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, ....

---------------------------------------------------------
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



----------------------------------------------------------------

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.  

________________________________________________

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

Back on Track

Christmas is over, and I am back on track.  I had to take a break in order to catch up on my Christmas knitting. This is an example of what I typically make out of my hand spun and home dyed wool yarn.  You can typically expect a weekly-ish post about the Veritable Vidunas Family starting next week-ish.

A word of caution

The surname Vidunas comes in all sorts of spellings.



But the one variation I came across is not part of this family.  There is "Viduna" living in Chicago who come from Chekoslovakia Bohemia.  Unless a Vidunas moved there at some time and this is indeed a variation of our name, it is best to ignore this spelling.

Now, of course, if someone wants to take that project on, I think that would be a great thing.  Do you know if a Vidunas moved to Bohemia from Lithuania, then moved to the Chicago area?

Don't Worry

To the Vidunas family following this post, don't despair.  Life is a four-letter word and gets in the way of the really important stuff. 

Hang in there, the adventure continues as soon as possible

Ronald Reagan advertises for Chesterfield
from weird_vintage_ads_39

.

Obit Sunday -- Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918-1991

Obit Sunday -- Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918-1991

1991

Constant Vidunas of Morrisville, Bucks County PA died 26 October 1991, according to the Social Security Death Index.  His social security card was issued before 1951 in Pennsylvania.  In the Social Security Applications and Claims Index, his parents are listed as Konstantas and Nellie Rateta Vidunas, that he had no disability, and that his name was changed in 1936 as Constant Joseph Vidunas, and in 1991 as Constant Vidunas.

Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1991 gravestone
Section 9-B; site 872;
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery

(Quenzer, 2010)

He is buried in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County PA; Section 9-B, Site 872.  Find-a-Grave Memorial # 61453491.  According to abbreviations.com, the AMMH1 on his gravestone means Aviation Machinist's Mate (hydraulic Mechanic) Petty Officer 1st Class.

Is Constant Joseph Vidunas your Vidunas ancestor?


Bibliography;

Quenzer, D. (2010, November 11). Constant J. Vidunas, Jr Memorial # 61453491. 

              Retrieved August 17, 2017, from Find-a-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/

              fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61453491&ref=acom#

Miscellaneous Monday -- Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918-1991

Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918 - 1991

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1959

I think this article shows that "Constanti" and Catherine Vidunas of 62 Grandview Ave got a permit to build a block garage worth $400.  His wife was Cathrine E. Markulin 1915-2013, they were married January 1943.

Constant and Catherine Vidunas 1959 permit
Levittown Times (Levittown PA), 3 August 1959
downloaded from Newspapers.com March 2017

1962

Constant J. Vidunas is one of several selected for Jury Duty.  In this article, we find his occupation is as a steelworker, and he lives at 62 Grandview Avenue, Morrisville PA.

Constant J. Vidunas for Jury Duty
The Bristol Daily Courier (Bristol, PA)
13 September 1962, page 13
downloaded from Newspapers.com March 2017

Constant Vidunas 1962
62 Grandview Avenue, Morrisville PA
2017 Google Maps

Constant Vidunas 1962
62 Grandview Avenue, Morrisville PA2013
Google Maps Streetview, July 2017

Social Saturday -- Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918 -1991

Constant Joseph Vidunas II 1918 - 1991

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1957

Constant Vidunas is on a committee in Morrisville.  The pre-lenten card and novelty party is held at the Holy Trinity church, a party sponsored by the PTA (Parent Teacher Association).  He is apparently on the Tickets committee.

Constant Vidunas
The Levittown Times (Levittown PA
6 March 1957, downloaded 2017
from Newspapers.com

1957

Constance Vidunas is one of several men admitted as new members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post.

Constance Vidunas
Morrisville PA 1957
from Newspapers.com

1958

Constant Vidunas is a member of the Fairless Works male chorus during the 1958 Christmas season.  They are dressed in Dickens-era costume, singing at "hospitals, plant offices, and civic groups."  Constant is the middle gent in the white hat.

Constant Vidunas (white hat)
The Bristol Daily Courier (Bristol PA)
29 December 1958, page 16
downloaded 10 March 2017 from Newspapers.com

1960

Mrs Constance Vidunas is a member of the Holy Trinity School PTA of Morrisville PA.  

Mrs. Constance Vidunas
The Levittown Times (Levittown PA)
25 April 1960 downloaded 2017
from Newspapers.com

Obit Sunday -- Constant Joseph Vidunas III 1945

Constant Joseph Vidunas III 1945

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1943

Constant Joseph Vidunas II and Catherine Markulin married in January, in Cook County Illinois.  They later had three children, Paul, Constant III, and Anne.

1945

Constant Joseph Vidunas III is born and died less than 2 months later.  This little boy was born prematurely in Greensburg PA in February, and he died at the hospital in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.  I assume this would be his birth hospital, as well.  The address is listed at #16 Forbes Road, Westmoreland PA.  He is named as a Junior, rather than the Third, probably because the name is not exactly the same as his grandfather Kostantas.  However, the Lithuanian name and the Anglicized name are the same, therefore I consider this boy is the third Constant.  He was premature, and the doctor attended him from the moment of birth to his death.  He probably never even left the hospital.  He died of diarrhea which he'd had for five days.  

The informant's signature appears to be his mothers' authentic handwriting.  He had a Catholic burial in Greensburg PA.

Constant Joseph Vidunas III 1945 death certificate

(Ancestry.com, 2014)

Constant Joseph Vidunas III 1945 Gravestone

(Franny, 2013)

Ancestry.com. (2014). Constant J. Vidunas 1945 death certificate. Retrieved from Pennsylvania Death Certificates 

              1906-1964 [database online]: https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5164/42410_2421406272_0839-

              02065?pid=605427389&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?

             indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D5164%26h%3D605427389%26ssrc%3Dpt%26tid%3D47476789%

             26pid%3D150047174799%26usePUB%3Dtrue&ssrc=pt&treeid

Franny. (2013, November 6). Constant J. Vidunas III, memorial # 119908800. Retrieved August 17, 2017, 

              from Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=119908800&ref=acom