Albert Vidunas Pennsylvania

Finally!  This Albert Vidunas actually IS my Vidunas! He is my third great aunt's great nephew.  OK, so it's a round-about way, but there are family strings attached.

Albert Vidunas Family Group Sheet
from Legacy Software 2017

1914 Birth

born 25 November 1914 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.  Sources for this information are his Social Security Death Index, and his World War II Draft Card, both of which we'll explore later on.

1916, brother Anthony "Gus" Vidunas was born in Pittsburgh

1917, sister Constance Vidunas was born in Pennsylvania

1920, brother William Vidunas was born 20 January in Pittsburgh

 I actually don't have a 1920 census for this family.  Wonder why not?

1921, brother Joseph Vidunas was born just after Christmas, Pennsylvania

1923, brother Jerome Vidunas was born 28 July in Pittsburgh

1924, brother Harry Vidunas was born in Pennsylvania

1925, sister Helen Vidunas was born 17 February in Pittsburgh.

1925, son of Paul and Mary Vitunas?  Or son of Paul and Valeria Vidunas?

The Daily News (Mount Carmel, PA)
6 March 1925, page 7.
Downloaded February 2017
from Newspapers.com

Albert Vidunas of Girardville was in the Fountain Springs Hospital for an operation.  Girardville is southwest of Wilkes-Barre, and about 4 hours east of Pittsburgh.  

1930 age 10, Census Pittsburgh PA, son of Valeria

1930 Federal Census, Pittsburgh PA

Albert Vadunas (Albert Vadwnas), born about 1915 PA.  1925 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh, Allegheny PA (17th Ward, Block 30).  Mother and father born Lithuania.  Valeria age 35, Edward age 16, Constance age 13, William age 11, Joseph age 8, Harry age 6, Ellen age 5

Albert Vidunas 1930 Census, 1925 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh PA
Google Maps 2018

Albert Vidunas 1930 Census, 1925 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh PA
Google Maps Street View July 2017

The green narrow house is the house we are looking at.  It seems very narrow and claustrophobic, doesn't it?  According to Zillow, it was built in 1920, and currently has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.  It is 1280 square feet.

1935 Pittsburgh PA, son of Valeria

living 125 South 21st Street, Pittsburgh PA according to 1940 Census.  See screenshots of this area at the 1940 census, below

1939 Pennsylvania

Albert Vidunas held on charges of forging a money order
The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh PA, 16 Feb 1939, page 17
downloaded March 2017 from Newspapers.com

I have no idea whether this is my Albert Vidunas is, but he lives in Pittsburgh PA.  It looks like he made a bad decision, and it looks like it was a one-time thing.  Hopefully, he steered clear of Stanley Slinskey after this!

1940 Census, Pittsburgh PA, son of Valeria

Albert Vidunas 1940 census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3666; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 69-486

Albert Vidunas, age 25, born about 1915, home Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA.  125 South 21st Street.  Lived same place in 1935, not a farm.  Occupation is Laborer, highest grade completed was 8th grade.  64 days of unemployment, class of worker is wage or salary worker in Government work.  Living with Valeria 46, Edward age 26, Anthony age 23, William age 20, Joseph age 18, Harry age 16, Helen age 15.

Take a look at that address as of 2016.  It looks like the building was torn down, and that spot is now used for parking.  That's what I think, anyway.  If so, those would have been very narrow streets, indeed.

Albert Vidunas 1935 1940 Census, Pittsburgh PA
Google Maps

Albert Vidunas 1935 1940 Census, Pittsburgh PA
Google Maps Streetview 2016

1940

The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh PA)
30 October 1940, page 20.
Downloaded March 2017
from Newspapers.com.

Albert Vidunas, 125 South 20th Street, Pittsburgh PA one of the first drawn for the draft.  World War II.

WWII Draft Card

Albert Vidunas 1940 WWII draft card side 1
note his signature

Albert Vidunas, addres 125 So. 20th Street, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA

No telephone, age 25 years, born 25 November 1914, Pittsburgh PA

Mother Valeria Vidunas will always know his address, and she also lives at the same place.
His occupation is at the John Mackin (Arcade Bowling Alley), 1915 Carson Street, Pittsburgh.

As of 2017, this address is a Rite Aide pharmacy.  The shape of the building certainly looks like it could have been a bowling alley.

A

Albert Vidunas 1940 WWII draft card side 2

The back side of the card indicates he is white, weight 160, light complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair, height 6'2" and he has a scar on his left hand.

Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 2595.  From Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Dra Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

1977 Pittsburgh PA

Albert Vidunas found on Social Security Death Index
Ancestry.com

Albert Vidunas.  162-18-3871.  Last residence 15203 Pittsburgh, Allegheny PA.  Born 25 November 1914, died Jan 1977.  SSAN issued Pennsylvania before 1951
Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, Master File.  Social Security Administration.  from Ancestry.com 2017

1977 death notice 

The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh PA
26 January 1977, page 55
downloaded 5 March 2017
from Newspapers.com

Albert Vidunas died on 25 January 1977, son of Valeria, brother of Edward, William and Mrs. Helen Soult of Brooksville FL.  

Resources

• https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1925-Sidney-St-Pittsburgh-PA-15203/11290822_zpid/
• 
  

Albert Vidunas of Massachusetts

#NotMyVidunas

Singing Meadowlark 2014
by BadBird Photography
used with permission

Below is information about Albert Vidunas.  Now, you have to understand that there seems to be at least two Albert Vidunas' here.  I will try to separate them, and explain who I think is whom.  It does get confusing sometimes, so if you have some clarification, I would really like to hear.  There also seems to be variations or spelling errors, Albart T., Albart Thomas, Algart T., Algart Thomas (I suspect these all are variations for the same man.  Is he, however, also an Albert?

Let's start with the Massachusetts Albert Vidunas, who I think not related -- at least I don't have proof now.   I have posted about a couple of Alberts who are NOT my Vidunas.  I think this one may be related to the California Albert Vidunas, but I'm not too sure.

1925, of Massachusetts

Albert Vidunas 1925 MA Marriage Index
indexed as Vidun

The index for Massachusetts Marriages shows Albert Vidun married in 1925, Lawrence, Massachusetts.  Note the truncated last name.  

1930, Massachusetts

While I have yet to find any census record for this man, I do have record from the City Directory.

Albert and Emily Vidunas
26 Milford Street, Lawrence MA

Albert Vedounas, 26 Milford Street, Lawrence Massachusetts.  

Lawrence MA City Directory 1930, from Ancestry.com 2017

This is an abandoned lot now, but you can see, through the trees, the Brook Street residence they move to later.

1934 - 1951, Massachusetts

Albert and Emily Vidunas
33 Brook Street, Lawrence MA

Albert Vidun, wife Emily Vidun; 33 Brook, Lawrence MA.  Occupation Operator

Lawrence, MA City directory 1934, from Ancestry.com 2017
Note that his name is truncated.  In 1942, his occupation changed to Wet Finisher

They lived here for a very long time, nearly 20 years.  Then they disappear about the same time California shows up.  So, ....

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https://www.facebook.com/Badbirdphotography/

Albert Vidunas of California

California

#NotMyVidunas (maybe)

The California Albert Vidunas may have been the same person as the Massachusetts Albert Vidunas, but I'm not sure.  Therefore, we will deal with California as a separate entity.

1960 California

Albert Vidunas 1960, 377 Meridian Road, San Jose CA
from GoogleMaps Streetview

The City directory shows Alb Vidunas, 377 Meridian Road, San Jose, California.  Occupation In.  Notice the truncated FIRST name, but the full last name.  Also, what kind of occupation is "In?"
San Jose CA City Directory 1960, from Ancestry.com 2017

1971 California

City Seal
from Wikipedia

Albert Vidunas.  Sunnyvale street, San Jose, Santa Clara CA.  Occupation Manager
San Jose, California City Directory 1971, from Ancestry.com 2017.

Sunnyvale itself is a large city in the San Francisco Bay area.  I couldn't find much on the street.

I found information for Al Vidunas, and for Algart Vidunas of Sunnyvale, but I cannot figure out if they are Albert Vidunas, or if they are different people



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Albert Vadenais of Rhode Island

Rhode Island

Little Boy
from AntiqueClipart

#NotMyVidunas

1930 Census RI, son of Joseph and Celina

Albert Vadenaes aka Vadenais is 18 years old, born about 1912.  He lives with his Canadian-born parents Joseph O. and Celina Vadenaes and presumably his siblings Rodolphe, Gracia, Marie, and Gabrielle.  He is a Crunter in the wool mill, and they live at 210 Cottage Street, Woonsocket, Providence, Rhode Island.  I came across this young man during my search on Ancestry.com for Albert Vidunas.  While the spelling of this name is odd -- okay, it is weird -- you COULD argue that it would pronounce as Vidunas.  However, this is the only instance of living in Rhode Island.  Although, it is close to Massachusetts.  Let me do a bit more research ..... loading ..... Okay, got it.  This is not of the Vidunas clan.  I looked at the original census, and everyone except young Albert here was born in French Canada and spoke French.  We can strike this name off of our list.  If this is your ancestor, the hyperlink is above, and the link itself is down below, just in case you want to print this thing out.

Whew!  A google search for "Crunter" is exhausting.

1. Crunter is a surname
2. Crunter is a shy lonely scrawny guy according to the Urban dictionary, and ... eww, don't look that up, please.
3. Crunter is a type of character in Minecraft, and I found reference in WoW, but I didn't chase those down.
4. Lots of mis-references to "Counter"
5. Index of old European occupations here -- http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/index.html
6. Webster's online dictionary has nothing
7. Rootsweb's list of old occupations has nothing -- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgwkidz/oldjobs.htm
8. Yourdictionary.com got lost
9. I tried searching for jobs in a wool mill in 1930, with no results
10. Let's look at that census again
1. Well, it certainly looks like "crunter" in the census, but it probably is "counter" like brother Rodolphe.  
2. I still cannot find what this occupation might have been.  I did find some interesting information about working in a wool mill here, with link below.  

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Resources:

• Joseph and Celine Vadenais 1930 Census
• https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6224/4547310_00164?pid=4217325&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db%3D1930usfedcen%26indiv%3Dtry%26h%3D4217325%26indivrecord%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true
• Working in a Wool Mill
• http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newsouth/5493