Virginia Alberts – A Woman of Great Kindness
With March as Women in History Month and February as Black History Month, the story of Virginia Alberts takes on special significance. She was born in Virginia as Virginia Jones on June 15, 1868. Widowed twice, she was a woman of great kindness.
Virginia Alberts came to town from the South with her husband John and children in the 1920s. They first lived on N. 8th St. near Washington Ave. Before 1950 she was widowed and moved to a very small house at the far end of N. 9th St. near the end of the playground that is now located there. She had little money but scraped by while at the same time she helped others.
The family of Ernest and Iola Bailey lived across the street at 305 N. 9th St. Their sons, Howard, 1933-2016, and Wray, born 1936, recalled Virginia Alberts in a 2005 interview.
Wray said, “Mrs. Alberts kept pretty much to herself. She had a vegetable garden about her home. As she became older the garden became smaller. The children pretty much left her alone, but if any did bother her, she would speak to their parents and that would be the end of that. It was hard to tell if she was thin or full-bodied as she wore layered clothing much of the time.
Howard stated, “She took care of the less fortunate. She had nothing herself but always tried to help others to get on their own two feet. She often took in people, especially a young girl from down South, who wanted to come up North to better themselves. She would take people into her home and help them find work. Once they started to earn a living, they would have to be on their way so that she could eventually help someone else. She had no plumbing in the house. There was an outhouse and a well. I used to bring water in for her. I also used to chop wood for the small stove that she cooked on all year. It was the only source of heat in the house during the winter. As night approached, I used to go into her house and light her kerosene lamps for her. As she grew older and less able, her son John from Summit came down and checked her more often. Eventually, over her resistance and desire to remain independent, he took her to live with him.
Research reveals that she left Kenilworth about 1955 to live in Summit with her son. Some may look upon her life style in Kenilworth as primitive. But in the decades before, that was how many people lived in early Kenilworth – just like Mrs. Alberts. She had no electricity, no plumbing, no running water, and no central heat. As did she, earlier residents used kerosene lamps, had outhouses, and drew water from wells or scooped it up from nearby streams. Mrs. Alberts lived to nearly 94 years of age, passing away April 11, 1972. She was certainly a woman of great kindness who led a humble life, dedicating herself to helping others. She was one of those beautiful people we find who have so little, but who do so much for others.
Research provided by Walter E. Boright, Ed. D. Persons with questions about this article or who have Kenilworth history to share, may contact Dr. Boright at 908-256-5200 or drbori@aool.com.
