Veered: A Former Child Star’s Tragic Journey to Southwick
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— An original Southwick Time Machine tragic story
In the summer of 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Hermas W. Hamel of upstate New York had much to celebrate. The couple had reached a milestone that many couples aspire to, but few achieve—fifty years of marriage. Having exchanged their vows on July 11, 1900, the Hamels marked their golden wedding anniversary with a reception held in their honor on July 15, 1950, at the Townsend Club in Binghamton, New York.
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| Mr. & Mrs. Hermas Hamel circa 1950 |
The celebration brought together family and friends to honor the couple’s half-century of commitment to one another. Among those in attendance were the Hamels’ daughter, Edna, and her husband, Ambrose Dietrich, who had traveled from their home in the Congamond Heights section of Southwick, Massachusetts, to join in the festivities.
Following the reception, the elder Hamels decided to extend their celebration with a small vacation. They would travel back to Massachusetts with Edna and Ambrose, visiting their daughter’s home in Southwick. It was meant to be a pleasant journey, a chance for the family to spend more time together after the joyous occasion. Edna took the wheel for the drive.
Edna (Hamel) Dietrich was no stranger to the public eye. She had begun performing at a remarkably young age and quickly earned praise for her stage work. Critics noted her unusual talent, particularly given her youth. She became a well-known ballet dancer on the vaudeville circuit, where she met her future husband, Ambrose, who was also in show business. Before they married, the pair starred together in “Capers.” Edna’s career trajectory took her from the stage to the silver screen, where she made the jump to moving pictures and, at one time, was considered the most noted child actress in the motion picture business, having starred in about 30 films. Her fame was such that a photograph of her graced the front page of “The Motion Picture Story Magazine.” By the 1930s, however, Edna had retired from show business, settling into a quieter life in Southwick with her husband.
By 1950, Edna’s life had shifted from the spotlight to family milestones, and she looked forward to a peaceful summer celebrating her parents’ golden anniversary. But what was meant to be a joyful family trip turned tragic on the evening of July 17. As Edna drove along Route 7, approximately four miles east of Cobleskill, New York, their vehicle suddenly veered off the road and slammed into a power pole. The impact was catastrophic. The vehicle sheared off the pole entirely, and the collision claimed two lives almost instantly: Ambrose Dietrich, Edna’s husband, and Mrs. Hamel, her mother, both died at the scene.
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| The bodies of Mary Hamel and Ambrose Dietrich at the accident scene. |
Hermas Hamel, who had been celebrating his golden anniversary just two days earlier, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries, including a broken nose and fractured ribs. New York State Police at the accident scene concluded that Edna had likely fallen asleep at the wheel. The County’s acting coroner examined the circumstances and immediately issued a verdict of accidental death in each case.
The tragedy cast a dark shadow over what had been a joyful milestone. Family and friends gathered once more—this time not in celebration, but in mourning—as Mrs. Hamel’s funeral and burial were held in New York on Thursday, July 20, 1950, just five days after the golden anniversary reception. The following day, Friday, July 21, they gathered yet again for the funeral of Ambrose Dietrich in Massachusetts.
In the aftermath of the accident, Hermas W. Hamel eventually moved to his daughter’s house in Southwick, where Edna continued to reside in the Congamond Heights section of town. Life slowly moved forward for the survivors of that terrible night.
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| "Baby Edna" Publicity Photo |
Two years later, on July 26, 1952, Edna married Philip M. Nelson of Suffield, Connecticut, in a quiet ceremony at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Southwick. The wedding was a modest affair, yet deeply meaningful: Edna’s father, Hermas, presented his daughter and served as her only attendant—a poignant reflection of the bond they shared and the losses the family had endured. After the ceremony, the newlyweds settled in Edna’s Congamond Heights home.
Hermas Hamel remained in Southwick until his death in 1961, eleven years after the accident that had claimed his wife and son-in-law, and eleven years after the golden anniversary celebration that had promised so much joy.
Research for this story includes primary sources such as official records, census data, court documents, death certificates, and period newspapers, along with information drawn from entertainment reference sites and private Hollywood memorabilia collections.
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Edited Out/Author’s Additional Research Notes
Hermas Wall Hamel: July 16, 1878 - June 20, 1961.
Mary Bridget (Mable) Hamel: October 30, 1878 - July 17, 1950.
Edna Mae (Hamel) (Dietrich) Nelson: April 9, 1901 - May 17, 1964.
Ambrose Hermas Hamel: December 18, 1903 - August 16, 1956.
Ambrose Joseph Dietrich: September 4, 1906 - July 17, 1950.
Philip Montgomery Nelson: September 16, 1914 - June 5, 1987.
Date Conflict: Some sources state Edna’s date of birth as "April 10, 1902." However, that was her sister Paulena’s date of birth. Edna appears to have been born on April 9, 1901. Some sources say April 10, 1901.
Edna routinely travelled out of state to visit her parents.
Edna died in her Grandview Street home in Southwick. One of her husbands also had a home in Holyoke.
Notable addresses: Grandview Street and Lakeview Street.
The Hamels had at least three daughters: Edna, Paulena, and Evelyn.
The Hamels had at least one son: Ambrose.
Mrs. Hamel’s sister had a long career in show business (45 years). She was one of America’s first character actresses in motion pictures at the turn of the century. She even worked with Hollywood legend Mary Pickford. After Mrs. Hamel’s sister saw Edna’s acting abilities, she helped her get her start in show business. The aunt took her to New York City. Edna got her first role at age four and was an instant success. Edna became an established Broadway actress by 1911.
Edna’s brother performed professionally at least once with his sister.
Edna’s industry nicknames included Baby Edna, Edna May, and Little Edna.
Edna's last name is sometimes misspelled as Hammel.
Hermas was a shoemaker. Edna’s mother later became a seamstress for Edison Films.
Edna was highly popular theater and silent film actress. The general public loved her. It's not clear if she made the transition to "talkies" or she just did silent films as the technology was changing around that time, with the 1927 film "The Jazz Singer." However, silent pictures appears correct.
Ambrose Hamel (son/brother) died from an illness inside Edna’s Southwick home (Lakeview) in 1956.
The Townsend Club's new headquarters at 21 Main Street in Binghamton was dedicated on February 28, 1949
In 1974, Philip was still living on Grandview Street in Southwick. He reported to police that someone stole boating equipment from a storage shed on Suffield Street. Items stolen included gas tanks, an anchor, a chain, and other equipment valued at around $37. A nearby resident reported that someone had stolen two truck radiators parked at a home on Mountain Road.
Philip Nelson died in Noble Hospital. He was living at 286 South Longyard Road at the time of his death.
Philip Nelson worked for Hathaway and Steane Tobacco Company.
Philip's brother was on the USS Hull when it was lost at sea during Typhoon Cobra in 1944. He was one of 202 men who perished in the sea. It's unclear if his body was ever recovered. 62 men were rescued.
At one time, Wilfred and Rose Hamel ran the Southwick Inn. It was not explored if they were related to the Hamels in this story. Just as it wasn't explored if Philip Nelson was related to the Nelson family who owned Babb's.
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