My great-grandmother, Maria Nieto Robledo (1887-1974).

I was very thrilled to find out last night that the 1940 U.S. Census is now indexed and searchable for California on FamilySearch.org!

A quick search for Robledo quickly led me to my great-grandmother Maria Nieto (married name, Robledo) and my grandfather Benjamin Robledo living at 3032 Rosslyn Street in Los Angeles, California. I cannot tell if this address is still in the city of Los Angeles, or is now part of Glendale — it is located just south of Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Sadly, my great-grandmother “Nana” was already widowed by 1940, which backs-up the approximate death year of 1936 for her husband Jose “Joe” Robledo, who was still alive for the 1930 U.S. Census.

Nana is listed as the head of household, with no employment.

Nana and Joe’s three oldest children Guadalupe, Refugio, and Trinidad are not listed on this census either, implying they had already moved away from home. But children Benjamin (20 — my grandfather), Mercedes (17), Joe (16), Alfred (11 — my godfather), and Raymond (9) were still living at home.

My grandfather, Benjamin Robledo (1919-1990)

I also do not find any related surnames living in the nearby proximity.

At the time of the census, my grandfather was employed as a spot welder at an air conditioning factory — a profession he continued to hold when he entered the Navy during World War II.

Once again, I turned to Google Maps to find out if perhaps my family’s home at 3032 Rosslyn Street is still standing. Street View seems to indicate that this address is now a vacant lot between two businesses. And a 360 degree Street View of the area depicts it as an industrial area now, instead of a residential neighborhood.

I know from other documents that my great-grandmother was living at a different address in Glendale by 1955. I guess I’ll have to wait another 10 years to find out if she still lived on Rosslyn Street during the 1950 Census.

A close-up view of the Maria (Nieto) Robledo family in the 1940 US Census. (Click for a larger view). “United States Census, 1940,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9C3-MCC : accessed 27 June 2012), Maria E Robledo, Councilmanic District 14, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Township, Los Angeles, California, United States.

A current day look at 3032 Rosslyn Street, Los Angeles, California. Photo courtesy of Google Street View.

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