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June 22, 1916. Fall River, Mass. Oscar Revinsky [Radnisky]. Born Jan. 11, 1900. 16 years old. Lives at 99 Oak Grove Ave. A scavenger on Pine Street Dump. Case known to S.P.C.C. (record No. 4322) since 1910. In 1913 parents refused to let child be committed to Wrentham, Mass. In 1916 father came to office asking that boy be committed as he spent all his time on the dumps. Deficient mentality. Neck covered with scars and boils. "No work, no school" since 1912. Never cleans up. Doesn't go home to meals. Eats from dump and steals from dinner pails. Was in baby grade at Ruggles School and was expelled. "Is father alive?" "No, he's a milkman." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.
Joe Manning, once more. The link to my story of this boy has changed. It is:
http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/oscar-radnisky-page-one/
Joe Manning again. Alas, there is no record of an obituary in the Taunton newspaper. What kind of life did Oscar have? Where did his family go? Were any of them present when Oscar passed on? Is there anyone who remembers him?
Oh I understand exactly what he meant (and what does that say about me?).
Q: Is your father A Live?
A: No, he is A Milkman.
It's a bad vaudeville routine.
Don't get the "no he's a milkman. " does that mean that his mama slept around?
[Ha. Or maybe he's saying that if you're a milkman, you're not really living. Actually I think Hine's point is that the kid's answers are non sequiturs. - Dave]
This is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I did some quick checking, and found that Oscar was born January 11, 1900, the son of Aaron and Ethel Radnisky, who had six other children in the 1910 census. Oscar registered for the World War One draft, and was listed as "feeble minded," and his given residence was Wrentham State School. He died in Taunton, Mass. (most likely Taunton State Hospital), in September 1971, at the age of 70. I requested his obit from the Taunton Library, and will report on what it said, if there is anything of significance. You can see more of what I've found at www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/oscarradnisky1.html
[Thanks, Joe. We eagerly await your findings. - Dave]
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