BlairAndCernyFamilie..

-t
f
HELEN BI.AIR OIBRIEN
Helen was born February 10, l9l9 at Illiopolis, Illinois.
She graduated from lJest Stringtoun grade school and the
Illlopolis Comunity High School. All of the Blair
children graduated from the same schools. She attended
Springfield Junior College in Springfield, Illinois.
In 1937 she was erployed by St. Johnrs Hospital in Springfield.
At this time she checked the menus for the patietts,
delivered trays at mealtr'me, worked in the diet kitchen and
ran the visitors elevator. She had to be at nork at I A.H.
and r+orked until 12 noon, then off .frorn work all afternoon
and return to work at 5 P.l,l. until 9 P.H.
All of the girls rr'tro urorked at St. Johnrs lbspital lived at
the Rita Club which was operated by the hospital and it was
for girls only and it was free lodging for then. The bell
rvould ring at 5:30 A.M. and all of the girls r+ould attend
Hass at 6:10 A.ltl. then to breakfast at 7 A.H. and go to rrrork
at 8cA.M. Later the Rita Club was discontinued and all of
the girls had to move. lltrile at the hospital Helen transferred
to the adnitting office and liked the work better and
met a lot of nice people.
She later was employed as a secretary to Dr. Irvin Dunasl a
podiatrist and from there she went to rvork for Hontgomery
Ward and company as a switchboard operator. She took all
calls for the service department and three nights a week
she went to Springfield Secretarial School white uorking
at lbntgomery lJard.
In l94l she tuorked for Allf s Chalmers ltlanufacturing Conrpany
in the purchasing department and later in the enployment
offi'ce. lltri le working there she took a night course in
Red Cross Nursing Aid at Henrorial Hospital. She was
erployed there for seven yearso
Sh'e qirit her job in May o? 1949.