Tuesday, January 21. "Madeline, Virginia & I went to the show down the square. It was good but some old man sitting beside me kept mumbling in my ear. It drove us all crazy so we had to change our seats. Other than that we enjoyed it.
We had sodas in Piccolo's afterwards."
In 1939 there was a theatre in Watertown Square at 45 Galen Street - it is listed at the bottom on the left column.
I remember Piccolo's Drug store, and found it listed on the bottom right in the 1942 Watertown Directory under Druggists at 2 Watertown Street.
The red icon below at Jana Grill & Bakery is where Piccolo's was located.
Piccolo's was at a busy intersection where Galen Street, Watertown Street, and Nonantum Road converge.
The movie theatre was located perhaps where this brick building was built on Galen Street - Piccolo's was down at the corner.
Wednesday, January 22."School tonight. I was coming home with Eleanor Ilaqua & we met Stud & Kenny. They walked down with us. I left them at Summer St. & went up to see Eleanor Hayden. She was in her pajamas."
We know Stud is Harold Studley, but who was Kenny?
I found a 1939 listing in the Watertown Directory for Matteo (Philipa) Ilaqua - he is a laborer with a house at 9 Myrtle Street.
I also found the Ilacqua family in the 1940 US Census. They owned their home at 9 Myrtle Street, and it was worth $3000. 53 year old Matthew was born in Italy. He was a naturalized citizen. He was a laborer for the WPA doing street construction. He worked 50 weeks in 1939 and made $634. His wife Phyllis was 48 and was also born in Italy - she provided the information for the census.
Matthew (Matteo) and Phyllis (Philipa) have 5 children. 19 year old Joseph was born in Massachusetts and is a pressman in a rubber factory - he worked 20 weeks in 1939 and made $400. 17 year old Eleanor is attending school as are 15 year old Viola, 14 year old Jenny, and 9 year old Robert. Eleanor, Viola, and Jenny are listed as new workers. The family lived in the same house 5 years ago.
9 Myrtle Street is the red icon below the PetMedic Urgent Care Vet Clinic opposite Waverley Ave. It is just a couple of blocks from Green Street where my mother lived.
I don't know if the house below is the original house and was renovated or if it is a new building. But #9 Myrtle St is on the right.
Eleanor Ilacqua's 1940 yearbook picture popped up on www.ancestry.com - she is at the bottom right. It states: Eleanor J. Ilaqua - 9 Myrtle St. - she attended the West Junior High - she was taking the General Course and wanted to be a Court Interpreter - she belonged to the Knitting Club in her junior year - her nickname was El - and she was interested in coins. "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
One last thing on Eleanor Ilacqua - I found her father's naturalization papers on www.ancestry.com - they were very interesting.
Matteo Ilacqua was 31 years old when he declared his intention to become an American citizen. He was a rubber worker. He was white with a dark complexion - he was 5'6" - he weighed 130 lbs - he had black hair and brown eyes. He was born in the Province of Messina in Italy on the 16th of November 1886. He resided at 308 Main Street in Watertown. He emigrated from Messina, Italy on the San Gulglierno. His last foreign residence was Messina. His wife Filippa was born in Italy and still resides there.
Matteo arrived in the port of New York on August 3, 1913.
The declaration was sworn on April 12, 1918 in the District Court of Boston.
308 Main Street must have been to the right of the yellow house which is #298 on the left and #300 on the right - the gas station is to the right of the trees.
Matteo's petition for naturalization on September 20, 1918 reported his residence as Fort Devins/308 Main Street, Watertown - his occupation was soldier/laborer. He was born 16 November 1886 in Spadafora, Messina, Italy. He arrived in New York on August 3, 1913 on the San Guglielmo. His wife was Philipa Ilacqua, and she resided in Spadafora. His daughter Rosaria was born March 17, 1913 at Spadafora where she resided with his wife. He had resided in Massachusetts since August 4, 1913. Witnesses were 2 corporals at Fort Devens.
Matteo Ilacqua took the oath to the Constitution on September 20, 1918.
Finally I found a 1919 emergency passport application from Matteo's wife Philipa to join her husband in Watertown - apparently she had remained in Italy since he emigrated in 1913.
On April 30, 1919 Filippa Arico Ilacqua, a naturalized and loyal citizen of the United States, applied to the American Embassy in Rome for an emergency passport for herself and her daughter Rosaria.
Phillipa swore that she was born at Sporafora, S. Martino, Prov. Messina, Italy on June 16, 1892 - that her husband emigrated to the United States sailing from Messina, Italy in July 1912. She swore that her husband resided 7 years uninterruptedly from 1912 to 1919 at Boston, Mass, that he was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the District Court of USA at Fort Devens on 20 September 1918 as evidenced by the certificate of naturalization presented herewith, that he is now residing at 308 Main St., Watertown, Mass for the purpose of shoe factory hand. Phillipa swore that she was the person described in the passport, that she never resided in the United States, that her legal domicile was at Waterman (Watertown), Mass, that she had never lived outside of Italy. She swore that she wanted to go to the United States permanently within 3 months. She desired a US Passport to rejoin her husband in the United States via Italian port and Gibraltar. Phillipa swore allegiance to the Constitution of the United States before the American Consul Robert B Bradford in the American Consulate at Catania, Italy on 23 April 1919.
There is so much genealogical information in this one form!!
Thursday, January 23. "Today is Andy McLeman's birthday." "Helen Claffey put a handful of stops (?) down my neck today. They're still falling out of my clothes.
"School tonight - Madeline met me afterwards & we went to David Griffin's mother's wake. I stopped in at Peggie's after & was talking to Johnny & Charlie Collins. Then Wallie Waters came in & we had an argument (as usual). When I left he came out & walked half way home with me. What a shock & for once we did get along okay. Talking on the corner & almost freezing & the first time we didn't have an argument."
My goodness! My mother mentioned a lot of names in this post!
Who is this Andy McLeman who is celebrating a birthday today? On www.ancestry.com I found a 1928 naturalization petition for engineer Andrew Noble McLeman of 28 Ladd Street in Watertown. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 28 February 1894. He emigrated from Liverpool on 24 February 1923 on the SS Cedric. His wife Margaret and son Andrew were also born in Aberdeen, Scotland and reside with him.
It is interesting that one of his witnesses is Patrick Callahan of Watertown. I wonder if this is the Patrick Callahan living with the Duffy family on Church Hill Street in the 1910 US Census.
I didn't find the McLemans in the 1930 US Census but did find them in the 1940 census. The McLemans owned their home at 28 Ladd Street in Watertown - it was worth $2750. 46 year old Andrew N McLeman was a naturalized citizen born in Scotland. They lived in the same house in 1935. He was an engineer possibly for the state - working with link fences. He worked 48 weeks in 1939 and made $1536. His 46 year old wife Margaret was not naturalized! But 20 year old Andrew McLeman was naturalized - he was a truck body builder for Meister Co - he worked 44 weeks in 1939 and made $724.
I couldn't find a yearbook for Andy McLeman, but I found his 1941 WWII draft registration.
Andrew McLeman, Jr. - 28 Ladd St, Watertown - he had no phone - he was 21 years old - he was born in Frazerburgh, Scotland on January 24, 1920 - his occupation was a welder. Mrs Margaret McLeman of 28 Ladd St, Watertown would always know his address. His employer was G & N Engineering Company at 252 Dover St., Boston.
Page 2 of the WWII draft registration reported that Andy was white, 5'10" and 127 lbs with hazel eyes, black hair, and light brown hair. He had a small scar on the top of his head. Andy registered July 1, 1941 at the Grant School in Watertown.
28 Ladd Street is the red icon on the lower right. This is outside Watertown Square near the back entrance to Perkins School for the Blind.
28 Ladd Street is the middle gambrel style house which is now 3 apartments - #24, #26, and #28!
I couldn't find any definite information on Helen Clafffey who was briefly mentioned in my mother's diary - there was a Claffey family in Waltham in the 1940 US Census at 49 Robbins Street - that Helen Claffey was 27 years old. She was working as a mounter in a radio tube company. Her 58 year old widowed mother Helen was born in the Irish Free State. Her two sons, her other daughter and her family, as well as a cousin and boarder lived in the house. The family lived in the same place in 1935.
The 1940 Waltham Street Directory lists Helen as working at Raytheon. John was a machinist. George was a printer. We saw that Annie O'Callahan who lived on Main Street was also working at Raytheon.
The red icon on the bottom left is 49 Robbins Street in Waltham. It is at the corner of Robbins and Adams Streets.
The white/gray house in the middle is where the Claffey family lived.
I couldn't find too much definite information on David Griffin - it was his mother's wake that my mother and Madeline were going to. I found a David Griffin in the 1930 US census who was a 10 year old lodger with the Paulson family at 64 Edenfield Avenue in Watertown. He and his father were born in Massachusetts - his mother was born in Sweden - but neither parent was listed at this address. 34 year old Paul Paulson was listed as the head of the family - he was born in Maine - his father was born in Denmark - his mother was born in Maine. Paul worked as an auto mechanic.
Paul's wife, 29 year old Annie, was born in Massachusetts so was her father - her mother was born in English Canada. Paul and Annie had been married for 10 years. They owned their home which was worth $6200. They had one son - 8 year old Paul J who was born in Massachusetts.
Paul's father-in-law, 54 year old James Dowd, was born in Massachusetts as were his parents. He was working as a janitor in the public schools. His wife Margaret was 49 years old. She was born in English Canada - she immigrated in 1899 - it looks like she may still have been an alien.
It is odd that David Griffin was listed as a lodger - usually lodgers are older people - usually working although sometimes unemployed. I have sometimes seen family members listed as lodgers. So I'm wondering is Paul related to the Paulson family or the Dowds?
I drove myself crazy trying to find David Griffin's parents. Mostly because I seem to remember that there were Griffins and Maddens related to the Navins. I did find some information I believe is related to this David Griffin. I'll lay it out chronologically.
In 1899, 1900 James Dowd was a brewer boarding at 123 Marcella Street in Boston.
24 year old James Dowd married 24 year old Margaret McKenzie on 19 March 1900 in Boston. He was a meat "dresser" living at 123 Marcella Street; she was a saleswoman living at 2465 Washington Street. He was born in Boston; she was born in Prince Edward Island. James' parents were Peter S Dowd and Mary J Sheeran. Margaret's parents were John McKenzie and Margaret MacDonald. This was the first marriage for both of them. Clergyman James P McGuigan of 159 Centre Street, Boston married them.
In 1910 the Dowds were living at 28 John A. Andrew Street in Boston. They had been married for 10 years. James was 34 - the census reports that he was from Ireland and immigrated in 1878 - he was a naturalized citizen. James was a meat cutter for whole sale meats. 32 year old Margaret had been pregnant 4 times and 4 children were alive. She immigrated from Canada in 1896. They had 4 daughters: 9 year old Viola, 7 year old Virginia, 5 year old Helen, and 3 year old Sadie. All but Sadie were attending school. All but Helen were born in Massachusetts - Helen was born in Canada - there is no date for when she immigrated.
Then I found a 1920 US Census for Waltham that listed 42 year old James Dowd renting an apartment at 171 South Street - he was born in Massachusetts but his parents were born in Ireland. He was a house painter. His wife, 40 year old Margaret, immigrated from Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1895 - she was naturalized in 1899. Her father was from Scotland and her mother from PEI.
They had 3 children living with them. 17 year old Virginia was born in Massachusetts and was making jewels for a watch factory.
It is interesting that 15 year old Helen was born in Prince Edward Island and immigrated to the US in 1904 - she was naturalized the same year. She attended school. So why was she born in PEI? Will we ever know? 13 year old Sadie was born in Massachusetts and attends school. What happened to Viola?
The Paul Paulson family was also renting an apartment at 171 South Street. Paul was 24 years old and was born in Maine. He was a petty officer for the City - what does that mean? His wife Anna was 19 years old - she was born in Massachusetts.
I thought perhaps Paul or Anna was related to David Griffin so I looked for a wedding certificate. I found one in Waltham - they were married December 17, 1919. Paul Irving Paulson was 24 years old and was living in Rockland, Maine. He was single - this was his first marriage. He was a ship's mate. He was born in Rockland, Maine. His father was Niels E. Paulson, and his mother was Cora E Brewster. We saw in the 1920 census that Paul's parents were from Maine.
Anna Viola Dowd was 18 years old and was residing at 171 South Street, Waltham. This was her first marriage; she was single. Her occupation was "at home." She was born in Boston. Her father was James C Dowd; her mother was Margaret McKenzie. We saw in the 1920 census that Anna's father was from Massachusetts, and her mother was from PEI.
Edward E Weaver, PhD, Minister of the Gospel, of 19 Chestnut Street, Waltham, married the couple.
So we learned from the marriage certificate that Anna was the daughter of James and Margaret Dowd. But what about Paul Griffin?
In 1925 James and Margaret Dowd were listed in the Waltham Street Directory as living at 76 Morton Street - James was working as a constable! But by 1927 they were living at 46 Prospect Street in Waltham - James was a constable and a painter. Helen was listed as an "opr" - ? operator - residing at 46 Propect Street. Sadie was also listed as working as a dial operator - I'm not sure what that was - she was living at 46 Prospect Street.
The Dowd's daughter Annie and her husband Paul Paulson were listed in the Watertown Street Directory for 1927 at 46 Edenfield Avenue - he was an auto mechanic in Boston. The Dowds were also living at 64 Edenfield Avenue by the 1928 Watertown Street Directory - James was a master mechanic. Helen was not listed, but Sadie was still living with her parents and working as a machine operator.
We have seen that David Griffin was listed in the 1930 census as living as a lodger with the Paulsons and the Dowds at 64 Edenfield Ave. The Paulsons are also at 64 Edenfield Ave in 1931 - Paul continues working as an auto repairman in Boston. The Dowds are also still at 64 Edenfield Ave in 1931- James is still a master mechanic.
By 1935 the Dowds were living at 69 Waverley Ave in Watertown - DeWitt Monroe and John Murphy also had apartments here. Does this address sound familiar? My grandmother and her 5 children moved into the same first floor apartment here after John Keohane died in 1929 - John Reardon promised that he would pay the rent if Ma couldn't. Now the Dowds were living here. James was working as a janitor. John Murphy was the same landlord that Ma had. The Dowds remained at 69 Waverley Ave in 1937.
I found David Griffin's 1938 yearbook entry on the Watertown Library website. David J Griffin - he lived at 69 Waverley Avenue - he attended the West Junior High - he took the Commercial Course - he plans to work after graduation - he belonged to the Aero Club 3, 2 - "Dave" - he enjoyed Boating - "Worth makes the man."
In 1939 the Dowds were still at 69 Waverley Ave - James was working as a janitor at the Junior High School. David Griffin was also listed as living at 69 Waverley Ave in the 1939 Watertown Street Directory, but no occupation was listed.
In the 1940 US Census the Dowds remained at 69 Waverley Ave - James was still working as a custodian for the public schools. I couldn't find Paul Griffin in any 1940 census. I did find a WWII draft registration for him. He was living at 34 Gilbert Street in Watertown. He had no phone but gave a neighbor's phone number. He was 21 - he was born December 2, 1919 in Waltham, Mass. He was an awning salesman. The person who would always know his address was Mr. James Dowd of the same 34 Gilbert Street in Watertown. His employer was Mr. Carl Bigham at 35 Edenfield Ave, Watertown - his business was at the same address.
Page 2 of the WWII draft registration reports that David Griffin was white - 5' 10 1/2"- 165 lbs - brown eyes, brown hair, light complexion. He registered July 1, 1941 at the Watertown Administration Building - Local Board #155.
I was giving up on David Griffin when I happened upon a Social Security death record for him on www.ancestry.com. It had the same birth date and place listed. But it also had his father and mother listed - William Griffin and Victoria Johnson.
With that information I found a marriage certificate on www.familysearch.org for David's parents on April 12, 1915. William E Griffin was 31 - this was his first marriage - he was living in Waltham - he was a machinist - he was born in England - his father was Daniel Griffin - his mother was Catherine Collins.
Johanna V Johnson was 26 - this was her first marriage - she was living in Cambridge - she was a dressmaker - she was born in Sweden - her father was John Johnson - her mother was Caroline Johnson. They were married by T. Brosnahan, a priest, residing in Waltham.
With his parents' information, I found a birth certificate for David Griffin who was born alive at home at 32 Dartmouth Street in Waltham on December 2, 1919. His father was William E Griffin of that address - he was white - 32 years old - he was born in England - he was a watchmaker. David's mother was Johanna V Johnson of the above address. She was white - 31 years old - she was born in Sweden - she is a housewife. Dr Conrad Bell of 820 Main Street, Waltham attended the birth. He completed the birth certificate in December 31, 1919.
I don't see any connection to the Dowds or the Paulsons from this birth certificate. So how did David end up living with them? I was reviewing all the information on David Griffin - I thought it was odd that Margaret Dowd was not listed on David's 1941 WWII draft registration - it was usually a wife or mother that was listed, but David listed James Dowd. I wondered if Margaret Dowd was the one who died in 1941? Was it her wake that my mother and Madeline were going to?
And bingo! I found a notice on www.ancestry.com that she died 23 Jan 1941! So it was her wake that my mother was going to. I don't have a subscription to newspapers so I don't have the obituary. And the Watertown Public Library has Watertown newspapers on microfilm - so maybe I need to make a trip to that library to check out their microfilms! Perhaps Margaret's obituary would give us a hint to her relationship to David Griffin.
Johnny and Charlie Collins were two more names that my mother mentioned - she was talking to them at Peggie's store after going to the wake for David Griffin's mother. I know that there were a Charlie and Helen Collins at the Hibernians in Watertown - was he the same Charlie Collins that my mother mentions in her diary?
On www.ancestry.com, I found a 1909 Watertown birth registration for a Charles Collins who was born in Boston. His father was Cornelius Collins, and his mother was Annie M Kelley - they lived in Watertown. Cornelius was a sheet metal worker - he was born in St John's, New Brunswick; Annie was born in County Galway.
Then I looked at the 1910 US Census of Watertown. The head of the house at 70 Pleasant Street was 60 year old widow Mary Kelley. She had 2 children - both are living. She was born in Ireland and immigrated in 1884 - she was not listed as an alien nor as naturalized.
Her 33 year old daughter Jane Kelley also immigrated in 1884. She was a silk presser at a dye house.
Mary's 31 year old son-in-law Cornelius Collins immigrated from Canada in 1879 and was a naturalized citizen. He was a metal worker. Her 32 year old daughter Annie Collins had been married for 4 years and had one child - 1 month old Charles Collins. Annie also immigrated in 1884.
Mary Kelley had 2 boarders - 24 year old Richard Collins who immigrated from Ireland in 1907(?) - he was a clerk in a wholesale grocery store. The other boarder was 30 year old John Collins who immigrated from Ireland in 1904. I can't make out John's occupation - springer? sponger? Were these two brothers? Were they related to Cornelius Collins even though he immigrated from Canada?
The White House below is #75 Pleasant Street. The right end of the brick building is #67 so #70 where the Kelley and Collins families were living must have been where the brick building is. The brick building is on the corner of Church Lane which runs up beside the old St Patrick's Grammar School.
By the 1920 US Census of Watertown, the Kelley and Collins families were living in separate apartments at 121 Galen Street. 69 year old Mary Kelley was renting one apartment - her 44 year old daughter Jane was living with her. They had 2 lodgers living with them - both lodgers were working.
42 year old Cornelius Collins was renting the 2nd apartment. He was still a sheet metal worker - he was now working in a shipyard. His 42 year old wife Annie (Kelley) was caring for their 2 children - 10 year old Charles and 8 year old Lawrence - both were attending school.
The red icon at the lower right is where 121 Galen Street would have been - it is now the block of stores where Boston House of Pizza is located.
The photo below shows the red icon where 121 Galen Street would have been located.
I found a 1930 US Census for a Kelley family who owned a house at 157 Galen Street in Watertown that was worth $15,000. 74 year old Mary Kelley was the widowed head of the family. She was born in the Irish Free State and was never naturalized. Her 55 yer old daughter Mary J Kelley was not working.
Mary's son-in-law Cornelius Collins was 52 - he was born in Canada-English. He immigrated in 1887 and was a naturalized citizen. He was a sheet metal worker for a plumbing company. Mary Kelley's daughter Anna Collins was 52 years old. She immigrated in 1883 with her mother and sister, but Anna was a naturalized citizen.
Mary Kelley's grandson Charles Collins was 20 years old and was not working. Another grandson, Lawrence, was 18 and working as a clerk for an electrical company.
Mary also had a boarder and a lodger - I'm not sure what the difference is.
I couldn't find any Watertown High School Yearbook listing either Charles or Lawrence although the 1928 and 1929 volumes are missing.
The red icon shows where 157 Galen Street was located.
The shop on the right of the brick building is 157 Galen Street - it houses the bookcase factory outlet. The house Mary Kelley owned was probably like the white house on the corner of Boyd Street.
By the 1940 US Census, 60 year old Anna Collins was widowed and was living with her son Charles who was renting an apartment at 12 Cuba Street for $30/month. They were living in the same place in 1935. Charles was 30, and was now married. He was an instructor for the WPA recreation camp. He worked 45 weeks in 1939 and made $1000. His wife Helen was 26 years old. They had 4 children: Charles E was 5, Patricia was 3, Cornelius was 1, and baby Barbara was 5 months old.
We have seen Cuba Street before - Harold Studley's family lived across the street. This yellow house has #12 on the right. Donald McDonald owned the blue house on the corner of Main Street opposite his funeral home. Green Street where my mother lived in 1940 is a block behind the house. Peggie's Store where my mother saw Charlie and Johnny Collins was left at the blue house and up a block across Main Street.
I don't know if this is our Charlie Collins' family - there is no mention of John Collins. The location fits but the age is older than I expected ...
I had also found a Collins family on Morse Street in a 1920 US census for Watertown that included a 14 year old Charles and a 16 year old John. Charlie and his parents were living on Sidney Street in the 1930 US Census, but 1933 is the last date I can find any listing for them in Watertown. A John F Collins "removed to Allston" in a 1928 Watertown Street Directory - maybe it was the John from Morse Street.
So what about Wally Waters - the guy my mother usually had a fight with? I couldn't find any Wallie or Walter Waters living in Watertown on www.ancestry.com. I did find a 1940 US Census for a Waters family on Middle Street in Watertown - Middle Street is a couple of blocks from Green Street where my mother lived.
57 year old widow Nora Waters was renting 20 Middle Street for $20/month. She was born in Eire and had taken out papers for naturalization. Her family lived in the same house in 1935. She was a housekeeper for a private family.
Her 25 year old daughter Evelyn was born in Chicago - she was also working as a housekeeper for a private family. Did they both work for the same family?
Her 18 year old son John Waters was also born in Chicago and was a new worker seeking a job.
How did they get to Watertown from Chicago?
I did find a WWII draft registration for John Waters. He was listed as John James Waters. His 20 Middle Street address was changed at some point to 33 Fifield Street and then changed to 465 Main Street. He did not have a phone when he registered. He was 20 years old - he was born September 17, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. The person who would always know his address was Mrs. Nora Waters (his mother) of 20 Middle Street in Watertown. He worked at Hartz, Mason & Grower on Pleasant Street in Watertown.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that John Waters was white - 5 ft. 11 in. - he had blue eyes - brown hair - a dark complexion. He registered February 15, 1942 at Local Board #155 at the Grant School Building in Watertown.
I didn't find any Waters in the Watertown High School yearbooks from 1939-1941.
So was this John Waters the Wallie Waters that my mother used to argue with? The location is right - Middle Street is practically across the street from where Peggie's Store was. But I don't know.
Friday, January 24. "I went to a party at Hazel's. We had a swell time & I laughed till I was almost sick. It was Margi's birthday & Hazel had a cake for her.
"Peter took our pictures & after we fooled around for a while he brought us home. It was snowing something awful & of course the car got stuck. We all (9 of us) had to get out & push. What a time. We finally got a push from some car & we arrived home safe.
I had a letter from Arthur Carroll & Peggie told me he came while I was up at Hazel's."
Here's that Hazel again - we don't know who she is. And who is Margi? And what about this Peter? Who is he?
Why wouldn't Arthur Carroll walk up to the party at Hazel's?
Saturday, January 25. "Went to the dentist at 11:30.
"Snow is piled high on all sides. Everything looks so nice & white.
"Hung around all afternoon & took a bath.
"I went dancing Sat. night with Eleanor H., Marion Griffin, & some other girls in to the Hibernian Hall. We got there about 9 & I had the swellest time I ever had. I danced every dance from the very first to the very last and I had the swellest partners. All nice young fellows. The music was good too. I had loads of fun with one kid doing the polka. I got home about 1:15.
"Swell time."
We know Eleanor Hayden, but who is Marion Griffin? We just looked at David Griffin - is she related to him? I checked www.ancestry.com and immediately found a birth certificate for Marion Gertrude Griffin on January 21, 1919 in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Watertown record reports that her father was 25 year old Daniel J Griffin who was born in Cambridge. Her mother was 31 year old Mary B Hoey of Watertown. Marion's father was a rubber cutter. Her parents lived in Watertown. The informant was M Caroline Wilson of Watertown. That name Hoey is familiar - did they live on Green Street - were the Navins related to the Hoeys?
The 1920 US Census for Watertown shows the Griffin family renting an apartment at 63 Waltham Street from Mary Houi or Hoey who lived there with her 24 year old daughter Helen, a laborer at a woolen mill. 25 year old Daniel Griffin was a cutter at a rubber plant. He and his 33 year old wife have 3 children - 4 year old Helen, 1 year old Alice, and 11 month old Marion. They also have 2 boarders who work at the worsted mill.
The red icon on the left is 63 Waltham Street - the map shows the distance from Watertown Square.
This house is #63 - it still has several apartments.
In 1930 the Griffins were renting 12 Cuba Street for $35/month. They had a radio. 37 year old Daniel Griffin was an auto mechanic. He and 42 year old Mary Griffin now had 6 children: 14 year old Helen, 13 year old Alice, 11 year old Marion, 7 year old Albert, 6 year old Daniel J, Jr, and almost 3 year old Paul.
Does this house look familiar? Charlie Collins' mother was renting it later in 1940.
In 1940 the Griffins were renting 51 Elliott Street for $30/month. 47 year old Daniel was working for the WPA - does that say dispenser? His wife Mary was now 52.
They had five children living with them: 22 year old Alice was a financial secretary, 21 year old Marion worked in a cookie factory, 17 year old Albert attended the parochial high school, 16 year old Joseph attended trade school, and 12 year old Paul attended the parochial high school. The family lived here in 1935.
There was another Griffin family at 47 Eliot Street. They moved to Watertown from Somerville where they were living in 1935. Milton Griffin, 39 years old, was a musician for the WPA. He and his wife Helen had two school age children. Is it a coincidence that a family named Griffin were renting an apartment next door to our Griffins? I couldn't find any connection, but I didn't go crazy looking for one either.
The red icon on the bottom is 51 Eliot Street. It is on the south side of Watertown.
#51 Eliot Street is the door on the right in the white house.
#47 Eliot Street is the two family gray house beside 51 Eliot Street.
The 1942 Watertown Street Directory listed several of the Griffins on 51 Eliot Street. Albert was in the US Army. Daniel was a supervisor for WPA commodities. Joseph was a student. Marion was a clerk at Raytheon. We have already seen that Annie O'Callahan and Helen Claffey also worked at Raytheon. I think these are the Griffins related to my Navin cousins.
Milton Griffin and his wife Helen at 47 Eliot Street were also listed - Milton was a musician.
My mother and her friends went dancing at Hibernian Hall. According to the website - https://www.historicnewengland.org/explore/collections-access/capobject/?refd=PC001.03.01.TMP.054 -
"Architects Edward T. P. Graham and Joseph M. Dolan designed Hibernian Hall, also known as the Hibernian Building, at 182-186 Dudley Street in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Several cars are parked in front of the building. An empty space with a Dudley Realty Co. sign in the window and what appears to be a restaurant occupy the first floor. Built by the Hibernian Building Association of Boston Highlands to house local chapters of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and dedicated on Oct. 1, 1913, the building contained seven meeting halls, a ballroom, and stores, as well as serving as a cultural center for the Irish American community. Hibernian Hall also hosted concerts of Irish music. Today the building is home to Arts, Culture and Trade Roxbury (ACT Roxbury) under the name, the Roxbury Center for the Arts at Hibernian Hall."
The picture below from the same website is from 1965.
"The Hibernian Hall is a historic building at 182-186 Dudley Street in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The four story brick building was designed by Edward Thomas Patrick Graham, and built in 1913 for the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. It was the first of several Hibernian halls to be built in Roxbury, it is now one of only two Irish dance halls from the period to survive. Its ground floor was originally occupied by storefronts, with offices of the organization and a banquet hall on the second floor, and a large hall (capacity 600) on the third floor, which included a fourth-floor balcony. It remained a gathering place for local Irish residents through the 1960s, and was taken by foreclosure in 1960. It was then taken over by a non-profit focused on job training for local African Americans, which operated there until 1989. The building interior has suffered due to neglect and vandalism, but the basic form of the upper concert hall has survived.
Madison Park Development Corporation obtained the building in 2005, renovated and reopened it in 2005. The grand ballroom, which sits 250 people, serves the community as the Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall, a venue for theater, concerts, dances, visual art fairs, film screenings, and private parties. The performance space is used by a variety of Boston-area groups, including Praxis Stage, Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts,
Below is the Bostonian Society plaque on the face of Hibernian Hall in Boston. The plaque reads: "Hibernian Hall was one of the last of Dudley Square's lively Irish social clubs and dance halls, serving Roxbury's Irish community durng the first half of the twentieth century. Built in 1913 for the Hibernian Building Association of Roxbury, this building served as a lodge for several divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The AOH began in 1836 in New York as a response to anti-Irish sentiment, and later shifted to charitable work and the promotion and preservation of Irish cultural heritage."
Susan Gedutis Lindsay wrote a great book in 2004 - "See You at the Hall" - about the Roxbury Irish dance scene. I can't recommend it highly enough if you are interested in this period of Irish/Irish American life. I am including this summary from Rego Records - a company that issued many Irish music records.
"Take A Journey Back in Time Through The Golden Era of Irish Music & Dance.
"See You at the Hall", just released by Northeastern University Press, recounts an unchronicled era in the history of the dance hall era, when Irish immigrants to Boston brought Irish traditional music from the firesides of rural homes in Ireland directly to the huge, bustling dance halls of urban America. From the 1940s to the mid-1960s, on several evenings a week, thousands of Irish and Irish Americans flocked from miles around to Boston’s huge, bustling dance halls—the Intercolonial, the Hibernian, Winslow Hall, the Dudley Street Opera House, the Rose Croix—that dotted Dudley Square, Roxbury. For the city's Irish population, the Roxbury neighborhood, with its ballrooms and thriving shopping district, was a vital center of social and cultural life, as well as a bridge from the old world to the new.
See You at the Hall brings to life the rich history of the "American capitol of Galway" through the eyes of those who gathered and performed there. In this engaging look back at Boston's golden era of Irish traditional music, Susan J. Gedutis deftly weaves together engaging narrative with spirited personal reminiscences to trace the colorful dance hall period from its beginnings in 1940s Roxbury, when masses of young Irish flooded Boston following World War II, through its peak years in the 1950s. About the Author: Born and raised in Plymouth, Susan J. Gedutis is an active writer, musician, and teacher. She is a music book editor at Berklee Press, the publishing arm of Berklee College of Music in Boston. She completed her Master of Music (Ethnomusicology) at Tufts University, and her Bachelor of Arts in music at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She is a member of two Boston-area bands, Sin É and Einstein's Little Homunculus. She teaches saxophone and Irish whistle privately and through the Cape Cod Conservatory in Falmouth, MA."
Sunday, January 26. "Annie, Madeline & I walked up to Howard Johnson's & had sundaes. On the way home both Annie & Madeline chased me trying to push me in the snow. I ran & left them far behind & then I wouldn't wait for them. Madeline got sore & hardly spoke to me. Ha ha.
"I went to the show & saw Deanna Durbin in Spring Parade."
Howard Johnson opened a pharmacy in Wollaston, Massachusetts in 1925. When his soda fountain became popular, Johnson began serving 28 flavors of ice cream. By the end of 1936 there were 41 Howard Johnson restaurants.
I checked several Watertown, Newton, and Waltham directories - I found "Johnson's, Howard 39 Main St." in the Waltham City Directory for 1941.
Howard Johnson's restaurant at 39 Main Street in Waltham is where John Brewer's Tavern is now located.
The website - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002052/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm - reports that:
"Deanna Durbin was born Edna Mae Durbin on December 4, 1921, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her British-born parents moved to California while she was still young, and her singing voice soon had talent scouts knocking at her door. She signed a contract with MGM in 1936, at the age of 14, which resulted in her appearance in 'Every Sunday' (1936), a short that also starred Judy Garland. Deanna was dropped by MGM but was immediately picked up by Universal Pictures, which cast her in the role of Penny Craig in 'Three Smart Girls' (1936). While preparing for the role she was coached intensely by director Henry Koster; it's doubtful she would have been the star she was had it not been for Koster. The profits from this film and its follow-up, 'One Hundred Men and a Girl' (1937), rescued Universal from bankruptcy. The studio quickly capitalized on these hits, casting Deanna in two successive and highly acclaimed films, 'That Certain Age' (1938) and 'Mad About Music' (1938).
With these films Deanna became Haoolywood's darling. She reprised her role of Penny Craig in 'Three Smart Girls Grow Up' (1939). Deanna was such a hit that she shared the Academy Award's 1939 Juvenile Award with Mickey Rooney 'for their significant contribution in bringing to the scree the spirit and personification of youth, and as juvenile players, setting high standards of ability and achievement.'
Deanna's singing and acting ability had the world talking. There was no doubt she was the most popular performer of her day. She was, however, by nature a very private individual, never comfortable with the glitz, glamor and publicity that came with stardom. Despite her uneasiness, she continued to churn out hits and kept the public enthralled . In 1943 she played Penny Craig again, for the third time, in 'Hers to Hold' (1943). Deanna's final film was 'For the Love of Mary' (1948), whereupon, at the age of 27, she simply walked away. For a star of her stature, that took a tremendous amount of courage. All she wanted was to be anonymous. Today Deanna lives in France, just outside Paris, with her third husband, French director Charles David , whom she wed in 1950. She has had numerous offers to return to the screen and has turned them all down. She has granted only one interview since 1949, film historian David Shipman interviewed her in 1983. Such is her appeal, however, even after all these years, that she still gets fan mail and requests for autographs. Henry Koster did, indeed, create a legend!"
Spring Parade was made in 1940 - Robert Cummings played the male lead. It received 4 Academy Awards but not for best actress or actor.
Monday, January 27. Rita's birthday.
"Work - school & boy was it cold.
"I had to go up to Peggie's after school & I was talking to Johnny when who should walk in but Wallie Waters & Charlie Collins. They started kidding so I came home double quick time."
Tuesday, January 28. "Spent a quiet evening at home."
Wednesday, January 29. "Another quiet evening & a good book.
I had a letter from that dope Joe Cahill."
So who was this Joe Cahill and why was he a dope? I couldn't find any Joe Cahill living near Watertown onwww.ancestry.com.
I did a census search on www.ancestry.com for Joseph Cahills born about 1940 in Massachusetts. There were several living in Boston as well as Lynn, Haverhill, Newburyport, Medfield, Fall River, and Plymouth. There was also a Joseph Cahill who was an attendant nurse at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham - I ruled him out - do you think my mother would call him a dope? I also ruled out the other places except Boston as being too far away.
The 1941 Boston Street Directory lists several Joseph Cahills.
The first Joseph Cahill listed above was a cook residing at 21 Dartmouth Place - I didn't find him on Dartmouth Place, but I did find a 50 year old cook at 143 Appleton Street - so I ruled him out.
Another Joseph Cahill, 23 years old, lived at 161 Westville Street in 1940 - he completed 4 years of high school - he was born in Massachusetts - he was an elevator operator at a public building(?) He lived with his 59 year old mother Delia Cahill who is paying $20 rent/month. She was born in the Irish Free State - the family lived in the same place in 1935 - she is not working. Joe's sister, 26 year old Helen, also lives with them. She completed 1 year of college and is working as a typist for a shoe factory.
161 Westville Street is in the Dorchester section of Boston - a couple of blocks from the Fields Corner T station.
The Cahills rented one of the apartments in the 3 story building below.
I found this Joe Cahill's WWII draft registration. Joseph John Cahill lived at 161 Westville Street in Dorchester. He has no phone. He is 24 year old - he was born August 28, 1916 in Boston. His mother Mrs Delia Cahill of 161 Westville Street, Dorchester will always know his address. His employer is Daniel J Mahoney of 246 Summer St, Boston.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that Joe was white - 5'8" - 150 lbs - brown eyes - brown hair - light brown complexion. He registered October 16, 1940 at Local Board # 30 at 1441 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester.
I don't know about this Joe Cahill - his mother being from the Irish Free State seems to be a plus for me, but his age is a minus - he was 23 in 1940 - my mother was 19 - what do you think?
The Joseph M Cahill listed in the 1941 Boston Directory as treasurer for Fathom Fish Inc was 43 years old and lived on 398 Ash Street in Brockton so he is ruled out.
Although not listed in the 1941 Boston Street Directory another Joseph Cahill came up in the 1940 Census of Boston. The Cahills were renting an apartment at 61 Sackville Street in the Charlestown section of Boston. 57 year old widow Alice Cahill was listed as head of the family. She was born in Lowell - the family lived in the same house in 1935. She is an office cleaner in a public building. Her 36 year old son William is divorced - this is a little unusual - I haven't seen very many divorced persons when I have been checking censuses. William was born in Lowell also. He is a laborer on a building project.
20 year old Joseph L Cahill was born in Massachusetts. He completed 4 years of high school and is a truck driver for a road construction project. 21 year old Dorothy Cahill also completed high school - she is working as a sales girl in a 5 and 10 cent store. That's a big age difference between William and the other two - 16 years. And why would Mrs Cahill and William be listed as born in Lowell and Joe and Dorothy listed as born in Massachusetts? That seems odd - they were all born in Massachusetts, but where exactly were Joe and Dorothy born?
I did find a 1938 Brighton High School entry for this Joseph L Cahill - 2nd row down on the left. His nickname was "Skimmer" - he was taking the "Cooperative" course - he was born in Charlestown, Mass on March 28, 1920 - he lived at 18 Sackville St, Charlestown - his ambition: to be a second Benny Goodman. He was listed as a Drill Sergeant - I think that might refer to the band or drill team. "'Oh glory be to me,' laughs I - 'I've finally hit the trail.'"
So this Joe Cahill wanted to be the 2nd Benny Goodman. The website - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benny-Goodman - reminds us that Benny Goodman was an "American jazz musician and bandleader and a renowned 20th-century clarinetvirtuoso. Dubbed the “King of Swing,” Goodman was also a complex personality whose relentless pursuit of perfection was reflected in his approach to music.
"Goodman’s early (1934–35) recordings—“Bugle Call Rag,” “Music Hall Rag,” “King Porter Stomp,” and “Blue Moon” among them—began to attract notice at about the time his band was hired for a spot on the national radio program Let’s Dance. This three-hour weekly program devoted an hour apiece to bands of varying styles, with Goodman’s band appearing last. The band’s first national tour, in 1935, started off poorly—besides being relatively unknown, the band had an unfamiliar sound that many producers did not like. Goodman came close to calling it quits several times during this tour, but he went on to the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles.
That appearance at the Palomar, on August 21, 1935, is considered the beginning of the swing era. With little to lose, Goodman and the band played ... full out. The response of thecapacitycrowd at the Palomar, many of them fans of theLet’s Danceshow, was near-riotous. The event, which had been broadcast on national radio, made headlines across the country; Goodman became a major celebrity, and big-band jazz had finally found an audience. From this point, the Goodman band went on to unprecedented fame, and Goodman himself was pronounced the “King of Swing.” ... DrummerGene Krupaand trumpeterHarry James became the band’s star soloists, and the fame they attained with Goodman enabled both to establish their own successful orchestras."
I found this Joe Cahill's WWII draft registration. Joseph Leo Cahill was living at 18 Sackville Street in Charlestown when he registered. But this address was crossed out and replaced with 290 Broadway in Somerville. This was crossed out and replaced with 4 Cross Street in Charlestown. He was 21 years old - was born in Charlestown on March 28, 1920. He is a boring mill operator. Mrs. Alice Cahill of 18 Sackville Street in Charlestown will always know his address. His employer is General Electric Company on Warren Ave in Lynn.
Page 2 of the draft registration reported that Joe was white - 5'8" - 147 lbs - with hazel eyes and brown hair - and a light complexion. He registered July 1, 1941 with local board #14 at 55 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown.
I don't know about this Joe Cahill either. Maybe my mother will give another clue about why Joe Cahill was a dope in a future diary entry.
Thursday, January 30. "Rita O'Hara came about 6 o'clock, stayed for about an hour. We went down the street & I escorted her to the car stop. I met Annie & came home."
I know Rita O'Hara was a good friend of my mother's. I also remember that Ma, my grandmother, did not like Rita - she thought Rita was a bad influence on my mother.
My mother had a couple of fading pictures that had no date, but they were taken during the winter so I am including them here.
Rita with a shovelful of snow. St. Pat's in the background.
My mother taking a turn shoveling.
Rita was very stylish with her fur collar.
My mother
We'll talk more about Rita O'Hara a little later.
Friday, January 31. "Spent a peaceful evening at home."
Also on January 31, 1941 "In his 13th title defence Joe Louis KOs Red Burman in the 5th round at Madison Square Garden, New York to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown" per website https://www.onthisday.com/people/joe-louis.
