Ellen (Peltier) and Adlore Vadnais welcomed their twelfth, and last child, Anna Mae Ruth on March 27, 1930.1 Anna Mae, the name she used throughout her life, was born in the family home on Fourth Street in White Bear Lake where Ellen had given birth to all but one of her children, her eldest son George. At the time of Anna Mae’s birth, Ellen was 41 years old and Adlore was 40 years old. Her siblings included 19 year old George, 18 year old Charles, 12 year old Florence, 10 year old Dick, 8 year old Mona, 6 year old Leona, 5 year old Jack, 3 year old Marguerite and 16 month old Gordy. Anna Mae’s brothers, Lawrence and Henry, had both passed away many years before her birth.
On April 13, 1930, Anna Mae was baptized by Father William Busch at St. Mary of the Lake Church in White Bear Lake.2 Her baptismal record lists Anthony Buchal and his wife, Ruth (Halley) Buchal as the godparents. Ruth is Anna Mae’s half second cousin once removed.
White Bear Oil Company can be seen in the background and the slightly taller building beyond the company station, on the northeast corner of Bald Eagle Avenue and Fourth Street, was Norman Bibeau’s home and small grocery store and eventually the office for White Bear Oil Company.
It looks like they are happily enjoying their ice cream cones, or what is left of them.
The first thought I had when I saw this picture was “Little Orphan Annie.” The comic strip was syndicated in 1924 and Little Orphan Annie ran on radio from 1930 to 1942. The show was successful because it had a child in the leading role. Sponsored by the Ovaltine Company, interest was kept high by offering young fans special premiums. Anna Mae was likely influenced by Little Orphan Annie.
Anna Mae was 4 years old and her brother George was 24 years old.
They look like they are the best of friends!
Gordy and Anna Mae were celebrating their First Communion. Ellen would have been about 49 years old, Gordy about 9 years old, Anna Mae about 8 years old and Marguerite about 11 years old.
Anna Mae’s future husband, Robert (Bob) James Campbell, the seventh of ten children, was born in the Town of Oneka on June 19, 1929 to 33 year old Anna (Sievek) and 43 year old Wilfred Campbell.3
Robert was baptized On July 14, 1929 by Father Laventure at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Hugo, Washington County, Minnesota. Paris and Lillian Campbell, an uncle and aunt of his, are listed as the godparents.4
The 1930 U.S. census shows 10 month old Bob, his parents and 5 other siblings: George, Genevieve, Vern, Doreen and Louis. Bob’s father is a farmer and they live in Oneka Township, Washington County, Minnesota.5
By the time the 1940 U.S. census was taken, Bob had 3 more siblings: twins, Elaine and Ellen, and youngest sister Yvonne. He is 10 years old and has completed the 4th grade. His mother Anna, now a widow, is listed as head of household.6
Bob, his mother and his sisters moved to White Bear Lake sometime after the census was taken in 1940. They moved into the house (shown below) on Birch Lake Avenue directly behind the then Berg’s Grocery Store (1937-1945).
To be continued…
Thanks for visiting, come back soon,
Cynthia
© 2026 Copyright by Cynthia Vadnais, All Rights Reserved
Footnotes for Anna Mae Ruth Vadnais and Robert James Campbell (Part 1 of 3) post