An active, Theosophical Fortean.
Olive Houlker was born 13 October 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and would spend her entire life in the city and its environs. Her father was named Whittaker, and he—like Fort’s father—was a grocer. Her mother shared her name, though seemed to go by Ollie. Whittaker’s parents had both come from England, though he was born in Pennsylvania; Ollie’s father was from Scotland, her mother Pennsylvania. They married around 1896, when Whittaker was 26 and Ollie 24. Olive had two older siblings, May, born around 1898, and Ralph, born around 1900. In 1910, the family lived in McKees Rock.
Ten years on, May was not listed in the family home—she was old enough to have moved out—and the rest of the family had relocated to Pittsburgh, where Whittaker was still a grocer. Olive was in school. Ralph was 19, and in school. The family seemed financially stable: they owned their home free and clear, no mortgage. They owned the same home in 1930, 546 Dawson—it was listed as worth$11,000 or about $153,000 in today’s dollars—but Whittaker was no longer working. Presumably he had retired. Ralph was still at home, approaching thirty, and working construction. Olive was a saleslady at a department store. Olive may also have studied some at Beaver College and taught elementary school for a while.
Olive Houlker was born 13 October 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and would spend her entire life in the city and its environs. Her father was named Whittaker, and he—like Fort’s father—was a grocer. Her mother shared her name, though seemed to go by Ollie. Whittaker’s parents had both come from England, though he was born in Pennsylvania; Ollie’s father was from Scotland, her mother Pennsylvania. They married around 1896, when Whittaker was 26 and Ollie 24. Olive had two older siblings, May, born around 1898, and Ralph, born around 1900. In 1910, the family lived in McKees Rock.
Ten years on, May was not listed in the family home—she was old enough to have moved out—and the rest of the family had relocated to Pittsburgh, where Whittaker was still a grocer. Olive was in school. Ralph was 19, and in school. The family seemed financially stable: they owned their home free and clear, no mortgage. They owned the same home in 1930, 546 Dawson—it was listed as worth$11,000 or about $153,000 in today’s dollars—but Whittaker was no longer working. Presumably he had retired. Ralph was still at home, approaching thirty, and working construction. Olive was a saleslady at a department store. Olive may also have studied some at Beaver College and taught elementary school for a while.