Pete,
You asked if anyone knew how Miss Margaret got the name Maggie Jim. It seems that New Gretna was like no other little town along the shore in regards to nicknames, especially the ladies of the town. Nearly every married woman in town was known by her first name followed by her husband's. For example, Maggie Bob was Bob Maxwell's wife, Lizzie Joe was Joe Mathis' wife, Helen Clarance was Clarence Mathis' wife, Ida Pug was Marvin "Pug" Mathis' wife, Sara John was John Mathis' wife, etc. and etc. [Moderator's note: Notice, if the husband had a nickname, his nickname was often transferred to his wife's nickname rather than his given name. Another example of this is that Booter Mathis' wife was called "Stella Boot".]
"Helen Clarence". The date of the photo is unknown. I'll just call it during the "era of the big hats". (Photo courtesy of Leila Mathis Pitts.)
Seeing as how Margaret Adams, commonly known as Maggie Jim, was single and never married, she took her nickname from her father, Jim Adams. He had a farm in west New Gretna in an area called Frog Town because it was swampy and near the Wading River and was therefore subject to frogs croaking in the spring when the swamps were flooded. His farm and homestead still stands today. It was purchased from the Adams family by the Leepa family who moved to New Gretna years ago. They had several children who attented the New Gretna School. I remember Kenny Leepa who was several years ahead of me in school.
Don Maxwell
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Click the link below to go to the October, 1998 issue of the Bass River Gazette and read the page 4+ article on "Bass River Nicknames" by Almira Cramer Steele. It's my all time favorite Gazette article.
We're thankful for Don Maxwell's input here at the blog. If it keeps up, and hopefully it will, we'll have to put him on the payroll. Tell you what, Don . . . I'll give you twice my salary!
Pete S