After Mr. Russell

Sometime after Mr. Russell died, Aunt Nellie went to work for Mrs. Bingham on Clarendon Street in Boston. Nellie was renting my parents' downstairs apartment on Green Street - the Hulistons and Ma were upstairs - Nellie would come out on her days off - Thursdays.

Nellie in 1933 Scolly Square picture.

I don't know much about Mrs. Bingham, but I remember that they would argue, Mrs. Bingham would go to stay at the Ritz Carlton, and Aunt Nellie would come home to Watertown until Mrs. Bingham called and asked her back.

I found a 1941 index to Massachusetts Marriages for Boston that lists  Rutherford Bingham -  in volume 16 page 386. There was also a listing for Rutherford Bingham that year in Cambridge in volume 39 page 199. Does that mean that the wedding took place in Cambridge and that Bingham was living in Boston? or vice versa? Were there 2 Rutherford Binghams? And was this our Mr. Bingham?

The 1940 U.S. Census for Cambridge, Massachusetts has a whole list of characters living at 60 Buckingham Street. Rutherford Bingham reports that he is a single, 20 year old student - he was born in Cuba! 5 years ago he was living in Exeter, NH. - maybe he attended Phillips Exeter Academy? I suppose he is going to Harvard college now.

60 Buckingham Street from Cambridge Historical Commission.

More recent picture of 60 Buckingham Street in Cambridge.

Side view of 60 Buckingham Street in Cambridge at Healey Street.

But 1940 has another Rutherford Bingham listed as a guest at the Charlesgate Hotel on Charlesgate East in Boston - it was built in 1901 - Boston University bought it in 1947. In 1940 Rutherford Bingham is listed as a guest - he is a 52 year old widower - no occupation. He lived in Washington, D.C. 5 years ago. It is interesting that he attended 5 years of college.

The Charlesgate Hotel is now condominiums. 

The website - http://www.dinakeratsis.com/CGhistory.htm - tells us a little about the Charlesgate Hotel.

"The Charlesgate Hotel is an actual building located in Boston’s Back Bay. Built in 1891 by John Pickering Putnam, its three street addresses--Four Charlesgate East, 535 Beacon Street, and Ten Charlesgate East became known as a premiere location during the city’s Gilded Age.

A theory exists that Putnam’s design of the Charlesgate was heavily influenced by his interest in Nationalism, a movement that, in part, strove to solve the country’s social ills, yet the Charlesgate remained a hotspot for the wealthy until 1920 and remained a respected residential address until the early 1940s. At that point, Boston University purchased the hotel and used it as a female seminary. Boston University used the hotel as a dormitory until the 1970s and later, Emerson College used it for student housing.

By the 1970s, the Charlesgate had acquired a disreputable reputation. Rumors that the residence had become a drug den, a bordello, a mafia headquarters, and an illegal rooming house were rampant in the city. The boarding house rumor was probably true, according to an article in the Boston Phoenix. Tales of ghosts, originally told by college students, persist to this day. The Charlesgate was also a creative haven for artists and musicians, immigrants, and those down on their luck--communities that otherwise could not afford to live in the Back Bay.

By the early 1990s, the building had been abandoned and had fallen into disrepair until renovations began in the late ‘90s. Currently, modern condominiums are available in the Charlesgate."

So is Rutherford Bingham, the student in Cambridge, related to Rutherford Bingham, the widower at the Charlesgate Hotel? And who got married in 1941? We still don't know if these two are related to Mrs. Bingham for whom Aunt Nellie worked. Although I think Bingham is a somewhat unusual name.

So let's go back a little. The 1930 US Census for Washington, D.C. lists a Bingham family living at The Highlands Apartments. 45 year old Rutherford Bingham is renting an apartment for $2.75 monthly. This engineer for a building contractor was born in Missouri - his father was from Connecticut, and his mother was from Missouri.
Rutherford's 41 year old wife Marguerite, like her parents, was born in Iowa. Their son Rutherford G. is 10 and was born in Cuba!!
So this sounds like the student living in Cambridge in 1940. The older Rutherford Bingham in the 1940 census was also born in Missouri but was a widower in 1940 - here his wife is listed as Marguerite.

I found a newspaper article in the Clearfield Progress for Wednesday Evening, November 14, 1917. In the lower right hand column it lists the Bingham-Shonts Wedding. 

"New York, Nov. 14 - St. Thomas' Church was the scene of a large and fashionable wedding this afternoon when Miss Marguerite Shonts became the bride of Mr. Rutherford Bingham. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Shonts and a sister of the Duchess De Chaulnes. The bridegroom is the son of Gen. Theodore A. Bingham, former New York police commissioner, and Mrs. Bingham. For some years Mr. Bingham has been connected with the United States diplomatic service. He was sent last year to Vienna as secretary of the United States embassy and returned with ex-Ambassador Penfield."

I found a little blurb in the Washington Post for Saturday, September 13, 1913 at the very bottom of the middle of the page: 

"Bingham Successor to Bell. Rutherford Bingham, of Missouri, recently secretary of the American Legation at Quito, Ecuador, has been appointed assistant chief of the Latin-American division of the State Department in place of Edward Bell, of New York, who has been transferred to London as second secretary of the American embassy."

Then the Washington Post of Wednesday, June 2, 1915 tells us that "Bingham Assigned to Vienna" - the blurb is under the licenses to marry, reported births and reported deaths. 

"Rutherford Bingham, assistant to the chief of the Latin-American division of the State Department, has been designated to join the embassy staff at Vienna as a secretary to care for the interests of Italian subjects in Austria during the war."

Rutherford Bingham applies for a passport in 1918. The fee for the passport was $1 - the fee for processing it was another dollar. He swears that he was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 30 August 1884.

Rutherford's father was Theodore A. Bingham who was born in Andover, Conn. and now resides in Washington, D.C.

Rutherford's permanent residence is Washington, D.C. - he works for the U.S. Diplomatic Service. He is about to go abroad temporarily and intends to return within one year. He requests a passport for touring and visiting Brazil, Paraquay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru. He plans to depart in July or August 1920.

A memorandum from the Department Of State Diplomatic Bureau is attached. It is dated June 18, 1920 and is addressed to Mr. Bauskett, Room 268. It says "Rutherford Bingham, Esquire, is a Secretary of Embassy or Legation at present on the unassigned list. Mr. Bingham desires to travel in South America. Please issue to him the usual passport. Passport Diplomatique." I can't make out who signed the Memorandum.

Mrs. Bingham also applied for a passport in 1918, but there are notes attached to someone else's application - Andrew McConnico. One note asks "for what purpose is this sent to Di? Mrs. Bingham is the wife of Rutherford Bingham, Secretary of Legation at Havana and would seem to be entitled to the passport." Does that say 8 Oct 21?

The other note dated Oct. 24/18 says "Marguerite Shonts Bingham, citizen of the U.S., is the wife of Rutherford Bingham, a Secretary of Embassy or Legation of U.S." The address may be 570 Park Ave., ℅ Mrs. T.P. Shonts, NY City.

Mrs. Bingham is 29 years old. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall. She has a broad forehead with grey eyes and a "retroussé" nose?! Her mouth is small, but she has a prominent chin. She has light brown hair and a fair complexion. She has a medium full face.

Rutherford Bingham swears that he is a native citizen of the United States. He resides at 570 Park Avenue in New York City. He has known his wife for many years and knows that she is a native American. Rutherford signs his name, lists his occupation as Diplomatic Corps USA, Secretary Legation, Havanna, Cuba. He swore this information was true on October 16, 1918 before the Passport Agent of the Department of State. There is a request to deliver the passport to 570 Park Avenue ℅ TP Shonts in New York City. There is a picture of Mrs. Bingham on the bottom of the page.

Rutherford applies for another passport in 1922. His father is now living 1830 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. 

Rutherford has lived in South America from June 1, 1921 to January 15, 1922. He is also living at 1830 Connecticut Avenue in D.C. where he is working in the oil business. His diplomatic passport was cancelled. He now plans to go abroad for 2 years - and plans to visit Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela for commercial business in the interests of Standard Oil Co, New Jersey, 26 Broadway, New York City. He plans to leave from the port of New York on August 25, 1922. He swore before the Agent of the Department of State on August 11, 1922 - 2 weeks before he is leaving!

Rutherford is 38 years old. He is 6 feet tall. He has a high forehead, brown eyes and a medium nose. He has a large mouth and a square chin. He has a dark complexion and an oval face - no distinguishing marks. 

William Wilson Durant on August 10, 1922 swears that he is a United States citizen and resides at 106 West 47th Street, NY City. He has known Rutherford Bingham for 48 hours!!! He knows Rutherford is a United States citizen and the facts stated in his affidavit are true. Mr. Durant is a special agent for Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey) - so he is a coworker of Rutherford's.

Mr. Rutherford's passport is to be sent to this William Wilson Durant at the Passport Office at the Custom House in New York City. Rutherford's picture is at the bottom.

The next page is a request for a 12 month extension of the passport No. 212163 issued to Rutherford Bingham on August 14, 1922 to continue foreign employment - he is representing the Standard Oil Co. of Venezuela, 26 Broadway, New York. The extension is granted through March 7, 1924.

Marguerite also applies for a passport in the state of New York as Marguerite Shonts Bingham - she was married November 14, 1917. She will be accompanied by her minor son Rutherford Jr. born Havanna, Cuba (registered at Legation) May 21, 1919. She states that she was born in Centerville in the state of Iowa on or about the 19th day of July in 1889. Her husband Rutherford Bingham was born in St. Louis, Missouri and is now residing in Caracas, Venezuela. She lived outside the USA in Cuba from December 20, 1918 to June 1919 and in Copenhagen, Denmark from 1917 to 1918. She is domiciled in the United States and her permanent residence is 1830 Conn. Ave in Washington, D.C. where she is a housewife. Her husband's passport was obtained in Washington, D.C. on August 14, 1922 and was #212163 (retained for travel.) "I am about to go abroad temporarily and intend to return to the United States within 2 years ... I desire a passport for use in visiting hereinafter named for the following purpose:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela to join husband and travel.

I intend to leave the United States from the port of New York, NY on December 2, 1922" but no ship is listed. Signed Marguerite Shonts Bingham on November 22, 1922.

(Note: Marguerite had the baby May 21, 1919 and returned to the USA in June.)

Page 2 has a description of Marguerite Shonts Bingham - she is 5 feet 5 inches tall - she has a high forehead - hazel-blue eyes - a straight nose - a small mouth - a round chin - brown hair - fair complexion - a round face.

Mrs. Bingham was identified by William Wilson Durant who is a native American residing at 106 West 47th St., N.Y.C. - he also was a witness for Rutherford. He has known Mrs. Bingham personally for 1 month and knows her to be a native citizen of the United States. He knows that the facts stated in her affidavit are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. William Wilson Durant signed the form - it states that he is a Special Agent for the Standard Oil Co (N.J.) - on November 22, 1922 before the same agent of the State Department that Mrs. Bingham signed.

The applicant desires that the passport to be sent to the following address: ℅ Wm Wilson Durant, Passport Office, Custom House, New York City

A picture of Marguerite and Rutherford, Jr. is at the bottom of the page.

I presume Rutherford Bingham made his money with Standard Oil which was started by John D. Rockefellar.

I found this next article interesting as I have the same thing for my two youngest children who were born in Ireland.

Report of Birth of Children Born of American Parents, American Consular Service, Habana, Cuba. It is dated 1930 - that was 11 years after the birth!

Geraud Theodore Rutherford Glenn Bingham was born May 21, 1919 at noon at Dr. D.T. Laine's Clinic in Habana, Cuba.

His father, Rutherford Bingham, was 35 at the time and was the First Secretary of the American Legation in Habana, Cuba. His permanent residence is The Highlands, Washington, D.C. As we know, he was born in St. Louis, Missouri.

The baby's mother was Marguerite Shonts Bingham - she was 29 at the time. Her permanent residence is The Highlands, Washington, D.C. She was born in Centerville, Iowa. They were married in New York City on November 14, 1917. This was their first child. Physician was D.T. Laine of Habana, Cuba.

The certificate was signed by Sydney G. Gest, Vice Consul of the United States of America.

Rutherford's WWII draft registration shows him living at 112 Park Avenue in New York City. His mailing address is the same. He is 58 years old and was born in St. Louis. His phone number is Lexington 2-2300. His date of birth is August 30, 1884 in Missouri. Mrs. Rutherford Bingham is the person who will always know his address - this registration is from around 1940 when Rutherford was listed as a widower in the census - so we don't know if this Mrs. Bingham was Marguerite or Aunt Nellie's Mrs. Bingham! Her address is also 112 Park Ave. Rutherford is retired. The form is signed by Rutherford Bingham.

Young Rutherford Bingham, know as Glenn, enlisted in the Air Corps in Los Angeles on 2 October 1941 - he was an aviation cadet. He had completed 4 years of college and was an architect - he was living in California. He was single with no dependents.

I found a marriage index for Sacramento, California where Rutherford G. Bingham marries Eva Vail Goss in 1942 - book 104, page 414.

Glenn was declared missing in action on 4 February 1944 - he was a 1st Lieutenant in 429th Bomber Squadron 2nd Bomber Group. His service number was O724375. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, and Additional Army Awards.

Per findagrave.com, "Theodore Rutherford Glen Bingham was the son of Theodore Alexander Rutherfurd and Marguerite Amelia (Shonts) Bingham. He was declared Missing in Action on 5 February 1944 in Ii, Oulun Laani, Finland.

Birth certificate and headstone differ on birthdate. Headstone shows 1920." I believe the headstone is at Rhone, Draguignan, France.

I also found a death index for the elder Rutherford Bingham dying in Boston in 1952. 

There is a 1952 directory for Boston that lists Rutherford Bingham's death as January 3, 1952 - Katherine is his wife. The next listing is Rutherford Mrs h(ouse) 271 Dartmouth St.

In 1953 there was a tragedy in Omaha related to the younger Mr. Bingham. A June 21 newspaper article reported that 30 year old Ardath Kuykendall was beaten to death 4 days previously - her 34 year old 8th husband was charged with first degree murder. They had been married for 3 months.
Her body was being "shipped to Santa Fe, N.M.for a funeral and burial in a cemetery where she indicated recently she wished to be buried. It is near a ranch where she grew up and met her 'only real love,' a World War II naval officer lost in action."
"Mrs. Kuykendall died in a city where her grandfather, the late Benjamin Franklin Smith, started a fortune that made him one of the richest men in New England at his death in 1927 in Boston."
Mr. Smith "left $28,000,000 in trust for Mrs. Kuykendall. It provided an income of at lest $85,000 annually."
Her mother said "her daughter's grief over the death of her second husband, a Lt. Rutherford Bingham of Boston 'ruined her life.' She married five more times."

The Albuquerque Journal reported June 25, 1953 that "The personal belongings of Nonie Bingham Kuykendall's second husband will be buried tomorrow beside the body of the slain heiress.
He was Rutherford Bingham, an army flyer in the crew of a B-26 lost over the English Channel early in World War II. Bingham's body was never recovered after the bomber was lost.
The mementos will be placed in a casket that will lie beside hers in Memorial Chapel here and will be buried with hers. This has been done at her request before she was found dying in a trailer in Omaha."

On January 14, 1954 in Nebraska, The Lincoln Star has 2 articles - one about Joseph Kuykendall's trial for the murder of Ardith "Nonie" Bingham Kuykendall, and one about her will with a very touching last paragraph. 
"The will also mentions Noni's second husband, Rutherford G. Bingham, an Air Corps lieutenant reported missing in action in 1944.
Mrs. Kuykendall asked that approximately 100 letters from Lt. Bingham be placed at the base of the headstone next to her's and that an inscription 'How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways' be placed upon it with her initials and his name.

One final July 6, 1958 Albuqueque Journal article with some background information about Nonie as well as her husbands.

I then found a 1957 Berkshire Eagle newspaper article about the Mayflower II that mentioned a Mrs. Rutherford Bingham who was a Boston descendant of the 1620 Pilgrims - she traces her ancestry to original Mayflower passenger John Howland. This must be our Mrs. Bingham.  The article is about a controversy regarding the replica Mayflower docking in New York for a summer festival. The other articles are quite interesting as well - they include topics about Communist threats, Hungarians, Cubans, Indonesia, cyprus, breaking the sound barrier, ruined peach crops. Mrs. Bingham's article is "Goodwill Gift and Cold War: Why Berth Mayflower in N.Y.?"

In 1977 to 1981 Boston Street Directories, Mrs. Bingham was living at 65 Commonwealth Avenue Apartment 6 B in Boston - she was the widow of Rutherford - she was retired.

So, Aunt Nellie would be working for Mrs. Bingham and would come out to Watertown to her apartment on her days off.  My sister Patty remembers sitting outside on the steps as her kids played in the yard while Aunt Nellie would be sitting with her and telling her stories. We heard those stories for so many years from Aunt Nellie, my mother, and my aunt Hannie Huliston that we thought we would never forget them. Take my advice - write them down! You do forget!

"On Nov 11, 2015, at 3:06 AM, Patricia Schiavoni <...> wrote:
...
I don't remember the name of the family on Beacon Street, but I think it was near Beacon Hill, not further down going towards Kenmore.
I remember those torturous days sitting on the front porch on Green Street when my kids were small listening to Aunt Nellie's stories. At least back then I thought they were torture. Now I wish I had recorded them because she was very talkative! And she used to serve me ginger ale with coffee ice cream. She was so sure I loved coffee ice cream and was always so happy when she brought me out the big glass full of it. Hated it!
She told me about working for a family on Beacon Street and the father used to praise her for getting the children to eat so well. She used to season the food with white pepper so the kids wouldn't see the black flakes in the food. Isn't it funny the things you do remember. "

Someone always had to drive Aunt Nellie back to 65 Commonwealth Ave. on Thursday nights - my father or my uncle Norman Huliston - I drove her home several times. I dropped her off out front or at the corner of Clarendon Street and Comm Ave - she never asked me in.

65 Comm Ave at intersection with Clarendon Street - Mrs. Bingham lived in apartment 6B.

My mother and father - especially my father - would accompany Aunt Nellie to Kinsale and settle her in Acton's Hotel where Nellie used to deliver eggs as a young girl living in Ballythomas. Then they would tour around Kinsale, Sneem and other parts of Ireland. They would collect her a few days before they all headed to the airport.
Aunt Nellie would sometimes spend the day in the old house her brother/my grandfather John Keohane bought for the family  before he emigrated. There was a picture of John Keohane hanging in the house. Nellie would always bring a bottle of Irish whiskey with her.  She always had sliced ham for sandwiches and plenty of hot tea.

Uncle Jim Keohane, Ellen and John Manning, and Aunt Nellie at Acton's.

I brought Aunt Nellie to Kinsale in 1981 - she paid for me to stay the first night at Acton's Hotel - we had dinner in the restaurant and breakfast the next morning. Then I stayed in the old house which was quite a thrill as I was in the beginning stages of my family history phase. Aunt Nellie's niece Ann Keohane and her husband Vincie O'Sullivan lived next door. I would drive Aunt Nellie around by day and go out with Ann and Vincie at night. I remember the first night I stayed there - we did a pub crawl and ended with fish and chips - yes they were wrapped in newspaper in those days. I was so surprised to see Vincie put oil and vinegar on his - I was used to ketchup and never heard of anyone doing otherwise! We got home late that night. I had trouble falling asleep because I heard someone walking around outside. I got up and took a look outside and was surprised to see a cow looking back at me! I finally got to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I didn't know what time it was - I had forgotten to wind my Timex watch. I jumped up out of bed because I had overslept - it was Sunday morning, and I was supposed to take Aunt Nellie to Mass! No sign of life at Ann's so I jumped into my car and headed into Kinsale. There was one shop open in town - I suppose because they sold newspapers - the girl inside told me it was about 7-7:30 am. Maybe they weren't open but just bringing in the papers. I bought one anyway and went back to the cottage. I probably made some breakfast or at least a pot of tea. I picked up Aunt Nellie on time and took her to church.
After church, we drove out to visit the Cooneys. Timmy Cooney was married to Aunt Nellie's half sister Judy. I had left the cottage in such a rush that I had forgotten to grab my tape recorder - I didn't even have a pen or paper - I was really dying because although Judy seemed quiet, Timmy and Aunt Nellie must have traced back all their relatives as well as all their neighbors in the two or three hours we were there. What a loss that was - to have no record of it - I didn't know who most of the people were that they were talking about so I couldn't follow most of the conversation. They were explaining to each other or verifying relationships with each other. I can never forget that visit, and all the family history that I didn't capture! At some point I drove Aunt Nellie back to Acton's - I think we had sandwiches and tea in the room - not room service of course - Aunt Nellie had bought the ham and bread. I am not a lover of sliced ham, but you didn't say no to Aunt Nellie. 
Another day I took Aunt Nellie to visit Annie Pierce who lived up near Desmond's Castle - we covered that visit in an earlier chapter. At least I got most of that visit on tape!

Aunt Nellie and her cousin Annie Pierce

I left Kinsale and headed for Sneem and Galway - I got sidetracked in Sneem and didn't head back to Kinsale until a day or two before we were heading home. Aunt Nellie thought I had forgotten her - she couldn't understand what kept me in Sneem - she had visited Loughane years before with Aunt Nellie Moriarty and old Stephen Casey.

There was a little park near Acton's where we would walk - while I was away, Aunt Nellie had met John - an old pensioner - she thought he was all alone in the world and was giving him advice. She also gave him a few bob - she would laugh and call him her boyfriend. I wondered if she was lonely.

We also met Aunt Nellie's cousin Mike O'Donoghue when we were out walking.

Aunt Nellie and her cousin Mike O'Donoghue

Aunt Nellie was mentioned in an old Kinsale newsletter - in Brieflets at the bottom of the page - very sincere thanks are given to Aunt Nellie and a couple of others - maybe they made a donation to the newsletter - I wish I had the rest of it! I noticed in the RIP section that Jeremiah Carroll late of Dunderrow died in Cork. I remember Aunt Nellie mentioning Carrolls but can't find any note re who they were. I am wondering if they came out to Boston when Uncle Jim Keohane came out.

Back to the Binghams, Katherine G Bingham died 9 May 1992 in Boston - the death index gives us her birth date - 24 Jan 1905 in Massachusetts.

Christine, my mother, Aunt Nellie, and Jody on Green Street in Watertown in front of the old clothesline - this was where Aunt Nellie had the apartment - #4.

At some point Aunt Nellie went to live at Maristhill Nursing Home where I was working part time. She was on the 2nd floor and was very independent.  She used to have angina - occasional chest pain - that normally would be relieved by placing a Nitroglycerin under the tongue. But Aunt Nellie had her own remedy. She kept a bottle of brandy in the med closet - nursing home rules said that she could not have it at the bedside. There was an order for her to have an ounce of it for chest pain. When I worked on that floor, she would ask me to fill her Holy Water bottle for her - not with Holy Water of course but with whiskey so she could have a little sup the odd time!! She liked one of the other nurses who worked that floor - Sue Robitialle (not sure that is spelled correctly) who lived in Billerica. Aunt Nellie let her in on her secret Holy Water - I think Sue would top her up when she worked as well. 

Maristhill birthday - Aunt Nellie, Hannie, and Ricky Schiavoni.

Aunt Nellie died September 20, 1990. Her obituary read:

"Funeral services for Ellen Keohane Albert were held from the Donald J. MacDonald & Son funeral Home, 270 Main St. on Wednesday, October 3, 1990.

Her Funeral Mass Followed and was celebrated in St. Patrick Church by the Rev. Thomas Whelan, parochial vicar. Assisting him were Emma Roche, organist, and Ernest Triplett, soloist.

Among the musical selections were "Be Not Afraid" at the Entrance, "Here I AM Lord" at the Response, "Mother of Christ" at the Offeratory, "We Believe" at Communion. A medley of Irish Aires was played at the Recessional.

Also attending the rites was the Rev. Roland Lajoie, S.M. of the Marist Third Order of Mary.

Also participating in the Liturgy by visiting the casket with the pall were several of Mrs. Albert's nieces and nephews: Mary A. Keohane, James Keohane, Frances Keohane Smith, Hannah Keohane Huliston, Ellen Keohane Manning, Teresa Banham Vespa, Eileen Cooney Griffin, Josephine Keohane Nelson, Rita Keohane Walsh, Mary Cooney Feeney, Kathleen Cooney Lavell, and Margaret Keohane Navin.

Lectors for the liturgy were a grandnephew, Kevin Smith and a grandniece, Mary Ellen Manning Murphy. Bearers of the Offeratory Gifts were two if Mrs. Albert's nieces, Teresa Banham Vespa and Frances Keohane Smith.

Internment was in the family lot in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Committal prayers were offered by the Rev. Msgr. William  Fowler, pastor of St. Therese Parish in Everett."

I think it was my sister Patty and I who found this picture of Aunt Nellie in the cellar on Green Street years after Aunt Nellie died.

Quiet day

Wednesday
We only had an inch or two of snow last night. It looked beautiful this morning with snow covering everything. As the sun slowly rose overhead, the snow started melting but did not disappear - I suppose the sun is not so warm this time of year.
I packed up some dishes and then decided to take down the Christmas tree.  Monday was little Christmas, and yesterday was Christmas in Macedonia where Tina is from. Tina has done a great job decorating the tree the last two years - she is very artistic. But since she and JB are not here to enjoy it this year, I decided to take it down plus all the nutcrackers, candles, etc.  Every year I forget to pack one Christmas decoration or another. So this year I am gathering everything in 2 places - the kitchen table and the living room. I have an old trunk - it may be one that belonged to Aunt Helen - that I have always kept Christmas ornaments in - I know just where they are. So as I go through everything, I will pack the trunk.
Once I gathered everything together, I decided to take a break - so I had a bowl of soup then went out and did a little shoveling and cleared off my car. The snow did not look as heavy as it was! Maybe because it was melting? I was surprised when I picked up a shovelful. So I took my time and probably looked like a nut with my small shovelfuls of snow. I had almost detached my retina one winter from shoveling - I had never thought such a thing was possible! The ophthalmologist told me to cut out shoveling and no heavy lifting. I still have floaters in my eye since that time and occasional black spots if I do forget and lift something heavy. So I go slow and easy shoveling - and I was thankful that there was no more than this inch or two! I love shoveling - it brings back fun memories when we were kids - my mother made us shovel the whole neighborhood because there were so many old people living there. Looking back, they were probably younger than I am now - they were all working. My mother told us to shovel their sidewalks and driveways so they would be clear when the neighbors got home. Miss Vaughn rented our garage  - she lived across Spring Street - maybe she had no driveway. but we had to have our long driveway cleared so she could drive her car into the garage. My father was also working 2 or 3 jobs so we had to shovel as soon as we were able so he didn't.
My father worked 11-7 on the MBTA's Red line - he would come home and drive kids to Mount Trinity Catholic School in Belmont beside Oakley Country Club, then he would sleep till he had to drive those kids home from Mount Trinity and then go to work as a janitor at the East Junior High School. At some point he was also installing storm windows and doors on the weekends - he did all the houses up and down on Green Street - I don't remember about Marshall Street. He always worked hard. When we were small on Green Street, he tried going to night school to get a college degree. I think it was the kids that kept coming that put a monkey wrench in that dream - me, then Johnny, then Patty, Jimmy, Christine, Jody. He wanted us all to graduate from college.  I remember how proud he was when I was the first to graduate - I had gone to Boston College Nursing School and got through by the skin of my teeth!
While I was outside clearing off my car, my cousin Larry called from Sneem to tell me that our cousin Molly had died in New Jersey before Christmas. We had been wondering why our Christmas cards were returned. Her sister Anne sent Larry a memorial card and a note. I felt badly that we didn't know  - I would have tried to go to the wake and funeral. Molly was very kind to my cousin who died from multiple myeloma and to her mother - Molly was very good to Larry after Sheila and then Hannah died.  Molly was uncle Larry O'Sullivan's oldest daughter. He was the oldest of my great grandmother's  second family - my grandmother, Margaret Moriarty, was youngest of the first family - I think Uncle Larry was about 5 years younger than Ma. He came home from New Jersey when the old pair were sick but would not stay. He told his brother, Uncle Mike - who was next to the youngest - to come home and take over the farm. Uncle Mike liked working in NJ and did not want to go home, but he did. He was m cousin Larry's father. Confusing?
When I came in, I started packing up the Christmas decorations. When I paused, I saw I had a message from Deb Duffy so I called her, and we caught up on life. Then Beth called. I was hungry by the time we hung up - it was 8 o'clock so I sauteed some onions and peppers - added teriyaki sauce then some shredded cheese and had it on a tortilla. It was delicious! And low sodium, low potassium!
I read a little about Venice - I don't know much about that area - as I watched Rachel Maddow and half watched Lawrence O'Donnell.  I left the water running a little in the kitchen and bathroom because of the wild wind and wind chill factor - our pipes have frozen in the past when it was this cold and windy. I watched the 11 o'clock news for the latest weather and called it a night!

More tests are necessary

I definitely need a new phone! I have an iPhone 6 which has no storage left, and now there are no notifications - it doesn't ring, ding or vibrate when a call or text comes in. So I have missed several calls from my PCP. I did finally connect with her Monday morning (January 6.) She said that the kidney function tests were still elevated on Saturday but trending down which is good. She said the ultra sound of my kidneys didn't show anything, but it showed something in my bladder - they don't know what it is so I have to have a CT scan. She also wants me to see a nephrologist. So that was some good news, but I still feel like I am in limbo re the "bladder thing." We discussed the hip revision - she said that I could go ahead with it and we can follow up with the scan, labs, and nephrologist postop. I told her to call the surgeon and cancel it - I'd rather get this all settled. She was pleased with this - she said she had thought I wanted to get the revision as soon as possible - she thought this was the best decision. I told her that I just don't have a good feeling about the revision - it is not an emergency - I just can't walk any long distances - and sometimes I can't walk short distances, but I am functioning - my biggest concern is that it is my right leg, and I need to be able to drive. So my PCP is going to set up the CT scan and the nephrology appointment - and will repeat labs in another couple of weeks. I did apologize for missing so many phone calls even with my phone right beside me or in my pocket. She just said that she knew something was up when she couldn't reach me.
So I guess I will be going on the cousins cruise the last full weekend in January. I thought I would be canceling it - as usual I kept putting off canceling it - but I am glad now that I did! This year is the first time we will have rooms with balconies! Adjoining balconies! We fly down to Miami on Thursday the 23rd and will stay in South Beach. Now that I am a lady of leisure, I wish I was going a couple of days early. Oh well, next year.
I think I have said before that I can get obsessive about things. I am spending way too much time researching the trip to Italy since we decided to extend it. Only because I have so much sorting and packing to do. I had been obsessed trying to find information on Gortdromagh in the British Parliament papers a week or so ago - now it is Italy. So I spent most of Monday morning going through the library books. I finally roused myself and headed out to the Post Office to mail packages to Mairead and JB. Then I walked along the beach at the Heights and went to the store to pick up split chicken breast. I made the best chicken soup ever - it must have been the little bit of red and green pepper I had left in the fridge - they gave it a little bit of sweetness. I usually throw in any leftover veg with rice, barley, and baby pasta - sometimes a little oatmeal to thicken it. NO salt and a no sodium bouillon packet - yes, there was 8% potassium in one cup, but I added it to a couple of quarts. I used Mrs. Dash and white pepper for seasoning. I had 2 bowls of it!
Yesterday, I made 2 loaves of Irish bread - raisons are off the diet for kidney disease so I may be in big trouble as I do love this bread! I was taking my brother to a doctor appointment so I made a loaf for him. I had made a loaf for Fr. Tom Mahoney and one for Fr. Steve Madden before Christmas. I mailed Steve's to Melrose but bringing Steve's to Belmont when I went up one day to see my brother. Both had offered to say the funeral Mass for Johnny Murphy - both had been very comforting at that time. Steve had been pastor at St. Pat's in Watertown - he actually signed the forms for my Irish citizenship. He led the Resurrection trip to Rome about 2007 when Mairead and I had such a wonderful trip. 
Tom was associate pastor at St. Pat's and also worked at MGH. He was there for my family when my cousin was dying of multiple myeloma, when my sister had colon cancer, when Danno had the lung transplants, when Johnny Murphy died as well as other times along the way. Tom was a chaplain at MGH when my friend Beth's husband had a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis - he was very good to David - he was there when David died there.
So we have a real connection to both of these priests. They both love Irish bread - look at those last names - Madden and Mahoney - so I wanted to sent some for Christmas. I was hand delivering Tom's before Christmas, but ended up giving it to my brother after he was hit by a truck when he was delivering the mail in Brookline. So Tuesday I was finally going to deliver it to him.
I picked my brother up at 3, and we headed to Mt. Auburn Hospital. This is one place I had never thought of working - and it is so close to Watertown. It has all changed since the last time I was there in 2007 - I was going to the lab for blood work after my initial right hip replacement. It was a long walk for my brother who has been unsteady on his feet and dizzy since he had a small brain bleed and concussion in the accident. But he did better than the last time.

Musings

I had wanted to spend a day in bed just because now I can. I used to be off on weekends - you know what that is like - running around trying to get things done that you can't do during the week because you're working.  I never wanted to waste time lolling around in bed. But I woke up Friday to a dark, damp, dreary day - so I did! I had stayed up watching James Corden on CBS last night till 1 am - I woke up about 8 am. So I stayed in bed until noon time or so.  I was reading about Italy, checking emails and texts, drinking tea and having a bagel, relaxing - and it felt great! I felt like I needed a lazy day. Unfortunately, the sun came out about noon so I felt like I needed to get up and do something although I didn't feel like going out. I put on my raggy dungarees and an old turtleneck - I need to pack things up around here so I packed up a few things. The upstairs is just about empty except for some bedding, sweatshirts, wool sox of JB's and some poster boards - I washed his sweatshirts and will pack them away for him.
I have a load of keys in the kitchen - no idea where they belong. We never locked the back door here - never in almost 11 or 12 years. I used to lock the front door if we were going to be out for the day or if we were going to Ireland - usually JB or Mike would be around anyway. But, now that I am here alone, I keep the front door locked most of the time. I lock the storm door in the kitchen about 8 pm. So I spent I don't know how much time checking those keys first at the back door - then at the front door. Out of at least 20 keys - one was for the back door and 3 were for the front. I still don't lock the kitchen door when I go out - but I guess maybe I should after posting this!!!
I like looking at our Christmas decorations - I have a lot of nutcrackers - large and small. Tina did a great job decorating the tree with wide red glittering ribbon and their silver ornaments. This is their tree, but I've had an artificial tree for years - we had a fake tree on Main Street in Watertown. It is so much more convenient - you can put it up and take it down as the spirit moves you. This one is JB's and Tina's. I love the tree, stable, nutcrackers, etc. so I don't hurry to take them down - I usually wait until January 6 - Little Christmas or the Epiphany - when the 3 kings found Jesus. In Ireland it was known as Women's Christmas - I wonder if it still is? That evening the ladies would all go out to celebrate - fathers would be home babysitting - sometimes the ladies would go for dinner, but at least they would go to the pub.
So the rest of Friday was spent sorting with a little packing. My kids and Johnny Murphy always say/said that I don't really clear things out - I just move things from one spot to another or from one room to another.  There's some truth in that. The annex where I had my office and have my bed is getting so full that I can hardly walk thru it! I'm not sure where my bed is at times because it is piled high with things! JB brought all my genealogy boxes, files, posters, pictures, photo albums, charts, etc. down into the from bedroom where Johnny used to sleep. I still have a lot of genealogy binders and pictures in the annex. I have scrapbooks from my childhood through the 1980s - how can I get rid of those! I have the newspapers from JFK's and RFK's assassinations - plus the Marathon bombing - maybe the blizzard of '78. What do I do with those? I have hundreds of photos, hundreds of census records, birth certificates, naturalizations papers -  I could go on and on and on! I can't take all those things to Gortdromagh. So I need to get everything else in the living room and kitchen packed up - that won't be so hard - I have done a lot of that already - now it is mostly Christmas things and everyday dishes, pots, pans that I'll be using. Then I need someone to lock me in the annex without food or drink until I go through everything there and find my bed. Then repeat this in the front bedroom! And what about outside! We already loaded up one dumpster, but there is still wood that JB was going to cut up for the fireplace. I was trying to put a few things in the trash every week, but it has been so wet lately that I haven't been able to do it. So this is what I am up against.
I didn't get to the 2 things on my To Do list for Friday - go to the Post Office - call Comcast. I did go to the Post Office Saturday morning after going to Quest lab for lab work. But I arrived just after noon when the PO closed. So that is back on the list for tomorrow - so is Comcast!!
I drove up to Brighton on Saturday after I left the Post Office for a renal scan at St. Elizabeth's. I got to St. E's just after 2 pm. I was drinking water because I needed a full bladder. I went straight to radiology because PreReg was closed. The receptionist called PreReg, and we did it over the phone - it took forever.  I was still drinking water as I registered - my second 8 ounce bottle since 2 pm. The tech did the scan of my 2 kidneys without any problem. She had trouble with my bladder and wanted a better picture. She made me nervous asking if I had had abdominal surgery, any trouble urinating, any hematuria, any pain all while she was scanning the bladder area which did hurt. Then she asked me to go have a cup of tea because I was probably sick of water. She thought more fluid would help her get a better picture.  So I walked to the cafeteria and got a cup of tea. She was waiting for me when I walked back 15 minutes later - I hadn't even finished the tea! She said the picture was better, and it didn't hurt this time as she pressed on the bladder area. So now we wait for the results.
My niece Lucy had texted that she was taking her father out to Ms. Kim's Golden Sails Restaurant for his birthday - she asked if I was interested. She texted me again that they were leaving at 6 pm. I was almost to the bridge so I met them there. I didn't care if it was on the renal diet or not, I had a Pina Colada! And it was good. I had chicken chow mien on pork fried rice - what huge portions! I also got 4 or 5 crab rangoons with that the dinner combo! It was a nice time with the 3 of us. Patty arrived as we got the bill. She didn't want anything so we just sat and talked for a while more. The staff all know Richie in there.
I went home with my goody bag - about 3/4 of the plate! I tried Great Course again on the Falmouth library website - still no services available! I had just started the Roman Empire - the instructor was in an imperial toga when I left! There are over 25 more lectures to that one course!! AARRGGHHH!!! Sure, I can read this history in a book - I love to read - but these instructors bring the history to life!!! I am hoping that it is not permanent!
So I read my library books on Florence and Venice. I went to bed early - 11:20 because I was tired - or probably it was the Pina Colada which was pretty strong - I couldn't even stay up for Saturday Night Live. I woke up at 5:30 and felt wide awake - I was also hungry. It was dark and raining out. I made my tea and bagel and crawled back into bed. I was reading a book that my brother Johnny had bought at an estate sale - Vanishing Ireland. I think I had read it years ago - maybe I even had it!  It was interesting reading about the different people and looking at their  pictures. But I was horrified as it dawned on me that the authors were talking about a dying part of Ireland - the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s!! I was there then in the late 70s and 80s!! How old am I?!? They talked about the hard lives the Irish had - no running water, no electricity, no cars, poverty.  I remember Nana Murphy talking about taking her laundry down to the river - she would make a fire and heat water from the river in a big basin to wash  the clothes - then she would hang them on the bushes to dry. She said the first morning after getting married, she woke up alone in bed - her husband Mikey Paul was already gone up the mountain after sheep - her father-in-law told her to go out to milk the 12 or 13 cows that they had and then get breakfast.  What a way to start a marriage!
I know that a lot of houses/cabins in Sneem had no running water in the late 70s - my cousins in Loughane had no running water and no outhouse when I first visited in 1973. Molly Crowley in Beal - between Gortdromagh and Loughane - had the only outhouse that I ever saw - although there could have been plenty of them around. Johnny Murphy told me that when he started working for the ESB (Electrical Supply Board) about 1977 he put a back kitchen and a bathroom into Gortdromagh. The water came from the lake up on top of the mountain - a pipe carried it down to the house. It would clog periodically, and Johnny would have to figure out where the obstruction was. Sometimes the water in the pipe would freeze in cold weather. The pipe wasn't very wide - like a garden hose if I remember correctly. If there was no water running in the pipe, we couldn't have the range going - the range heated the water tank - if the tank was empty, the pressure would build up in it and could explode - at least that was my understanding. The range was a big turf, wood or coal powered stove - it was the source of heat for the house - although there was a small fireplace in the sitting room to the right of the front door. If there was no fire in the range, the house was pretty cold and damp in the winter.
The winters in Sneem were nowhere as bad as a winter in Watertown - if it did snow, the snow only lasted a few hours. The first time Danno and I saw snow in Gortdromagh, we ran out to make snowballs  - Danno made a snow angel, but the snow melted a couple of hours later.
But it could reach freezing temperatures. When the pipe froze, Danno and I would take a bucket and break through ice in the river with a spade for a bucket of water to make tea or use for cooking. I didn't grow up in Ireland and only spent less than 3 years there, but I considered all this an adventure - I was back to my roots. I'm sure people worked hard - I know they had little money.
Johnny Manning's book also talked about how hard farming was in days before tractors and other machines. I used to go to the bog with my cousin Larry and Johnny Murphy. I only remember it being bright sunny weather when we were there, and the white feathery bog cotton would blow in the wind. I don't remember what they call it, but Johnny would "skim" off the top layer of ground to get to the turf. It looked like thick wet black mud. They would have their Wellingtons on because it would be wet and would start cutting the turf - they used a slan or slean to cut a big long piece - maybe 12-18 inches - and throw it onto the bank - I would take a spade and pitch the piece of turf a distance - I had to spread it out so it could dry. Once the turf dried, we would stand it up on an end and lean 3 or 4 pieces together so the wind could dry it more - stook it but I am not sure that is how it is spelt. I suppose this was back breaking, but I only did it a couple of days at a time - I was either on holidays or had small kids to mind. I remember the Murphys rented a piece of the Breens bog across the river one year. I was down there spreading turf with Johnny, Larry, Jamesy Breen, and Danno - who was only 7 - a couple of days after Mairead was born. I was so happy to get down there!
Sometimes Nana would bring tea and homemade bread to the bog if within walking distance - it never tasted better except in the hayfields. Other times I would pick it up since I had a car and bring it to the bog.
Here are some old photos from 1984! I couldn't get the pictures any clearer. What a difference with today's photos taken on a cell phone!

Jody showing how it is done!

Larry to the left, Jim Shea, Paddy Casey, and Danno in front. The bog cotton on the left.

Paddy Casey, Johnny Murphy, Danno

Johnny Murphy - see the sods of turf on the bank near Danno? They are spread out to dry.

Christine giving some idea of the size of a sod of turf - they were heavy when they were wet.

Danno with his plastic spade, MEM spreading turf, Johnny Murphy is supposed to be cutting 

Danno's head and arm, MEM throwing turf, Johnny Murphy

I loved being in the hay fields as well. Larry used to cut his hay with a scythe - Johnny Murphy would go over to help him. I loved the music he made sharpening the scythe with the scythe stone - at least I thought it was music. They would cut the hay, and I would turn it over to dry it out. I remember shaking out the hay in Gortdromagh, but there it was cut with a tractor with a mower on the back. Mikey Paul was there with his straw hat on, Johnny, me, Danno - sometimes Larry. I developed a rhythm or motion to it - we moved along a row and then moved on to another row. Nana again would bring tea - maybe sandwiches or homemade bread. I loved having tea in the hay field or bog - I remember warm summer days - a lovely breeze - fresh air - blue skies. In Gortdromagh we could look down at the main road - see who was passing by.  Once the hay was dry, we would make small hay cocks - then larger ones. I was never there to see how a large haycock was made so I don't know how it was started. But I remember throwing pikefuls of hay on top of it. Sometime a horse or a tractor would take the haycock to the hayshed.  Later Mick Connor Simon would bale the hay in Gortdromagh which was much less work but not as much fun - for me anyway. Now I think everyone makes silage.
Here are a couple more pix from 1984 - I'll have to look for the others.

Johnny Murphy and Larry making small haycocks.

Patrick Breen, Christine, Danno and Jody

MEM and Julia Connolly in Ballyconnelly, Connemara 

Anyway, I was feeling tired about 8 am so rolled over and went to sleep until Mike called me at 9:15 am from Larry's house. I guess a truck or branch brought down Larry's telephone line so his landline is not working. They had a good night in Sneem on New Year's Eve which was Larry's birthday. Mike said it was quiet today - it had been busy till today - now everyone was going home after the Christmas Holiday. They told me that a young man from Sneem had died - Batty Murphy was 56 - his father Joe had died in September when I was leaving to come home. Johnny Murphy used to work for Joe who was a sheep farmer when the Murphys were children - Johnny was a teenager - Joe was a cousin of Mikey Paul's. Joe was a vey nice man as was his wife Betty - we would visit them occasionally when we were home.
Mike said he plays poker at Dan Murphy's Pub on Fridays. He and Larry are going back to the Blind Piper on Thursday night for a bite to eat, and to see if they have music. It was great to talk to Mike instead of texting him. My phone does not have an international plan although it is only $15/month so I could get it. I had tried to Face Time Mike but didn't get through.
I packed up a little more today before Beth called about 11 am. We changed our trip to Rome - we are leaving Saturday February 29 so we will be there 3 weeks. Beth seems very happy and excited about it - this is her trip - she needs to do a little research now so she gets to visit the sights she wants to see. We are lucky to be able to stay with her nephew and niece in Rome.  No need for a car so that eliminates a major expense. We can take the train to Florence or Venice if she wants.
I headed out for a walk along Falmouth Heights Beach about 3 pm. I was all bundled up, but it didn't seem as cold as yesterday or last week. There were a few people walking, and kids playing ball on the beach. There is something about the smell of the ocean and the sea breeze that is so soothing and invigorating at the same time!
I went into Stop and Shop to buy split chicken breasts to make chicken soup tomorrow. It was about 4:10 when I came out. So I jumped into the car and headed to the Heights - I pulled in beside the Tides Motel to watch the sunset. There were a few others there - some taking pictures. The sun went down quickly in the end - the sky then lit up when the sun was below the horizon. I am not used to just sitting and watching the sunset - I always feel like I should be doing something - like I don't have enough time. But I guess I have time now! I just have to get used to it!

I have received many emails and texts so I want to say thanks so much for all the support!