Author: Stacy Horn

I’m very excited to have made some progress in my search for Ream Constance Hoxie. She had a ten year old brother named Ralph, and I found and spoke to his son. Those of you who read the comments sections know that two granddaughters of Ralph’s are here now.

Unfortunately, Ralph refused to talk about his parents and never told anyone he even once had a sister. So until my call, Ralph’s son had never even heard of his late Aunt Ream. It could be that Ralph’s parents were not the best parents in the world (with all due respect). According to one of the New York Time’s articles about Ream’s murder, the Children’s Society had gotten a number of complaints and they took Ralph away in June the year before, but not Ream. (Perhaps because she was older? Except she was only 16 at the time.)

Right now I’m trying to find two people: a cousin of Ream’s named Jessie Ward who lived in Ansonia, CT in 1917, and an Army guy named Redvers Bowen. Ream and Jessie met Redvers at the Ansonia Public Library and Ream and Redvers wrote letters to each other the year before she died. Redvers Bowen died here in New York in 1968.

I have only two letters from Ream to Redvers (who gave them to the police at the time). In both she tries to sound older and sophisticated, and it’s very endearing. She says she is 18, but she was really 17. In the snippet below she’s talking about when they met at the library.

I’ll address why I believe the case went cold in my next post.

UPDATE: Ream Constance Hoxie update here.

This is not a great shot though, maybe it’s hard to see. It has berries.

Christ. January is half over. How did that happen?

Hey, for those of you who watch the show Bones, isn’t David Boreanaz looking thin? Too thin, I mean. I actually think he looks a little unwell.

Today is New Years Eve in my holiday do-over. I’m not quite sure what I should do though … hmmmm. I don’t drink, but what is something else I could do that is indulgent like that? Grapes! I love grapes. I will put out a bowl full of grapes. I know, doesn’t sound very exciting but I like the image.

Golden Globes tonight! I love award shows. Like everyone else who loves award shows, I love checking out the clothes.

It’s all about Buddy these days. That’s some Nutrical on that plate. I put that out for him in an effort to fatten him up.

I’ve got the news on in the background and these stories about Haiti are killing me. They rescue people and then can’t get them the proper medical attention and they die. Except right now they’re talking about a baby who was flown to Miami and they think she’ll make it.

Because I was sick as a dog for the holidays I’ve decided to make the next four days a holiday do-over. Today is Christmas Eve, tomorrow Christmas, then Sunday is New Years Eve and Monday is New Years Day.

I’m not going to make a big production out of it or anything. For instance, for Christmas Eve, right now I’m listening to Amahl and the Night Visitors. It always brings back some of my fondest memories of childhood. I can remember sitting in my bedroom, listening to this, and waiting so anxiously for Christmas to be here already. My grandparents always came in from Queens and spent the night, and they always gave us clothes, which of course was a disappointment. I didn’t hold it against them. I thought it was a rule or something. Grandparents gives clothes. It’s not their fault.

Who knew it would become my favorite gift when I grew up?? (Tied with food.) I love this graffiti dress! Not for me, but it’s very cute. It’s Cynthia Rowley, whose clothes turn out to be relatively affordable. This dress is $410.

I’m going to call the Hoxie descendent this morning. I’m scared. I’m always scared making these phone calls. You never know how people will react, and I feel like a ghoul. I’m hoping this will be okay, because I’m calling about an Aunt who died 26 years before he was born.

Ream had only one sibling, a younger brother named Ralph and I lucked out and found him. He died in 1973, but he had two children, one who died last year (sadly) but it looks like his son is still alive and living in Connecticut. I’m going to try to call him tomorrow.

I went uptown to take a picture of the building where Ream died. On the subway uptown I planned all the things I’d say to try to gain entrance to the building so I could do a before and after, using the crime scene photograph below. But where the building once stood is now a park. Maybe that’s better.

UPDATE: Ream Constance Hoxie update here.