Our Ancestor Was ~ Street Car Conductor

Carl Victor Judd 

1st cousin, 3x removed 

b. 11/13/1888 in Texas 

d. 1/17/1956 in California 

photograph in personal collection

Years ago, I connected on Ancestry with a friend sharing Judd family information. Steve gifting us with various photographs. One of my favorites is Carl V. Judd, 1st cousin 3x removed, in uniform.

Neither of us knew what this uniform represented. Steve enlarged the photograph to see if he could gather clues. Focusing on the buttons, he was certain they were not military issue.

FamilySearch, California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994, Los Angeles, Los Angels,
Death Certificates 1956 - no 1-1350

This record supplied a missing piece to our puzzle. Carl's "usual occupation" was that of "street car" "conductor".

FamilySearch, California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, 004280954

On FamilySearch, I found this marriage record for Carl V. Judd to Mary J. Mullin. There Carl's occupation was recorded as "Con L.A. Ry". We interpreted as conductor on the L.A. Railway.

The best evidence, discovered in a publication called "Two Bells". This magazine was published by and for employees of the Los Angels Railway. In the January 30, 1928 edition, we find C.V. Judd on page 3. He is depicted in the article called "Trainmen Who Received Bouqets During 1927". Carl can be found bottom right.

All aboard! Love solving a mystery.

Further reading on the electric street railway:

Los Angels Railway - Wikipedia    

Los Angels Railway 1895-1945 - flickr

Los Angels Railway (1895-1945) - Metro's Primary Resources, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Rails West: Street Railways Enable City Growth

The Street Railway History of Los Angeles : The Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California

+This post is part of series "Our Ancestor Was". Will be documenting interesting and unusual occupations as discovered.