874. In order to “line up” with the Mt. Vernon Hotel’s pre-1874 numbers, this would place these three families west of Sixth Street. However, after 1874, the three families were each assigned numbers in the 500 block of Northampton Street. It strains credulity to believe that all three families suddenly moved one block East, and settled next door to each other in exactly the same order! Accordingly, the only reasonable conclusion is that the numbers on the North and South sides of Northampton Street in this block were not symmetrical with each other.

5 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 1147, p.416 (no “Cawley” listed on either side of John P. Ricker located on this page of the Census, and the name “Cawley” does not appear in Easton in a general search).

6 William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 119 (William H. Boyd 1860).

7 The modern building itself has a flat roof, rather than a mansard roof in the “Second Empire” style that was popular in Easton and elsewhere after the Civil War (and certainly by the early 1870s). This suggests that the present brick building was constructed either by William Cawley (Sr.) prior to his death, or by his heirs in the 1860s.

8 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870 Newspaper Extracts 141 (Easton Area Public Library 1934); accord, Deed of Partition, Anna M. (James J.) Brodie to William H. Cawley, G16 80 (8 Feb. 1881)(recital that William Cawley of Easton died intestate on 3 June 1862, leaving his widow Louisa C. Cawley and two children, Anna Cawley (married name Brodie) and William H. Cawley).

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o In addition, in 1874 a smaller detached building was located at the rear of the property, facing Church Street.15 Today, there is a 2-1/2 story house at that location (numbered 522 Church Street), with a stone foundation and brick upper stories.

o Shortly after the new street numbers were inaugurated in 1874, both Mrs. Cawley and her son William were listed as 523 Northampton Street.16

It appears that the storefront was leased to James I. Brodie, a “seedsman and florist”,17 who in 1878 installed the first “speaking telephone” in Easton that “connected his seed store, on Northampton street, with his green house on Seventh street, near the cemetery”, a distance covered by about 600 yards of wire.18

By 1880, William H. Cawley had apparently moved to Bethlehem.19 William H. Cawley obtained full ownership of this building when the Cawley family divided its property between the two children in 1881,20 and he ultimately moved back in with his mother in Easton.21 Professionally, he was an agent for the Adams Express Company for some 50 years, until he retired. He continued to own this property until 1918,22 when he

9 See Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 7 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864).

10 They were married in 1863, the year after Anna’s death. See Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1852 – 1870 Newspaper Extracts 110 (Easton Area Public Library).

In 1870, Brodie was a “Fancy Store Keeper”. 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.98 (spelled James R. Broadi by the Census taker).

11 See 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.98 (dwelling house 142, listed next to the John P. Ricker (a carpenter) and his family at dwelling house No.141; no street numbers were given in these Census pages). See also D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(W. Cawley next to J.P. Ricker across the alley). The 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.410D showed:

o At 523 Northampton Street: Louisa C. Cawley, age 67, with her daughter, Anna N. [sic] Brodie (age 37), her son-in-law, James [I.?] Brodie, and two grandsons; and

o At 529 Northampton Street (now the Bishop Apartments Building, next door across Library Court): John P. Ricker, a carpenter, with his wife and four sons.

12 Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 33 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(Mrs. William Cawley at 215 Northampton Street, and William H.H. Cawley, clerk, at 213 Northampton Street).

13 Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 59 (1873)( Mrs. L.C. Cawley and W.H. Cawley, clerk, residing at 215 Northampton Street).

14 Compare D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(W. Cawley) with Northampton County Tax Records, Map and Sketch Map of 525 Northampton Street, www.ncpub.org.

15 See D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(paint [shed?]).

16 Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 34 (M.J. Riegel 1875). At that time, William H. Cawley listed his profession as a “merchant tailor”, with his shop at 249 Northampton Street (now known as the Easton Sweet Shop Building, at the NE corner with Centre Square).

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sold it to Larry P. Brown23 and moved to Porter Street on College Hill.24 Apparently due to the Cawley family’s long occupancy, the alley next door (now Library Court,25 formerly Rose Street) has sometimes been known as Cawley Court.26

In 1920, Larry P. Brown sold the property to Morris Pinsky,27 and in that year the building was referred to as the Northampton Apartments.28 It is not clear whether this reflected some building modifications (perhaps by Mr. Brown prior to its sale), or whether it was simply given that name after the departure of the Cawley Family. Morris Pinskey opened a second-hand furniture / antiques store in the building.29 Despite contracting to sell the building to Abraham and Morris Kaplan in 192530 and actually

17 J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1877 57 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(J.I. Brodie, “seedsman and florist”, 525 Northampton Street with home at the same address); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 61 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(same, with added not of green houses on North Seventh Street).

18 Vol.III, Part 3 The Book Shelf Scrap Book of Easton and Northampton Co. 56 (Easton Public Library 1936)(transcribed newspaper article).

19 See 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.410D, which showed 523 Northampton Street the residence of Louisa C. Cawley, age 67, with her daughter, Anna N. [sic] Brodie (age 37), her son-in-law, James [I.?] Brodie, and two grandsons. William H. Cawley was not listed in Easton in the 1880 Census, and an 1881 Deed recites that he was a resident of Bethlehem at that time. See Deed of Partition, Anna M. (James J.) Brodie to William H. Cawley, G16 80 (8 Feb. 1881).

20 Deed of Partition, Anna M. (James J.) Brodie to William H. Cawley, G16 80 (8 Feb. 1881). This deed explicitly refers to a “Brick dwelling House” on the property. See also D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(W. Cawley, showing building footprint).

21 See 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.107B (523 Northampton Street (between John P. Ricker and Anna Leidich), was the residence of William H. Cawley, express agent age 50, head of a household which included his mother, Louisa C. Cawley, age 85).

22 See 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.74B (W. H. Cawley, an Express Co. agent age 60, with wife Ella and daughters Louise and Edith, at [523?] Northampton Street); Charles M. Bernard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 1912 143 (The West Job Printing House 1912)(William H. (Ella) Cawley, agent for Adams Express Co., residence at 523 Northampton Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 151 (The Union Publishing Co. 1914)(same); 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.110A (William H. Cawley, age 69, at 718 Porter Street, a claim agent for a railway express company); Obituary, “William H. Cawley”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 14 March 1938, p.5; see 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.107B (William H. Cawley, age 50, express agent, with wife Ella and two daughters Louise L. and Edith S. Cawley).

23 Deed, William H. Cawley to Harry P. Brown, E45 675 (26 Sept. 1918)(sale price $31,000, including a “certain brick messuage”).

24 See 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.110A (William H. Cawley, age 69, at 718 Porter Street, a claim agent for a railway express company); Obituary, “William H. Cawley”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 14 March 1938, p.5 (William H. Cawley died in 1938, a resident of 718 Porter St.).

25 Northampton County Tax Records, Map, www.ncpub.org. 26 E.g., Deed, Howard I. Hill, Jr. et al. to Jerry A. (Linda R.) Coughlin, 739-000064 (1 Aug.

1987)(description of 525 Northampton Street property next door); West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 672 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1932); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City

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deeding the property to them in 1928,31 Pinskey apparently maintained his store here until the early 1930s.32 In 1928, however, the commercial space in the building became the showroom for Morris Kaplan’s awning and window shades business.33

o Morris Kaplan was born in Russia. He emigrated to New York in 1891, and came to Easton in 1914,34 when he rode a bicycle from New York City with a friend. Initially working at the Bush & Bull store in Centre Square, Kaplan “believed he could do a much better job providing awnings and customer service”.35 He founded his awning business in 1923 “in a barn at the rear of the family home on Bushkill Street”.36

Directory 1935 597 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1935). 27 Deed, Harry P. Brown to Morris Pinsky, C47 267 (15 Apr. 1920). 28 Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 20 (Charles M.

Barnard 1920)(“Blocks, Buildings, Halls”). 29 H.P. Delano (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 682 (Union

Publishing Co. Inc. 1925) (Morris (Fannie) Pinskey’s second hand furniture at both 525 and 612 Northampton Street, residence at 611 Walnut Street). In 1920, Pinskey’s second hand furniture business had only been listed at 612 Northampton Street, with a residence at 829 Ferry Street.

30 Agreement, Morris (Fannie) Pinsky to Abraham Kaplan and Morris Kaplan, Misc 74 533 (30 Dec. 1925)(subject to certain financing arrangements).

31 Deed, Morris (Fannie) Pinsky to Abraham Kaplan and Morris Kaplan, D60 133 (29 Dec. 1928).

32 West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 323, 447, 682 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1930)(Morris (Fannie) Pinskey’s “Antiques” now only at the 525 Northampton Street address, with his residence at 635 Walnut Street, while Morris (Fannie) Kaplan’s awnings business is listed only at 671 Bushkill Street, with his residence also at the same location).

It is an interesting side-note that in the sale of the 525 Northampton Street property by Pinskey to Kaplan, the first names of the parties on both sides of the transaction were Morris and Fannie.

33 Christine Stazo, “and the winner is . . . The Textile Industry!”, EASTON IRREGULAR 8 (Heritage Edition Summer 2011); see Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006)(Morris Kaplan’s business moved to 525 Northampton Street five years after it began in 1923); see also West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 300 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1932)(“Office and Showroom” at 525 Northampton Street, factory and residence at 671 Bushkill Street).

The 1932 Directory shows the Pinskey Family still resident at 635 Walnut Street. However, there were two directory listings, one for Morris (Fannie) Pinskey as an antique dealer, and the other specifically for Mrs. Fannie Pinskey as a second hand furniture dealer back at the earlier 612 Northampton Street address, as well as 650 Northampton Street. West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 423 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1932).

34 Obituary, “Morris Kaplan”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 23 Nov. 1970, p.28, col.4. 35 Christine Stazo, “and the winner is . . . The Textile Industry!”, EASTON IRREGULAR 8

(Heritage Edition Summer 2011). 36 Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006); Christine Stazo, “and the

winner is . . . The Textile Industry!”, EASTON IRREGULAR 8 (Heritage Edition Summer 2011); see H.P. Delano (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 364 (Union Publishing Co. Inc. 1925)(Morris (Fannie) Kaplan, awning maker, residence at 671 Bushkill Street); Obituary, “Morris Kaplan”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 23 Nov. 1970, p.28, col.4 (business founded

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Despite a brief interruption of ownership in 1943 over a debt owed to the Cawley Family,37 Kaplan’s business remained in this building until 1964, when it moved “across the street” to 524 Northampton Street.38

o Kaplan’s remained at No.524 for nearly twenty more years,39 before the business moved again to the Shearer Building at 108 Northampton Street (by the Free Bridge).40

The Kaplan Family continued to own the Northampton Apartments until 1969.41

An Easton tradition also holds that World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Larry Holmes42 was connected with this building as a boy. Review of the records does not

by Morris Kaplan at 671 Bushkill Street). 37 In 1943, the daughters of William Cawley (then deceased) – Edith S. and Louise E.

Cawley (see 1900 Census and 1910 Census, supra – sued Abraham and Morris Kaplan (as “Terre Tenants”) and Harry P. Brown, (as “Mortgagor”), and took this property in a Sheriff’s Sale. Within ten days, Abraham Kaplan bought the property back again. Compare Deed, W. Calvin Nickel, Sheriff to Edith S. and Louise E. Cawley, C74 355 (28 Sept. 1943)(via Writ of Fieri Facias in Debt issued by Northampton County Common Pleas Court, Sept. Term 1943, Action No.12, by William Cawley, deceased to the use of Edith S. and Louise E. Cawley v. Harry P. Brown, Mortgagor and Abraham and Morris Kaplan, Terre Tenants) with Deed, Edith S. and Louise E. Cawley to Abraham (Fannie) Kaplan, H 74 288 (6 Oct. 1943). Harry P. Brown appears to be the same person who purchased the property from William H. Cawley in 1918. See Deed, William H. Cawley to Harry P. Brown, E45 675 (26 Sept. 1918). His purchaser, Morris Pinsky, specifically assumed a mortgage on the property, which may be the debt which was later defaulted. See Deed, Harry P. Brown to Morris Pinsky, C47 267 (15 Apr. 1920)(recitals).

The heirs of Abraham Kaplan’s wife, Fannie, conveyed their interest in the property to one of their number, Morris Kaplan, in 1947. Deed, Morris Kaplan, et al. (heirs of Fannie Kaplan), C82 235 (16 Oct. 1947). The interest of other heirs of Abraham Kaplan was conveyed to Morris Kaplan in 1965. Deed, Ida Kaplan, et al. (heirs of Abraham Kaplan) to Morris Kaplan, 240 547 (15 March 1965).

38 Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1964 175, St. & Ave. Guide at 118 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1964); see also Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1942-43 199 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1942).

According to Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006), Kaplan’s “jumped across the street” to 524 Northampton Street in 1964. Accord, Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006)(Morris Kaplan’s business moved to 525 Northampton Street five years after it began in 1923). However, Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1965 172, St. & Ave. Guide at 118 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1965) still shows Kaplan’s at 525 Northampton Street, and shows No. 524 as vacant. By the 1966 Directory, Kaplan’s is clearly listed at 524 Northampton Street. Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1966 184, St. & Ave. Guide at 126 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1966).

39 Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006); see Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1983 278 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1983). Morris Kaplan died in 1970, a resident of Edison, New Jersey. His wife, Fannie, had died in 1947. Obituary, “Morris Kaplan”, EASTON EXPRESS, Mon., 23 Nov. 1970, p.28, col.4.

40 Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006); see Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1984 291 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1984)(Kaplan’s at 100 Northampton Street); Easton Is Home, Summer 2006 Heritage Edition 37 (2006); see Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1985-86 293 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1985)(same).

See generally separate entry on the Shearer Building, 108 Northampton Street.

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corroborate this tradition, nor does Mr. Holmes (in 2010) remember any connection with the building.43 Larry Holmes did not live in this building, or even in this area, as a boy. Holmes came to Easton with his Mother (from Georgia) in approximately 1956.44 Shortly after their arrival, the Holmes Family was located in Hull’s Court45 and then on Washington Street,46 not on Northampton Street. The family “ended up on the South Side of Easton . . . [at] 208 Easton Lincoln Street”.47

Larry Homes teenage girlfriend may have had a connection with the building – her mother was apparently a tenant.48 However, Mr. Holmes (in 2010) does not

41 Deed, Morris Kaplan to Salvatore (Patricia) Sportelli, 346 304 (29 may 1969)(sale price $24,000). See also Deed, Salvatore (Patricia) Sportelli, et al., to Howard I (Katherine C.) Hill, 597 156 (5 April 1979); Deed, Howard I. Hill, Jr. et al. to Jerry A. (Linda R. Coughlin, 739-000064 (1 Aug. 1987)(reciting an unrecorded Purchase Agreement dated 28 Dec. 1984 to sell the property to Lawrence A. Taylor and Royal R. Mahr, who were also joined as sellers)(purchase price $195,000).

42 For information about Larry Holmes, see generally separate entry for 91 Larry Holmes Drive.

43 Interview with Larry Holmes at Larry Holmes Ringside restaurant (26 Aug. 2010). 44 Answers.com, “Black Biography: Larry Holmes”, www.answers.com/topic/holmes-larry

(accessed 5 March 2008); see also Larry Holmes and Phil Berger, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds 1 (St. Martin’s Press 1998)(moved to Easton in 1955).

45 Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1957 396 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1957)(Mrs. Flossie L. Holmes, with Larry age 8, at 3322 Hull’s Court). See also Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1956 407 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1956)(no entry for Flossie Holmes or John Henry Holmes).

46 Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1958 376 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1958)(Flossie Lea Holmes, with Larry age 7, at 440 Washington St.); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1959 352 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1959)(Flossie Lea Holmes, with Larry age 8, at 440 Washington St.); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1960 150 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1960)(Flossie Holmes at 431 Washington St.); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1961 152 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1961)(Flossie Holmes (widow of John) at 431 Washington St.).

47 Larry Holmes and Phil Berger, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds 3-4 (St. Martin’s Press 1998); accord, Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1962 150 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1961)(Mrs. Flossie Holmes at 208 E. Lincoln Street, South Easton); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1963 159 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1963)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1964 158 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1964)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1965 156 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1965)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1966 165 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1966)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1967 234 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1967)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1968 239 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1968)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1969 240 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1969)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1970 216 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1970)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1971 226 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1971)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1972 225 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1972)(same).

48 Beginning when Larry Holmes was 16 years old, his girlfriend was “Millie” Bowles. He ultimately lived in her apartment in the “projects” in South Easton, and with whom he fathered two daughters: Misty (born 1968) and Lisa (born 1969). Source: Larry Holmes and Phil Berger, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds 14-15 (St. Martin’s Press 1998).

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remember even meeting his girlfriend’s mother, and also does not recall any extensive visits to Northampton Street at that time.49

“Millie”, although her identify is disguised in the Against the Odds biography, appears to have been a daughter of Edith Mae Bowles. See Obituary, “Edith Mae Bowles”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Thurs., 28 Nov. 2002, p. B-4, col.3, which shows that Mrs. Bowles had 9 children (six of whom pre-deceased her), 19 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren at the time of her death. One of her daughters was Bernice (Bowles) Alvin, of Winnsboro, South Carolina. Bernice’s middle initial is “M”, and in 1969 she lived in South Easton at 727 Berwick St., and worked at the Strongwear Pants company. Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1969 54 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1969); see also Easton Area High School Alumni Directory 2002 41 (Mrs.Bernice M. Alvin, homemaker, 209 Perry Lane, Winnsboro, SC 29180, telephone 803-635-6817); Larry Holmes and Phil Berger, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds 14, 36 (St. Martin’s Press 1998)(Larry Holmes’s job driving a truck for Mort Levy’s Strongwear Pants). She graduated from Easton High School in 1962 – which is approximately correct to make her age 22 at the start of her relationship in the later 1960s with Larry Holmes. Compare Easton Area High School Yearbook, Réchauffé 25 (1962) with Larry Holmes and Phil Berger, Larry Holmes: Against the Odds 14 (St. Martin’s Press 1998).

In 1968-69, Edith Mae Bowles (apparently “Millie’s” mother) occupied Apartment No.1 at 525 Northampton Street. Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1968 54, St. & Ave. Guide at 196 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1968); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1969 54, St. & Ave. Guide at 195 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1969).

49 Interview with Larry Holmes at Larry Holmes Ringside restaurant (27 Aug. 2010).

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