My husband and I recently took a genealogical tour of the Chicago neighborhoods in which my ancestors had lived.

The 1910 census showed that my Thompsons and Tolfs both resided on Newport Avenue.

In person, the buildings seemed to be situated a bit differently.

Rather than living down the street from her in-laws as I had imagined, Julia (Thompson) Tolf lived directly across the street from them.

Standing in front of one building and looking across the street at the other Tolf residence, I couldn’t help but think that when Julia drew the blinds to let in the morning sun, she was literally opening her home to the critical eye of her mother-in-law.

And now I wonder how much geography contributed to Harry and Julia’s subsequent divorce.