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| Ernest Gustav Mellen |
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| Ernest Mellen and his older brother Carl Melin. C. 1917 New Haven, CT. |
Warm end of July nights, and heading to America. I bet these two young men were having the time of their lives with hopes and dreams just within reach. The entire sea voyage took twelve days, and included two weekends; but then what is a weekend when you are aboard a steam ship heading for America? When Ernest arrived at Ellis Island he declared he held $25, and stated also that he was joining his brother Karl Melin who already resided in the United States at 447 West 43rd Street NY. NY. When Ernest moved from Sweden to the United States it was at a time when immigrants were expected to quickly assimilate into American society and the American way of life. He was not a farmer like so many immigrants, but a trained and skilled machinist; a highly sought out skill needed in America. He began work right away as a toolmaker in the casting department for Marlin Fire Arms in New Haven, Connecticut.
Marlin Fire Arms was founded in 1870 by John Mahlon Marlin, and is still in business today; being acquired in 2007 by Remmington Arms. However, manufacturing has been moved to Kentucky. Here I believe is where he met his bride Esther Alida Andersson.
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| Miss Annie Oakley Shot with a Marlin (1860-1926) |
As she it turns out she also worked at Marlin Fire Arms at the same time producing bullets on the
assembly line.
I didn't locate them in 1924, but I found a mention in the New Haven city directory that they removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I still need to follow that lead further. Then in 1925 I located them living on Grant Hill, at 440 27th Street at Island Avenue, San Diego California.
That house is no longer standing.
1930, 367 N. Reno Street, Los Angeles CA. According to the U.S. census, they owned that home. They were no longer renters. The value of the home was shown as $5,500, and they lived there with my uncle Ivar, their son. They were also shown at 353 N. Reno St. Both are gone now, replaced with HWY 101.
1932-1939 the family moved to 516 N. Coronado St. Los Angeles, California, then 616 N. Coronado St. then 528 N. Coronado St. All of these are gone now, replaced with HWY 101.
In the 1940's my grandfather Ernest was working for Adel Precision Products Corporation, at 1077 Van Owen Street., Los Angeles, CA. At that time, the United States was now involved in WWII.
He was a machinist there building parts which were used in the building of highly top secret military aircraft. Ernest was then in his 50's.
I found some old collectible employee badges online from this company and era, but none were of my grandfather.
The final image is of a very young Ernest G. Mellen. Probably just prior to immigration. He appears to be about 18 years old, so I gave this photo a date of C. 1910. The Melin family was living in Islingby, Stora Tuna, Dalarna, Sweden at that time.
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| Esther Alida Andersson C. 1921 |
Ernest began his petition for U.S. citizenship on December 01, 1916 and it was finalized on February 18, 1920.
Looking at all the documentation, I believe I counted at least six witnesses over the four years.
Here is part of the oath he swore:
Seventh. I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and it is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Gustav V, King of Sweden of whom at this time I am a subject and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States.
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| KING of SWEDEN Gustaf V Reign: December 8th, 1907 - October 29, 1950 |
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| Bethesda Lutheran Church New Haven Connecticut |
Ernest married my grandmother Esther Alida Andersson on Saturday, February 10, 1917 in New Haven Connecticut. They were joined together by Reverend Carl H. Nelson in the Bethesda Lutheran Church at State and Franklin Street in that city. During that decade the Church membership was 300, and Rev. Carl H. Nelson held services in
Swedish every-other Sunday.
Swedish every-other Sunday.
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| The alter painting by: Herman Sodersten Born in Filipstad, Sweden July 12, 1862. He died July 02, 1926. Another notable fact is that Herman also painted Elizabeth Hosmer Kellogg Chase and Steven Wright Kellogg both distant cousins in our family tree related by 7X Great Grand Father on my paternal line Lt. Joseph Kellogg (1626 - 1704) |
It is probably a good thing that the process to citizenship for Ernest took so long. If it hadn't and he became a U.S. citizen right away, he probably would have been sent to France during WWI, and I might not be here today. On the World War One U.S. draft registration card. Ernest claimed exemption do to whole support of his wife, and munitions maker in support of the war effort. I believe both my grandparents, Ernest and Esther did their part in the war producing guns and bullets which were used to bring about peace to the world.
His mother had died during the same year. His mother, Edla Sophia Persdotter died Saturday, December 01, 1917 in Stora Tuna, Dalarnas, Sweden at the age of sixty years. From the Swedish death index it appears she died of dropsy. Today this is known as edema.
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| Edla Sofia persdotter (1857-1917) Great Grand Mother |
From the city directories and government documents I now begin to trace out his residence.
1917: I found Ernest living near Yale University at 15 Audubon St. New Haven. His brother just living a few blocks away.
June 5th, 1917 he and his new bride moved to 319 Norton Street.
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| Google Image today c. 2016 100 years later! 319 Norton Street. New Haven, Connecticut |
Then in 1918-1923, they are living in a home apartment. The home owned by Axel L. Kruckenberg, 49, a house painter, and his family: wife, Helma, 53, both of Sweden. Their son 20, and daughter 12, both born in Connecticut. The home was at 166 1/2, Peck Street.
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| Google Image Aug. 2015 166 1/2 Peck St. New Haven, CT. My grandparents and my Uncle Ivar as a baby lived here for five years prior to moving to California. |
ISSUE to Ernest & Esther: Also see prior MELIN story.
1) My uncle: Ivar Ernest, b. 21 May 1920, New Haven.
2) My mother: June
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| C. 1921 Little Ivar Mellen looks as though he is barely sitting up. Since he was born in May of 1920, I dated the photo c. 1921. His mother Esther Alida is to his left, and his father Ernest Gustav Mellen is behind him. I am not positive who the young woman holding the dog is, but I know who she isn't if that makes sense. After many years of looking back and forth over images, I am 98% sure that this is Anna Matilda (Melin) Jonsson. However, she has very similar looks to my mother, and to that of Eshter in this photo. Esther had a younger sister Anna Karonlina who married Helmer Emanuel Brobeck in 1915. So, I am fairly sure she didn't travel to America. The dog also rules that out. |
I didn't locate them in 1924, but I found a mention in the New Haven city directory that they removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I still need to follow that lead further. Then in 1925 I located them living on Grant Hill, at 440 27th Street at Island Avenue, San Diego California.
That house is no longer standing.
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| Ivar Mellen as a baby, and his parents Esther and Ernest Mellen. The confusion here is that this photo album page says San Diego, California, U.S.A. Obviously Ivar was not a four year old child in this photo. Possibly these two photos are of different dates. Little Ivar is bundled up, and there are no leaves on the tress. I must assume then it is fall of 1921 in Connecticut. The photo on the right of Esther and Ernest Mellen is possibly even earlier looking at both their ages. Again I have to go with a guess. I searched, and found a rose garden in both New Haven Connecticut, (Pardee Rose Garden), and in Grant Hill, San Diego. Comparing the photo of them with the dog C. 1921, and the photo above, I think this photo is C. 1917. circa 1917 - 1925. |
1928 they are living at 325 N. La Fayette Park Pl., Los Angeles, CA.
There is a new home now at this location.
There is a new home now at this location.
1930, 367 N. Reno Street, Los Angeles CA. According to the U.S. census, they owned that home. They were no longer renters. The value of the home was shown as $5,500, and they lived there with my uncle Ivar, their son. They were also shown at 353 N. Reno St. Both are gone now, replaced with HWY 101.
1932-1939 the family moved to 516 N. Coronado St. Los Angeles, California, then 616 N. Coronado St. then 528 N. Coronado St. All of these are gone now, replaced with HWY 101.
1940, 6200 Roy Street, Los Angeles, CA. @Corner of Eastview Drive.
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| Ivar Ernest Mellen with his sister June Margurite Mellen C. 1943 908 N. Avenue 65, Los Angeles, California. Ivar listed this as his address in 1941 when he married Jane Louise Miller. |
1941-1943, 908 N. Ave 65 Los Angeles, CA. That is a really nice Spanish Style home.
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| 908 N. Ave 65, Los Angeles California |
What a beautiful home in the Highland Park neighborhood. You can still see the stair rail where my mother and my uncle Ivar sat for the photo above back in 1943.
In the 1940's my grandfather Ernest was working for Adel Precision Products Corporation, at 1077 Van Owen Street., Los Angeles, CA. At that time, the United States was now involved in WWII.
He was a machinist there building parts which were used in the building of highly top secret military aircraft. Ernest was then in his 50's.
I found some old collectible employee badges online from this company and era, but none were of my grandfather.
I also found online this old 1938 stock certificate.
I also found these magazine ads online from 1943.
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| My uncle Ivar E. Mellen joins the U.S. Army, WWII. |
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| Google image Oct. 2014 620 N. Chester Avenue, Pasadena, California. |
1944 - 1954, This next home is on the historic register in Pasadena. 620 N. Chester Avenue, Pasadena, California. This home is in the bungalow heaven of Pasadena, next to Orange Grove Blvd. Ten years of enjoying the Rose Parade going by their house annually on New Years Day. This is the home I believe as the story was told, that had a house fire. Prohibition was 1920-1933. My grandfather was known for making his own "Rootbeer" in the garage. Some how there was an accident and the fire started. Some rabbits were also being raised in cages in the garage at the time and perished in the fire. My mother just remembers that her bike that she worked so hard to earn the money for, had also burned in the fire. Thank goodness no one was seriously injured.
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| Ernest & Esther Mellen C. 1950 |
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| Ernest & Esther Mellen C. 1950 |
The two photos above of Ernest and Esther Mellen are actually the same photo, I just enlarged, and clipped the photo. The shake style front to the house and the window behind the two unknown men looks to me to be the 620 N. Chester Ave house above. A closer view of the window bellow clearly defines this house and the era.
Ernest Gustav Mellen past away, Monday, July 27, 1953 at the age just one day shy of his 61st. He was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, Los Angeles, California. Also on that day Armistice ended. The Korean war began June 25, 1950, and ended July 27, 1953. My grandfather through his line of work as a machinist helped to support World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
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| C. 1953 Ernest Gustav Mellen, Pasadena California 620 N. Chester Avenue |
Ernest Gustav Mellen past away, Monday, July 27, 1953 at the age just one day shy of his 61st. He was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, Los Angeles, California. Also on that day Armistice ended. The Korean war began June 25, 1950, and ended July 27, 1953. My grandfather through his line of work as a machinist helped to support World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
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| Ernest Gustav Mellen C. 1910 |
I would like to add information regarding the siblings of Ernest, and all his cousins, but I have run out of time.