McAdoo Clan

Reflections After a Funeral

2006-07-25T09:45:00.000-04:00

While Ginnie and I were driving home from Uncle George Minko’s funeral last Friday afternoon, we talked about how much we had enjoyed the visit. It occurred to me that talking about a funeral as being a joyful experience was as good an example of an oxymoron as one could find. Yes, of course there was sadness, funerals are somber affairs, we attend them mourn the dead and pay our respects to the family.

But funerals can also be a time to renew relationships with friends and family, meet new family members, and tell stories and more stories. When these events happen at a funeral, sadness seems to dissipate and joy emerges. Laughter replaces tears and you find yourself in the midst of a celebration. What an interesting human phenomenon!

That is how we felt, driving home through the rain last Friday afternoon—sad but joyful. Saddened by Uncle George’s passing but overjoyed to meet relatives we rarely see and some we met for the first time. I have not had much contact over the years with relatives on the maternal side of my family. The same is true for the McAdoo side of the family. Yet when events bring us together, we seem glad to see one another and usually depart promising to stay in touch—yet seldom do we keep these promises. Why?

I don’t have the answer to that disturbing question, but the elusive response has troubled me for many years. It seems to me the reasons are varied, family issues, personalities, interests, perhaps even indifference. However, when we gather, the barriers we have erected in the past tend to disappear and for a moment gates of opportunity to communicate open.

In the past two years, I have begun to turn my concern into action. I have done an extensive amount of research on my ancestors and related families and in the process have discovered many living relatives. The research is continuing and can be viewed at our ancestral website, http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/jhmc1. The password is vpm. One way we can continue to strengthen our family relationships is to participate with me in continuing to build our family tree. There is much missing data and your input will add to our family history and knowledge.

I mentioned earlier that family gatherings are frequently occasions for storytelling. This certainly has been the case among the McAdoo’s. Stories about the McAdoo brothers, Jimmy, my dad and my Uncle Howard have become legend, so much so that I decided to write a book about my dad. Perhaps when it is published, opportunities will arise to strengthen our family relationships.

Last year we held our first family reunion. We had such a good time that we decided to meet again this year on August 19th. Hopefully, the reunion will grow into an annual event.

So, reflections on recent and past family gatherings have led to opportunities to communicate and get to better know one another. It continues to be a great joy for me and it can also be for you. Why not join the journey?

"Jimmy" Update

2006-06-16T09:22:00.000-04:00

I have just completed writing the manuscript for the book about my dad. It was a demanding effort, but a wonderful experience. Now, begin the tasks of editing, proofreading, and publishing. I plan to include 20-25 pictures that I believe will add interest. I would like to share my concluding thoughts with you.

Afterword

The last time I saw him
he was stooped and puffy, moving
with slow deliberate care—
but he went for a ride in my MG Midget,
muttered a curse in my ear,
and kissed me with an exuberant joy
ageless
as the love which binds him to us
even now.

An excerpt from the poem, Jimmy, by William D. Ehrhart, Swarthmore ‘73
(The complete poem is in Chapter 4)

I have learned many things about my dad during the course of writing this book. Most of the discoveries have been about his coaching career and almost all of the input has come from his former swimmers at Swarthmore College. I have compared the comments I have received during the past year with letters and notes sent to Jimmy at the time of his retirement dinner in 1973. A number of swimmers wrote in 1973 and again recently. I am simply amazed at how similar each of their memories is of Jimmy, then and now, even after thirty-three years. I am also struck by comments about Jimmy’s ability to relate to swimmers on a personal level, his humor, and his inspiration which encouraged team spirit, loyalty, and individual accomplishment. I was particularly touched when I read these comments from Alden Bennett ’40. “I swam for him at Swarthmore during the winters of 1938-39 and 1939-40. I was certainly the worst 440-yard swimmer he had during that time, maybe during his whole coaching career. I didn't really deserve my nickname then of "a-point-a-meet Bennett". (Maybe they averaged in the 5 points I won (just once, by default) when the other team had no entry in the 440.)But, God bless him, he never gave up on me. Near the end of our first season together, he took me aside and said, "Alden, I think your problem is that you let yourself get too far behind too soon in the race." So we tried a new strategy for me at the next meet, - keeping up with the leaders. The 440 took 17 and 3/5 laps in Swarthmore's 25-yard pool. I stayed up with them for the first 12 laps and then had to quit and upchuck in the scuppers. Jimmy congratulated me as if I had won the race. What a wonderful guy! And how often I've thought of him when trying to encourage younger colleagues to get up to speed.”

Standing out among all of his accomplishments was Jimmy’s unique ability as a coach to provide the competitive and supportive environment in which both average and talented swimmers somehow became motivated to perform their best in competition. Season after season, from 1937-’38 to 1971-’72, the records show that his swimmers exceeded even their own expectations and capabilities. Don Cassidy ’75 recalled the locker room pep talk Jimmy gave before the first meet of the 1971-72 season against a powerful Johns Hopkins team. He had this to say, “Before the swim meet, Jimmy called us into the locker room for a Pep Talk. He told us that the Hopkins coach had called Jimmy the week before to find out what kind of team we had. Jimmy told the coach, "Well, you know how we always are. We have some of the old guys back and some new guys, but I'm sure that you don't have anything to worry about." Jimmy told us this with a characteristic twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face. He told us to "go out there and have fun." And not to worry about his Tall Tale, because Hopkins was so deep in talent that the best we could do was "give them a good scare." Just as we all finished chuckling about Jimmy's practical joke, he startled us by turning up the volume and saying, "Okay, boys, now go out there and knock their jocks off!!" Well, my heart pounded.” I believe creating that type of environment happens when a coach loves his job and the athletes he coaches – and they respond.

Jimmy understood that athletics was not the reason student athletes went to Swarthmore and he accepted that fact. Kevin Quigley ’74 summed it up very well when he wrote, “Jimmy was one of the most memorable individuals I met during my time at Swarthmore. Besides his great enthusiasm, I remember his unwavering and flexible support. As you probably know, for many of us swimming wasn’t the reason why we went to Swarthmore. So, seminars, labs, or other activities often took priority over practice (and sometimes meets!). That did not seem to faze Jimmy at all, which makes him a lot bigger man in my eyes than almost any other coach I’ve ever encountered. Jimmy wanted to work with any of us who showed up, when we could show up. He understood that swimming is just one of many things in life, and you would get back from it what you put into it.”

I think another contributing factor to Jimmy’s success was that he was an anomaly at Swarthmore. He was a street kid from Germantown with little formal education. He was a very heavy drinker and a hell-raiser. He had a difficult time earning a living as a coach, so it became a part-time endeavor. He resisted authority and marched to his own tune. In short, he was different and he was a character and he was a survivor. I think his swimmers soon learned that Jimmy was not like the other faculty and perhaps not like most other swimming coaches. Even with all his flaws, he was embraced by his teams and they performed for him to the best of their abilities. John Ridland ’53 described Jimmy at one of his most vulnerable moments in this excerpt from his poem, Jimmy McAdoo Swims Back Across the Styx. (The complete poem is in Chapter 4).

One fucked-up, faraway

Home-meet Saturday

You rolled in half-seas-over,

Tie cockeyed, eyes half-shut.

We could’ve had your butt

If we’d have raised a fuss,

But who’d throw that crap at you?

Potter and Snyder sat you

Down in the offstage office

To keep you out of hearing––

Spluttering lavish praise,

Abject apologies––

And ran the team themselves.

I think we even won,

Though if we didn’t––so?

I have also learned much about my McAdoo ancestors from the genealogy research I have been conducting. I have a clearer understanding of our heritage and it has helped me better appreciate my dad’s life. We McAdoo’s come from humble Irish roots. My great great grandfather, William McAdoo immigrated to Philadelphia about 1850 and worked as a laborer and later as a teamster. My great grandfather, James worked at the iron furnaces and in the quarries of the Great Chester Valley, and later as a farmer. My grandfather, Jim was a steamfitter. My dad, Jimmy made a living over the years as a clerk, a bartender, and a truck dispatcher, but he will always be remembered as a swimming coach.

I have learned that we do not have to be constrained by our background to be successful and that life is not necessarily about achieving material things or in the case of coaching, about wins and losses. My dad’s life has shown me that success can mean much more and it can be achieved in spite of our human frailties.

There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt,
And some who in brutishness wallow;
There are others, I know, who in piety go
Because of a Heaven to follow.
But to labour with zest, and to give of your best,
For the sweetness and joy of the giving;
To help folks along with a hand and a song;
Why, there’s the real sunshine of living.

Carry on! Carry on!
Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;
There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be you cry;
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!

An excerpt from the poem, Carry On, by Robert Service

McAdoo Family Records at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Kennedy, PA

2006-03-27T11:33:00.000-05:00

On 16 Mar 2006, I traveled to Philadelphia to visit the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS).   My purpose was to research the records of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Kennedy, PA for family information.  Ever since discovering the graves of my Great Great Grandparents, William and Sarah McAdoo and my Great Grandparents, James and Elizabeth/Eliza McAdoo in the church cemetery, I have wanted to find out what information might be contained in the official church records.

It was fascinating to review the original Session Minutes and records from 1845 to 1903, the period of greatest interest to me.  While I was not successful in learning about some key missing genealogy information about my ancestors, I did discover some new information.  A summary follows:

Great grandmother Eliza McAdoo was received into church membership by examination on January 9, 1889.  She was about 24 years old.

John McAdoo, William and Sarah’s son was received into membership on the same day.  He was about 18 years old.

Mary McAdoo, William and Sarah’s daughter was received into membership by examination on April 11, 1897.  She was about 21 years old.

Mrs Martha King joined the church on April 18, 1881 at the age of about 25.  She was William and Sarah’s eldest child.

William King, age 3 months, son of John and Martha King was baptized on October 8, 1881.

John S. King was admitted into membership on March 24, 1877.

Mary J. Bleecher was admitted to membership on March 22, 1882 and readmitted on January 9, 1889.  I suspect she may have been Eliza’s sister based on census data.

John McLean, age 3 1/2 and Abram, age 11 months, sons of Oram and Mary Bleecher were baptized.  It is possible McLean could have been a misspelling of McClain.

There was an entry in the Session Minutes on January 13, 1901 that read, ”After church service Rev. Mr. Hoisington and Elder William A. Murtha met at the home of Miss Mary McAdoo who was very ill.  And after prayer and reading of the scriptures, the Lord’s Supper was administered to her with her own consent.  And after prayer we departed.”  Mary died January 26, 1901.

There was no information about William and Sarah being members of the church or the baptism of any of there children.  There was no mention of Great Grandfather James or his brothers William and Daniel being members.  Other than Eliza and Mary J. Bleecher, I found no mention of the McClain family.

Skeletons in the Family Closets

2006-01-16T15:12:00.000-05:00

There are times in the search for my ancestors when I discover interesting or unusual facts. Two recent discoveries fall into that category.

The first discovery occurred while I was researching my Hinchliffe ancestors on my mother’s side of the family. My grandmother, Florence Hinchliffe Smith immigrated to Philadelphia from England in 1904 with her parents, Joseph and Eliza, and her brother William. The Hinchliffe’s had lived in West Riding of Yorkshire, an area populated with a great many Hinchliffes. I found Joseph’s parents, Wright Hinchliffe and Jane Roebuck as well as Wright’s parents, Benjamin and Susannah. They are my great great great grandparents. Benjamin, born about 1788 in Cartworth, Yorkshire, is the oldest ancestor I have discovered to date. During this search, I learned that when the 1881 UK Census was taken, Wright Hinchliffe was a convict in HM Prison Borstal in Kent. The record shows that he was a widower and his job in prison was a factory overlooker. I have not yet found out the reason for his incarceration, but maybe time will tell.

The second discovery sheds light on a McAdoo story of intrigue that goes back probably 75 years. My grandmother, Nellie Butler McAdoo died in 1930, leaving my grandfather and the four children, Jimmy, Helen, Howard, and Marie at home in Germantown. My dad married my mother the next year and Helen married Dick Wharton a year or two later. I’m not sure of the next sequence of events, but shortly after the two marriages, my parents took in Howard and Marie went to live with Helen and Dick. My grandfather sold the home at 127 W. Ashmead Street and at some point, went to live a cousin, Annie Stumm and her family on Ridge Avenue in either Manayunk or East Falls.

I remember “Aunt” Annie and three of her four children very well. She was always kind to me when my dad and I visited and she and my dad got along well with one another. Most importantly, my grandfather seemed to be happy. He was still working at the Philadelphia Gas Works and I assume he was the sole support of the Stumm family. However, the “cousin” arrangement did not meet with the approval of Helen and Marie. Their Catholic upbringing and strong Catholic faith led them to believe that their father was living in sin and would never go to heaven and they blamed Annie.

I never knew the spelling of Annie’s last name until our reunion last summer, when Uncle Les Ledbetter, Marie’s husband told me the correct spelling. Well, to shorten the story, I now know where Annie fits into the family. Anna Mae McAdoo Stumm was the daughter of Daniel McAdoo, who was the brother of my great grandfather, James. She was born November 25, 1897 in Port Kennedy, Montgomery County, PA. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1919 and she married Frederick Charles Stumm in 1920. They had four children, Susanna, Frederick, Jr., Walter, and Amelia.

So, now you know about the skeletons in the closets of two families. It remains to be seen how many more will be discovered.

The search for my McClain Ancestors

2005-12-27T12:16:00.000-05:00

The search for my McClain ancestors began with the memory of my great grandmother Eliza/ Elizabeth McClain McAdoo.  I have several clear memories of her from when I was a young boy.  I remember meeting her several times at my dad’s Uncle Elmer’s home in Malvern, PA.  I also met her at her daughter, Edna’s apartment on Ridge Ave. in Philadelphia.  I remember her as a small, friendly woman dressed in dark clothes.  I also remember my dad telling me that she had passed away while I was at Rutgers University.

When I began searching for my McAdoo ancestors last year, I learned that my great grandparents were buried in the First Presbyterian Church of Port Kennedy cemetery and that my great grandmother’s maiden name was Eliza McClain.  Ginnie and I visited the cemetery in October, 2004.  We located the grave site and the inscription on the monument read, James McAdoo, 1859-1934 and Elizabeth, his wife, 1865-1954.  There was also a monument on an adjacent plot inscribed, Lena E. McAdoo, 1890-1893, a name I did not recognize.  A short distance away, we discovered two additional monuments.  One was inscribed, William McAdoo, 1834-1903, Sarah J., his wife, 1835-1895, “Resting” and the second monument, William D. McAdoo, Jr. 1865-1889, Mary McAdoo, 1876-1901, “Resting”.  William and Sarah, I soon learned were my great great grandparents.

The 1900 Federal Census showed James and Eliza living in East Whitehead Township, Chester County.  They had been married 15 years (1885) and by 1900, Eliza had given birth to five children, four of whom were living.  The record showed that she was 37 years old and her birth date was February, 1863.  She was born in Pennsylvania and could read, write, and speak English.  Her parents were both born in Ireland.

The family still lived in East Whitehead Township at the time of the 1910 Census and my great grandmother’s name was recorded as Elizabeth.  Her age was given as 48.  She had been married 26 years and had seven children, six of whom were living.  She had been born in Pennsylvania; however, the census showed that her parents were also born in Pennsylvania.  I believe that entry is incorrect.

The 1920 and 1930 Censuses both show that Elizabeth’s parents were born in Ireland (1920) and Northern Ireland (1930).  The household in 1920 included a brother-in-law, James McClain.  He was 58 (1862) at the time, single, and had been born in Pennsylvania.  This confirmed Elizabeth’s maiden name and provided the name of another McClain relative

I continued searching for Elizabeth’s and James’ parents without success, so I decided to focus my search on James McClain.  In 1880, James was 19 years old and lived with Oram Bleacher and his family in Upper Merion, Montgomery County. The other members of the family were Mary J., age 23, Oram’s wife, a daughter, Mary J., age 4, and a son, John, age 2.  James was listed as a boarder and he was employed at a local iron works.

I learned from the 1910 Census that James was again living with the Bleachers and was listed as Oram’s brother-in-law.  So, it was evident that James and Mary were siblings.  I also found out from the OneWorldTree Service that Mary’s name was actually Mary Jane.  The family was living in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County.  James was single and not working.

In 1900, James was still living in Upper Merion Township.  The Census listed him as the head of household.  There was a family residing with him, but I could not make out the last name.  However, the husband, Robert E, was listed as a brother-in –law and the wife, Clara E, age 25, as James’ sister.  They had three children.

I now know that there were four McClain siblings:  Mary Jane, born about 1857-58; James, born about 1861-62; Elizabeth, born about 1863-65; and Clara, born about 1874.  I have not been able to identify a McClain family in the 1870 Census with Mary Jane, James, and Elizabeth in the same family, so I am unable to determine the names of their parents, my great great grandparents.

There is a possible connection to my great great grandparents in the 1860 Census.  Living in Upper Merion at that time was a McClain family consisting of John McClain, age 30; his wife, Mary Ann, age 25; and a two year old daughter, Mary.  Both John and Mary Ann were born in Ireland and Mary was born in Pennsylvania.  The data fits the information I already know, but without the 1870 Census data, I am not completely certain that I have the correct McClain family, so the search continues.

Germantown Revisited

2005-11-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

Ginnie and I made another trip to Germantown and the Germantown Historical Society yesterday to review additional Boys’ Club Newsletters that the librarian had located since my last visit.  We reviewed all of the weekly newsletters written between 1918 and 1928 that were in the file.  While I found only a few references to Jimmy’s competitive career, I discovered several other interesting pieces of information.

The Swarthmore connection to Germantown continues to grow with the discovery of an article in the March 17, 1922 newsletter issue announcing the hiring of J.W. Stevens as the swimming coach.  The article stated, “Mr. Stevens is one of the best known swimming coaches in the United States, he having had a large hand in developing a number of women swimmers, who were on the Olympic team that represented the United States in the games held two years ago.”  Here is the Swarthmore connection.  “He was largely responsible for the development of Charles Crownover, the Girard College boy, who is now at Swarthmore College.”  There is an undated article in Jimmy’s scrapbook reporting on the results of an A.A.U. meet held at Germantown Y where Crownover, representing PennA.C., beat Jimmy, who was representing the Boys’ Club, in a 100-yard freestyle race.

So, Jimmy had three coaches at the Boys’ Club-J.W. Stevens in 1922, Gil E. Tomlinson in 1925, who at that time was also the coach at Swarthmore, and Bob Dippy, Sr. in 1926-27 whose son, Bob, Jr. swam for Jimmy at Swarthmore before and after WWII.  I think that is amazing.

I found a short article in a November, 7, 1919 issue, (Jimmy was 10 years old)-“Last week Jimmy McAdoo, diminutive with a very wistful expression, asked if he might “organize a Self Governing Club.”  A group of prospective workers were being shown through the club at the time and it looked as if he had been coached in his part.  He was so earnest in his desire to start a club.  He explained to the prospective workers what he wanted and one of the men offered to start a club.  Jimmy hunted up some of his cronies and a new club is the result.  Everyone is watching Jimmy’s latest attempt to be a good citizen of the Big Club.”

The July 30, 1920 issue contained this item-“A new club has been organized in the swimming pool.  Since the name of the club is a secret, it will be known only as the E.T.B.  The purpose of the club is to help around the pool.  The club has already divided itself into two teams, the Eagles and the Bears.  There is a great rivalry between the two teams as to which can prove to be more useful.  A meeting of the club will be held Wednesday when the final details will be completed.  The members are Dick Brambley, Will Mitchell, Jimmy McAdoo, Paul Mangel, George Jacobs, Roy Townsend, Peter Tyler, and Spike McNeill.”

I have often mentioned that my dad did not talk much about his childhood.  Even though we lived only a mile from where he grew up, I had never seen his boyhood homes at 20 E. Ashmead St. and 127 W. Ashmead St., only the one at 5203 Germantown Ave.  After finishing up at the historical society, we drove the few blocks south on Germantown Ave. and found the three houses.  Although the neighborhood is bleak, as is most of Germantown, the exterior of the three houses appeared in reasonably good condition.  I took photos of all three.

We then traveled north on Germantown Ave. to the Philadelphia Print Shop in Chestnut Hill, where I found an 1860 Mitchell Street Map of Philadelphia showing the newly formed wards of the city.  I was able to locate Savery St. in the 18th Ward, where my great great grandparents, William and Sarah McAdoo lived in the 1860’s prior to moving to Port Kennedy, Montgomery County.  It was a bit too expensive, but something to consider in the future.

Those of you who know me are aware of how much I love cities and how I tend to try to envision possibilities for future renewal of our decaying urban areas.  I left Germantown yesterday with a feeling of sadness and pessimism for the future.  I saw no renewal efforts, vacant lots where familiar landmarks had stood, a lack of cleanliness around the neighborhoods, and little vibrancy in the air.  Yes, it was just a quick, focused tour, and yes, I might have been trying to relive my own youth, but I drove away from Germantown with the strong feeling that the town I love is still in urban decline.

Trip to Germantown Historical Society

2005-09-29T11:11:00.000-04:00

I visited the Germantown Historical Society on Tuesday, September 27th to research information about the Germantown Boys’ Club, specifically to see if I could locate information about my dad’s swimming career at the club.  I also wanted to review various City Directories for street addresses where William McAdoo and his family lived.  I generally undertake this type of project with high expectations, only to discover that much of the information is not available.  I found this to be the case in reviewing the files on the Germantown Boy’s Club; however, I did find some interesting information.

In the November 20, 1924 issue of the Germantown Boys’ Club News there was a brief item about the swimming coach, Gil E. Tomlinson.  It said, “He divides his time with the Germantown Boys’ Club and the Swarthmore College tank squad and has developed good teams at both places.”  I also saw some old photographs of I think, soccer teams posing for team pictures.  In one photo, a kid was holding a ball with Swarthmore printed on it.  Another team had Haverford printed on the ball.  I am fascinated by this Germantown Boys’ Club-Swarthmore connection.

I also learned that Robert N. Dippy became the swimming coach in 1926.  I had known that he had coached my dad, but did not know when.  Dippy’s son, Bob, Jr. swam for my dad at Swarthmore before and after WWII.  In fact, he lent my dad his car to use while he was in the service.  I don’t remember the make or year, but I do remember it was a cream colored coupe convertible with a rumble seat.  It did not have a heater and I recall one cold winter night riding out to Swarthmore in a snow storm with my dad, wrapped in blankets for a swimming meet.

Bob graduated with a degree in civil engineering.  I remember talking to him when I was a high school senior and trying to decide if I wanted to study engineering in college.  His advice proved to be invaluable.

When Jimmy was swimming for the Philadelphia Turners (1927-1933), he competed regularly against Swarthmore.  So long before Jimmy became the coach, he had connections to the college that went back to at least 1924.

I researched early Philadelphia City Directories in a further attempt to pinpoint my great great grandfather William’s arrival in America, which I know was sometime between 1848 and 1854.  Starting with the 1845 directory, I did not find a reference to William until 1860.  The directory listed his occupation as a laborer and his address as 1341 Savery [Street].  I found a similar reference in the 1862 directory.  In the listing for 1863, his name was spelled McAdue and his occupation was a carter, while the address was the same.  There was no listing in 1864 or in the following few years.

I searched the internet for Savery Street.  It does not exist today, but I found a reference in “Late and Former Names of Streets of the Old Districts of Northern Liberties, Kensington, Port Richmond and Spring Garden”, by Rudolph J. Walther that located Savery Street, “east of Marlborough Street, from Wildey Street to Frankford Avenue, Union Street.”  Frankford Avenue gave me an important geographic clue.

In the 1850’s Philadelphia restructured the city’s districts into wards.  When the 1860 Census was taken, William and his family were living in the Southwest Division of the 18th Ward, which had been part of the old Aramingo and Kensington Districts.  Frankford Avenue ran through those districts.  So, Savery Street fits geographically with what I had already known.  The 1860 Census does not list street names, only street numbers.  The McAdoo family, which at the time included my great great grandparents, William and Sarah, a daughter, Martha, age four, and my great grandfather, James, age one resided at number 1385 along with three other families totaling seventeen people.  I think it may be safe to assume that between the time the census was taken on August 7th and when the city directory was published, the family moved 1385 to 1341 Savery Street.  Sometime between 1860 and 1870, the family moved to Port Kennedy, Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.  I now suspect it could have been about 1864.

All things considered, the trip was a success.  I discovered an early connection between Jimmy and Swarthmore College.  I learned the street name where my great great grandparents lived in the 1860’s and the approximate year they relocated to Port Kennedy.

McAdoo Clan-Building Relationships

2005-09-25T14:56:00.000-04:00

I read two interesting articles in the Op-Ed section of The New York Times dated 9/25/2005. John Grisham, the author, in his article, ”The Gulf Will Rise Again” wrote about the amazing resilient spirit of the people living along the Gulf Coast. He said, “Hope here comes from the people and their remarkable belief that, if we all stick together, we’ll survive.” and “Normalcy is the key, and the people cling to anything that’s familiar-the school, a church, a routine, but especially to one another.” I thought about these two quotes and it struck me that this is precisely how we can build a strong family. Our family will become stronger by discovering and getting to know one another. We will draw closer together as we begin to better understand our individual strengths and weaknesses and learn to appreciate that we are not only human, but a family of interesting and talented people. When we begin sharing, we will begin sticking together as a meaningful and supportive clan.

David Brooks is a regular contributor to the Op-Ed page and in his article, “The Education Gap” he began with, “Especially in these days after Katrina, everybody laments poverty and inequality. But what are you doing about it?” While the article was interesting, it was this question that hit home for me. One way to really build a strong, connected family is for each of us to ask ourselves the question, what can I contribute? The answer may be different for each of us, but it is the follow-up action that will make the difference. An email note, a phone call, or a letter to ask for information or pass on news is an easy way to start. Nothing beats face to face contact, so why not decide to attend the 2006 McAdoo Clan Reunion on August 19, 2006.

"Jimmy" Progress Update

2005-09-13T14:59:00.000-04:00

I have completed the first draft of the introduction and chapter one and have begun writing the second chapter. This chapter will describe our family roots and what I have discovered from my genealogy research. It will serve as an overview to introduce Jimmy’s childhood and cover the years from his birth in 1909 to 1927 when the swimming team at the Germantown Boys Club was disbanded and he began swimming for the Philadelphia Turners. I will also write about his brother Howard and some of his early escapades.

Additional research is necessary to complete this and subsequent chapters. I will be making a trip to the library at Swarthmore College to see what information I can obtain about the 1938-1972 swimming teams. I plan to contact the Swarthmore swimmers who do not have published email addresses. I want to visit Lower Germantown to locate Jimmy’s early homes as well as to find out if his “second home”, the Germantown Boys Club is still in operation and to see if they have any old records from the 1910’s and 1920’s. A nostalgic tour retracing his childhood may add some atmosphere to the book. I also want to determine if the Philadelphia Turners is still in existence, because Jimmy’s greatest swimming accomplishments took place while he swam for that organization.

McAdoo Clan Reunion Reflections and Plans

2005-09-13T13:10:00.000-04:00

I am filled with joy and great memories of our first family reunion. It was a simple affair with a focus on things for kids to do and I think that was accomplished. Keeping it simple also encouraged all of us to get to better know one another and I sensed that occurred. We tried to set a budget that would not be too costly for people and I have good news to report-we broke even and only have a few unsold tee shirts. If they are sold, we will have a small profit to carry over to next year.

Thirty-nine people attended the reunion. If we had started planning earlier in the year, I think we conservatively could have drawn sixty people. A goal of 100 is achievable for our next reunion which is scheduled for August 19, 2006. To make that happen, we need to begin actively planning now. First of all, we must spread the word. It has been a wonderful experience for me to discover and rediscover relatives during the past year as I have begun researching our family roots. You can experience this joy by reaching out and contacting the relatives you know as well as searching for those you may not know. Tell them about our two web sites and invite them to the reunion next year. Put them in contact with me so I can include them in the family mailing lists (email and snail mail).

Secondly, we need to think about a geographic area that is centrally located for those interested in attending next year, and then we have to locate a facility that will meet our needs. Thirdly, there is the detailed planning and putting together an affordable budget. Finally, there is the communications process, which is an ongoing effort.

This is fun work for me and I want to continue with it; however, I think it is important for others to become involved, so if you are interested, let me know.

Coaching Student Athletes – The Reward

2005-08-03T14:32:00.000-04:00

I am beginning to realize that coaching student athletes may be a very special gift. For years I wondered why my dad loved coaching at Swarthmore College. I am learning that perhaps it was not so much what he got out of it; rather what he was able to give to others. I think he recognized early in his career at Swarthmore that his role was not to develop great swimmers, but to help students develop a competitive spirit, improve skills, and have fun. He understood why students went to Swarthmore and he was comfortable in his role. A number of swimmers have commented on his coaching style.

“What a pleasure it is to remember your Dad. I only served during my freshman year on the Swarthmore swim team, in the fall and winter of 1942-3.”…“Then your father talked me into becoming the team's only diver. There was no other so I could always expect to earn one third place point for the team in each of our meets. I had to learn 10 dives. The half and full gainer soon became my biggest challenges. Jimmie sometimes draped me in a wet towel to protect me from the long series of back flops I underwent. After earning a few single points and amusing the bystanders with my suicidal antics, I slowly got the knack and actually earned a second place in one of our last meets. Then I went on to the Navy and completed training as a naval aviator. Due to your father's patience and skill, I was able to do fairly well on swimming teams at several of the bases we were stationed at around the United States.” Kendall Landis ’48

“Alas, I wasn't really one of Jimmy's swimmers. I was the guy who carried the towels and made sure the real swimmers had honey and orange slices to give them the energy they needed to win. I have fond memories of Jimmy, but mostly as the coach who gently but firmly told me where to move the towels.”
“P.S. -- I had no idea that Jimmy only coached at Swarthmore until 1972. I thought of him as immortal.” Bob Snow '69

“I loved Jimmy. I was not a great swimmer by any means, and he treated me the same way he treated the stars of the team--with fairness, warmth, humor, and with high expectations that we always tried hard to meet. I ended up being awarded an athletic letter, which I'm not sure I ever would have gotten under another coach.” Ron Hale '65

“Jimmy despaired that I never trained steadily enough. I countered that it was important to my success that I not learn how to swim slow. I was a sprinter and with his guidance about stroke speed and reach and not feathering on the pull, I did very well. My feet are large and a lot might be attributed to my kick. Jimmy and my teammates of the 1959-62 seasons claimed that with my foot size anyone could do as well. We had a lot of fun, both in routine practice and in trips and meets at home and away. I swam four years and was successful from my freshman year but to everyone's surprise, not the least my own, I actually bettered my own 50 and 100 yard freestyle records in my senior year. Jimmy's training style with me was to encourage and give me pointers about starts, turns, hand entry, minimizing rolling. but as I say, he despaired about my unwillingness to do lots of laps.” “But Jimmy always took pleasure in doing what we could with what we had ……”
Sandy Williams, 'Sanderson' or 'Father' as Jimmy called me Albert J. Williams 3rd, '62

“Jimmy was one of the most memorable individuals I met during my time at Swarthmore. Besides his great enthusiasm, I remember his unwavering and flexible support. As you probably know, for many of us swimming wasn’t the reason why we went to Swarthmore. So, seminars, labs, or other activities often took priority over practice (and sometimes meets!). That did not seem to faze Jimmy at all, which makes him a lot bigger man in my eyes than almost any other coach I’ve ever encountered. Jimmy wanted to work with any of us who showed up, when we could show up. He understood that swimming is just one of many things in life, and you would get back from it what you put into it.” Kevin Quigley ‘74

“I was a freshman at Swarthmore in the Fall of 1948. I did go out for the swimming team and quickly proved I was not the strongest or the best. I recall Jimmy as a helpful and kind person who never gave any indication that I was simply not cut out to be a good competitive swimmer. He did let me swim in several meets and I did get a letter. I think now that anyone who made a real effort would get praise from McAdoo and a letter too.”
Robert W. Hamilton ‘52

“I was at Swarthmore from 1968 thru 1972. I fondly remember your father as the swimming coach. What I remember most was his easy manner of handling swimmers during practice and the pre-meet pep talks. "Knock their jocks off", sticks with me. He was at all times encouraging and supportive, no matter the result of a race. He appreciated the difficult academic pressure that we faced, and factored that into his expectations for individual improvement and advancement. He made competition fun.” Harald Pedersen ‘72

“I knew Jimmy as a very cheerful, enthusiastic, and supportive man, an excellent coach who really taught me how to swim. He gave me the opportunity to be on the team, participate in meets, and eventually to getting a letter. I never considered myself to be much of an athlete, but probably because of the lack of other choices I got on the 400-yard free-style relay team. I was the slowest, barely breaking a minute on my leg, but the others were so good that we set a college record which I heard remained on the board in the pool room for some years ...” David Alburger ‘42

"Jimmy" Manuscript Outline

2005-07-19T20:30:00.000-04:00

“Jimmy”

Introduction
The book is about my dad-how I remember him and how others remember him.
It is the story of a kid who wanted to swim, a man who wanted to coach, a husband and father who struggled with both roles, and a dad who became my best friend.
It is about the continuing journey to discover my roots and complete the story.

Poem
“Jimmy” written by William D. Ehrhart, Swarthmore College, Class of 1973

Chapter One: The McAdoo Family
My earliest memories and what I have learned through searching for my family roots.

Chapter Two: Jimmy-Growing up in Germantown
Swimming at the Germantown Boys Club.
Philadelphia Gas Works News article, “Looking Back With Jimmy” and other stories.

Chapter Three: 1927 to 1935-Events in Jimmy’s Life
Swimming for Turners.
Playing water polo for Crystal Pool.
My grandmother died.
The Great Depression, 1929-1941.
Jimmy turned down a scholarship to Rider College.
Jimmy and Grace.
Jimmy and his brother Howard-more stories.
My parents start a family.
Lifeguarding

Chapter Four: The Coach
Northeast Catholic High School
Germantown Y
The American Red Cross-Europe 1945
Swarthmore College
LaSalle College
Swimmers’ recollections of Jimmy at the time of his retirement and today.

Chapter Five: Nicknames
Jimmy had nicknames for his swimmers and they had nicknames for him.

Chapter Six: My Family’s Legacy-Their Memories

Memories of Jimmy-continued

2005-07-04T15:15:00.000-04:00

I just received the following comments from two Swarthmore swimmers. Alden Bennett swam on my dad's first team and Colin Barnett on his last team.

I swam on the Swarthmore swim team from 68 to 72. My memories of your father are among the more vivid ones I have of life at Swarthmore. What I remember most about him is his concern for the swimmers and his ability to hold the team together through humor, cajoling, and understanding.

Coach McAdoo was not a man of the "sixties", a time when sex, drugs, and rock and roll dominated the campuses. He was understandably old-fashioned, but commanded great respect from his swimmers. After college, I eventually started swimming at the Masters level. The coaching I received there made me realize that your father's coaching on swim and racing techniques was just average. His real contribution was his wisdom, integrity, and devotion to the team.

Colin Barnett '72

Dear Jim, I only hope this reply will due justice to your father and the very fond memories I have of him.
I swam for him at Swarthmore during the winters of 1938-39 and 1939-40. I was certainly the
worst 440-yard swimmer he had during that time, maybe during his whole coaching career. I didn't really deserve my nickname then of "a-point-a-meet Bennett". (Maybe they averaged in the 5 points I won (just once, by default) when the other team had no entry in the 440.)But, God bless him, he never gave up on me. Near the end of our first season together, he took me aside and said, "Alden, I think your problem is that you let yourself get too far behind too soon in the race."
So we tried a new strategy for me at the next meet, - keeping up with the leaders. The 440 took 17 and 3/5 laps in Swarthmore's 25-yard pool. I stayed up with them for the first 12 laps and then had to quit and upchuck in the scuppers. Jimmy congratulated me as if I had won the race.
What a wonderful guy! And how often I've thought of him when trying to encourage younger colleagues to get up to speed. In fondest memory of Jimmy and with very best regards, - Alden Bennett, Class of 1940.

Jimmy's Swimming Career

2005-07-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

It is difficult to accurately trace my dad’s development as a swimmer because so few records remain and those that do have deteriorated considerably. Most of what remains are write-ups of his swimming days at the Germantown Boys Club and the Philadelphia Turners. I have no information about him swimming at Tome School or Germantown High School.

Jimmy began swimming competitively at the GBC when he was 10 or 12 years old. By 1924, at the age of 15, he had become recognized as a potential star. Some years later a writer wrote, “. . . and it is of a present day champion that we intend to speak of, no other than James McAdoo, the present “220” champion and a member of Turners since 1927. Back in 1924 the Germantown Boys’ Club found a representative capable of holding his own in almost any aquatic event he chose to enter, a swimmer with great possibilities, needing only training in the school of experience.” The writer continued, “Came the Sesqui-Centennial year, and with it the National Championships at the League Island pool. A second place in the “440” open fell to his lot, showing that the longer sprints were his best bet.” I checked the records and the winner of the race was Johnny Weissmuller, probably the greatest swimmer of that era. Later in the same article, “Then in 1927, PGT (Turners) acquired a new member, a swimmer needing only polish to rank with the sectional champions,” and about the 1928 season he wrote, “ . . . and it is only giving credit in the right place to say that McAdoo was to the Turner team what a keystone is to an arch.” The article goes on to point out his accomplishments during the 1929 season and it concluded with, “And in recognition of his splendid work he received the captaincy of the Turner team for 1930, which year gives promise of even greater success than the season just past.”

His outstanding career continued until 1933 or maybe 1934. Jimmy’s greatest achievements were swimming in the Schuylkill River at the Philadelphia Swimming Club. He retired three of the oldest and most prestigious trophies of that time, winning each one three times. They were the James H. Sterrett Trophy, 200 yard freestyle, the William Post Sackett Trophy, 100 yard freestyle, and the Sydney S. Asher Trophy, 440 yard freestyle. One year he won the Sackett race and 20 minutes later the Asher race, both in record setting times.

Jimmy did not go to college although he was offered a scholarship to Rider College in 1930 at the age of twenty-one, but he turned it down. My grandmother had died a few months earlier, the country was in the midst of the Depression and my grandfather was struggling to keep the family together. Here’s what William E. Moore (perhaps the athletic director) wrote when he heard of my dad’s decision. “While I do not, of course, know the inner reasons for your decision, I can understand that it must concern your immediate future to influence you to take such action. But it is as you say, better to “get together” with your dad on matters so as to share that united and common interest cooperation that is so vital to the success and harmony of families. As it stands now, I want to wish you, Jimmy, all the success in the World—I know it sounds trite—but I sincerely mean it, because you deserve to win out. If you should ever have reason to change your mind over coming to Rider, our offer is open to you, because you’re the kind of a fellow Rider wants in its student body.” He added a handwritten postscript, “Sure hope you change your plans and come back--- your books will be saved and waiting for you,”

Jimmy went on to play softball water polo for several years before the rules changed to make it a less dangerous sport. He began his coaching career in 1935 at Northeast Catholic High School where he developed a number of nationally ranked swimmers. During that period, he also coached at Germantown Y. Many of these young swimmers became life-long friends.

In 1938, Jimmy became the coach at Swarthmore College where he established a reputation as a fiercely competitive coach, a teacher, motivator, and friend to so many student athletes. After retiring in 1972, he joined his friend Jack Lumsden at LaSalle College and continued coaching there until his death in 1975.

Sports Parents-Jimmy's Approach

2005-06-28T15:02:00.000-04:00

I read an interesting, but disturbing article in The York Times sports section today. Bill Pennington describes a recent incident at a private all-girls Catholic high school in Connecticut where a father upset that his daughter had been suspended for three softball games because she missed a game to attend a prom, clubbed the coach six times with an aluminum bat. He goes on to say that “youth sports experts are well aware of the trend toward a new category of confrontations-those between parents and coaches.” These experts point to one overriding factor as the cause-pursuit for college athletic scholarships.

While this may be true, I suspect it is really a more complex issue. Why we are as involved as spectators in our children’s or grandchildren’s sports activities? Is it to show support? Is it because we enjoy watching kids play or could it be we want our children to become who we were or were not in our youth? Maybe we can learn something from the way my dad approached my development as a swimmer.

When I was a young kid swimming competitively at the Germantown Y, I wondered why my dad never came to my meets as did so many other parents. He never attended my high school dual meets or college meets, until the Temple meet during my sophomore year. Most of you have heard me tell that story. He did attend the two most important meets of my career. They were the two times Central High School competed for the city championship.

It took me many years to begin to understand what he was teaching me. 1) You’re just a kid, have fun, you don’t need any more pressure from your father than what you get at home. 2) Go as far as you can on your own. 3) I’ll be there to support you at the really critical times.

Jimmy was such a competitive person and great coach that he could easily have made me a much better swimmer and probably have dominated my career, but he chose a different approach and I learned a valuable lesson.

I welcome your comments.

McAdoo Irish Roots

2005-06-25T15:25:00.000-04:00

I recently conducted a surname search using the research capability of the Irish Times, http://www.ireland.com/ancestor. To access information about where McAdoo families lived in the 1850s, click on this link, then type McAdoo in the Surname Search box and click Go.

The data is relevant to my search for the birthplace of my great great grandfather, William McAdoo. He was born in Northern Ireland between 1830 and 1835. He immigrated to Philadelphia between 1848 and 1853.

Memories of Jimmy

2005-06-24T15:53:00.000-04:00

While I continue researching information on the McAdoo, Smith, and Peel families, I have shifted my focus back to my dad during the past few weeks. I have started contacting Jimmy's former swimmers at Swarthmore College and asking them to recall some of their memories of him. I would like to share a portion of the notes I received from Bill Ehrhart and Don Cassidy.

Bill wrote, "I’m very glad to hear from you. There’s hardly a week goes by that I don’t have occasion to think of your dad, even after all these years. You may not know this about me—there’s no reason you should—but I arrived at Swarthmore only after three years in the U.S. Marine Corps including a combat tour in Vietnam. I was wrestling with demons my peers and classmates could not even begin to imagine. Indeed, even the adults around me, professors and whatnot, didn’t seem to have a clue; they never let on that John Milton and the Third Crusade and the anthropology of Nepalese village life weren’t the most important things in the world. My years at Swarthmore were lonely and difficult. Jimmy was one of only three people who understood that I was not like the other students. Jimmy was one of only three people at Swarthmore that I could ever feel comfortable with or talk to about things that mattered. I loved him then and love him still."

Don wrote, "During my lifetime, I have collected mentors to guide me through various stages in my journey from childhood to adulthood: my father, several teachers, several friends, supervisors in various work settings, and a variety of coaches were all such mentors. At the age of 51, I count Jimmy McAdoo among the most important mentors in my life. From fall, 1971 through spring, 1972, Jimmy was a gentle giant in my life. His unique leadership blended humor, work, and a deep respect for each of his swimmers for more than three decades. He told us stories. He told us that Swarthmore was an "ivy" school, and if we doubted it, we could look up to the ceiling of the ancient Hall Gym pool (where the men's and women's teams still practiced and competed before the new pool was built), and if we looked closely, we could see ivy growing through the cracks between the walls and the ceiling."