This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HALL, HAMILTON, MARKER, RIEUTORD Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/8.2 Message Board Post: Hi Betty - In my 1931 Phoenix metro directory, page 298, left column is the following listing: "Hall Jas (James) P (Maria) (wife of James P) slsmn (occupation - salesman) Dodge Bros (employer - Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Co [E R Spear][owner of Dodge Brothers] 325 N 1st ave [employers address] r (resides at) Lower Tempe rd (Road) nr (near) s 9th". This appears to be your two research subjects. In my 1935 Phoenix only city directory, page 200, right column the listing is essentially the same as 1931 except no employer is listed and James and Maria have moved to 902 South 1st Avenue, Phoenix. He is shown as a "h", head of household which could mean other relations may be present at this address, adults or children. In the address cross directory listing 902 S 1st Av is listed as being owned by "Mrs F E Rudd (o)". (o) - means the listed party is the owner of the property noted. This suggests James and Maria were living with and/or renting from Mrs. F. E. Rudd. Do you recognize the name RUDD as a possible relation? In my 1941 Phoenix only directory essentially the same listing exists. No occupation is shown, nor an employer, but James is listed as "h" again. A new address is shown as 1106 South 1st Avenue, Phoenix. In the address cross directory 1106 is registered to a "J P Hall" and no commentary about property ownership is given suggesting he was renting. In my 1945 Phoenix only directory again the listing is essentially the same except that James is now working for Goodyear and the residence address is again different, this time 1318 South 1st Avenue, Phoenix. Goodyear was a very large Phoenix employer during the war, manufacturing aircraft related products. Goodyear Aircraft Corporation was located at 220 West Jefferson for employment and the plant was located in the western suburb of Litchfield Park. In the address cross directory the listed resident is again "J P Hall" and there is no mention of his owning of the property. In my 1947 Phoenix only city directory the listing on page 350, right column, now reads: "Hall James P (Maria R) salesman r (rooms, resides or rents) 15 E Tonto st". In the address cross directory he is shown as the tenant, not the owner. This is the first listing where Maria's middle initial is displayed at all, and it's a "R" presumeably for RIEUTORD. My next directory is 1955 and is a Phoenix only listing. There is no James P or Jas P or James or Jim with a spouse named Maria listed. It appears James P is either deceased or divorced from Maria or has moved away. There is however on page 1218, right column the following listing: "Hall Maria R emp (employee) McKeans Laundry (McKeans Laundry and Dry Cleaning owned by the CHISUM family and whose main office is located at 245 West Madison, Phoenix and which also had 6 branch locations - observation: this entity might still be in business and if so, old employment records may exist which could be a treasure of genealogical information to descendant researchers) h (head of household suggesting other relations may be present) 1237 S 21st St (Phoenix) AL 3-0522 (phone)". In the address cross directory 1237 South 21st Street is listed to "Hall Maria R H (H - homeowner) AL 3-0522" In the telephone cross directory number Al 3-0522 is listed as "ALPINE 3-0522 Hall Maria R". Thi! s now means there should be land records and property tax records that should exist on Maria. Also, most property owners are usually registered voters and it's possible a voter registration record exists which may contain genealogical information of value. In my 1957 Phoenix only directory, on page 1276, right column is the following listing: "Hall Maria R (wid J P)(widow of J P - presumeably James P) H smstrs (seamstress) McKeans Ldry & Dry Clng h 1237 S 21st St Al 3-0522". This confirms James P is deceased by 1957 and more than likely died in the pre-1955 era. In my 1959 Phoenix only directory the listing for Maria is essentially the same except that she is no longer shown as being employed or as having a phone. Perhaps she was in the retirement stage of her life and also reducing expenses. The listing still shows she is the widow of J P and the address remains the same. In my 1960 Phoenix only directory the listing is still essentially the same as 1959 except Maria has her occupation once again shown as seamstress and she has a new employer "Cash and Carry Clnrs" (Cash and Carry Carry Cleaners has no listing in the directory). Again, if the former employer is still in business perhaps old employment records might exist. This concludes the collection of city directories that I have. My last reference before her death is the 1975 Phoenix metro phone book and on page 414, left column is "Hall Maria R Mrs 1110 S Montezuma 255-6677". I have no cross address directory for that year but looking back at 1960 1110 South Montezuma was owned by a "E V Orabuena". In the alpha listing we find "Orabuena Esauro V (Emilia G) custdn (custodian) Monroe Sch (Monroe School [Elementary] 215 N 7th St". I mention this information because sometimes a person comes into possession of a piece of property from a relative that has either died or sells it to a relative when moving on. Whether E V and E G ORABUENA are related to Maria is not determineable from these records. Hope this helps in your research. Good luck. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer