Don't know where she was born, but it's been reported she grew up in a housing project. If it was near the New Hope Baptist Church she attended on Sussex Avenue, it's probably Baxter Terrace on Orange Street, that ghastly compound across from the old Borden plant.
Here's an interesting column about Baxter Terrace:
My mother always said that the Huston's lived on Second St -at the end by the Tennis Courts- Ancestry.com is having a freebie for 2 weeks so I signed up.
Sure enough, according to the 1930 census report- her dad John(b.1920) was living on Second St!
Laurie, your mom was probably right. She had a very good memory. I checked a few more Whitney "bios," and found a couple that mentioned a "middle-class neighborhood" and a couple more that said "housing project." I'll go with your mom on this one, plus the research you did cinches it.
I have heard the same, Laura. I think it was the house about 4 or 5 down from mine towards 7th Avenue, the one that was set back and had the lawn in front of it. I am not sure if I'm remembering correctly but I am having dinner with Andy tonight and will ask him if he remembers. I don't know that it was her parents....maybe another relative....
Hi Susan- you are correct - it was that funny set way back house more in the middle of the block- I re-checked Ancestry.com then NJ Tax Assessment and used Google Earth- 205 2nd st. It looks pretty much the way I recall it.
There was a younger brother Henry and a mother in law according the the information at the address in 1930- John was a mechanic and his wife Sarah was a Public School teacher. I would venture to say that the Houston grandparents were an unusual family for the time.
![[linked image]](http://www.thecanteen.com/whitney.jpg)