Saturday, February 1, 1941. "Went dancing in at Hibernian Hall with Helen Gregory, Helen Glynn, & Teresa Carney. Had a good time. They played a lot of polkas & Irish jigs. I love to dance them so I had a swell time. Some kid whose name was Buddy haunted me but he was nice & he asked me if we'd all like a ride home. I refused but he was so persistent I asked the other kids & they said 'sure' so we had a ride home. eleven in the car. I was in front with three boys. Good time."
So who were all these new names? Helen Gregory, Helen Glynn, & Teresa Carney. The last names are all familiar. Who was Buddy?
Let's start with Helen Gregory. I was interested in the name Gregory because my sister went to school with Mary Gregory, and I wondered if she would be related to Helen Gregory.
Right off I found a 1940 US Census record for Helen on www.ancestry.com. She was living at 58 Riverside Street, Watertown. The head of the family was 65 year old Francis Hann - he owned the house which was worth $2600. He immigrated from Canada and was a naturalized citizen. He and his wife lived in the same house in 1935. He worked as a starter for the Boston Elevated Railway where my grandfather, John Keohane, worked in the 1920s. Francis' wife was 62 year old Jane Hann - she also immigrated from Canada.
Also living in the house was Francis' sister-in-law, 55 year old Barbara Gregory. She immigrated from Canada and lived in the same house in 1935. She worked as a collar presser in a laundry.
Helen Gregory was Francis Hann's 17 year old niece. She attended school and had completed 3 years of high school. She was born in Massachusetts and lived in this house in 1935. So was what was the relationship between Barbara and Helen?
I searched through www.ancestry.com, www.familysearch.org, https://www.watertownlib.org/229/Local-History-Genealogy, and other sites.
I was searching for Gregorys and eventually found a helpful family tree for Mary Rice on www.ancestry.com. It showed that Mary Rice married William Gregory on Prince Edward Island in 1887. They had 5 daughters - Elizabeth Jane, Mary Frances - who died at 5 years of age, Roseau, Barbara Ellen, and Mary Francis. William and Mary also had 2 sons - John Aloysious and William Ido. The family immigrated to the US in 1895. At some point they came to Watertown.
I found a death certificate for William Ido Gregory in the 1896 Watertown Register of Deaths. William Ido Gregory died May 30, 1896 of diphtheria. The little boy was only 3 years old. He lived and died in Watertown. He was born on Prince Edward Island. His parents, William Gregory and Mary Rice, were both born on PEI. How sad. Diphtheria was one of the most feared infections diseases - epidemics could have 40% fatalities. There was no treatment for the infection until around the 1900s. Once the diphtheria vaccine was developed, cases fell drastically.
I found a marriage certificate for 22 year old Francis Hann and 19 year old Jennie Gregory on September 16, 1895. They were both living in Boston. Francis was a teamster; Jennie was "at home." Both of them were born on Prince Edward Island. Francis' parents were Patrick and Lilly Hann. Jennie's parents were William and Mary Gregory. This was the first marriage for both of them. Jennie was Elizabeth Jane Gregory - one of William Gregory and Mary Rice's daughters.
I found a 1900 US Census for the Francis Hann family at 1 Cross Street in Watertown. He immigrated from Canada in 1895 and was working as a teamster. 23 year old Jennie had had 3 children - two were still living - 2 year old Odo and 10 month old Hilda.
1 Cross Street is the solid red icon in the lower middle of the map. Cross Street runs from Pleasant Street to Main Street almost across from the Watertown Fire Station in Watertown Square.
Then I found a 1907 Watertown Street Directory listing a Mrs William Gregory living at 12 Cross Street. Interesting that she was not listed as a widow - does that mean her husband was still alive? Where has she been living?
The houses remaining on Cross Street are on one side of the street opposite Watertown Savings Bank. I think there are 2 buildings with a couple of apartments in each. The red icon shows where #12 was located. I had pictures of the houses - John Reardon for one stayed in one of them - but I lost the pictures when my computer crashed.
Next I found an October 28, 1908 Watertown certificate of marriage for 25 year old John Hughes to 23 year old Mary Gregory. It was the first marriage for both of them. They were both living in Watertown. He was a paper maker; she was a laundress. They were both born on Prince Edward Island. John's parents were Patrick Hughes and Bridget Gillian. Mary's parents were William Gregory and Mary Rice.
Next there was the 1910 US Census of Watertown that had a lot of information.
At 10 Cross Street we find the Hann family - Francis and Jane with their 4 children. Jane had had 6 children but only 4 were living. Francis was a teamster for a Bag and Paper Company.
Next door at 12 Cross Street we find John and Mary Hughes and their 7 month old baby.
Also living at 12 Cross Street was 50 year old widow Mary Gregory - had she been living there since the 1907 Watertown Street Directory listing? When did William die? She had had 8 children but only 4 were living. She is a tailoress at a tailor shop.
Mary's daughter, 26 year old Barbara Gregory was also living here - she is a laundress.
Mary's 19 year old son, Aloysius Gregory, is not attending school and is not working.
So here are Mary Gregory's 4 children: Jane Hann, Mary Hughes, Barbara Gregory, and Aloysius Gregory.
I did note that Martin Tuohy was living at 8 Cross Street and working at the Watertown Arsenal. He and his wife Mary were newlyweds. My grandfather John Keohane had a friend Matty Tuohy who played the accordion - do you remember the picture of them in Belmont - Matty had the accordion and John Keohane had the home brew! I was never able to find much information about Matty - I wonder if this could be him? John Reardon used to live on Cross Street as well.
In 1917 Aloysius J Gregory, chauffeur, had a house at 63 Riverside Street. No other Gregorys were listed. Were they living with family and not working hence no listing?
Francis J Hann, motorman, was living at 10 Cross Street. His son Odo F Hann, clerk, was boarding at 10 Cross Street.
John G Hughes, tallyman, Watertown, Lumber Co, was living at 4 Cross Street.
By 1919 Barbara Gregory was again listed in the Watertown Street Directory - she was an operator, boarding at 4 Cross Street.
Aloysius J Gregory, chauffeur, had a house at 12 Fletcher Terrace.
Francis J Hann, motorman, had moved to 58 Riverside Street. Odo F Hann, clerk, boarded at 58 Riverside Street.
John G Hughes, tallyman, Watertown Lumber Co; his house was still at 4 Cross Street - Barbara was staying with him.
Fletcher Terrace is located off Patten Street which runs between Mount Auburn Street and Arsenal Street. The map shows the distance from Fletcher Terrace to Riverside Street which is toward the bottom.
The house on the left is 12 Fletcher Terrace.
The 1920 US Census for Watertown showed John and Eliza Gregory renting 12 Fletcher Terrace. He was a repair man for an automobile company, and she was still working as a laundress for a cleaning company. No children are listed.
But Eliza's mother, Eliza Williams, was living with them - she was a 60 year old widow born in Canada. Eliza's 24 year old brother, James Williams, was also living with them - he was a pressman for a department store.
There were also 2 boarders living with them.
I found a 1920 Watertown birth index for William David Gregory - I am presuming this was John and Eliza's son - one of the family trees on www.ancestry.com listed Davi's birthdate as 30 June 1920 with John and Eliza as his parents.
I couldn't find a birth index or record for our Helen Gregory, but I did find a Richard Walshaw family tree on www.ancestry.com that had her birth date listed as 14 August 1922 - parents were John Aloysious Gregory and Eliza Louisa Williams.
I haven't been including all the street directory listings as each family was listed on a separate page - so I am just summarizing them - each Watertown Street Directory is available on www.watertownlib.org.
The Gregory family was living in Waltham in 1923 at 103 Bacon Street - John was a chauffeur.
In the 1930 US Census the Gregorys were back and now living at 20 North Beacon Court beside our Jimmy McCarthy who was living with his family at #18 - he was a chauffeur for a plumbing supply company.
43 year old Barbara Gregory was paying $17/month rent - she had a radio. She was single. Barbara and her parents were born in Prince Edward Island in Canada. She immigrated in 1895 and was not naturalized. She worked in a laundry.
9 year old David Gregory was listed as Barbara's nephew. He was attending school. His parents were born in Prince Edward Island.
7 year old Helen Gregory was listed as Barbara's niece. She was attending school.
Strangely, I found a Watertown Street Directory for 1930 that listed John A Gregory, chauffeur, living at 51 North Beacon Street. #51 was vacant in the 1928 Watertown Street Directory, and John Gregory is not listed in that directory. I didn't find him in the other directories. Was this our John Gregory? If so, why didn't he move in with his sister and his children? 51 North Beacon Street was at the corner of North Beacon Court so it was very close to the children.
I looked again and found a border crossing from Canada into Maine for our John Aloysious Gregory on July 19, 1927. He was 38 years old. He was an auto mechanic. He was born in Souria, PEI. I can't quite make out the next line, but his last permanent address was Watertown, Mass which I think was his destination. His passage was paid by himself. He had been in the US before - 1902 until November 1925. He was going to join his sister Barbara Gregory at 58 Riverside Street. He was seeking work and planned to remain permanently in the US. He was 5'8" - he had a medium complexion, dark hair, and blue eyes. His nearest relative in Canada was Mrs Mary Gregory, New Zealand, PEI. I can't make out the rest. Who was this Mrs Mary Gregory?
So Barbara Gregory must have been living at 58 Riverside Street in 1927 if her brother was joining her, but I wonder why she wasn't listed in the directories? Was she not working? Was she caring for David and Barbara Gregory? They would have been too young to be listed in a directory. Did they all take Eliza Gregory home to bury her on Prince Edward Island?
The 1939 Watertown Street Directory listed none of our Gregorys.
Francis and Jane Hann were still living at 58 Riverside Street, and he was still working as a starter for the Boston Elevated Railway.
John and Mary Hughes were living at 29 Charles Street - he was a chauffeur.
This brings us back to the 1940 US Census where we saw 55 year old Barbara Gregory and 17 year old Helen Gregory living with Barbara's sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Francis Hann at 58 Riverside Street. I couldn't find a 1940 census return for the Hughes family.
I didn't find a Watertown High School yearbook for Helen Gregory - so perhaps she went to St Pat's. My mother went dancing with her at Hibernian Hall in 1941.
The last information I found was the 1942 Watertown Street Directory which has none of our Gregorys listed. The Hanns were still at 58 Riverside Street. John and Mary Hughes were living at 29 Charles Street. I'm still wondering if the Hanns are related to Maryann Hann? Were those Gregorys related to Mary Gregory?
Another girl who went dancing at Hibernian Hall with my mother was Helen Glynn. The only Helen Glynn in Watertown that I found on www.ancestry.com was born in 1919. The register of her birth reports that Helen was born October 16, 1919 in Watertown. Her father was 32 year old Thomas Glynn of Ireland, and her mother was 27 year old Jane Davis of Ireland. Thomas was a laborer. They were living in Watertown. Dr Joseph L Drummey of Watertown was the informant.
From the birth certificate, I found a Watertown Marriage Certificate for Thomas Glynn and Jane Christiana Davis on www.ancestry.com - they were married in Newton on September 8, 1915. Thomas was 27; Jane was 22. It was the first marriage for both of them. Thomas was living in Watertown; Jane was living in West Newton. He was a laborer; she was a housekeeper. He was from Galway, Ireland; she was from Co. Down, Ireland. Thomas' parents were Patrick Glynn and Mary Kenny. Jane's parents were John Davis and Mary McClory. They were married by a priest, William J Farrell of West Newtown.
His wife Jean was 27 years old - she immigrated in 1911 - she was naturalized in 1914. Thomas and Jean/Jane had 2 daughters - 3 year old Mary and Helen who was 3 months old.
87 Arsenal Street seems to be opposite the end of Patten Street.
87 Arsenal Street is the door to the left in the white house in the middle of the picture.
I didn't find a 1930 US Census listing for the Glynns but they were listed in the 1930 Watertown Street Directory. They are still at 87 Arsenal Street. Thomas is listed as a laborer.
By 1935 the Glynns were living at 89 Watertown Street. There was also a Julia Glynn residing here - she was probably Thomas' sister.
89 Watertown Street was opposite Casey Field which was named after James Casey of Watertown who died during the Vietnam War in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. I looked up his name on the Vietnam Memorial when I was in Washington, DC several years ago - his parents belonged to St. Pat's Church.
The 2 family house in the middle has #89 on the left.
I found a 1939 Residents List produced by the Chief of Police and the Registrars of Voters on the Watertown Library website. Thomas Glynn is at 89 Watertown Street - so is Julia Glynn.
The 1940 US Census of Watertown on www.ancestry.com shows the Glynns are still living at 89 Watertown Street. Thomas owns the house which is worth $4000. He is 54 years old but is now widowed. He is a custodian at an auto switch plant. His daughter Helen, who goes dancing with my mother in 1941, is now 20 and works as a packer at a wholesale bakery. His daughter Grace is 18 and is a new worker. His daughter Dorothy is 12 and attends school. Thomas' sister Julia is 60 and is a housekeeper for a private family - is that Thomas' family or another family? They all lived in the same house in 1935.
I didn't find Helen Glynn in any Watertown High School yearbooks from 1937-1940 so perhaps she went to St Pat's. I found a marriage index for a Helen Rita Glynn of Watertown for 1943, but no marriage record. I'm not sure if this is our Helen Glynn.
I did find the 1942 draft registration for Thomas Francis Glynn on www.ancestry.com. He is still living at 89 Watertown Street. His phone number is Wat 9387. He is 57 years old - he was born in Galway, Ireland on April 15, 1885. The person who will always know his address is our Helen Glynn of the same address. Thomas' employer is Ark-Less Switch Company at 51 Watertown Street but Thomas is working at 51 Water Street.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that Thomas Glynn is white - 5'5" - 140 lbs - hazel eyes - gray hair - ruddy complexion - with a scar on his neck. Like so many others that we have seen, he registered at Local Board #155 at the Grant School on Whites Ave.
I can imagine this young woman - Helen Glynn - whose parents are both from Ireland - just like my mother's parents - dancing at Hibernian Hall.
The 3rd girl going to Hibernian Hall with my mother was Teresa Carney - this is another familiar surname - there were Carneys at St Pat's behind my class.
Teresa's 1937 Watertown High School yearbook picture popped up when I put her name and approximate birthdate into www.ancestry.com.
Her yearbook entry provided the following information. Teresa C Carney - lived at 62 Riverside Street - had attended Catholic Commercial Institute - was taking the Commercial Course - planned to do Office Work - belonged to Knitting Club 2, Glee Club 1, Field Hockey 3, 2, 1, Basketball 2, Tennis 2. Hobby: Swimming. "Shyness is always becoming."
From the yearbook entry I went on to find a 1915 Newton marriage registration for John Carney and Mary Ann Gallagher - they were married January 10 at St Bernard's Church in West Newton. John was 34; Mary Ann was 29. This was the first marriage for both. John lived at 142 Park Street and was a rubber worker. Mary Ann lived on Maple Street and was a maid. John was from Co Tyrone; Mary Ann was from Donegal. John's parents were James Carney and Ellen Goodman. Mary Ann's parents were Michael Gallagher and Catherine McSherry. Reverend J F Keleher performed the ceremony.
The Watertown Street Directory for 1915 lists John Carney working at H R Company (Hood Rubber) and living at 116 North Beacon Street.
Toyota is where 116 North Beacon Street would have been. The white house beside it has #120 on the left and #122 on the right.
The Carneys are still renting at 116 North Beacon Street in the 1920 US Census of Watertown. They own a radio. John is 33 years old. He immigrated in 1900 and was naturalized in 1905. He continues working at Hood Rubber as a rubber maker.
Mary is 32 - she immigrated in 1907 and was naturalized in 1914. They have 3 young children - Mary is 3, John P is 2, and TC (Teresa) is 6 months.
By 1926 the Carney family has moved to 97 Arsenal Street. Escort Limousine is 95 Arsenal Street - the gray house on the left is #105 and #103 - the white house in the middle could be #97 - if not, #97 would have been where Escort Limousine is.
97 Arsenal Street is just up the street from 87 Arsenal Street where the Glynns were living from at least 1920 to 1930. Surely the families knew each other.
I couldn't find a 1930 US Census for the family, but they are listed at 97 Arsenal Street through 1933 in the Watertown Street Directories. The 1935 Watertown Street Directory shows John (Mary) Carney were then living at 62 Riverside Street - John is a laborer. The picture below shows the house with the tree in the front lawn - # 62 is on the right.
Does Riverside Street sound familiar? We just learned that the Hann family lived at 58 Riverside Street and also Barbara, David, and Helen Gregory - their house is the yellow house to the left of the Carneys! Helen Gregory went dancing at Hibernian Hall with Teresa Carney and my mother!!
In 1940 the Carneys are still renting 62 Riverside Street - they are paying $25/month. John is a 52 year old widower - he is still a rubber cutter at Hood Rubber - he made $936 in 1939 - he worked 52 weeks. His daughter Mary is 24 years old - she is an office clerk for the Waltham Watch Company - she worked 40 weeks last year and made $600. 22 year old John P Carney is a new worker - he did not work last year. 20 year old Teresa is a packer for a cookie company - she worked 28 weeks last year and made $336.
On www.watertownlib.org, I found the Carneys all listed in the 1942 Watertown Street Directory - I can't download the whole page so I am including 2 sections. The first section shows the top of the page - you can see Mary employed in Waltham and rooming at 62 Riverside Street. A couple of rows down is Theresa employed by the telephone company and rooming at 62 Riverside Street.
So that is what I have found out about the girls my mother went dancing with at Hibernian Hall - and no wonder with parents born in Ireland - Helen Glynn and Teresa Carney!
Sunday, February 2. "Madeline called for me & we went for a walk. It was snowing but it was swell. We had a sundae at Piccolo's & came home.
"I stayed in after supper & Aunt Nellie & Fred came. Went to bed early."
Tuesday, February 4. "Jim's Birthday.
"Had a letter from Arthur Carroll and Joe Cahill.
"Nothing doing."
"Home Away From Home
The United Service Organizations, popularly known as the USO, was incorporated in New York on February 4, 1941, to provide recreational opportunities and resources for members of the U.S. armed forces on leave.
At the recommendation of President Franklin Roosevelt, the task was put in the hands of existing public service organizations. The USO was organized by representatives of six social service organizations as a private, nonprofit organization. The organizers included the Jewish Welfare Board, the National Catholic Community Service, the Salvation Army, the Travelers Aid Association of America, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), and the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). Over the course of World War II, the USO boasted more than 1 million civilian volunteers and operated more than 3,000 recreational clubs. Set up quickly in churches, museums, barns, railroad cars, storefronts, and other locales, USO clubs were places for both lively social activity and quiet contemplation. Some soldiers came to dance and watch movies, others to pursue traveler’s information or assistance, still others to write letters, lounge, eat, or seek religious counsel.
Soon after the founding of the USO, the organization created a subsidiary, Camp Shows Inc., to produce professional-quality shows with volunteers from the entertainment world. Traveling shows, which included dramatic and musical performances, vaudeville-style revues and beyond, featured well-known performers such as Bob Hope, Joe E. Brown, Lena Horn and Joan Blondell, as well as many other actors and production staff members from stage and screen.
The USO was disbanded in 1947, then reorganized during the Korean War and expanded considerably during the Vietnam War. It continues to provide a variety of services to members of the armed forces and their families."
"I went to school last night for a change."
All's quiet on the western front!!"
All Quiet on the Western Front was a 1930 American anti-war film based on a novel of the same name - it was a realistic account of warfare during WWI. The expression "All Quiet on the Western Front" came to mean that nothing was happening right now.
Also on February 6, 1941 Adolph Hitler urged Franco to enter the war on the side of the Axis.
Charles Lindbergh "testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to once again oppose the Lend-Lease bill, saying that such aid would only deplete American defenses and prolong the war without materially affecting its course" per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_1941.
Friday, February 7. "It rained & poured & in the midst of the deluge in walked Joe Cahill. We had a lot of fun & fought like cats & dogs as usual. He left at 11:15."
Did my mother go dancing by herself? Who else was with her? Who is this Jimmy Fitz? My mother didn't want Joe Cahill coming way out to Watertown so late - where did he live? We saw there was a Joe Cahill from Charlestown and one from Dorchester - was it one of them?
Also on February 8 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 265–165 in favor of the Lend-Lease bill.
Sunday, February 9. "Madeline & I went for a walk up to Dean Dairy's.
I went roller skating after supper with Helen Gregory. We had a good time & two fellows that we were skating with brought us home.
Paul Navin came while I was out & stayed for about an hour. Ma, Hannie, & Annie entertained him. I guess they had a wild time."
Also on February 9 Winston Churchill gave an international radio address that concluded with a direct appeal to the United States: "Put your confidence in us. Give us your faith and your blessing, and under Providence all will be well. We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job" per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_1941.
Interestingly, I put Paul's name into www.ancestry.com, and a couple of family trees popped up for his family. Let's start with the Navins. I remember when they spelled their name with an i - Navien. Was I in junior high or high school when Paul Navin went to court to have his name officially changed to Navin? I remember my cousin Chris Navin telling me about it.
Based on the family trees, www.ancestry.com, wwwfamilysearch.org, etc, I was able to come up with some information on the Navin family. Michael Navien was born in New Inn, Galway, Ireland about 1839 to Patrick Navin (McNevin) and Mary Daly - this is according to a couple of the family trees, but there is no birth or baptismal records that I have found.
New Inn looks like it is about halfway between Galway City and Athlone. I wish I had known that recently when we were driving that road from Dublin Airport!
In 1867 Michael Neven married Hannah Brannan on June 16 in Waltham - Michael was 28; Hannah was 24. Michael was a laborer. They were both born in Ireland. Michael's parents were Patrick and Mary; Hannah's parents were Michael and Mary.
James J 1869- died June 14 1942
Mary 1870-1937
Patrick 1871-1878 *died young
Michael, Jr 1873-1875 *died young
Bridget 1875-1876 *died young
Nelly 1879
Denis 1880-1965
Thomas 1883-1960
Margaret 1885
Catherine 1866-1887 *died at about 20
Sometime Michael Navin petitioned for citizenship. Michael Navin of Waltham, laborer, reported that he was born in County Galway, Ireland in October 1843 and was now about 25 years of age - he arrived in Boston on the 29th of June in 1859 - he renounced allegiance to Queen Victoria - he had lived in Waltham - he prayed to be admitted for US citizenship. It looks like he had started to sign his name - "Mi" - but used his mark instead.
In 1868 William Guinan and Thomas Shirdin both of Waltham were witnesses for Michael Nevin's naturalization. Michael renounced allegiance to Queen Victoria and agreed to support the Constitution. Was he able to write? - his mark was used to sign the renunciation. On 18 October 1868 Michael Nevin was granted US citizenship.
In the 1880 Waltham Street Directory, Michael Navin, laborer, had a house off Willow St, near foundry Ave.
In 1886 James Navin is boarding at M Navin's rear Willow Street - this is Michael's son, he is about 17 years old. Michael Navin, laborer, has a house rear Willow, near Foundry Ave. The red icon below shows Foundry Ave off Willow Street. And look at Naviens Lane!
There are several Naviens listed in the 1897 Waltham Street Directory:
Dennis F Navien, teamster, has house at the rear of 158 Willow Street.
James J Navien, boards rear 158 Willow Street.
Mamie J Navien, clerk at 679 Main St, boards Michael Navien's.
Michael Navien, teamster, house at Nevins Court.
Nellie J Navien, bookkeeper (Boston), boards rear of 158 Willow Street.
Michael must have taken a trip home - there is a form from November 1897 listing him as 58 years old - in 2nd cabin - is that 2nd class? He was listed as an Irish citizen - a merchant with 4 bags. The index on www.ancestry.com listed him as a resident of Ireland. Michael was listed as a merchant here - that is a switch from the teamster listed earlier in year in the 1897 Waltham Street Directory.
In the 1899 Waltham Street Directory Michael was listed as a coal dealer at Navien's Lane with a house there also. Dennis F Navien was still a teamster and was boarding at M Navien's on Navien's Lane. James J Navien was still boarding at M Navien's on Navien's Lane. Nellie J Navien was still a bookkeeper in Boston and was boarding at M Navien's on Navien's Lane.
Michael was 55 years old - he had been married for 32 years - he immigrated in 1863 - he had been in the US for 37 years - he was a naturalized citizen - he was a dealer in coal and wood - he owned his house without a mortgage.
His wife Hannah was 52 - she had 11 children - 6 were living - how sad, but typical of that time period. She immigrated in 1861 and had been in the US for 39 years.
5 of the surviving 6 children were living with Michael and Hannah.
James J Navien was born May 1869 in Massachusetts - he was 31 - he was a teamster.
Nelly G Navien was born October 1879 - she was 20 - she was a type writer/typist.
Denis Navien was born August 1880 - he was 19 - he was a teamster.
Thomas Navien was born April 1883 - he was 17 - he was a stenographer.
Margaret Navien was born October 1885 - she was 14 and did not appear to be going to school.
Harry Mooney was a boarder - he was born August 1884 - he was 15 - he was born in Massachusetts - his parents were born in Ireland - I can't make out his occupation - something machine something - was he out of work for 4 weeks? He was only 15 - was he somehow related to Michael Navien or his wife Hannah Brennan?
The Naviens' sixth living child was Mary Lannigan - she was living at 204 Moody Street in Waltham in 1900. She was born January 1870 and was 30 years old. She had been married for 2 years and had 1 child who was living. There was no occupation listed. Her 8 month old daughter Evelyn was born September 1899.
Mary's husband - James Lanigan - was listed on the bottom of the previous page for 204 Moody Street. He was the head of the family - he was born October 1869 and was 30 years old. He immigrated from Canada in 1884 and had been in the US for 13 years - he was a naturalized citizen - he worked as a dyer.
204 Moody Street would be where the red icon is toward the bottom.
The 1903 Waltham Street Directory listed Coal and Wood Dealers - looks like Michael Navien was one of the smaller dealers.
Apparently Michael and his son Thomas made a trip to Ireland in 1906. They left Queenstown for Boston on 19 September on the SS Ivernia.
There is an index to their arrival in Boston.
The passenger listing is also on www.ancestry.com. The SS Ivernia sailed from Queenstown on September 19, 1906 for the port of Boston. Whoever filled out the passenger information for second cabin passengers apparently got the names mixed up - 68 year old Thomas A Navien was crossed out and replaced with Michael, and 25 year old Michael Navien was changed to Thomas A Navien. Michael was listed as a coal merchant - he was a USA citizen - his last residence was Waltham - his destination was Waltham - he did not have a ticket to his final destination - he paid for his passage - he had $50 - he was in the US before in Waltham for 43 years - he was returning home to Willow Street in Waltham.
Thomas A Navien was a bookkeeper - his nationality was the USA - his last residence was Waltham - his destination was Waltham - he did not have a ticket to his final destination - he paid for his passage - he had $50 - he was a US native - he was returning home to Willow Street in Waltham.
By 1907 Thomas A Navien and his father, I presume, had set up People's Coal Co at 4 Church Street in Watertown. The listing states to see the back cover, but I couldn't find it.
Also in 1907 there was another wedding. This time Denis Francis Navien married Gertrude T Curry on September 3 in Waltham. Dennis was 28; Gertrude was 26. This was the first marriage for both. They both lived in Waltham. Dennis was a foreman; Gertrude was a watch maker perhaps? Dennis was born in Waltham; Gertrude was born in Chasis Mills, New York. Dennis' parents were Michael Navien and Hannah Brennan; Gertrude's parents were Martin Curry and Mary Cook. Reverend T Brosnahan of Waltham married them.
Dennis and his family would eventually move to Cambridge.
The 1909 Watertown Street Directory has a listing for People's Coal Co. (Thomas A Navien) office 4 Church Street, yard Howard Street. See back cover. I scrolled through the 1909 directory but again did not find the back page. 4 Church Street is a parking lot today.
Howard Street is the red icon on the upper left. It runs from Main Street to Pleasant Street. We don't have a street number so we don't know exactly where the coal yard was located.
Son James Navien was now 41 years old and single. He was working as a teamster for retail coal company but was out of work for 40 weeks in 1909 - I wonder why.
Nellie Navien was now 32 years old. She was single. She was a book-keeper for special work - she was not out of work in 1909.
On the 2nd page of the census, Thomas A Navien was now 29 and single. He was a retail merchant for coal.
Margaret A Navien was now 27 and single. She was a stenographer for wholesale paper. It looks like she was out of work for 1 week in 1909.
Mary Navien Lanigan and family were listed below the Naviens. The Lanigans were living on Naviens Lane. Mary was listed as Michael Navien's daughter - she was 40 years old - she has been married for 11 years - she has had 5 children and they are all living - she was not working.
Her husband was not listed, but her children were listed as Michael Navien's grandchildren. Evelyn was 10; Lillian was 10; Mary was 5; Katherine was 5; and Ellen is 1 year and 10 months. I don't know where James Lanigan was.
The 1915 Waltham Street Directory showed Thomas Navien moving to Watertown.
Michael Navien did not have long to enjoy his house in Wellington Grove - he died February 29, 1916 at Naviens Court in Waltham. He was white - he was a widower - he was 77 years old - he was retired - he was born in Ireland - his father was Patrick Navien - his mother was Mary Daly - both were born in Ireland. He was attended by Dr C J McCormick from February 21 to February 29, 1916 - the doctor last saw Michael alive on February 29th - death was at 5 pm. Cause of death was bronchopneumonia of 9-10 days duration. Dr McCormick signed the death certificate March 1, 1916 in Waltham. Dennis Navien of Waltham certified that all above was true. Date of burial at Calvary Cemetery was March 2, 1916 - undertaker was John Mooney.
1918 brought a couple of WWI draft registrations.
Thomas Aloysius was living at 180 Main Street in Waltham - he was 37 years old - he was born April 6, 1881. He was white - he was native born. He was a superintendent of a coal yard - Mass Wharf Coal Co was located at 285 Newtonville Avenue, Newtonville, Mass. His nearest relative was Mrs Alice F Navien of 180 Main Street, Waltham. He had very nice penmanship.
Page 2 describes Thomas Navin as 6 feet tall and stout - he had hazel eyes and black hair. He registered at the Local Board for the City of Waltham at the Waltham Public Library on Main Street.
Dennis Francis Navin was living at 215 Allston Street in Cambridge. He was 39 years old. He was born August 18, 1879. He was white; he was native born. He was superintendent for Metropolitan Coal Company at 781 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, Mass. His nearest relative was Gertrude J Navien of 215 Allston Street in Cambridge.
I couldn't find a WWI draft registration for James Navien, but I did find him living in Winthrop in 1918 with his sister Eleanor at 55 Beach Road in Winthrop - no occupation for James, but Eleanor is an accountant.
In 1919 James, Margaret and Nellie Navien were listed on Navien's Court. Thomas Navien had a house at 180 Main Street.
I couldn't find James, Margaret, or Nellie Navien in the 1920 US Census. I did find Mary Navien Lanagan and her children living at 4 Navien Court. Mary was the head of the family and owned her home with no mortgage. She was a housekeeper for a private family. 20 year old Evelyn, a bookkeeper, and 17 year old Lillian, a tester, were working at a dye works. 13 year old Catherine and 11 year old Helen were attending school.
I took a quick picture down each side of Naviens Lane - I didn't have my blog with me so didn't know which numbers to check for.
The yellow house below with the arbor vitae in front is #18 Naviens Lane.
Thomas A Navien owned 180 Main Street in Waltham in 1920 - he had a mortgage. He was 38 and superintendent of a coal company. His wife Alice was 27. They had 2 children - Thomas A Navien, Jr was 4 years and 5 months old - Francis was 2 years and 2 months. There was also a boarder, Bridget Conley, she was 55 years old - she immigrated in 1863 - she was naturalized in 1873 - she was a laborer at a cotton mill.
The house on the left is 180 Main Street where Thomas Navien and family lived.
There was a marriage certificate for Eleanor T Navien - I presume this was Nellie Navien, the bookkeeper. The marriage took place on April 7, 1920 in Winthrop. The groom was William Hamel - he was 37 years old and white. His residence was Winthrop. This was his first marriage - he was single. He was a soldier. He was born in Swanton, Vermont. His father was Jed Hamel, and his mother was Mary Peacot. Eleanor T Navien was 38 and white. Her residence was Winthrop. This was her first marriage; she was single. She was a bookkeeper and was born in Waltham, Mass. Her father was Michael Navien, and her mother was Honora Brennan.
This seems like a good time to look at the other side of the family - the Hoeys - we've seen that Thomas Aloysius Navien married Mary Alice Hoey in 1914.
I did some digging on the Hoeys in www.ancestry.com, www.familysearch.org, www.watertownlib.org, and others.
From the 1880 US Census for Watertown I learned that Bernard Hoey and Rose Ann Cassidy were born in Ireland. At some point they emigrated to England - I don't know if they were married before or after they emigrated.
Their 3 sons were: Michael Hoey (1855-1919) born in Denham, England - his siblings were John T Hoey (1860-1892) and James Hoey (1863-1935.)
Sometime after 1863 Bernard and Rose Ann Hoey with their family immigrated to the US.
I found what might be Bernard Hoey's petition for US Citizenship. It reports that Bernard Hoey was living in Boston - he was a laborer - he was born in County Louth, Ireland about 1831 and was now 44 years old. He arrived at Boston, Mass on or about 14th of March 1870. It was his intention to become a citizen of the US. He appeared before the US District Court of Boston, Mass on 21 March 1870.
The map below shows County Louth in Green - Northern Ireland is in pink, and the Republic of Ireland is in light green.
Bernard Hoey renounced any allegiance to Queen Victoria and swore to support the Constitution of the United States. He was admitted as a US citizen on October 25, 1875 at the Circuit Court of Boston.
The 1880 US Census for Watertown lists the Hoey family but no addresses are given in this census. Bernard Hoey is 55 years old - he is a fireman - he was born in Ireland. His wife Rose Ann is 38 and was born in Ireland. Their 3 sons were all born in England and are mill workers - Michael is 25, John is 21, and James is 17.
On January 12, 1881 Michael Hoey married Mary Ann Boyle in Watertown where they were both living. He was 25; she was 21. He was a loom fixer; she had no occupation listed. Michael was born in England; Mary Ann was born in Brighton, Mass. His parents were Bernard and Roseanna; her parents were Patrick and Ann. It was the first marriage for both. Reverend R P Stack of St. Patrick's Church married them.
"Bemis and Aetna Mills
Around the turn of the 18th century, Seth Bemis invented a crude de- vice which was used by women in their homes to prepare cotton for carding, which was used for a time instead of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin. Bemis was the owner of the Bemis Mills, which manufactured combed cotton into a fine cotton thread. It is thought that the first duck or sail- cloth manufactured in America was woven at the Bemis Mills using a twisting machine crafted by a Bemis workman after importation of sail- cloth was cut off by England.
After the War of 1812, its sails being tattered and needing replacement, the Bemis Mills used the Bemis Warp manufacturing method to weave new linen sails for the USS Constitution. In 1812, the Bemis Mill was the first place in America where gaslights were used with gas extracted from coal. A short time after the Revolutionary War, a bridge was built across the Charles River by Seth Bemis, which is now Bridge Street.
In 1860 Seth Bemis sold the mills to William Freeman, who then sold them to Aetna Mills, a large woolen company which ran a successful operation at the mills manufacturing fine woolen material for women’s clothing. The jobs at Aetna in the 1910s paid well and in 1919 there were 350 employees working 200 looms. Aetna Mills rented two fam- ily houses near the factory to foremen and skilled workers. The group of workers’ houses on both sides of the river near the mill was known as ‘Tin Horn’, after the horn that summoned the workers to work at 7:00 AM in the winter and 5:00 AM in the summer. Generally the work day ended at 7:30 PM, except on Saturday when work ended at dusk. Eventually business soured, and in 1929, the company moved its operations to Fitchburg."
According to the Shea family tree, Rose Ann Cassidy, Michael's mother, died 30 September 1885.
I believe James Hoey (Bernard's son) enlisted in the US Navy in 1886. I found a form titled Return of Enlistments at the US Naval Rendezvous, Boston, Mass for the week ending Saturday, October 2, 1886. James is listed on the right side - 7th line down. Initials of examining surgeon are HB. Name of recruit is Hoey, James F. Enlisted on September 28. Term: three years. Rating: C HR. Note if for engineer's force: yes. Enlisted for general service. Previous naval serve: none. Born in Denham, England - age 23 2/12 - occupation: none - grey eyes - light brown eyes - florid complexion - 5'8 1/2" - mole abdomen - scar r elbow and over r tibia.
It is interesting that the other recruits were born in Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Norway, New Brunswick as well as California and Maine.
John Hoey - Bernard's other son - married Ellen Sullivan on November 7, 1886. They were both living in Boston and they were both 27. John was a wool-carder; Ellen has no occupation listed. John was born in England; Ellen was born in Lynn, Mass. John's parents were Bernard and Roseanna; Ellen's parents were Daniel and Margaret. It was the first marriage for both. James N Supple of Boston married them.
Sadly, I found a Boston death certificate for John Hoey dated January 11, 1892. He was married but for less then 6 years. He was 32 years old. Cause of death was pneumonia. He was residing at 54 Mystic Street in Boston. He was a tobacconist. James was born in England. His father was Bernard - his mother was Rosanna Cassidy - his father was born in England; his mother was born in Ireland.
How tragic. There was no 1890 US Census so I don't know if they had any children.
When I looked up 54 Mystic Street on Google Maps, it showed 56 Mystic Street in Charlestown - I didn't see street numbers on the doors. It runs from Medford Street to Bunker Hill Ave. So maybe it was in this block below that John Hoey was living when he died.
Michael F Hoey registered to vote in Watertown on February 24, 1892 - he was 36 years old and was born in England. His residence on May 1 was Waltham - his residence when he registered to vote was Waltham - he was a loom fixer in Watertown - so how was he eligible to vote in Watertown? No Hoeys were listed in the 1890 Watertown Street Directory. There were no other directories until 1893.
There was another wedding on July 17, 1892 when James F Hoey (one of Bernard Hoey's 3 sons and the one who enlisted in the Navy) married Maggie T Conroy - they both were living in Watertown - he was 29; she was 21 - he was a laborer; she was a mill hand. He was born in England; she was born in Cambridge, Mass. James' parents were Bernard and Rose Ann Cassidy; Maggie's parents were John and Ann Minnecke (? spelling.) It was the first marriage for both of them. Reverend Robert Stack of St Patrick's Church married them.
Alice Frances Hoey was born July 20, 1893 in Watertown to Micheal F and Mary A Boyle of Watertown - he was a laborer and was born in England - she was born Brighton, Mass. There is a notation that this was corrected 12/19/1960??? Was this a second baby Alice - did the first one die? Or was it a clerical error?
The 1893 Watertown Street Directory listed James Hoey at Aetna Mills, house at 39 Waltham Street, Bemis. Michael F Hoey, section hand, Aetna Mills, house 39 Waltham Street, Bemis.
Nellie Frances Hoey was born September 23, 1894 in Watertown to Michael F and Mary A Boyle of Watertown - he was a section hand who was born in Durham, England - Mary was born in Brighton, Mass.
The 1895 Watertown Street Directory listed James Hoey working at Aetna Mills with a house at 285 Pleasant Street. Michael F Hoey was a section hand at Aetna Mills with a house at 39 Waltham Street, Bemis.
I thought it odd that Rose had been admitted to Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital - there was a satellite facility in Brighton that opened in 1908 to treat contagious diseases which scarlet fever is. I wonder if Rose was admitted there or to the facility in the South End? St Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton had opened in 1868 - why wouldn't she be admitted there? Or even Waltham Hospital which opened in 1887.
- “Like cures like”—the notion that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people.
- “Law of minimum dose”—the notion that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness. Many homeopathic products are so diluted that no molecules of the original substance remain."
Michael's wife, Mary A, was 48 years old. This was her first marriage - they have been married for 30 years - she has had 7 children - 4 were living. She was born in Massachusetts.
Their son John B Hoey was 28 - he was a ball player in a ball league. Their daughter Mary was 23 - she worked as a silk presser in a dye house.
Page 2 of the census listed their daughter Alice F Hoey - she was 17 and working as a bookkeeper for retail provisions. Another daughter Nellie was 15 and attending school.
Michael Hoey's brother James was living at 30 Waltham Street in Watertown in the 1910 US Census. He was 46 - he had been married for 17 years - it was his first marriage. He was born in England - he immigrated in 1871 and was a naturalized citizen. He was an engineer in a woolen mills. He was renting his home.
James' wife Margaret Hoey was 36 years old - this was her first marriage. She had had 6 children - 5 are living. She was born in Massachusetts - her parents were born in New York. Their daughters are: Annie who was 12, Mary was 10, and Marguerite was 8 - they were all going to school.
Page 2 of the census had two more of James and Margaret's children listed - 5 year old daughter Veronica and son Edward who was 2 years and 2 months.
The 1912 Watertown Street Directory listed Alice F Hoey as a bookkeeper at 69 Howard Street boarding at 63 Waltham Street - Alice was Michael Hoey's daughter.
George Hoey, the teamster, was still boarding at 14 Nichols Ave.
James Hoey, an engineer, had a house at 44 Waltham Street.
John B Hoey was boarding at 63 Waltham Street - he was Michael's son.
Mary B Hoey, Michael's daughter, was still a presser living at 63 Waltham Street.
Michael F Hoey was a section hand with a house at 63 Waltham Street.
The 1914 Watertown Street Directory was the same as the 1912 Directory except that Michael Hoey's daughter Nellie had started working as a clerk at 404 Main Street - she was living at 63 Waltham Street.
There was an August 1918 WWI draft registration for John Bernard Hoey of 114 Waltham Street in Watertown. He was 36 years old - he was born November 10, 1881. He was a white native born US citizen. He was a machinist for the Waltham Watch Company on Crescent Street in Waltham. His wife Helen M Hoey of 114 Waltham Street in Watertown would always know his address. Page 2 reported that he was 5' 8 1/2" - medium build - had blue eyes - grey hair. He registered at the Local Board Division 31.
114 Waltham Street is the gray house in the middle it is across from Bemis playground.
Michael F Hoey died February 3, 1919 - he was the husband of Mary A (Boyle) Hoey. He was married. He was 63 years 4 months and 23 days. He resided in Watertown - he died in Watertown. He was a machinist. He was born in Denham, England - his father Bernard Hoey was born in Ireland - his mother Rose Cassidy was born in Ireland. Cause of death was chronic nephritis, cardiac hypertrophy. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Waltham. Informant was Mrs Mary A Hoey of Watertown.
The 1920 US Census of Watertown found the Hoeys at 63 Waltham Street. Recently widowed Mary Houi/Hoey owned the house but she had a mortgage. She was 58 years old and was not working. Her daughter Helen T Houi/Hoey was 24 - she was single - she was a laborer in a woolen Mill.
Stuart Street is off Main Street - it runs to Highland Ave.
So this brings us back to the Thomas And Alice Navien family who were living at 180 Main Street in Waltham in the 1920 census. Thomas bought the house and has a mortgage. He was 38 years old and was superintendent for a coal company. Alice was 27. They have 2 children - Thomas A Navien Jr was 4 years 5 months - Francis Navien was 1 year 2 month. They had a boarder, Bridget Conley, who was 55 - she immigrated in 1863 from Ireland and was naturalized in 1873 - she was a laborer at a cotton mill.
The 1921 Newton Street Directory listed Thomas A (Alice F) Navien, manager 285 Newtonville Ave - house at Waltham.
The red icon shows the approximate location of the coal company. The Mass Pike is the yellowish road running through the map.
The red icon is supposed to be 285 Newtonville Ave but looks more like it is on Albany Street. I supposed that whole area might have been the coal yard.
Between the picture and the calendar is written: "Your Fire Will Burn Warmest and Brightest ... If You Use ... Massachusetts Wharf Coal Co.'s ... COAL ... General Office, 43 Kilby Street, Boston - Distributing Points: Allston, Cambridge, East Boston, Newtonville."
The calendar is for October 1910.
I found this information below in the Boston Street Directory for 1916 on the Boston Public Library website - I could download almost 2000 pages of the directory, but I couldn't download the specific page so I took a screen shot of the information. The blue boxes are part of the search I did for the Massachusetts Wharf Coal Co.
It says: "Massachusetts Wharf Coal Co - coal and wood, 93 Milk whf 229 Marginal E B pocket 280 Cambridge Alls yards Ninth for Spring E Came 285 Newtonville av Newtonville order office 54 Orleans E B - See page 2753." I imagine this must be "Massachusetts Wharf Coal Co - coal and wood, 93 Milk Street, wharf 229 Marginal Street, East Boston, pocket 280 Cambridge Street, Allston, yards Ninth Street corner of Spring, East Cambridge, 285 Newtonville av, Newtonville , order office 54 Orleans Street, East Boston - see page 2753." The digital directory did not contain page 2753.
Milk Street is a street in the financial district of Boston, Massachusetts, which was one of Boston's earliest highways per "The New England Magazine" v. 12, Making of America Project (New England Magazine Co., 1895.)
The company's wharf was at 229 Marginal Street, East Boston - which is the red icon toward the bottom - the map shows its location to Logan airport to the right and the North End to the left.
Aerial view of the wharf and area.
The company's pocket was at 280 Cambridge Street, Allston. A coal pocket is "a plant equipped for storage and loading of coal especially for retail distribution" according to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coal%20pocket.
The red icon designates 280 Cambridge Street in Allston - it looks like it's that industrial wasteland as you drive along Soldiers' Field Road to Storrow Drive under the Mass Turnpike.
One of the coal yards was at Ninth Street at the corner of Spring Street, East Cambridge - the red icon below shows Spring Street - 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Streets go to the left of the icon. I couldn't see 9th street - Fulkerson Street is where I thought 9th Street would be - maybe it was renamed or the area was redeveloped. The area is not far from Kendal Square or the Lechmere area. And we already saw where the Newtonville coal yard was located.
Paul Navien, who came by the house while my mother was out according to her diary entry, was born on December 13, 1920 at Waltham Hospital. His father was Thomas Navien of 180 Main Street in Waltham. Thomas was white, 39 years old, and had been born in Waltham. His occupation was listed as a coal company. Paul's mother was Alice F Hoey of 180 Main Street in Waltham. She was white, 28 years old, and had been born in Waltham. She was a housewife. Dr Conrad Bell attended the birth. His address was 820 Main Street in Waltham. He signed the birth certificate on January 1,1921.
Charles Ignatius Navien was born July 31, 1923 at Waltham Maternity Hospital to Thomas A Navien of 180 Main Street in Waltham - he was white. He was 42 years old - he was born in Waltham, Mass. He is superintendent for a coal company. Charles' mother was Alice F Hoey Navien of 180 Main Street in Waltham. She was white. She was 31 years old and was born in Watertown. She was a housewife. Dr C B Fuller of 781 Main Street in Waltham attended the birth. He signed the birth certificate on July 31, 1923.
The 1930 US Census for Waltham showed James Navien at 8 Navien Lane - he was the head of the family - he owned his home which was worth $2500. He was 61 years old and single. He was not working. He had two lodgers - William and Eleanor Hamel. Do these names sound familiar? Eleanor Navien married William Hammel ten years ago on April 7, 1920. Eleanor was Michael Navien's daughter - James' sister - he had been living with her in Winthrop before she married. William was 48 years old - he was 38 when he married. He was a chauffeur for a nursery. Eleanor was 52 - she was 42 when she married. She is a bookkeeper for the nursery.
At 10 Naviens Lane we find the Lannigans - Mary Navien Lannigan was the head of the family. She was James Navien's and Eleanor Hammel's sister. She owned her home which was worth $2000. She was a 60 year old widow. She was not working. Her 4 daughters were living with her. Evelyn M Lannigan was 30 years old and was not working. Lillian A Lannigan was 27 and was working as a bookkeeper for a radio shop. Catherine P Lannigan was 24 and was working as a stenographer at City Hall. Helen R Lannigan was 21 and was working as a bookkeeper for a department store.
At 18 Naviens Lane there was a Brennan family paying $32/month rent - they had a radio. I mention this because I am wondering if these Brennans were related to Hanorah Brennan who was married to Michael Navien. Head of family Patrick Brennan was 59 years old and was born in the Irish Free State. He immigrated to the US in 1891 and was an alien. He was a coal yard man. His wife was 59 Bridget Brennan who was also born in the Irish Free State - she immigrated in 1893 and was an alien.
The Brennans had 5 children - all born in Massachusetts. Mary Brennan was 26 and was working as a knitter in a knitting mill. 25 year old John Brennan was working as a yard man in a coal yard. 21 year old Catherine Brennan and 18 year old Elizabeth Navien were not working and were not attending school. 12 year old Thomas Brennan was attending school.
Another reason I wonder if the Brennans are related to the Naviens is because Patrick and John were working in a coal yard. We know that the Naviens were involved in coal.
A 1930 US Census taken in Watertown listed James Hoey owning a house at 9 Stuart Street that was worth $7000 - he also had a radio. He was 65 years old and was still working as a mechanical engineer, but he was now working at a laundry. His wife Margaret was 55. Their 25 year old daughter Veronica was a stenographer at a bank. Their 21 year old son Edward was a bookkeeper for a hardware store.
Another 1930 census listed Mary A Hoey and Helen T Hoey at 11 1/2 Cuba Street. Mary was the head of the family - she was renting the apartment for $25/month and had a radio. She was a 69 year old widow (she had married Michael Hoey in 1881 - he had died in 1919.) She was not working. Her daughter Helen was 33 and single. She was a clerk for a cleaner.
The 1931 Watertown Street directory listed Edward J Hoey working as a clerk at Watertown Motor Sales Co. - he was residing at 9 Stuart Street. This was James Hoey's son.
Helen T Hoey (Michael and Mary Hoey's daughter) was a clerk and was still at 11a Cuba Street - this was Paul Navien's aunt.
James F Hoey (Margaret T) was an engineer with a house at 9 Stuart Street.
Mary Hoey (Paul Navien's grandmother) widow of Michael Hoey was now living at 12 Morton Street - she had been living with her daughter Helen Hoey on Cuba Street in 1930. What happened?
Veronica Hoey was a stenographer in Boston - she was living with her father James Hoey at 9 Stuart Street.
Eddie Hoey was still working at Watertown Motor Sales and living with his father James Hoey on Stuart Street.
I don't remember what floor the Hoeys were living on but the triple decker is the yellow house at the end of the sidewalk. The smaller tan house to the left of it is where my mother was living on the 2nd floor.
I looked up the street index in the directory on the Watertown Public Library website - below is a screenshot of some of Green Street. My grandmother, Margaret Keohane, is listed at 6 Green Street - Bunny Callahan is downstairs at 4 Green Street.
12 Green Street has the 3 apartments with James Carty on the first floor, Mary Hoey on the second floor, and Patrick Walsh on the third floor - I think! Jimmy Walsh and his wife Florence lived on the third floor when I was young so I am presuming that Patrick was his father. The asterisks indicate owners - the cross-like symbol indicates an automobile.
An interesting item popped up on www.ancestry.com - it is a listing on page 115 in a 1936 Boston College yearbook about Paul Navien's older brother Tom - his picture is on the right side.
"Thomas Aloysius Navien, Jr., A.B., 180 Main Street, Waltham, was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, on July 29, 1915. As a boy he manifested social traits of pleasant nature which came to maturity when he entered St. Mary's High School in Waltham. While at St. Mary's 'Tommie' displayed an intellectual prowess which has always been his strong point. Mr. Navien's son was a member of St. Mary's Debating Society and the orchestra. 'Tom's' career at the Heights has flowed along very smoothly. He is one of the younger members of the class of 1936. In his collegiate years he has been a very active Sodalist, along with his work in Von Pastor, Ethics Academy and Fulton. He always maintains a calmly efficient air.
"'Tommy' will talk about the thrills of college life however. The greatest of these, in his estimation, was our first oral in Junior. Next among the things to be talked of was the Class's Junior Promenade. We agree heartily with 'Tom' on this second item, though most of us are sorry that we didn't get his girl friend's 'phone number. Young Mr. Navien wishes to transfer his 5 feet, 8 inches, to a class room where his 150 pounds can rest comfortably in the pedagogue's chair. 'Tom' has always accomplished whatever he attempted, and no doubt his desire will be gratified."
The 1937 Watertown Street Directory shows Mary Hoey still at 12 Green St. Her daughter Helen T Hoey is working as a clerk at 30 Washburn Street - she is living with her mother on Green Street. Veronica Hoey (James' daughter) is a clerk in Boston but still lives at 9 Stuart Street in Watertown.
The 1937 Waltham Street Directory lists James J Navien living at 158 Willow Street. His brother Thomas A (Alice F Hoey) is superintendent in Newtonville - they live at 180 Main Street. Thomas A Navien, Jr is a student rooming at 180 Main Street.
This brings us up to the 1940 US Census.
I then found Paul Navien listed in the 1940 Newton Street Directory - he was a clerk at Dell's Pharmacy in Newton and roomed at 180 Main Street. Thomas A (Alice F) Navien was working in coal, oil, and coke at 281 Washington Street, Newton - phone: Newton North 0331 - house at 180 Main Street in Waltham. I wonder why I couldn't find a census return for them?
Our Griffin family is living at 51 Elliott Street in Watertown in the 1940 US Census. Daniel is paying $30/month rent. He is the 47 year old head of the family. He is working as a dispenser for the WPA. He worked 52 weeks in 1935 and made $360. His wife Mary Bertha (Hoey) Griffin is 52. They lived in the same place in 1935. They have 5 children living with them.
There was a marriage index for Alice Griffin marrying William Joseph Madden in 1940. So here is the connection between the Naviens, Griffins, and Maddens - it was the Hoeys. There were 2 sisters - Alice Frances Hoey Navin and Mary Bertha Hoey Griffin. Alice Hoey Navin had Paul Navin. Mary Bertha Hoey Griffin had Alice (Griffin) Madden, Albert, Joseph, and Paul Griffin - as well as my mother's friend Marion Griffin.
I found a notation on www.ancestry.com re Alice Griffin Madden's death. She was still living on Elliott Street in Watertown. She died 12 August 1962 - she was so young! Despite typos I recognized some of her children - Margaret/Peg, Paul, and John Madden. John was my brother Johnny Manning's age - he sometimes called me "cuz" - we knew there was some connection. Plus I think there is some connection with the Maddens to Kinsale, Co Cork!
On October 6, 1940 Thomas Aloysius Navien registered for the WWII draft. His address was St John's Seminary, Lake Street, Brighton. His phone number was: STA 4525. He was 25 years old - he was born July 29, 1915 in Watertown. He is a citizen of the USA. Person who will always know his address: Mrs Thomas Aloysius Navien - his mother - of 180 Main Street, Waltham. He is a divinity student at St John's Seminary.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that Tom is white, 5'9" and 156 lbs. He has hazel eyes with black hair and a light complexion. He registered at Local Board #38 at Brighton District Court in Brighton - Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
In 1942 Paul Vincent Navien registered for the draft. He was residing at 180 Main Street in Waltham. His telephone number was 1878 Wal. He was 21 years old - he was born December 13, 1920 in Waltham. Mrs Alice F Naviens (his mother) would always know his address. She resided at 180 Main Street, Waltham. Paul's employer was Bemis Associates, 296 Pleasant Street, Watertown.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that Paul was white. He was 5' 9 3/4" - 142 lbs. He had blue eyes and brown hair with a light complexion. He registered February 15, 1942 at Local Board No 150, Middlesex County at the Court House.
Paul's father also registered for the WWII draft. Thomas Aloysius Navien was residing at 180 Main Street, Waltham. Telephone: Wal 1878. He was 61 years old - he was born on April 6, 1881 in Waltham. His wife Alice F Navien of 180 Main Street, Waltham would always know his address. He was self employed - he was running a fuel company from 180 Main Street in Waltham.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that Thomas was white. He was 5' 11" and 200 lbs. He had hazel eyes and grey hair with a ruddy complexion. He wore glasses. He registered April 27, 1942 at Local Board 150, Middlesex County at the Court House, Waltham, Mass.
Paul enlisted a year after my mother mentioned him in her diary. I guess they went out for a while, but my mother lost interest right after she met my father. When Paul asked her to write to him in the service, she told her sister Peggy to write to him. Later Paul and Peggy ended up getting married!
Monday, February 10, 1941. "Here I am in school. I brought my diary by mistake. I got sick at work today & had to come home. I scared the life out of Eleanor Ilacqua & tonight she called for me to see how I was. I hadn't told Ma at all & she almost died."
Tuesday, February 11, 1941. "Went to the show."
Wednesday, February 12, 1941. "Nothing doing."
Also on February 12 Germans closed off the Jewish quarter in Amsterdam with barbed wire - the next day they ordered all Gentiles to leave the Jewish quarter.
Thursday, February 13, 1941. "School."
Friday, February 14, 1941. Hannie's birthday.
"Went up to Eleanor's."
Saturday, February 15, 1941. "Went rollerskating with Arthur Carroll. Pretty good time."
Sunday, February 16, 1941. "Arthur Carroll took me to the show up at West Newton. 'Little Nellie Kelly.' We had ice cream after & came home.
"Paul came down about 7:30 & we went in town. Rode around for a while & then went up to the top of some hill near BC. We talked & he told me how he happened to go away & why he came back, etc. We left about 12:15 & came home."
What? My mother went out with Arthur Carroll in the afternoon and then with Paul Navien that night! Did the guys know each other? And where did Paul Navien go away to and why did he come back??? Was that Parker Hill where they parked?
Monday, February 17, 1941. "Had an awful cold so I went to bed at 6:30."
Tuesday, February 18, 1941. "I went up to Madeline's & Gin, Madeline & I went for a drive. Came home early."
Wednesday, February 19, 1941. "Paul picked me up after night school & we came back here. Listened to the radio, had something to eat & hung around. He left at quarter of twelve. Ma never said a word."
And why would Ma have said anything? She knew Paul's grandmother, Mary Hoey when she was living next door in the triple decker. Plus Paul's brother, Tom, was going to be a priest!
Thursday, February 20, 1941. "Stayed home & went to bed."
So who was this swell kid - Jimmie Kennedy? I looked around on www.ancestry.com - I couldn't find anyone in Watertown, but there was a 1940 US Census for Newton with a Kennedy family who had a 19 year old son James. They were renting their home for $30/month. 49 year old Michael Kennedy was head of the family. He was born in Massachusetts and lived in the same place in 1935. He did not appear to be working. His wife was 48 year old Mary Kennedy - she was born in Massachusetts.
Julius was 16, John was 14, Charles was 12, and Mary was 9 - they were all going to school.
There was a WWII draft registration for James Edward Kennedy of 261 Pearl Street in Newton. He did not have a telephone. He was 21 - he was born May 17, 1920 in Newton. He had clerical job. Mrs. Mary Kennedy of 261 Pearl Street in Newton would always know his address. His employer was Raytheon Production Corporation of 55 Chapel Street in Newton.
Page 2 of the draft registration reports that James Kennedy was white. He was 5' 7 1/2" and 125 lbs. He had hazel eyes and brown hair with a light brown complexion. He registered at Local Board #112 at City Hall, Newton Center on July 1, 1941.
Chapel Bridge Park consists of eight buildings and offers superior amenities including a newly renovated lobby, full service cafeteria, ATM, fitness area with lockers and showers, and indoor bicycle storage. Additionally, area amenities within a 5 minute walk include numerous sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, salons and other everyday conveniences.
"In place for more than 50 years, the Chapel Bridge Park management team has a long tradition of successfully working with its tenants to address their evolving individual needs ...
"Chapel Bridge Park has a rich history, dating back to the 1850s, when Englishman Thomas Dalby founded a stocking and hosiery mill here, and constructed the oldest building in the complex at 57 Chapel Street.
"Nonantum Worsted purchased the mill after the civil war, converting it to a production facility for wool yarn and worsted cloth, and constructing the building at 55 Chapel Street. The company was highly successful, employing hundreds of workers to run its steam-powered spinning machines. In 1896, the Saxony company purchased the business and extensively rebuilt and enlarged it."As the textile industry declined in the 1920s, Raytheon Corporation bought the property, and it served as a high technology manufacturing and R&D facility."
"The Catholic Television Center built an Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) system for distributing programs to Catholic schools, and it continued to produce live broadcasts of the Sunday Mass under the name Boston Catholic Television (BCTV). In 1970 BCTV moved into leased studios at 55 Chapel Street in Newton, Massachusetts." This is why I recognized the address. Boston Catholic Television moved to the old St Pat's Convent on Chestnut Street in 2007 when I was living around the corner on Main Street.
Saturday, February 22, 1941. "Eleanor called for me & we met the other kids & went dancing. I danced the second dance with Jimmie F & he asked me to save all the dances from 11:15 on. I danced with some other kids & a few minutes before quarter past 11 Buddy (Jimmie's friend) asked me to dance. I said okay & then Jimmy came up. I told him what happened & he said to meet him after that dance. Well anyhow I had a good time with Buddy & he asked me if he could take me home. I refused. I met Jimmy after and talked to the two of them till I left. They're both nice kids. I had a good time. Got home about 12:45."
I guess we will never know who Jimmie/Jimmy or Buddy was. I'm glad they were nice kids.
Sunday, February 23, 1941. "I went riding Sunday afternoon with Paul, his mother & aunt. We rode to Tewksbury (?) & left his mother & aunt off at a hospital then we killed time for an hour.
"He came down Sunday night & we listened to the radio & fooled around. He was in a gay mood & almost killed me. Then we turned out the lights & listened to Sherlock Holmes. Hannie, Peggy, Rita, & Buddy Cronin were there too. Then Paul said he'd take Aunt Cath home so we drove them in to Roxbury. After we left them off we went to a Howard Johnson's & had some ice cream. Came back to Watertown & parked up on Palfrey Hill for a while & gabbed & fooled. Got home a little after 12."
Aunt Cath was Aunt Catherine Cronin - Ma's sister who brought Ma out from Sneem. Buddy was Aunt Cath's son.
I wonder how many guys had cars in those days?
Out at the University of California in Berkeley Plutonium was identified.
Monday, February 24, 1941. "St Pat's Reunion - Pretty good time. Went with Madeline, Annie, Gin & Eleanor."
My mother and a lot of her friends graduated from Watertown High School, but some went to St Pat's as did Hannie, Peggy, and Rita. My mother and friends went to a lot of St Pat's activities.
Tuesday, February 25, 1941. "Stayed in."
Wednesday, February 26, 1941. "Ash Wednesday - Went to church with Annie."
Thursday, February 27, 1941. "Went to the show up at Paramount with Madeline. Paul came down while I was gone. He had been up to school to meet me."
Friday, February 28, 1941. "I went up to Evelyn's party. All the gang were there & we had a swell time."
I don't know who Evelyn was.
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