Helen Georgine Kammerer

b. 19 June 1890, d. 17 June 1973

Helen Georgine Kammerer Shipston, 1890-1973
  • Helen Georgine Kammerer was born on 19 June 1890 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
  • She was baptized/christened on 27 July 1890 at Zion Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, sponsored by Johann Georg Weiler.
  • Adam Kammerer and Ursula Weiler appeared in the New York state census of 16 February 1892 in Niagara, Niagara County, New York. Other members of the household included Helen Georgine Kammerer, Ada Anna Kammerer, Elizabeth Susanna Margaret Kammerer, John Balthasar Kammerer and Lucille Christine Kammerer.
  • Adam Kammerer and Ursula Weiler appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Niagara, Niagara County, New York, at 1366 Ontario Avenue. Other members of the household included Helen Georgine Kammerer, Ada Anna Kammerer, John Balthasar Kammerer, Lucille Christine Kammerer, Marie Katherine Kammerer and Carl Adam Kammerer.
  • Adam and Lucy Kammerer and their family were photographed during 1902 in their front yard at 1366 Ontario Avenue.
  • Adam and Lucy Kammerer and their family posed for a photographic portrait during May 1903, of which two versions survive.
  • Adam Kammerer and Ursula Weiler appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1905 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1266 Ontario Avenue. Other members of the household included Helen Georgine Kammerer, Ada Anna Kammerer, John Balthasar Kammerer, Lucille Christine Kammerer, Marie Katherine Kammerer and Carl Adam Kammerer.
  • Adam Kammerer and Ursula Weiler appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1366 Ontario Avenue. Other members of the household included Helen Georgine Kammerer, Lucille Christine Kammerer, Marie Katherine Kammerer and Carl Adam Kammerer.
  • She was employed as a clerk in a bindery, according to the 1910 census.
  • Lucy Weiler Kammerer was photographed about 1912 with daughters Helen and Marie, Addie and Charles Gaise, and Elsa Vorwerk.
  • She was a sponsor at the baptism/christening of Dorothea Elizabeth Hartwig on 3 November 1912 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 9 September 1913 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: At 6:30 o'clock this evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Eimer of No. 422 Fifth street, will occur the marriage of their daughter, Louise Kammerer Eimer to Mr. John Guinther of this city. The house will be attractively decorated with flowers, and palms, and the ceremony will be performed before the mantel which will be banked with asters, ferns and hydrangeas. Rev. Herman Brezing, pastor of the Zion Lutheran church will officiate in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The bride will be gowned in white crepe meteor and Venetian lace, with cap of duchess lace. She will carry a bouquet of roses and lilies of the valley. Miss Lola Willis of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, who will be bridesmaid, will wear a gown of apricot messaline, veiled with pale blue chiffon, and will carry pink roses. Mr. Norman Ray of Massena, N. Y., formerly of this city, will be best man. The bridal party will enter the parlor to the strains of the wedding march played by Miss Helen Kammerer of this city, and Mr. George J. Barnett will sing, "I love you, dear." After the ceremony, a wedding supper will be served in a marquee on the lawn, and covers will be laid for ten at the bride's table which will be centered with a large wedding cake. Cut flowers will also form part of the decorations. After a wedding trip to the Thousand Islands, returning via the Adirondacks, Mr. and Mrs. Guinther will be at home at No. 422 Fifth street. Guests will be present from Toronto, Ont., Massena, N. Y., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Buffalo.
  • The following appeared on 20 September 1913 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Chimer -- The Niagara Falls Gazette: Zion Lutheran Church, Michigan Avenue and Tenth Street. . . . The following program of Christmas music will be rendered on the Siegel Chimes Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: . . . Mr. Karl Kammerer. Organist -- Mrs. J. Guinther. Chori -- Soprano, Miss Helen Kammerer, Mrs. W. Smale, Mrs. F. Jenss, Mrs. C. Woolcock, Miss Florence Braun; alto, Miss Ida Wagner, Mrs. W. Shea, Miss Marie Kammerer, Miss Emily Wahl; bass, E. Nussbaum, G. Haeberle, F. Jenss; tenor, M. P. Jenss, S. Wagner, J. Wahl. Director -- Mr. F. A. Jenss.
  • The following appeared on 24 December 1915 in Falls Churches Have All Arranged The Niagara Falls Gazette: Programmes for Observance of Christmas.  Zion Lutheran Church, Michigan avenue and Tenth street, Herman Brezing, pastor.  . . . The quartette of the congregation will sing at the German service on Christmas Day. . .  Helen Kammerer, soprano; Ida Wagner, alto; August Anders, tenor; Carl Kammerer, bass.  . . .  The following organ program has been prepared by Miss Dorothy Haeberle, organist: . . . 
  • The following appeared on 30 June 1916 in The Buffalo Morning Express: The marriage of Miss Gertrude Barnett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Barnett, and Joseph F. Lepine was solemnized at 7 o'clock last evening in the Presbyterian church of the Covenant, the Rev. John D. Campbell officiating. The church was decorated with palms, evergreens, pink peonies and marguerites. Ropes of Smilax were caught from the chandeliers. The pews for the house guests were marked with pink peonies and marguerites. Carl Kammerer of Niagara Falls, cousin of the bride, played a programme of organ music as the guests were assembling, ending in the Lohengrin bridal chorus as the bridal party entered, led by the ushers, Myron B. Bloy of Detroit, Mich., and William Lewis. The ushers were followed by the maid of honor, Miss Myrtle Hutchinson, and the two bridesmaids, Miss Helen Kammerer of Niagara Falls and Miss Ruth Barnett, sister of the bride. The bride entered with her father and was met at the altar by the bridegroom and his best man, George J. Barnett. She wore a gown of pussywillow taffeta with lace and pearl trimmings. Her veil was fastened with orange blossoms and she carried a shower bouquet of bride roses and lilies of the valley. The maid of honor, wore green-flowered voile trimmed with green satin bands and carried an arm bouquet of Ophelia roses. Miss Kammerer wore pink-flowered voile trimmed with pink satin bands and carried an arm bouquet of pink Killarney roses. A reception to 100 guests at the home of  Mr. and Mrs. Barnett in Waverly street followed the ceremony. Palms, pink and white peonies and roses adorned the rooms. The bride's table was laid for fourteen and was centered with pink roses. The other guests were seated at small tables which were centered with pink candelabra. The guests included Mr. and Mrs. John Guenther of Welland, Ont., Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Barnett, Miss Nettie Platt of Alden, J. A. Kammerer of Toronto, Ont., Mrs. and Mrs. M. H. Mayle, Miss Helen Mayle, Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Eimer, Paul Eimer, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Ford, Mrs. Adam Kammerer, Miss Marie Kammerer, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ford, Miss Louise Ford, Charles Ford, Jr., Miss Norma Hoffman, Miss Alice Young, Mr. and Mrs. George Benning, Miss Elsa Vorwerck of Niagara Falls, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Loehr of Lancaster, Miss Gladys Williams of Toronto., Ont., Mr. and Mrs. M. Bloy of Detroit, Mich., Miss Winifred Hewetson and Miss Vera Hewetson of Brampton, Ont., Miss Alma Hart of Scranton, Pa.  Mr. and Mrs. Lepine will spend their honeymoon in the Catskill mountains and will be at home after August 1st in Buffalo. 
  • Carl Kammerer in uniform was photographed with the Kammerer and Vorwerk families.
    Carl Kammerer and family, 1918
  • Ursula Weiler appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1638 Ontario Avenue. Other members of the household included Helen Georgine Kammerer, Marie Katherine Kammerer and Carl Adam Kammerer.
  • She was a stenographer at a graphite company, according to the 1920 census.
  • She married George Shipston, son of Thomas Shipston and Hannah Eliza Clark, on 10 April 1920 in Niagara Falls, New York, at Zion Lutheran Church, by license issued 9 April, with Rev. Herman Brezing officiating.. It was the first marriage for both, residents of Niagara Falls. Witnesses were the bride's sister Marie Kammerer and the groom's nephew William H. Murtha..
  • The following appeared on 12 April 1920 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: One of the season's prettiest weddings took place Saturday afternoon in the Zion Lutheran church when Miss Helen Kammerer of 1628 Ontario avenue became the bride of George Shipston of No. 1319 Whitney avenue.
          Promptly at 12:30 o'clock to the strains of the wedding march from Lohengrin played by Carl Kammerer, the bride and her sister, Miss Marie Kammerer, marched down the aisle and were met at the altar by the groom and his best man, William Murtha. Rev. Herman Brezing and Rev. David Henry Weeks performed the ceremony in the presence of a large number of guests. The church was beautifully decorated with a profusion of flowers and presented a very pelasing appearance. Duane Sherwood of Syracuse, Howard Wilson of La Salle and O. J. Jacoby of this city acted as ushers. 
         The bride looked charming in a flowered georgette crepe dress with a becoming hat to match and wore a corsage of cream roses. The bridesmaid wore figured georgette crepe with hat of the same material and a corsage of pink roses.
         After the ceremony, dinner was served at the home of the bride, covers being laid for 54. The tables were beautifully arranged with cut flowers. Later Mr. and Mrs. Shipston left for New York and upon their return will reside at No. 1638 Ontario avenue. 
         Among the guests were Mrs. Albert Shipston of Rochester and Duane Sherwood of Syracuse. The office employees of the Acheson Graphite company, of which the bride was a member, attended the wedding in a body. After the ceremony, they formed an escort for the bride and groom in an automobile tour through the principal streets of the city. 
  • The following appeared on 15 January 1921 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Buffalo Minister Tells of Philippine Islands and People.   . . . the Men's club of St. Paul's M. E. church who were out one hundred strong at their monthly banquet.  Dr. Bruce S. Wright of the Asbury-Delaware M. E. church of Buffalo, was the speaker of the evening. . . .  Carl Kammerer did his part at the piano and Mrs. George Shipston sang a solo, or rather, as many as she would as the encores were endless and enthusiastic. . . . 
  • A reunion of the Kammerer family was held in 1923 Kammerer family at the home of Helen Kammerer Hoffman, on the occasion of sister Phoebe Kammerer's Frank's visit from her home in Devil's Lake, North Dakota.
  • The Shipston family has yet to be found in the 1930 census.
  • The following appeared on 2 October 1931 in The Hastings News: "Through a Woman's Eyes," by Mrs. William H. Taylor) . . . But seriously on my wanderings I am in my element, for I am finding treasures, not of gold and jewels, but the treasures of mentality and personality. And long in my memory will linger the half hour chat with Carl Kammerer and his equally charming sister, Mrs. George Shipston.
         He comes as a valuable asset to our community. He will live among us, for he has opened a studio for voice, piano, organ and languages in his sister's home, 38 Branford Road, Ravensdale.
         He is a man quite young and who still wears the continental air from his years abroad. Carl A. Kammerer was born at Niagara Falls. He received his early training in that city and Buffalo, N. Y., where he studied under Prof. Keuchen and William [J.] Gomph, the latter being one of the greatest teachers in the country. Mr. Kammerer was well known in musical circles as an organist and teacher in those cities. Coming to New York he continued his studies, the organ, with Dr. William C[rane]. Carl, singing with Mr. [William] Thorner, theory with Dr. Clement Gale. Mr. Kammerer was the organist at Christ Church in Brooklyn and taught at his studio on West 68th Street.
         In 1925 he went abroad for further study in Italy, France and Germany, specializing in voice, piano and language. He took piano under Prof. [Giuseppe] Anfossi, singing with Cataldi, [Alberto] Caffo, Reguso of Milan and the late celebrated artist Teresa Arkel of Vienna, Austria. Mr. Kammerer speaks French, Italian and German fluently. To perfect his accent and to absorb a true atmosphere of those countries he lived amongst the native peoples in their very homes.
         Mr. Kammerer returned last fall from Europe and has been traveling for the past few months. He has done and is familiar with public concerts, recitals and stage work.
  • The following appeared on 4 March 1932 in The Hastings News: Friends of Mr. and Mrs. George Shipston and son, Carl, are sorry to learn that they are planning to move to Somerville, N. J. Mr. Shipston leaves about May 1. Mrs. Shipston and Carl will stay until school closes. Karl A. Kammerer, Mrs. Shipston's brother, who has made his home with the Shipstons since his return from study abroad, will not leave this vicinity. His vocal and piano pupils will rejoice to learn that he is to continue his work as organist at St. John's Lutheran Church in Yonkers and so music lovers will not be deprived of Mr. Kammerer's talent. He and Mrs. Shipston have made a real place for themselves in local musical circles while the boys at Grace Church are mourning that their teacher, Mr. Shipston, is leaving. Grace Church has had the pleasure of both Mr. Shipston's and Mr. Kammerer's musical talents in the choir.
  • The following appeared on 18 March 1932 in The Hastings News: Henry Yerger, poet and lyric writer of New York City, spent three days last week with Carl Kammerer at the home of Mr. Kammerer's sister, Mrs. George Shipston and Mr. Shipston on Branford road. Mr. Kammerer, who is an organist, pianist, linguist, and singer of execptional ability and Mr. Yerger are collaborating on some original musical compositions. Mr. Kammerer spent five years studying music in Italy and France, with world famous instructors. Among his instructors was [Giuseppe] Anfossi, the Italian master.
  • The following appeared on 6 May 1932 in the Dobbs Ferry Register: (Hastings) Miss Ruth Shipston of Syracuse who last Summer was the guest of Mrs. George Shipston of Branford Road this Summer has accepted a position in New York City as an artist.
  • Helen and George Shipston, and her bother Carl Kammerer, were photographed enjoying a holiday in Newport, Rhode Island, 30 July 1938.
    Helen and George Shipston, and Carl Kammerer, on holiday in 1938
  • George Shipston and Helen Georgine Kammerer appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey, at 142 West End Avenue. Other members of the household included George Carl Shipston and Carl Adam Kammerer.
  • George Shipston registered for the draft in 1942 while living with his wife Helen at 229 East Main Street in Somerville, and employed by National Carbon Company, 30 East 42nd Street, New York City.
  • Helen Georgine Kammerer became a widow at the 28 May 1970 death of her husband George Shipston.
  • She applied for a Social Security account number on 25 April 1972 while living at 144 East Spring Street, Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey.
  • Helen Georgine Kammerer died on 17 June 1973 at age 82 in New Jersey.
  • She was interred at Pluckemin Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Pluckemin, Bedminster Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.
  • Last Edited: 26 Jan 2017

Family: George Shipston b. 14 December 1887, d. 28 May 1970