Known Information
Ernest Wedge is listed as the son of James and Emma Wedge in the 1920 census.
Sources
1940 Census
940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia;Roll: m-t0627-00558; Page: 10B | ancestry.com
World War II Draft Card
The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for District of Columbia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 241
City Directory
Washington, District of Columbia, City Directory, 1938-1939 | ancestry.com
Newspaper
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
13 Jun 1934, Wed • Page 32
Ernest is listed in the household of his mother Emma Diggs in the 1940 census. His occupation is listed as a proprietor of a valet shop. His sister, Catherine, is listed as a clerk in a valet shop.
Location of Shop
His World War II Draft Registration card lists himself as his employer and that he is a “cleaner and dyer”. The address listed is close to Eastern Market and next door to where William H. Graham lived (303 7th Street SE).
In the screenshot from Google Maps, 303 7th Street is the red brick building. 301 is the cream building. Eastern Market can be seen in the background.
Prior to Valet Shop
In the 1938 and 1939 City Directories of Washington DC, his employer was Woodward & Lothrop, a large department store in DC. He was employed first as a porter and then a helper.
Woodward & Lothrop employed tailors, pressers and other service employees. As a helper, he may have worked in the Valet department.
Further Research Needed:
- Locate a 1940 City Directory to determine name and other details for the Valet Shop
stories of Then 