Freida Baum

1880 – 1946

Profile

Click here to view a PDF version of Freida Baum’s biography.

Freida, also spelled Freda, Baum was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, in March of 1880 to Abraham Baum (click here to view his biography) and Mary Anspach Baum (click here to view her biography), both of whom were originally from Germany. She had twelve siblings: Alfred Baum (click here to view his biography), Jacob Baum, Hilda Baum Reisman, Rosa Baum Hassel (click here to view her biography), Simeon Baum (click here to view his biography), Ferdinand Baum, Selina “Sally” Baum Katz, Fannie Baum Metz, Lena Baum Monash, Isadore “Israel” Baum, Maurice Baum (click here to view his biography), and Harry Baum (click here to view his biography). She never married or had any children.

Freida graduated from the Bellefonte high school in 1896. On August 28, 1896, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida and her sister, Rosa Baum, traveled to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Freida took a course in stenography at a business college while Rosa went on to vacation in New York. The Democratic Watchman reported on February 17, 1899, Freida worked as a telephone operator and the Directory of Bellefonte: For the Years 1901-’02 listed Freida as a telephone operator at the Central Commercial Telephone Company, located at Temple Court on South Allegheny Street.

According to the 1880, 1900, and 1910 census records, Freida lived with her parents and siblings in the South Ward of Bellefonte on East Bishop Street. According to different notices in the Democratic Watchman, Freida commonly traveled to visit her sisters, Rosa Baum Hassel in Ohio, Lena Baum Monash in New York, and Fannie Baum Metz in Kentucky, and to improve her health. For example, on May 1, 1903, Freida Baum left Bellefonte for Atlantic city to rest and restore her “…shattered nerves.” Her sister, Sally Baum, accompanied her.

During Freida’s travels, the Baum family home at 117 East Bishop Street was frequently closed. On April 5, 1907, for example, Freida traveled to Atlantic City for her health and her father, Abraham, and brother, Maurice Baum, stayed with their daughter and sister, respectively, Sally Baum Katz, and her husband, William S. Katz, while Alfred and Israel, also known as Isadore, stayed at the Brockerhoff house. On May 10, 1907, Freida returned home to Bellefonte with improved health. Additionally, on February 21, 1913, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida left to spend three months with her sister, Fannie, in Trenton, Kentucky. During her absence, the Baum family home was closed. Abraham lived with his daughter, Sally, while Simeon lived at the Brockerhoff house, and the other boys stayed at a hotel. On May 16, 1912, Freida returned home to Bellefonte.

On August 23, 1918, the Democratic Watchman reported Simeon Baum and his family were to move into the Baum family home at 117 East Bishop Street while Freida prepared to leave for New York to be with her sister, Lena, for the indefinite future. On September 6, 1918, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida traveled to New York to be with Lena. Freida returned to Bellefonte in October of 1918 and lived with her brother, Simeon, and his family in the Baum family home. On November 15 of the same year, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to spend the winter with her sister, Rosa. In December of 1922 and November of 1923, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida lived on High Street in Bellefonte. According to her obituary, Freida lived with her sister, Sally, and her brother-in-law, William, in Bellefonte for several years prior to moving to Atlantic City. On March 22, 1929, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida moved with Sally and William from Bellefonte to Ventnor, New Jersey.

Freida died on October 5, 1946, at the Atlantic City hospital in New Jersey after suffering from an illness for several weeks. Services were held in Atlantic City on October 7, 1946, and she was buried at the Rodef Shalom Cemetery in Bellefonte on October 8, 1946.

Miscellaneous Stories

On May 24, 1895, the Democratic Watchman reported on the Bellefonte high school’s Junior Oratorical contest at the Garman’s opera. For the contest, Freida recited “a Brave Boy” “…in a way that raised the hopes of her friends.”

On April 25, 1913, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida lived at the Nittany Inn in State College for two weeks with her brother Maurice “…to obtain a much needed rest for the benefit of her health.”

On January 1, 1915, the Democratic Watchman reported Sally Baum Katz was planning to visit relatives in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio. Sally left her three children with Freida at the Baum family home at 117 East Bishop Street.

On June 16, 1916, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida hosted a lawn party the previous week for the scholars and teachers of the recently established Hebrew Sunday school. The event “…established more firmly Miss Baum’s reputation of being among the most successful entertainers of the town.”

On March 26 and April 2, 1920, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida Baum’s clover leaf gold pin with pearls and diamonds was lost. A reward was offered if the pin was returned to her.

On April 14, 1922, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida traveled to Columbus, Ohio, via train after receiving a notification her sister, Rosa, was severely burned after a cooking accident resulted in her clothes catching on fire. Rosa, however, died before Freida reached Columbus.

On September 14, 1923, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida donated $5 to the Japanese Relief Fund through the Bellefonte Red Cross.

On June 25, 1926, the Democratic Watchman reported Sally drove Freida to Clearfield, where Freida remained under the care of Dr. Waterworth for several days. On July 16, 1926, the Democratic Watchman reported Freda and Miss Della Beezer were both surgical patients at the Clearfield hospital and under the care of Dr. Waterworth. No further details were provided.

On November 11, 1927, the Democratic Watchman reported Freida, along with three other women, all of whom were patients and under the observation of Dr. Waterworth, drove the Katz car to Clearfield.

On July 20, 1928, the Democratic Watchman reported the Baum family was planning a large family gathering, a first in nearly 25 years. Freida was one of the Baum family members in attendance.

Photos

Baum Family Portrait

Photographed in late July of 1890 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, by the photographer Shaffer. According to the August 1, 1890, edition of the Democratic Watchman, this was the largest family photo taken in Bellefonte. The photograph includes Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum and all of their thirteen children. Photo via Tara Mianulli U’Ren, the great-granddaughter of Simeon Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum).

Baum Family Portrait with Names

Photographed in late July of 1890 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, by the photographer Shaffer. Photo via Tara Mianulli U’Ren, the great-granddaughter of Simeon Baum (son of Abraham and Mary Anspach Baum), and captions by Casey Sennett.

Maps

1897

PERSONAL RESIDENCE

117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1897. Map. Click here to view full map.

1904

PERSONAL RESIDENCE

117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1904. Map. Click here to view full map.

1911

PERSONAL RESIDENCE

117 EAST BISHOP STREET, BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Sanborn Map Company, Aug, 1911. Map. Click here to view full map.