Individual Notes
Note for: Lucius Messenger Boomer, 22 AUG 1878 - 26 JUN 1947
Index
Occupation: President, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, N.Y. city
Occupation: Established a newspaper in Englewood (Chicago) which failed
Event: Violin Player/Orchestra conductor
Type: Orchestra
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Lucius M. Boomer; Born: 22 Aug 1878, Poughkeepsie, New York; Died: 26 Jun 1947
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Lucius Boomer: "Louie, a violinist, and Harry, a cornetist, were both talented musicians. Louis became owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and wealthy; died in Norway, the home country of his wife. He built a home for his mother across the river from the Unity. Bertie lived with her and afterward in Fort Myers. She was killed on Fort Myers Beach by an automobile driven by Carlton Case. Harry served in the Spanish American War and died in an Army hospital in Texas. Ruth married a Philadelphia architect and they were the parents of one son."
MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready; Lucius Boomer: Louis (Louie) Boomer, a non-member of the Unity visited his mother and sisters in Chicago and always led the orchestra when he was there. He was a talented violinist--page 33.
FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by L. W. Bubbett, October 1947:
"It was with a distinct shock we read an announcement in the morning newspaper that Mr. Lucius M. Boomer, president of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, had succumbed to a heart attack on June 26 while on a summer vacation trip to Norway. Mr. Boomer's family had been connected with the Unity in the early days of its existence in Chicago in the latter part of the last century. Mr. Boomer's father was helpful in financing the operations of the geodetic staff at Naples, Florida, which in 1896-97 ran the so-called "airline" along the Naples coast which definitely proved the concavity of the earth's surface, as claimed by Koresh, the Founder of Koreshanity. Lucius Boomer with his younger brother, Harrison, were members of this staff until a telegram announcing the unexpected death of their father recalled them to Chicago. After an ill-advised attempt to establish a daily newspaper in Englewood, Chicago, which soon led to dismal failure, Mr. Boomer entered the hotel field and eventually attained the heights in this line as president of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, acknowledged the foremost and greatest institution of its kind in the world. For many years Mr. Boomer supported his mother and sister, Mrs. Bertha S. and Miss Bertha Boomer, in a commodious home on the north side of Estero River, at which numerous social events were held to entertain members of the Unity."
1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Ward: 3; Post Office: Chicago; Page: 343; Enumeration date: 3 "Aug 1870; Enumerator: Wm. Jameson, Ass't Marshal ; Series M593, Microfilm Roll Number 199; Page: 435; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; 20 Mar 2004; Line: 11; Name: Lucius S. Boomer; Age last birthday: 19; Sex: male; Color: white; Profession or occupation: Attending school; Place of birth: Kentucky; Attended school within the year: yes.
1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Family History Library Film: 1254186; NA Film Number: T9-0186; Page number: 161B; www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 21 Mar 2004; Name: Lucius Boomer; Relation to head of family: Son; Marital status: single; Gender: male; Race: white; Age: 1; Birthplace: New York; Father's Birthplace: Kentucky; Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut:
1920 U.S. Federal Census; State: New York; County: New York; Township: Borough of Manhattan; Enumeration date: 7 Jan 1920; Institution: McAlfern Hotel; Microfilm T625, Roll 1203; SD: 1; ED: 765; Sheet: 3B; Page: 152; Address: West 34th St.; House number (in cities): 46; Dwelling number: 6; Family number: 327; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff 20 Mar 2004; Name: Lucius M. Boomer; Relationship of this person to the head of the family: head; Home owned or rented: Rented; Sex: male; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 41; Marital status: single; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of father: Kentucky; Place of birth of mother: Connecticut; Able to speak English: yes; Trade, profession or particular kind of work done: Owner; Industry, business or establishment: Hotel; Employer or employee: Employer.
Individual Notes
Note for: Bertha May Boomer, 1 MAY 1882 - 3 SEP 1941
Index
Occupation: Teacher/Artist
Residence: Date: 1900
Place: Lake Twp./Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Residence: Date: 1916
Place: Moved with her mother to home outside K.U. settlement
Event: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Type: Census/1900
Date: 14 JUN 1900
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1910
Date: 23 APR 1910
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida (outside K.U. settlement)
Type: Census/1920
Date: 2 JAN 1920
Event: Second violin
Type: Orchestra
Burial: Date: SEP 1941
Place: Estero, Lee, Florida
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Bertha May Boomer; Born: 1 May 1880--Died 3 Sep 1941.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Bertha Boomer, mother: "Louie, a violinist, and Harry, a cornetist, were both talented musicians. Louis became owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and wealthy; died in Norway, the home country of his wife. He built a home for his mother across the river from the Unity. Bertie lived with her and afterward in Fort Myers. She was killed on Fort Myers Beach by an automobile driven by Carlton Case. Harry served in the Spanish American War and died in an Army hospital in Texas. Ruth married a Philadelphia architect and they were the parents of one son."
1900 U. S. Federal Census; Lake township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No., 284; Page No. 14; SD No. 1; ED No., 970; Sheet No. 14; Ward of City: 31; Enumeration date: 14 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Martha H. Philpot; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Bertha M. Boomer; Residence: 6310 Harvard Avenue: Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex; Female; Month of birth: May 1882; Age at last birthday; 18; Single; Place of birth: Illinois; Place of birth of father: Kentucky; Place of birth of mother: Conn.; Occupation, Student; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes.
1910 U.S. Federal Census/Estero, Florida; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Bertha M. Boomer; Sex: Female; Race: white; Age 28; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Illinois; Place of birth of father: Kentucky; Place of birth of mother: Connecticut; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Teacher; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.
1920 U.S. Federal Census/Estero, Florida; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; Enumeration Date: 5 Jan 1920; Microfilm number: 1820221-T625-221; ED: 109; Precinct 10; Outside the Koreshan Colony; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 1995: Bertha M. Boomer; Living outside the Koreshan Colony; Place of residence: Ft. Myers/Naples; Age 37; Single; Place of Birth: Illinois; Place of birth of father: Kentucky; Place of birth of mother: Connecticut; Occupation: None.
BURIAL: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 30--Inscription: Bertha Boomer/1880-Sep 1941.
MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready: Ruth and Bertie (no name given, probably Boomer) came down with a light case of typhoid fever, page 70. Bertie Boomer played second violin."--Page 78.
FLAMING SWORD--v.55, n.10, October 1941 -- "Estero residents were shocked on Wednesday evening, September 3, to learn of the sudden death of Miss Betha M. Boomer, who was run down by a truck at Fort Myers Beach. Miss Boomer, who had been in swimming with a party of friends, left the water to get her bathing cap which she had forgotten. A glaring sun was low in the horizon and it is supposed that she failed to see the approaching truck which was driven by Mr. H. C. Case of Fort Myers. Miss Boomer was for many years a member of the Unity in Estero. She was an accomplished artist, being a graduate of Chicago Art Institute, and had a wide circle of friends. She is survived by her brother, Mr. L. M. Boomer, President of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Company of New York, and a married sister, Mrs. Walter Thomas, living in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Evelyn Horn's notes: Bertie M. Boomer:
Daughter of Berthaldine and Lucius S. Boomer. One sister Ruth Boomer Thomas--one brother Louis M. Boomer. Bertie came with her mother from the Chicago home in 1894 with her brother and sister. Bertie grew up in the Koreshan Unity, studied music and art. She traveled abroad to Paris, France; England; and Italy studying art. She was a talented painter. Some of her paintings are in the Art Hall. She lived with her mother at Mirasol Grove.
Bertie taught school at Punta Blanca near Boca Grande in 1937. She also helped Mrs. Briggs open the Fort Myers Art Museum--Edison Avenue and assisted Mrs. Briggs as manager. Her brother Louis Boomer had her a house built on W-Broadway in the late thirties after her mother's death in 1935. She later moved to Fort Myers with friends, Paula and Harry Manley.
Bertie died a tragic death. September 3, 1941, at sundown, while on a picnic at Fort Myers Beach with friends, Mr. H. C. Case of Fort Myers ran over her with a pickup truck while she was running across the beach. Bertie was a beautiful person, loved by all, a warm personalty. She was of large build, light brown hair and brown eyes. She wore soft, flowing materials of small prints--well dressed lady, often wore straw hats. She loved the outdoors--boating trips to the islands for picnics--loved to swim. She loved to sketch our beautiful Florida scenes--a true-blue Florida artist."
FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by Claude J. Rahn, January 1936: "Since the death of Mrs. Bertha S. Boomer her daughter, Bertha M. Boomer has arranged to make her home in the Unity. Their home at Mirasol Grove will be closed except for occasional visits of Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Boomer and children of New York City, who with several guests spent the Christmas holidays there this season."
FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by D. J. Richards, October 1936: "Bertha M. Boomer, having qualified as school teacher in this county of Lee, has accepted a position to teach the school at Punta Blanca, an island at the northern end of the county owned by Barron G. Collier. Sister Bertie, as she is more familiarly known to the folks here, in not a stranger to the teaching business, for she taught the youngsters of the Unity in the early days in Estero and we all naturally wish her every success in her new field of endeavor. For the past year, Bertha M. has made her home here in the Unity."