A fascinating oral history of Campbell house and the Campbell family was recently given to the Museum. The history by Rita Heller Willey is interesting because she was both a guest of Hugh Campbell and a friend of some the Campbell's domestic servants during the 1920s.
Memories of the Campbell House
by Rita Heller Willey (1908-2002)
Summer of 1904, St. Louis World's Fair
Two young ladles came to see the Fair. Rose Heller and Mary Boerste of Tell City, Indiana--a small picturesque town on the Ohio River named after the legendary William Tell of Switzerland. Mary answered an ad in the newspaper for an "upstairs maid" and stayed in St. Louis. Rose went back to Tell City. Rose was my father's sister.
Mary was a good friend. On Fridays, her day off, she would visit friends: Jacob Holtzmann, a Mrs. Mundel, and our house--consisting of my father, mother, myself and my younger brother. On a visit to Campbell house when I was a child and it was around Christmas, we were told to take an ornament from the tree. This was the custom; all children who came could take one. I still have the little celluloid doll and also the horn which Bud took. All holidays were observed with candies and table favors. I have some St. Patrick's Day figurines. The candies were green snakes, etc.
On Christmas Day 1922 Mary invited me to the party given by Mr. Hugh Campbell for his employees (Mary the housekeeper, Martha the cook and Gus his secretary) and their relatives and/or friends. I was 13 at the time, the youngest guest, and Mary thought I was a young lady who would appreciate all the finery and food which was catered (she was right). There were paper hats for everyone. Mr. Campbell played the square piano made of rosewood. Later there were musicians and dancing. My father had taken me there on the streetcar and came to get me when it was over; they invited him in for a glass of wine. The guests were given a large brown-paper-wrapped box to take home. It contained a Christmas wreath, a 5-pound tin of Busy Bee candy and taped to the outside was an envelope containing $5 for taxi fare.
Mary, Martha and Gus were given expensive Christmas gifts every year, mostly jewelry. Pearl and sapphire pins, pearls, black velvet choker with three gold buckles, etc. One year it was a diamond ring and the next year it was taken away and given back with two diamonds, next year it was three and so on, ending up with seven diamonds. Also diamond drop earrings, so Martha and Marv had to get their ears pierced.
Eventually Martha got married and Mary sent for her niece, Minnie Kleeman, of Tell City to do the cooking. I became good friends with the Kleeman sisters and we entertained Minnie at our house and she invited us to visit and play cards in the servant's dining room which was in the back of the kitchen.
Given to the Campbell House Museum by Rita Heller Willey's daughter, February 2007.
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