HOUSEHOLD STAFF
In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was common for a prosperous middle class family to have a number of paid servants, or staff, most of whom both lived and worked in the home. The Haas and Lilienthal families had close to 6-7 people in their employment at any given time. Their staff was comprised of a chauffeur, an upstairs maid, a downstairs maid, a nursemaid (nanny), a laundryman, a cook and a waitress. Census records show that the household staff was comprised of immigrants from Nova Scotia, China, Japan, Ireland, Germany, and France.
TILLIE RICHTER - COOK
Tillie (Otilia) Richter (1893-1975) served as the cook at 2007 Franklin St. for 34 years from, 1938 to 1972. She immigrated to the United States from Murrhardt, Germany in 1907 with neighborhood friend, Frieda Weidmann (1889-1983). (Frieda was Madeleine and Billy Haas's nursemaid). Tillie retired following the death of Alice Haas Lilienthal in 1972. Tillie was famous for her superb cooking and Sunday night dinners.
MORTON VRANG - CHAUFFEUR
Morton Vrang (1884-1974) served as a chauffeur for 37 years, from 1928-1965.
His connection to the Haas-Lilienthal House was initially through the children of Charles and Fanny Haas, Madeline and Billy. After the death of both their parents, the children and their maid moved into the suite built for them by Samuel and Alice Lilienthal in 1927. Morton built a doll house for the girls and designed the train layout for Billy. Both of which are still in the house today.