Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
On Nov. 14, 1921, Hugo R. Volland passed away. Six months later, Patrick J. Toomey died on March 12, 1922. Then, Volland’s wife Laura passed away on January 12, 1923. Within fourteen months the president, vice president and secretary/treasurer of Toomey & Volland passed.
The 1914 St. Louis Directory listed Patrick J. Toomey as the president of Toomey & Volland, Hugo R. Volland as the secretary of Toomey & Volland, Laura A. Volland as the vice-president of Toomey & Volland. Toomey was the senior partner, a remarkable and talented man. Volland was also talented, and the key individual who landed many of the Masonic projects. The partnership was extremely successful by 1920, continually landing one large project after another. Although Toomey’s son did not follow in his footsteps, both of Volland’s son’s did follow there father and were working for him in 1920..
That year Louis Jerome Volland and Victor Hugo Volland worked as scenic artists at the Toomey & Volland studio. In the end, they were the two who lost the most, but also gained a firm.
I am intrigued with Laura Volland’s involvement with the company. She was not an anomaly; it was not unusual for a wife to fill the position of president or vice-president at a scenic studio. I think of David Hunt’s wife who was listed at the president of New York Studios around this same time. Many women were involved with the studios, both on paper and in the offices.
On Jan. 13, 1923, the “St. Louis Star and Times” announced the passing of Mrs. Laura Volland (page 3). Her obituary notice reported, “Mrs. Laura Volland, 5865 Enright avenue, died in the women’s retiring room at the American Theatre at 10:10 p.m. yesterday a few minutes after she had complained of feeling ill. The cause of death was given at heart disease.
Hers was the third death of persons stricken in local theaters in the past week. Last Saturday night Robert E. Adreon, president of the American Brake Company, collapsed and died at the Orpheum, Joseph Stanhope, an actor in the Woodward Players, collapsed on the stage at the Garrick Saturday evening and died early Sunday morning.
Mrs. Volland had gone to the American with her sons, Louis J. and Victor H. Volland, and a young woman. She complained of feeling faint and went to the women’s rest room, where she collapsed.
Dr. George T. Gaffney, 4942 Laclede avenue was called from the audience to attend her. An inquest will be held Monday.
Mrs. Volland, who was 51, is the widow of Hugo Volland, treasurer of the Toomey & Volland Scenic Painting Company. Volland also died suddenly, in November 1921, of heart disease. His widow lived with her two sons and a daughter, Miss Rose Volland. Funeral services will be held Monday at the home with cremation at Valhalla Cemetery.”
To be continued…
