Part IV: My Research on Arthur Guy CHAMBERLIN
Next post in this series:
Part VI: Arthur CHAMBERLIN in the Census
Well, I know it has been awhile since I posted on Arthur and his family. Sorry for killing the momentum. I left off on my visit to the courthouse during my trip to St. Clair County, Michigan, in 2007. I promised to post the story about Arthur's son, Tommy, who died in an accident at the age of 15 in 1962. The family story was that he died in a car-related accident, and the death record at the courthouse confirmed this, but there were few details on the death record. I returned to the St. Clair County Library to search the newspaper for an article about his death. Here is what I found:
"Youth, 15, Killed By Auto After Falling In Street," The Port Huron (Michigan) Times Herald, 13 October 1962, p. 1.
A 15-year-old Port Huron boy was killed shortly after 7 p.m. Friday when police said he ran into Pine Grove Avenue near Whipple Street while playing, slipped and fell and was struck by a car driven by Mrs. Amelia Gossman, 36, of 2119 Church Street.
Thomas Chamberlin, son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Mason, 2811 Wright Street, was dead on arrival at Port Huron Hospital.
Coroner Arthur B. Smith said Thomas died of a fractured neck.
Thomas was the sixth traffic fatality in the City since January and the thirty-fourth in St. Clair County this year.
Patrolmen Ronald Peterson and Frank Kovach said that Mrs. Gossman told them she was driving north on Pine Grove and that oncoming traffic was heavy.
Mrs. Gossman said that as she approached Whipple Street she heard what she thought was metal striking the pavement and thought she had run over a piece of steel in the street.
She stopped, got out of the car and saw several boys standing around the body of another boy at the rear of her car.
Police said Mrs. Gossman told them she did not see the Chamberlin boy.
Officers said a witness, Neil Gross, 14, of 1515 Whipple Street, told them that Thomas and another boy, Steve Ferguson, 1505 Whipple Street, were playing and chasing each other around when Thomas ran into the street and was struck.
Police said another witness, Loren K. Bluska, 39, of 628 Court Street, told them he was driving south on Pine Grove when he saw a boy being chased by another boy.
Bluska told officers the boy ran into the street and fell down, sliding on his side in front of an oncoming car.
Bluska said that as the boy sat up and tried to get out of the way he was struck by the left front of the car.
Police said Thomas was dragged 78 feet from the point of impact.
After taking a statement from Mrs. Gossman she was released, Police said.
Thomas was a ninth grade pupil at Port Huron High School.
Thomas was born Jan. 16, 1947 in St. Clair, and had lived in Port Huron the last six years.
He was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America.
Thomas is survived by his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Edward Young, Miss Christine Chamberlin, and Miss Patricia Mason, and a brother, James Chamberlin, all of Port Huron.
The remains are in the Arthur Smith Funeral Home where funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday.
Rev. Arthur Rock, pastor of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, will officiate.
Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery.
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