Mrs. P. Nefflen Dies; Old-Time Actress
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Played With Hilliard and Mansfield Throughout the Country.
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Mrs. Harriet Frances Nefflen, 77 years old, prominent for years as a star actress of the old Amaranth and Gilbert Dramatic societies of Brooklyn, and later a professional actress playing leading parts with "Bob" Hilliard, Richard Mansfield and other noted stars throughout the country, died yesterday of heart trouble at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Pauline Willard De Lisser, 1054 E. 19th st., Flatbush. Her funeral services will be held there on Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. E. M. Halliday, pastor of the Ocean Avenue Congregational Church, and the interment, on Wednesday, will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Nefflen was born in Boston, on April 17, 1844, the daughter of the late Isaac and Julia Willard Cary. She had been a resident of Brooklyn for 23 years. Her husband, Paul Nefflen, who died many years ago, was a noted artist and the originator of mural decorating of public buildings in this country, his frieze of all the sciences in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston being the first work of that kind, and it was immediately adopted as a distinct method of artistic work. So greatly was it prized that in later years when the frieze was partly destroyed the alumni and students of the institute immediately subscribed a large sum of money for its restoration. Mrs. Nefflen was a most versatile actress, her talents ranging from singing roles in light opera with Richard Mansfield to playing Mrs. Malaprop with "Bob" Hilliard in "The Rivals." She was for years a mainstay of the Amaranth and the Gilbert Dramatic Society, appearing in leading parts in nearly all their productions at the old Academy of Music on Montague st. She was one of the founders of the library of the Cortelyou Club in Flatbush, where she and her daughter often appeared in amateur theatricals. She began her professional career when John Duff, manager for Augustin Daly, saw her in a play at the Academy of Music and immediately engaged he for appearances in light opera at the old Standard Theater in Manhattan. Thereafter she played for years in theaters in Manhattan, and later toured the country with important road companies. She was a life member of the Professional Women's League of New York and a ember of the Brooklyn Women's Patriotic Society. her last professional appearance was about six years ago in Jack London's play, "The Great Interrogation," at the Brighton Beach Music Hall. Mrs. Nefflen's daughter, Mrs. De Lisser, is also a well-known professional actress and, like her mother, appeared often in the Gilbert and Amaranth productions. [The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon., 26 Sep 1921, pg. 3]
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Harriet F. Nefflen, Actress, Dies at 77.
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Resident of Brooklyn, Had Played Leading Roles With Richard Mansfield.
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Funeral services will be held this evening, the Rev. E. M. Halliday officiating, for Mrs. Harriet F. Nefflen, seventy-seven, prominent for years as an actress. She died Sunday of heart trouble at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Willard De Lisser, No. 1054 East 19th Street, Flatbush. Interment tomorrow will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Nefflen, born in Boston, was a resident of Brooklyn twenty-three years. Her husband, who died many years ago, was a well known artist and mural decorator. Mrs. Nefflen was for many years the star of the old Amaranth and the Gilbert Dramatic Societies of Brooklyn. She played leading parts with Robert Hilliard, Richard Mansfield and other noted actors. Her last appearance on the stage was about six years go in Jack London’s play “The Great Interrogation.” Mrs. De Lisser is also a well known actress. [The Evening World (New York, NY), Tues., 27 Sep 1921, pg. 18]
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Performed in plays, along with her daughter, in New York City. She was born in Massachusetts to Isaac and Julia W. Cary. On June 1, 1864, at the age of 22, she married Paul Nefflen in Boston, Massachusetts. Together, they had a daughter Pauline.
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Mrs. Hattie F. Nefflen and Miss Pauline Willard, along with others, performed in the play “Friendship”, then sat down to dine at the Colonial Athletic Club, 360 Clermont Avenue, on February 23rd. [The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 25 Feb 1901]
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1900 (Jun 4) Census, Manhattan, New York, NY:
Harriett Nefflen, 58, b Mar 1842, wd, 1 born/liv, b MA, parents MA.
Pauline W Nefflen, dtr, 28, b Mar 1872, sgl, b MA, fthr Germany.
Mary W Stuart, sister, 60, b Jul 1839, wd, 0 born, b MA, parents MA.
Address: 2331 Seventh Ave. (rent)