In 1918 he graduated High School in June and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July at New York City. He was described at this time as 5'10" tall, 135 lbs., with blue eyes, flax hair and a ruddy complextion. Although World War I was still ongoing when he enlisted in July of 1918, the war officially ended in November the same year. Louis always said he had fought "The Battle of Pelham Bay" because much to his disappointment, he spent his entire enlistment shoveling coal at Pelham Bay Park in New York aboard the U.S.S. Huntington. His official trade was ‘chainman'. Although his enlistment was for four years service, he was honorably discharged on Sept. 30, 1921. His discharge papers gave the reason for discharge: "By order of the Secretary of the Navy, due to lack of funds". His proficiency rating was 3.0 (Good), his sobriety was 4.0 (Excellent), as was his obedience.
On Jan. 1st of 1920 his father died. After Louis' discharge he lived with his mother in White Plains, along with his sister Bessie and brother Charlie. In the 1920 US Census his occupation was given as ‘Clerk, Railroad' , but soon after he began his career as a carpenter.
Sometime before 1924 he met Verna Leota Horton and they married in May 1926. According to an original bill of sale for furniture, they first lived at 24 Chatterton Avenue in White Plains, renting the house from his Uncle Lewis Coon. In 1928 their daughter Alison Verna Coon was born. Their son was born in 1930.
Louis was a volunteer fireman and member of the Chatterton Hose Company. The firehouse was diagonally across the street from 62 Robertson Avenue. During prohibition (1920-33) the firehouse was used as much for a social club as for firefighting; the members hung out at the firehouse, played pinochle and (it's rumored) made bathtub gin.
He went into the contracting business with his brother Charlie. Their first project was a home built for their brother Archie at 184 Chatterton Parkway. After Archie's divorce, Louis bought the home from him and moved his family into it about 1946. In the 1950's Louis worked as a building contractor with architect Kaneji Domoto in Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonia in Pleasantville, Westchester County, New York.
Louis and Verna moved to Lake Park, Florida about 1958, building a home at 532 Cypress Drive. It was always painted white with blue trim. Louis took great pride in his yard and grew roses in the back yard. He enjoyed watching baseball and eating red skin peanuts. He often went to local baseball games, walking half a block to the park to watch the Little League games. The Palm Beach Kennel Club was a favorite. He and his friends would each go in 50 cents for a $2 bet of win, place or show. If they won, it would pay maybe $2.30, but they would be ecstatic. Some of his favorite sayings were Whatchamacallit", "Loose as ashes" and "Everythings Elephants".
Verna died in 1980 at age 77. Louis died in 1986 at age 88.
In 1918 he graduated High School in June and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July at New York City. He was described at this time as 5'10" tall, 135 lbs., with blue eyes, flax hair and a ruddy complextion. Although World War I was still ongoing when he enlisted in July of 1918, the war officially ended in November the same year. Louis always said he had fought "The Battle of Pelham Bay" because much to his disappointment, he spent his entire enlistment shoveling coal at Pelham Bay Park in New York aboard the U.S.S. Huntington. His official trade was ‘chainman'. Although his enlistment was for four years service, he was honorably discharged on Sept. 30, 1921. His discharge papers gave the reason for discharge: "By order of the Secretary of the Navy, due to lack of funds". His proficiency rating was 3.0 (Good), his sobriety was 4.0 (Excellent), as was his obedience.
On Jan. 1st of 1920 his father died. After Louis' discharge he lived with his mother in White Plains, along with his sister Bessie and brother Charlie. In the 1920 US Census his occupation was given as ‘Clerk, Railroad' , but soon after he began his career as a carpenter.
Sometime before 1924 he met Verna Leota Horton and they married in May 1926. According to an original bill of sale for furniture, they first lived at 24 Chatterton Avenue in White Plains, renting the house from his Uncle Lewis Coon. In 1928 their daughter Alison Verna Coon was born. Their son was born in 1930.
Louis was a volunteer fireman and member of the Chatterton Hose Company. The firehouse was diagonally across the street from 62 Robertson Avenue. During prohibition (1920-33) the firehouse was used as much for a social club as for firefighting; the members hung out at the firehouse, played pinochle and (it's rumored) made bathtub gin.
He went into the contracting business with his brother Charlie. Their first project was a home built for their brother Archie at 184 Chatterton Parkway. After Archie's divorce, Louis bought the home from him and moved his family into it about 1946. In the 1950's Louis worked as a building contractor with architect Kaneji Domoto in Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonia in Pleasantville, Westchester County, New York.
Louis and Verna moved to Lake Park, Florida about 1958, building a home at 532 Cypress Drive. It was always painted white with blue trim. Louis took great pride in his yard and grew roses in the back yard. He enjoyed watching baseball and eating red skin peanuts. He often went to local baseball games, walking half a block to the park to watch the Little League games. The Palm Beach Kennel Club was a favorite. He and his friends would each go in 50 cents for a $2 bet of win, place or show. If they won, it would pay maybe $2.30, but they would be ecstatic. Some of his favorite sayings were Whatchamacallit", "Loose as ashes" and "Everythings Elephants".
Verna died in 1980 at age 77. Louis died in 1986 at age 88.
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