| Note | | She wrote extensive notes about her family in 1940-1950s:
From another notebook….
I know very little about my father, Patrick Doherty. He died January 18, 1899, 11days before my 13th birthday. Our youngest of the family Mae Doherty was one years old on the day he was buried. I know he was born in Malin Head, Ireland on a large farm which had been in his family for over 1,000 years. He was very good looking and a kind and wonderful man. It was said he had the largest funeral ever held in Boston. We lived then at 22 Chestnut Street in Charlestown, MA and I lived in that large 15 room house, a beautiful home, from the time I was 3 years old until I was 22 years old. It is now made into many apartments.
Dad came to this country when he was 10 years old to live with his Aunt and Uncle Alexander (Alexis) Ferrin on snow Hill Street Boston, North End. Dad‘s father was lost at sea with his brother and their bodies were never found, just before Dad was born on March 17, 1851. My grandfather Edward Doherty and his brother brought food to the lighthouse keeper. My Grandmother was standing in the door and waved to them. They were returning from the lighthouse suddenly a squall came up and the boat capsized and although they both excellent swimmers they were drowned and they were never recovered. Two years later my grandmother died and Dad went to live with his oldest sister Mary. She was married to the postmaster. When he was 10 years old he came to America. He had 3 sisters Rose, next to him, married a Sgt of Police, McDonnough and her children live around Boston. Annie and Mary lived with us for awhile.. Mary married Fred Klink, a German American, and she had two children, Marie and Joseph. I have been told that Joseph Klink was a noted surgeon at the Bellevue Hospital in NY. His middle name is Patrick, called for my father. Mary the oldest and Elenore and the oldest was his brother Phillip who always lived on the farm. When Dad died Mother had a very nice letter from Uncle Phillip saying the farm belonged to Dad and if one of his boys would come to Ireland and live on it they would have it. Mother wrote back telling him she would keep us all together. Patrick, my father would want he and his sons to have it I always hoped I would visit Ireland by many things you like never happen.
My mother, she was a marvelous woman. Many business men told me she did a man and woman’s work and brought up her 9 children very well. Dad left $65,000, when he died, but the lawyer got most of it. We always had 3 maids at our home, yet everyone of us had certain work to do. Grandpa Houghton married twice, his first wife died. He had one daughter by his first wife (Aunt Mary Taylor, she married a man named Taylor. She was 18 years older than my mother) Mother’s mother’s maiden name was McCoughlin, Catherine. Mather had two brothers Edward and Charlie. Charlie died when he was about 20 years old and Uncle Edward we always called him Uncle Ned died about 3 years after my father. There were 12 of us Edward, Phillip, Catherine, Joseph, Charles, Sarah, Elenore, Mary who died with scarlet fever at one and one half, Rose who died at one month old because she couldn’t get food to agree with her, Teresea, Andrew who died at 3 weeks, Mary.
Buried St Joseph Cemetery at Parkway entrance
My mother was married in Boston January 29, 1881 and died at Terese’s home in Brighton, Brayton Rd March 14, 1935. She was born Feb 14, 1861 and was 74 years old.
From another set of notes
Great Grandparents, mother’s side of the family
Catharine Tresea Houghton born February 14, 1861 married Patrick Doherty January 29th 1880 he was born in Malin Head Ireland in 1851 came to this country at 10years old to live with his Uncle Alexander Farren on Snowhill Street across from Corpe Hill burying ground. His father and his father’s brother rode to the light house to bring some food to the lighthouse keeper. My Grandmother Catharine Doherty waved to them from her doo. Suddenly a squall came up, the boat capsized and my grandfather Edward Doherty and his brother Phillip were drowned. They were both excellent swimmers but their bodies were never found. Malin Head is the most northern part of Ireland. My Dad told me he could stand on his hill and wave to people on the ships sailing from America to England and from England to America. He said it was a beautiful spot. David Russell in North Beverly told me it was a beautiful spot. He said he went over there to dance Saturday nights Said the girls were really very handsome and wonderful dancers.
My father attended the Elliot Public School for boys in Boston. My mother graduated from the oldest public school for girls in America, the John Hancock Public School for Girls, North End Boston. Then my mother graduated from Berkley Street Academy on Berkley Street, a private school for girls which is now a college in the Fenway, Notre Dame. I don’t know what my Father’s mother’s maiden name was, it must have either Farren or Grant because Alexander farren was my father’s uncle and William grant and my Dad were own cousins. Perhaps I will get this definite information. Lizzie Gorman a neighbor who lived on Chestnut Street, Charlestown when we did, came from Malin Head. She always told me I should be very proud of my family. She said my father’s people lived on their land for over 1000 years. They were descendent from King Kiaro. My brother Eddie was always funny… I was late getting home for dinner and they were looking for me everywhere and I was talking to Lizzie Gorman about my father’s people. She said my Grandmother Doherty’s family were protestants. Orange men. The two families lived side by side, farmed acres of land and were very good friends. But after my grandmother married my grandfather the families never spoke to each other again. If my grandmother was walking up the road and they were walking down they would cross over one the other side. That was North of Ireland. When I graduated from grammar School my father planned to take me on a trip to Ireland. He never lived to see any of his children graduate from School. He died when I was within 11 days of being 13 years old. He left my mother with 9 children. Mae was the baby, one year old the day he was buried, January 20, 1899. Lucky he left us a beautiful home and $65,000. We had three maids, a lovely 15 room house built by rear Admiral Crownshield for his daughter when she married an Annapolis graduate. They lived in it just six months. He was transferred to Washington DC and bought it. It was between the training field and Bunker Hill Monument and from the top floor you could see all over the Navy Yard and Harbor. I lived there until I was in my 20’s. Then we moved to Beachmont and I lived there until I was 32 years old. That was a lovely spot, right on the water, a large house, 20 steps leading from our beach to our house. On a banking I sat many times watching the Moon come up over the water and what a beautiful sight it was. We all had a good time there. I learned to row, O could swim when I was very young. We had lobster traps and all the lobsters we wanted. In winter, how the wind howled and the waves dashed over the house. Once our storm door blew open on the ocean side. By brother, Eddie,
pulled it in and we made a long chain holding on to him and each other. That was some storm, but we closed and locked the door. We had heaps of fun in our home and everybody like to visit us. We were all good company, played the piano, sang, danced, played the violin, cornet and I had studied elocution and was a reader as well as a singer. I often think of my mother What a marvelous person she was a girl who never even had to wash a pocket handkerchief and yet our money was lost by our lawyer and she wouldn’t even sue him. She said no he was from a nice family and would be more sorry than me. She was the first one I ever heard say, “You can’t take it with you when you die. It is nice to have when you can do good with it.” Her father was a big contractor in Boston and the big Boston fire almost made them penniless. At that time there was no insurance but after that you could be insured and when Grandfather Houghton died he was insured for $15,000. He lost all his dump carts and fifty head of horses, besides all the property he owned. He built many houses in East Boston and many of them brick housese are standing today on Webster Street, East Boston. My mother had a half sister Mary she married Frank Taylor and she was about 25 years older than my mother and her sons were 10 years older than my mother. Then my mother had two brothers Edward and Charlie. They both died young and were never married. Uncle Charlie died about 25 year Uncle Ned about 35 years. Uncle Charlie had his arm taken off by a train when he was about 10. He was a smart boy but never well again. He travelled to Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England with a tutor. Uncle Ned worked for his father. My was he smart at figures. He was a great reader. He lived with us and I remember him.
My Grandfather Houghton was a Civil War Veteran. You know none of my father’s sisters or brother’s came to this country. Their children did. Annie and Mary McDonougha were my father’s sister Rose’s children and Phillip Doherty was my Uncle Phillip’s son, my father’s brother. Phillip was a school teacher in Ireland. He came out here and stayed one year then went back home. He was my Godfather. He came out again the summer 1899 just on a visit and returned to Malin Head.
What a sorrow to lose your father as young as we did. My father was such a good father and good to everyone. Never saw one of us graduate. Eddie and Phil went to college. I graduated from the oldest public Girls High School in America, Boston Girl’s High School, 1904. And from the Young Woman’s Christian Association Business College 1905. You will find my diplomas in my top drawer in my bedroom. I could have gone to college. I took a college course but I didn’t want to then. I was very foolish because I would never have had to worry about money then. We had it but I felt the 4 boys should go to college.
My mother’s father, Grandpa Houghton was a Civil War veteran. The Houghtons came from Holland. My great grandfather Houghton’s name was Edward J. Houghton. He and two of his brothers left Holland and settled in Ireland. They had a flour mill there and married 3 Irish Catholic women. They were Protestant but all their children were brough up catholic.
When I married your Dad, my mother said she was very sorry to know that I inherited so much of the Houghton Protestant blood. I didn’t. I always believed in the Catholic religion. I can’t understand how people who study religion can preach their 50 or more protestant religion can fell they are doing right. For over 1500 years the Catholic religion was the only Christian religion. From it has come every protestant religion. I remember a young man who studied to be a priest but his health became poor
andhe gave it up. He died young but I remember him saying “If the catholic religion isn’t the right one then the Jewish religion is” (Of course Christ was a Jew.) They say all the Christian churches will unite some day and looks that way now.
From another set of notes which are really hard to read…
Grandfather Houghton was the oldest.
Brother Michael married Mary Doherty and had one daughter Mary Ellen married O’Connor
Richard m. a southern lady Mary d. in Mobile AL, Andrew no children
Richard (2 children Teresa/Arthur near Boston)
Thomas no children
Edward d. at 18 congressional medal of honor
Charlie Lived at East Boston (Dr Richard& Joe)
Walter died
Brother James married Mary Houghton had a daughter Mary
Mary Houghton married Kelly of Wood Island and lived there until she was 99years old , died February 22, 1904 about four months shy of 100. There were five generations in her family living when she died.
There is also a note about the Boston fire
In 1872 Grandpa Houghton owned 60 acres in the business section of Boston. Lost 50 head of horses and dump carts a great deal of money and property he rented. He built many houses in East Boston on Webster Street.6 |
| Letter | Dec 9, 1958 | Letter dated December 9, 1958 Written by Katherine Doherty Webber (Transcribed by Karen Gulbrandsen Bean)
The envelope says, “To Natalie and Mel
When Mother is able to typewrite longer there will be more coming.
This is good for you and your family to have and later the children will enjoy it. Wish I’d written our family history when Mother was alive.”
Page 1 This is things I remember of my early life. I was born January 29, 1886 (my Mother and Father’s 5th --- wedding anniversary) on Salem Street, Boston, Massachusetts. My Mother then lived on Parmeter Street, Boston Massachusetts, but early in the day with my 2 Brothers Edward (the oldest) and Philip the 2nd oldest) Mather had gone over to see her Mother. I wasn’t expected, but came very quickly while she was there, that’s how I happened to be born at my Grandmother’s and Grandfather’s home on Salem Street. My brother Joe (was next born at Parmeter Street) then my brother Charlie was born in Boston Mass at our home 22 Chestnut Street between the two Monuments-Bunker Hill and the Training Field. Our house was larger house (15 rooms) and was on the corner of Adams and Chestnut Street. A larger old beautiful Chestnut Gree was on the side-walk right in Front of our Front Door. The house was built by rear Admiral Crownsfield (Commander of the Charlestown Navy Yard at that time) for his daughter who married a graduate of the …. They lived in it for about 6 moths. We moved in around 1890 … my Grandfather Houghton had died and as he was insured for $15,000.00 … at that time, my Mother received it and bought our house at 22 Chestnut Street for 7,500.00. It was a beautiful home, very high studded with a beautiful cut glass chandilier in the parlor. Several stone steps led up to the front door. The house was red brick with a beautiful Ivy vine growing all over it, a lovely large yard with and an old fashioned garden and very high wooden fence around so you could not see in from the street.
As you entered the front door you saw a beautiful ganister curved at the bottom, a long flight of stairs leading to the chambers on the floor above. There was an alcove in the lall with a brass figure carrying a light. To your left you entered the parlor- a large room with brocaded satin sofa and chairs-directly inside from the door was a lovely black and white marble mantle and a large open fireplace. We had furnace heat in this house and I wish I could remember how many tons of coal it took to heat it. I do remember early in September Mother and I walked over the Charlestown Bridge along Washington Street to go shopping in Stearns, Filenes and Jordan’s. On the way we stopped in at State Street to see Mr. Doherty our coal-man. Mother ordered her coal for the winter (as usual) and he said, “Kitty coal is going up $1.00 a ton. It will be $5.00 a ton this winter.” She said, “No wonder you are getting rich Mike, -$5.00 a ton for coal.” He said, “Kitty I wish I had your money, then I would be rich.”
I was only a girl, probably about 11 years old and I always remember the office and Mother scolding about the price of $5.00 a ton. I think we burned about 20 tons of coal a month. And Mother was
Over the mantle in the parlor hung a painted picture of my father in a gold leaf frame. Uncle Andy gave it to Mother after my father died. There was pretty marble top tables in the parlor- a large folding … with a long beautiful mirror just behind the door and nest to the open- fireplace a large old fashioned baby grand piano. (My grandfather Houghton gave it to my Mother when she was 12 years old. She took lessons on it, so did all nine of us children.)
Then there were large folding doors leading into the dinning room. They had etched glass windows in them.
This is things I remember Page 2 December 9 1958
You opened the folding doors and directly in front was an open fire-place and long mantel. The whole dining-room was in rose-wood (…) Over the mantel from the ceiling to the mantel was cut-glass mirror in a god leaf frame. Beautiful glass and lovely mirror. Right next to it was a combination book case with desk and draws, (somewhat similar to the secretary in this T.V. Room but of very dark heavy wood.) In that case was many of my Grandfather Houghton’s old books-onea Jewish and American Dictionary the only one I ever saw. There were encyclopedias- history books - mathematics and many wonderful story books. We never knew what happened to all these books. Over the piano in the parlor was painting of me, painted by some friend when I was in my second year of High School. Nobody knows where it is, nor where all Grampa Houughton’s canes are ( one a Irish one). Also grandpa’s old uniform and his guns from the civil war. When wer moved someone must have taken them. We never saw them again. The dining room table was rose-wood, so were the 18 chairs with cane seats. My father left my Mother over $65,000.00 and my Grandfather must have left her more. My Grandfather’s picture in a dark round oval fram hung in our parlors until I was married and no one knows where it is now, nor any of Grandpa’s guns, uniforms. Nother did have his Congregational Record of the Civil War, but that also is lost. Grandfather is buried in Old Cambridge Cemetery in Cambridge and on his head-stone it tells what company he fought with, where he enlisted, etc. I haven’t seen it since I was a little girl. My brother Phil is buried there. I think Margurite and my bother Joe have the Deeds to grandpa’s graves. Perhaps Natalie will be able to take me out there and I’ll get the records. I’ve written my sister Mae asking her to see if the family can help on the “Life Tree”. I hope so. I’m jotting down things as I go along. I’ll straighten them out later.
There was a very large “Butler’s Pantry” - had a sliding door to the kitchen. The hot food came from the right onto the table. It had a great many large draws that held our linen napkins and large tablecloths- also silver draw. Shelfs up above held our dinner sets, glasses of all descriptions and on the top shelf Mother had all her old fashioned lamps- many of which belonged to her Mother when she was a little girl. Grandma had bought a great deal of her furniture at Paines Furniture Store in Boston, -Mother and Dad bought theirs and Dad and I bought our dining room set (the buffet is now in the dining room at 16 Thorndike Street). We also bought our Oriental rugs there and the large mirror over the buffet here at 16 Thorndike . Her dishes they always bought at Jones, McDuffee and …
There were two long windows and between them was our side-board with Mother and Dad’s silver- a large cut glass Punch bowl with cups hanging on the sides- Mother’s Mother’s - 3 Golden luster Pitchers- a large size Gold and Brown - smaller size- Gold and blue and a very small one. A larger wine Decanter with 12 small … glasses on a rond glass tray. Silver Candlearbras with 5 candles another with 3 candles.
There was an old fashioned Rocking chair by the window that mother sat in and 2 small chairs near for people to sit in and talk with her.
You went out the dining room door into our front hall, then through another door into the back hall. There were back stairs leading from the back hall upstairs.
Things I remember Page 3
The kitchen was very large with a large window looking into the back yard (directly across from the kitchen door0 - 2 other large windows on the left looking out into the yard. Just around the corner from the kitchen door was the oddr opening into a large cellar, then the slide to the pantry- then a large kitchen closet with all kinds of kitchen dishes- barrels of sugar - barrels of flours and barrels of mixed crackers. Always ordered from S. S. Pierce. Tubs of butter- crates of eggs and barrels of apples - bunches of bannans hung un the cellar. Barrels of pickles - crates of oranges. You see we were a growing family of 9 children- Mother and her brother until he died and 3 maids all living with us. Many maids married from our house and Mother gave them all a nice wedding. She was wonderful to work with. …
You went up the back stairs to the Bath Room. It had an old wooden tub and a sink of Black Walnut with 5 drawers on each side. Then close by the Bath Room was my Brother Phil’s room, a nice large room with a good size closet. Then you went along the hall and came to a very large bedroom (Each large Bed Room had an open fireplace- a sink with a marble bowl and marble top … 5 drawers on each side with soap face cloths-towels, etc. This was Ella’s and Sadie’s room. Then my room was right at the top of the front stairs. All the rooms were very light with plenty of sunshine - large windows. My room had a bay window, a large closet etc and a door leading into Dad and Mother’s Room. This was the largest room on the second floor. What a lovely bedroom. Then a door leading from Dad and Mother’s room into Eddie’s Room. His room was wide and long and had a small balcony directly over the front door.
Then the stairs lead to the 3rd floor. The younger boys Charlie and Joe had one of these rooms and the largest room with six windows you could see all over the Navy Yard and Boston Harbor. Every 17th of April we all went up and watched them hang the lanterns on the Old North Church Tower and I always recited “Paul Revere’s Ride”. There was a large white marble mantelpiece in this room and an open fireplace. The maids had the 2 smaller rooms at both ends of the hall.
After the Spanish American War the fleet came up the Harbor. Mother had gone out and it was Saturday noon. As she came up Park Street there were her 4 boys with her best opera glasses and spy glasses sitting on to of the chimney watching the ships. She was so frightened she didn’t speak. All she did was wave and tell them to be careful coming down. When they saw her, they dropped her best opera glasses down the chimney. She just said a prayer that they wouldn’t get hurt as they … into the windows. What that Bother Eddie of mine didn’t think of wasn’t worth mentioning. It’s a wonder he never was hurt.
Things I remember Page 4
Eddie was always doing something and I … was ready to protect him. He was supposed to be in the house at 8:45, but was always late. Bridget who was my Grandmother Houghton’s maid when my mother was born lived with us until she died. My Father waqs very fond of her and he always told us to be very good to her. We would never say anything to her. She had never been educated and when she worked for Grandma she couldn’t speak much English. Grandma taught her, but the men who worked for Grandpa would come into the house. They taught her curse words, then she would say them to Grandma and in Irish Grandma would tell her to pay no attention to them. When we were young a slang expression was “rubber neck” meaning … body. One day Bridget went in the pantry opened the slide, my brother Phil was in the kitchen and Bridget said, Peek, Phil- Peek. He couldn’t understand what she meant and she said, “You say Peek”. Oh Bridget, that’s “rubber-neck”. She did get it. It was warm summer night, after 9 o’clock and Eddie wasn’t in. Bridget sat in the girl’s room upstairs waiting for him, then she would go down and let him in. The screen was on the window, but there was a young fellow and a girl having a spat underneath it. Bridget couldn’t hear well enough what they were saying so she opened the screen. She had a piece of white cloth in her hand. At any rate, the cloth fell out on top of the fellow’s hat and they both laughed as Bridget said, “Take it round to the front door and I’ll get it.” That stopped the quarrel and then along came Eddie. They knew him. They said your Grandmother dropped a piece of white clothe on top of our heads as we were arguing, then asked us to bring it round to the front door. Eddie laughed and said, “That isn’t my Grandmother. She is no relation, but has lived with us. Then Bridget let him in- hustled him upstairs, so Mother wouldn’t know he was late, like she always did.
Everyone knew it was no good ringing our doorbell to complain on us, unless Mother was home. Once coming home from school a girl in Eddie’s class rang the bell and Maggie answered the door. She wore long braids and sat in front of him. She hopped up and down so much she annoyed him. They were writing an essay. The braids went into his ink well and all over his paper, so he tied her braids to her chair, then when she hopped up she gave a yell. Eddie had to go to the front and told the teacher and showed his papers. The teacher blamed Alice and she decided to tell Mother. Maggie answered the door and slammed it in her face. I was just coming along and she told me. She said she was terrible. Anyone protected that Brother. He was very good looking and full of fun. Great company. How he changed. What a horrible life he had for a boy who could have been so different. People who drink should know when to let it alone, or stop completely. He gave us many headaches. He went to Saint Laurant College in Montreal, Canada and was a very devout Catholic. I remember Mother and I going to Boston and buying so many things for him. It was the last of August and hot. Eddie was returning for his third year. When we met him in the North Station, returning from school, Mother said she was ashamed of him. He had patches (all colrs) all over his knees and coats. Said playing games they wore out and the “Brothers” mended them. That meant all new clothes back to school. Mother and I made many trips to Boston because he was leaving around the 10th of September. We packed his trunks and sat on them to close them and had his bag already. I was coming down stairs, as he was going up. He asked what I’d been doing and I told him his things were all packed and Mother wanted him to go to the express office and tell them to pick them up. He flew up the stairs and in a short time, I saw him running out the front door. Mother didn’t come down so I went up to see what was keeping her. She was crying and all upset and said Eddie wasn’t going back to school, he was married. Married -to whom! Then she told me he was married early in August. What a crazy boy he was. You see he was the oldest, admired and loved by us all, yet he was funny, always could make you laugh. That marriage was his ruination. Kitty was a handsome woman, without morals or common sense. She married him thinking she would have everything.
Things I remember Page 5
Mother was able to get him work in the Boston Post Office. He lived with Kitty Griffin for about 8 years, I would say, then left her. Went away -no one knew where. We never saw or heard from him again for about 4 years. Then he came to our home. We asked no questions. We tried again to help him. No one was ever able to do anything with him after he married. She certainly helped to ruin his life, but he was always adored by us all until his marriage. Probably Mother was too easy with him. You see he was only 16 years old when Dad died. That’s no excuse I know for many orphans have turned our to be great men. Eddie had plenty of opportunities, but made nothing of them. We were always very much worried about him.
Phil had always been a wonderful chap. He graduated from Carleton Preparatory School when he was 16 (18) went to Tufts College and Medical School when he was 21 (in his second year). Mother had to put him in charge of the store and he hated the liquor business. He thought he would go back and finish as a doctor, but he didn’t. He never married, but what a brain he had and all his life he was a student. That ruined his life.
I was next and you know about me. I’m 73 years old writing this - Mother of 5 children-Natalie, Arthur Jr, Richard-John and Phyllis and 15 grandchildren and the 16th is due in March (Feb. 1959). I graduated from Frothingham Grammar School in Charles town- June 19o1 and from Girl’s High School, Boston, Mass ( the oldest public girls high school in America) June 1904. Then from Young Women’s Christian Association Business College on corner of ... Appleton Street Boston … Jim Kellehr... for the Bada… until 1913-then…
Of course my Father’s death was a terrible thing for all of us. I idolized him and he did me. I remember my Mother sitting in our front room in the dark -the Sunday after he was buried. The 28th of January would be their wedding anniversary and my birthday. She had only Unchle Net her brother who lived with us-Grandpa and Grandma were dead but Uncle Andy (her own cousin and we always called them Uncle) was very good to her. I sat on a small stool at her knees and said, “If God is so good, as you always have told us, why did he tke Papa who was so very good to everyone.” How hard it must have been for her to answer. “Well God wanted him and we must try all our lives to be good to one another and do all the good we can on earth. God is good and we must accept his ways. They are for our good.” I have always wondered why we had to lose him, he was so good. Mother always said it was a cross we had to bear. When Graduations came around and all the girls were so delighted -their Papa’s were coming and giving them such nice gifts, I remained perfectly still listening. I remember Lizzie Leach turnig to me at High School Graduation and saying “Kathryn you never mention your father.” “No, I said, he died when I was only 13 years old.” Then I walked away. Me missed the love that many take for granted, but how fortunate to have such a wonderful Mother. She was so good to everybody. I remember when I was in High School a new family had moved into a house … Chestnut Street. It had been made into a three family…was 2:00 A.M. and a bitter cold night…front door bell rang. It was…to answer it, but…down with her. It…would…
Page 6 Things I remember
…delivered the baby (a girl) and I … arrived. I asked her how she knew what to do …the cord.” The doctor did the rest”. She was brought up as one of her girl friends told me, “Like a hot house flower watched over and cared for until she was married Everybody was astounded the way she took over after Dad died. Women and men told me she did the work of a Mother and father combined. She was smart business women and a great Mother. We were all very proud of her. She had graduated from John Hancock School for Girls on Salem Street and then went to Berkeley academy (now Emanuel College) on the corner of Berkeley Street and Appleton Street. The YWCA where I graduated from Business College took it over.
Mother had 2 brothers-Edward (Uncle Ned) and Charles (Uncle Charlie). They graduated from the boys school -Elliot Grammar School in Boston, Mass. Girls and Boys went to different schools in those days and still do.
We children were very fortunate for we were all able to have a good education-plenty to eat-very expensive clothes to wear and all took lessons on the piano-Eddie violin-I piano-singing-private dancing lessons-elocution lessons. I received -before I graduated from High $25.00 for singing or dancing. My mother wanted me to go to boston about twice a week and earn $50.00 but I couldn’t . I had no one to take care of the babies for me and I wouldn’t leave time with a stranger. It turned out all right. I’ve always been sorry I wasn’t able to do much for my children. Your father was out sick with a cold, every Spring and every fall and Lawler (his boss) was cross about it. Dad had plenty of opportunities offered him, but he would not take a chance on going into business for himself. I offered to do all his typewriting and help all I could, but he said “No” and that was final.
Fred Foster was wonderful to us….Mabel Foster-sent me b…ful, clothes for the boys and Natalie and Phylis. There were as fine and lovely as could be, even offered to send their chaffeur for us to spend Dad’s vacation with them at the Cape, but I wouldn’t even consider it. I said it would be nice for Dad to go for his vacation, but he wouldn’t. I really very much liked Fred and Mabel Foster, but we were not in a position to move in their set, and I had no intention of even trying to do it. I had always been independent and that was the way I stayed. “Spend only what you can and never try to keep up with the Jones.” You really are far better off in every way. People so many times have said to me “My, you don’t believe in owing money to anyone.” That was always true,-I’d rather starve then owe people money. We were brought up to believe that you should have only what you could pay for, but we had more than any children we played with I’ve never lost that idea. When Mother lost her money-through her lawyer-she was the first one I ever heard who said,-”You can’t take it with you,-it doesn’t buy happiness.” How true! I remember going with her to see Judge Hall- my grandfather’s lawyer. Mother told him how much money her young lawyer gamble with (he hoped to increase our money and make money for himself) He wanted Mother have him disbarred-but Mother said “No-Pat did a great deal to help him and wanted me (Mother) to help him. He is from a very good family - a Harvard Graduate- his mother and father are very fine people and I do not want to hurt them.
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I remember Judge Hall turning to me and saying. “She is like her Mother-one of the finest women I ever met and probably the most charitable.” He did straighten things out for Mother and he was (as Mother said) “one of the finest men you could meet and know.” He also was a Harvard graduate.
Our Beachmont Home was a large house with a large wide piazza all around it- on back facing the Ocean on front facing the street (252 Endicott Ave.) We had about 20 steps leading from our basement with a basement kitchen to the water. Many people remember that house-as well as- 22 Chestnut Street, Charlestown. As I look back, I think I hardly remember a dinner that we didn’t have 4 extra or more with us. (Natalie’s reminds me of our homes) We had no attic in either of these houses. At Beachmont-we had places on the 3rd floor where you could store trunks, etc. In Charlestown, we had many rooms in the cellar where you could store things. I painted quite a little when I lived in Beachmont, but after we moved I never found a thing belonging to me. I do have my 3 diplomas and they are in my top draw of my bureau in my room-Frothingham Grammar School(now closed) June 1901Charlestown Girl’s High School, Boston Mass., the oldest public Girl’s High School in America) June 1904 College Course- Young Woman’s Christian Association Business College-1905 (First Business College for Young Ladies) It was called Business School for Young Ladies on the corner of Berkeley and Appleton Streets Formerly Berkeley Academy where my mother graduated from as a young lady. |