Arthur Murosky and Mary Eugenia McDonald - Application for Marriage License

The application for marriage license for Arthur Murosky and Mary Eugenia McDonald was filed July 28, 1941 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. The duplicate was returned August 26, 1941. The couple's marriage date was recorded as August 9, 1941.

The application for marriage license offers some interesting details about the Arthur and Mary Eugenia's life in 1941. The first page in the file is the Application for Marriage License.

Application for Marriage License
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 004480649 Image 723 of 829

From the Statement of Male:

Arthur's name is recorded as Arthur J. Murosky. This variation of his name included his confirmation name. He was employed as a machinist - this skilled labor position would keep him at home when the war efforts went into full swing in a few years time. He is recorded living in his parents home at 729 E. 24th Street. This is the same address where his family was living when the 1940 United States Federal Census was recorded.

The application indicates he was born in Erie, Pennsylvania - the son of Anthony Murosky and Helen Bukowski. His father was also employed as a machinist and his mother a housewife. His father's birth place is recorded as Forest City, Pennsylvania and his mother's Erie, Pennsylvania. Arthur was 22 when the application was filed. The application also notes he is physically able to support a family.

From the Statement of Female:

Mary Eugenia is listed with her full name - Mary Eugenia McDonald. She was employed as a Clerk at the Boston Store. She is recorded living in her parents home at 422 East 19th Street. This is the same address where her family was living when the 1940 United States Federal Census was recorded.

The application indicates she was born in Strattanville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania - the daughter of Loraine McDonald and Frances Selker. Her father was employed as an 'ecectrian' (most likely electrician) and her mother a housewife. Her father's birth place is recorded as Vowinckle, Clarion County, Pennsylvania and her mother's birth place Clarion, Clarion Country, Pennsylvania. Mary Eugenia was 19 when the statement was filed.

The couple's signatures are included on the Application for Marriage Lcense

Signatures of Bride and Groom
Application for Marriage License
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 004480649 Image 723 of 829

Mary Eugenia's father Loraine McDonald had to complete the second page of the Application for Marriage License - the Consent to the Marriage of Child or Ward. This indicated he was aware of her intended marriage to Arthur.

Application for Marriage License - Consent to the Marriage of Child or Ward
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 004480649 Image 724 of 829

The Consent to the Marriage of Child or Ward contains Loraine's signature.

Signature of Loraine McDonald
Consent to the Marriage of Child or Ward
Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950 004480649 Image 724 of 829

Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. and Helen Tillie Bukowski. Mary Eugenia McDonald is my maternal grandmother. She was the daughter of Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker.  

References:

1. "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159363-39562-94?cc=1589502 : accessed 26 August 2015), 004480649 > image 723 of 829; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
2. "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159363-39562-94?cc=1589502 : accessed 26 August 2015), 004480649 > image 724 of 829; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
3. 1940 United States Federal Census.Year: 1940; Census Place: Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3650; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 68-77. Record for Loraine McDonald.
4. 1940 United States Federal Census. Year: 1940; Census Place: Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3650; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 68-85. Record for Anthony Murosky

Wedding Portraits: Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald

The marriage of Arthur and Mary Eugenia blended two Catholic families from different cultural backgrounds. Arthur descended from Polish and Lithuanian families that had settled in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania where Arthur was born. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. and Helen Tillie Bukowski. Mary Eugenia descended from French, German and Irish families that had settled in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. She was born in Strattanville, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Her parents, Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker, relocated to Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania in the 1920's in search of work.

There are some known details about how Arthur and Mary Eugenia met. When interviewed in the late 1990's Arthur indicated he initially met  Mary Eugenia in 1936 when they were both checking out books at the Wilson Library. He said:  "I met Jean at the Wilson Library.  We used to hang out there and walk the girls home."  Arthur would have been 17 and Mary Eugenia would have been 14.

The "we" Arthur mentions may be his group of friends he called "The Gang". Included in "The Gang" were Arthur, Gene, Fred and a girl named Charlotte. It is plausible "The Gang" was at the library that day. Charlotte was best friends with Mary Eugenia. The girl's friendship may explain how Arthur became acquainted with Mary Eugenia.

It isn't known exactly when the courtship between the couple started. The Wilson Library Arthur mentions is most likely the library associated with the current Woodrow Wilson Middle School located at 718 E. 28th Street. The school is about one mile from 422 E. 19th Street (near the intersection of 19th Street and Parade Street) where Mary Eugenia was living with her family in 1940. The 2-story home had a second floor porch where Arthur said the couple would "sit and smooch while courting."

Arthur Murosky and Mary Eugenia McDonald were married August 9, 1941 at 9 o'clock in the morning at St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Arthur was 22 years old and Mary Eugenia was 19 years old when they were married. A grouping of formal portraits were taken to commemorate the marriage. The couple remained inseparable for their fifty-six years of marriage. After Mary Eugenia's death in 1998 Arthur never remarried and he always kept her photograph by his bedside.

Arthur & Mary Eugenia
Black and White Portrait

Mary Eugenia
Color Portrait

Mary Eugenia
Black and White Portrait

Wedding Party
Back (L-R): Edward V. Murosky (Groomsman and Brother of the Groom), Arthur Murosky (Groom), Mary Eugenia McDonald (Bride), Loraine Anthony McDonald (Father of the Bride), 
Frances Winifred McDonald (Maid of Honor and Sister of the Bride), 
Ray McCosky (Best Man and Groom's best friend), Harry Anthony Murosky (Groomsman and brother of the groom)

Front (L-R): Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald (Flower Girl and Sister of the Bride), Eleanor Lucille McDonald (Bridesmaid), Rita Ann Murosky (Bridesmaid and Sister of the Groom), 
Marian Elaine Murosky (Flower Girl and Sister of the Groom)

From the Mary Eugenia McDonald Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. and Helen Tillie Bukowski. Mary Eugenia McDonald is my maternal grandmother. She was the daughter of Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker. 

References:

1. Personal interview with Arthur Murosky, late 1990's.
2. Special thanks to family friend Debi Johnson who during the summer of 2014 asked Arthur questions. Some of these details would be unknown without her.
3. 1940 United States Federal Census.Year: 1940; Census Place: Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3650; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 68-77. Record for Loraine McDonald.

Wedding Invitation: Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald

A photograph of an original invitation from the wedding of Mary Eugenia McDonald and Arthur Murosky. A copy of the wedding invitation, from 1941, was included in a box of old photographs. The invitation uses Arthur J. Murosky, an alternate name for Arthur. The J. represents Joseph which was his confirmation name. This name variation has also been found on some older documents.

Arthur and Mary Eugenia were married August 9, 1941 in their hometown of Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania at St. John's Roman Catholic Church.

From the Mary Eugenia McDonald Collection. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. and Helen Tillie Bukowski. Mary Eugenia McDonald is my maternal grandmother. She was the daughter of Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker.

Engagement Photographs: Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald

Engagement photographs of Arthur Murosky and Mary Eugenia McDonald. The photographs were most likely taken in 1941. Arthur and Mary Eugenia were married August 9, 1941 in their hometown of Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. The formal portraits include color photographs and black and white photographs. Mary Eugenia would have been 19 years old and Arthur would have been 22 years old in these photographs.

Mary Eugenia McDonald
Engagement Photograph

Arthur Murosky
Engagement Photograph

Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald
Engagement Photograph

From the Mary Eugenia McDonald Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather. He was the son of Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. and Helen Tillie Bukowski. Mary Eugenia McDonald is my maternal grandmother. She was the daughter of Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker.