Kansas City, Kansas

Charlie attended Douglass School down the street from his mother's apartment starting in 1925. Two years later, Charlie - then in 2nd grade - moved with his reconciled parents across the state line to Kansas City, Missouri.

When Addie became pregnant with Charlie, she and Charles moved nearby to a two-room apartment above the Kesterson and Richardson Grocery Store. Charles and Addie separated in 1924, but Addie stayed in the apartment with Charlie and found work as a cook. 

Addie and Charles lived in Charles' mother's duplex at 844 Washington Boulevard before Charlie was born in 1920. They lived there with little Ike, Charles' son from a previous relationship.