January - Jimmy's 2nd birthday - Diane, Johnny, Patty, Jimmy, MEM holding baby Teenie, Joanie. I'm looking at the wallpaper in the background that my grandfather hung.
"Let Me Teach You
To Be My Valentine"
"To Ma"
"Valentine
I Think You're Grand
Please Be Mine
Grand Canyon Colo.
Made in USA"
"Barbara A"
I'm not sure who Barbara A was plus I'm not sure exactly what years these Valentines are from - but I thought I'd put them in here.
While we were taking Irish dancing lessons, we would go out dancing for St Patrick's Day parties and celebrations. Below is a newspaper clipping from the March 23, 1961 Watertown Sun about one performance.
"Local Dancers Took Part In Irish Night
Ten Watertown dancers were invited to take part in the 'Irish Night' at the Boston Center of Adult Education, 5 Commonwealth Avenue, last week.
Mr Frank Buda, director of the program contacted Barbara Secord Gugaire for dancers from her school. Miss Susan Wright and Peggy Luppino presented 'An Irish Man I Am' and Carol Gregory an Irish rell (reel) and a jig.
Mrs Gugaire also invited students from the Mary Flynn School of Irish Dancing to take part. Mrs Mary Flynn graciously accepted and sent seven of her young girls, who performed an Irish reel and a jig. They were Janice O'Hara, Martha McGann, Marilyn Gleason, Keryn McGurty, Mary Ellen Murphy, Joan Huliston, and Marjorie Gleason."
I don't remember this particular outing but I do remember dancing at Hibernian Hall - I was doing a kick and my 'hard' dancing shoe flew off into the crowd.
Besides Irish dancing, I belonged to the Brownies and then the Girl Scouts. The following is my Girl Scout Guidebook. I never had a full uniform, but I did have a sash to display my badges. Unfortunately I don't know what happened to it.
"My Girl Scout Record
Name: Mary Manning
Troop No.: Patrol:
Troop Officers: Mrs Milmore
Mrs Joy
Offices I Have Held:
I Flew Up From the Brownie Troop on
I was invested in Intermediate Troop
on
By
Address: 59 Marshall St.
Watertown, Mass
WA-4-9143
I was awarded my:
2nd Class Rank
on
by
First Class Rank
on
by
Curved Bar Rank
on
by"
We used to recite the Girl Scout Promise before each meeting.
"The Girl Scout Promise
On My Honor I Will Try:
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people at all times,
To obey the Girl Scout Laws."
The Girl Scout Laws
1. A Girl Scout's honor is to be trusted.
2. A Girl Scout is loyal.
3. A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Girl Scout is a friend to all and a sister to every other Girl Scout.
5.A Girl Scout is courteous.
6. A Girl Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Girl Scout obeys orders.
8. A Girl Scout is cheerful.
9. A Girl Scout is thrifty.
10. A Girl Scout is clean in thought, word and deed."
Below is a card with Mrs LaPietro as our leader - she was Rose LaPietro's mother - I think they lived near the end of Fayette Street near Waverley Ave. Rose was a year ahead of me in school.
"Please detach and keep the information on the back so that you will know how to get in touch with your daughter's Girl Scout leader. She wants to know you and hopes you will talk things over with her whenever you want.
Girl Scout of the USA
830 Third Avenue, New York 22, NY"
"The Troop Leader
Leader's Name and Address Telephone Number
Rose LaPietro Wa-4-2472
169 FayetteStreet Wa-3-1369
Watertown 72, Mass. Troop number A or 9
Troop Meeting Place
DAV Hall
Time Of Meeting
Day: Friday Hour: From 3:15 to 4:15
Brownie X Intermediate Senior
Uniforms
(See information on reverse side)
Your daughter may wear her uniform for the first time on the day she is invested in her troop.
Tentative Date of Investiture...................................................................
This form when signed by the leader is an authorization permitting you to purchase the appropriate uniform from your nearest Girl Scout Equipment Agency.
Leader's Signature.................................................................................."
"Ask the leader for the name of your nearest Girl Scout Equipment Agency. They carry a complete line of the Brownie and Girl Scout merchandise.
All Girl Scout uniforms, accessories, and equipment carry the official trademark of Girl Scouts of the United States of America - your assurance of quality at the lowest possible price.
Girl Scouts of the USA Form 159 Rev. 500M 7-59"
My Girl Scout troop used to meet weekly - we had several different leaders over the years. I started as a Brownie and ended as an Intermediate. The troop was made up of girls that I went to school with - the leaders were usually one of the mothers. We would work on badges at the meetings - I had a few badges but I don't know where they ended up. My Girl Scout Handbook has check marks beside several badges that I must have worked on - Drawing and Painting, Interior Decorating, Magic Carpet, Reader, Story Teller, Writer, Pen Pal, Health Aide, Housekeeper, Good Grooming - and I know I worked on a skating badge. There were sashes that you would sew the badges onto like in the picture below.
"Needlecraft
To earn this badge, do all six of these activities including the three that have a star.
1. Make a sewing basket or box, cover, and equip it.
* 2. Darn a sock, and mend a hole in a sweater.
*3. Embroider two articles you can use in your home.
*4. Make a sampler that shows you know how to do the following stitches: outline, chain, satin, cross, buttonhole, and French knot.
5. Appliqué a simple design on an article for the home.
6. Work out an all-over design that can be used in needle point, crochet, or other type of handwork that uses small squares in building up the design.
7. Make a needlepoint chair seat, cushion, or sampler. Or, make a petit point picture and know in what country this originated.
8. Study pictures of early American appliqué quilt patterns. Pick ones you like and either copy them or make up patterns of your own. With your troop, make a quilt as a service project.
9. Create a design in two or three colors, and make a border for a household article using the cross, harbinger, needle-weaving, darning, crewel, or Florentine stitch.
10. Look up and know the meaning of the following kinds of needlecraft: Florentine, Assisi, Jacobean, hedebo. Demonstrate how to do one of these and tell in what country it originated.
11. Choose a suitable pattern and make a knitted or crocheted article.
12. Learn something about the history of hooked rugs. Study pictures of originals, noting the patterns used. Design and make a hooked rug.
13. In cross-stitch, or other suitable stitch, make a picture map of some place familiar.
Page 386"
"Requirements completed for Needlecraft badge
By Mary E Manning"
I had a bit of a head start on the needlecraft badge - Ma, my Kerry Grandmother, had taught me to knit using 3 needles. I had just gotten the hang of it when it dawned on her that she had taught me to knit left-handed! She was 'cathog' - left handed in Irish, but was taught to write with her right hand when she was in school - the teacher tied her left hand behind her back so she couldn't use it! She retaught me the right-handed way but I was a bit confused for a while. We knitted a pair of mittens on the 3 needles. I loved to knit - I made mittens, scarves, a poncho. I had started a spread with an Aran sweater type design - I had to make 5 panels then sew them together. I think I had finished 3 when we moved to Sneem. I started a 4th panel over there but never finished it - between all the babies, a new house, fascination with life on a farm. We moved back to Boston in 1988 and somehow my knitting got lost. I should get back to it - it was very relaxing.
I don't know who had the Polaroid camera - this may have been an early one as the pictures did not come out very well. Norman worked for Polaroid - I had one but I think it was much later.
"Teenie"
I think that is my mother on the left with Christine.
Maureen, Christine, and Jimmy
Is that Kathy Navien with Christine and Jimmy? Hannie is in the background.
When we first started taking Irish dancing lessons with Mary Flynn, we each bought a notebook - Mary would type out each step for us and we would tape it into the notebook so we could practice at home. I've included some of the steps - there were reels, jigs, and hornpipes. In later years we would learn set dances - 3 hand reel, 8 hand reel, King of the Fairies, the Blackbird - I loved the set dances even though we never practiced enough - we would write the steps on our hands or one dancer, who had practiced and remembered the order, would call out the steps to the rest of us.
I've included some of the steps that are left in this notebook in case anyone wants to try them!
"Reels
1. Hop 1234567
" "
" "
Hop 123 Hop 123
2. Two Tips
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop Hop 123
L (foot)
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop Hop 123
R (foot)
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop Hop 123
L (foot)
Hop 123 Hop 123
3. Hop 1234 Scrape hop down
Hop 1234 Scrape hop down
Hop 1234 Scrape hop down
Hop 123 Hop 123"
4. R R
Hop 1234 Scrape Hop Down
L
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop - Hop 123
R L R L R
Tap Tap - Heel Tap - Scape Hop
R R
Srape Hop - Hop 1234
R
Scrape Hop Down
5. Back to Back
R R R L
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop Skip 1 Skip 2
R L R
Hop 123 - Heel Back - Heel Back -
L R L
Heel Toe Kick Down - Hop 123 -
R
Hop 1234567
6. Heel Cross
R R R L
Scrape Hop Scrape Hop - Heel Cross
R L R
Hop 123 - Heel Cross - Scape Hop
L L R
Scrape Hop - Hop 123 - Hop 123
L L R R L R
Heel Toe Kick Down Back Scrape
Hop Down"
"Jigs
1. Tap Tap - Hop 1234
" "
" "
Hop Hop back Hop 123
2. Tap Tap - Hop 1234
" "
Jump out - back - over cross
Hop Hop back Hop 1234
3. Hop Hop Back - Hop 123
" "
" Hop Hop back
" Hop 1234
4. Tap Tap Hop 1234
" "
Hop Hop Back Heel Toe Back Bang
Hop Hop Back Hop 1234"
I'm skipping on to #8 because the previous page has steps missing.
Jockey
R L R
8. Hop Hop Back - shuffle skip hop
R L R L R L
heel toe - slide 1 slide 2
R L L R
shuffle skip hop heel toe -
L R L R L R
slide 1 slide 2 - shuffle skip hop
R L R L
heel toe - Hop Hop Back - Hop 1234
Three Kicks
R L R L R
9. Hop Hop Back - slide 1 - slide 2
L R R L R L
shuffle skip hop heel toe - slide 1
R L R R
slide 2 - batter hop- kick hop down
L L
batter hop - kick hop down -
R R L
batter hop - kick hop down - Hop 1234
Batter hop Batter hop back
Shuffle cross tap back bang
Slide one cross tap two
" "
" "
" "
Batter Hop Batter Hop
back Hop 1234"
Hornpipes
1. Three Heels
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L
Heel Back - Heel Back - Heel Back
R
Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L R
Shuffle - Batter Hop Batter Hop Back
2. Three Crosses
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L R L L R L
Shuffle Cross Tap - Shuffle Cross Tap -
R L R R
Shuffle Cross Tap - Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L R
Shuffle - Batter Hop Batter Hop Back"
"3. Risen
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R L R R L
Shuffle Shuffle Shuffle - Cross Tap
R L
Batter Hop Back - Bang - Jump
R L R L R
Tap Tap - Tap Tap - Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L R
Shuffle - Batter Hop Batter Hop back
4. Wiggley
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
R
Shuffle Shuffle Batter Hop Back
L R
Hop - Rock Rock Rock - Hop - Rock
L R L
Rock Rock - Shuffle Cross Tap -
R L R L R L
Shuffle Cross Tap - Shuffle Cross Tap
R L
Batter Hop Back - Shuffle -
R
Batter Hop Batter Hop Back"
There were also a couple of set dances - King of the Fairies, The Blackbird - that I seem to remember Mary Flynn or the other dance instructors - Mary Costello, Steve Carney, Michael Smith - dancing in the recitals. Below are the instructions for a dance step King of Fairies.
"14. Roll Poly
R L R L
shuffle shuffle shuffle shuffle
R R L R L
shuffle - heel heel - shuffle shuffle
L R L R R L
heel heel - shuffle shuffle - heel heel
R L R L R
jump - tap tap hop back - shuffle over
R L R
rock back - hop 123 - hop 123
King Of Fairies
Shuffle shuffle batter hop back
Cross tap tap tap tap tap tap
Shuffle scrape hop heel toe
Batter toe toe toe hop back
shuffle scrape hop heel toe
batter hop back cross tap tap
tap tap tap tap shuffle scrape
hop heel toe toe toe heel heel
hit hit back back batter hop back"
We also bought a record to practice the steps to - it was a Capitol Record which was popular at the time. I don't have the dustcover but found a picture of it on the below website where you can download listen to the record!
Just seeing this cover makes me feel sad - I guess nostalgic is a more upbeat description - thinking of those memories. I did love Irish dancing although in later years I didn't practice as much - I remember thinking at the time that I was letting Mary Flynn down because I wasn't as good as I should have been.
The dustcover states: "David Curry and His Orchestra." This made me curious so I googled him. The following came up on http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/May03/David_Curry.htm.
"David Curry (1899-1971)
These brief notes were supplied by Ewan O'Doherty. If anyone can add any more we would be delighted to add them to the file.
David Curry began studying music at age of 9, at 13 he was playing viola with Belfast Philharmonic Society, at 15 he had his own dance band, by which time he had
mastered brass and woodwinds as well as strings. At 19 he was in charge of a cinema orchestra, this during the 'silent' era; he made broadcasts on the BBC and in 1931 joined same as a violinist in the Northern Ireland Orchestra.
Later he was invited to form a small group within the BBC NI Orchestra to play traditional Irish dance music, and by 1949 this became known as the Northern Ireland Light Orchestra. By this time they had made many broadcasts both on BBC Domestic and Overseas' radio services and during the 1950s made a number of recordings for what became the EMI Columbia Label (78s, according to Ulster Folk & Transport Museum), later issued on one ten-inch Medium Play record (ten tracks) / Columbia 33S1086, c. 1959. A second (12-inch, 12 track) LP was recorded at Clarence Place Hall, Belfast, in May 1964 (David Curry's Irish Band No 2, Columbia 33SX1636), while in the USA a 12-inch 12 track LP was issued comprising 5 tracks from the earlier disc as well as two tracks from one of the 7" EP's (Capitol T10028) and five others probably never issued in the UK. The ten-inch Columbia disc was re-issued c.1973 on the EMI 'Aran' label (ISLE 3008) and comprised all ten tracks
from the 33S1086 disc as well as four various tracks from the EPs.
This discography is as complete as I can make it. The two 7" EPs are not quite to hand at this moment but I'll forward all details of tracks etc., if
you wish to include all this information. David Curry's music seems to have
been neglected for many years, and in 1994 I made a special radio programme
about him which was broadcast on one of Dublin's local radio stations, now
Dublin City Anna Livia FM.
(Sources:- LP Sleeve notes and an RTE Radio programme presented by the
late Joe Linnane, after David Curry's death in 1971)
Looking forward to any feedback on the life and music of David Curry and
his Irish Band, perhaps you will consider adding it to your site in due
course.
Note recieved from Gerard Denvir
My mother Teresa Clarke (nee Denvir) sang with David Curry's band during the war, or shortly afterwards. She played accordion, piano and sang in my grandfather's band - Bill Clarke's Top liners, and would get the bus twice a week to the Ulster Hall Belfast to sing before a dancing audience of about 1000 strong.
She was 16, and afterwards would get fish'n chips from the cafe beside Oxford Street bus station, then get the bus back to Downpatrick. Then she would walk 3 miles to her home. She's now 83 and she only told me about this about 4 months ago. Like I said, probably not very relevant, but still a great story."
I think Mary Flynn chose it because the tunes are simple and it is easy to follow the rhythm. Note this side is marked for Reels and Hornpipes.
"My Ireland
(Recorded in Belfast)
David Curry and His Band
T-10028
(T1 - 10028)
(Side 1)
1. St Patrick's Day
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
2. King of the Fairies
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
3. Belfast Reel
The Roundhill
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
4. The Wee Folks Hornpipe
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
5. As Old As The Hills
Shannon Bells
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
6. The Moon Coin Reel
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
MFG By Capitol Records, USA, ™ Capitol - Marca Reg US PAT No 2,631,859"
Side 2 is marked Jig 1 - we played the Irish Washerwoman when we were practicing jigs.
"My Ireland
(Recorded in Belfast)
David Curry and His Band
T-10028
(T2 - 10028)
(Side 2)
1. Irish Washerwoman
Lanigan's Ball
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
2. The Londonderry Hornpipe
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
3. Snow on the Mountains
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
4. Cork Hornpipe
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
5. The Fourth Gate
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
6. The Teetotaler
(Traditional - Arr. David Curry)
MFG By Capitol Records, USA, ™ Capitol - Marca Reg US PAT No 2,631,859"
I love the names of the songs - they all must have some kind of meaning - makes me wonder where and when they were composed.
Besides the record, we had to buy ballet slippers for the 'soft' reels. I seem to remember going into Central Square in Cambridge to buy ballet slippers there. We also had to get 'hard' shoes from Ireland for the Hornpipes. What did we wear for the jigs? Hard shoes? We would have to trace our two feet on a piece of paper and that was sent to Ireland for the shoes. If the older pupils outgrew their hard shoes, they could pass them on to younger pupils. It was always a big deal when the hard shoes arrived!
Of course we had to have costumes - green wool costumes - nothing like today's thousand dollar extravaganzas. I remember going over to Sis Stoney's house - she was Jimmy McCarthy's daughter - she lived off of Mount Auburn Street - her son Billy was a year or two older than me. My mother must have bought the material and probably the pattern, and I think Sis Stoney made the costume. I was allergic to wool so my mother had to line my costume with a satiny material. There was embroidery all along the bottom - I did that myself - it seemed to take forever. We had a gold shawl over our right shoulder held in place in front with a Tara Brooch. I still have that Tara Brooch and wear it on my jackets and some fleeces. I also have my dancing costume - I just put it in storage in Leominster - I'll have to go up and take a picture of it.
We had our dance recital with Mary Costello - I think Mary Flynn might have been having a baby - so the two dance schools merged for one recital.
Back row: Michael McDermott - Mary Flynn's brother and later a teacher at Watertown High School - ?, ?, MEM, Kathy O'Brien, ?, ?, Janice O'Hara, Martha McGann?, one of the Beatons.
2nd row: 5th from left is Marilyn Gleason - not sure of the rest
Front Row: 2nd from left is Patty Coen - not sure of the others
"1961
Mary Flynn - Mary Costello
Recital Picture
Photographed by
Dunn-Conway
Tel: AV 2-7158"
"Mary Costello Mary Flynn recital 1961
1. Song - Gaelic - Mary Concanon
Chorus
2.Three Hand Reels
Irene Connolly - Susan Dunn - Diane Huliston - Keryn McGurty -
Joan Huliston - Michael McDermott - Susan Rinehan - Patricia
McDonough - Elaine McCarthy
3. Jigs
Barbara Keady - Rosemary Hopkins - Paula Connolly - Maureen
Hawley - MaryEllen Flaherty - Mary Ann Costello - Mary Walsh -
Noreen & Mary O'Malley - Janet Barry
4. Violin Duet William Hanifin & Son
5. Hornpipe
Mary O'Reilly - Janet Kirby - Patricia McDonough - Mary Ellen
Toomey - Teresa O'Reilly
6. Reel
Susan Dunn - Irene Connolly - Diane Huliston - Jean & Joan
Donoghue - Goretti Conway - Rita Collins - Mary Beth Wallace -
Mary Kane - Katherine Haskell
7. Songs Janice Hansen
8. Reels
Mary Concannon - Eileen Carroll - Mary Conley
9. Jig
Ann Cadigan - Susan Rinehan - Elaine McCarthy - Keryn
McGurty - Joan Huliston - Peggy O'Neil - Michael McDermott
10. Reel
John McDonough - Mark Walsh - Michael Conley
11. Songs Dave Linehan
12. Four Hand Reels
Mary & Theresa O'Reilly - Ann Cadigan - Patricia McDonough
Janet Kirby - Mary Ellen Toomey - Elaine McCarthy - Peggy O'Neil
13. Eileen Carroll - Mark Walsh - Mary Concannon - John
McDonough - Mary Conley - Michael Conley
14. Reel
Barbara Keady - Rosemary Hopkins - Paula Connolly - Maureen
Hawley - Mary Ellen Flaherty - Mary Ann Costello - Mary Walsh -
Noreen & Mary O'Malley - Janet Barry
Intermission - 15 Minutes
16. Hornpipe
Mary Ellen Manning - Kathleen O'Brien - Martha McGann -
Marjorie & Marilyn Gleason - Janice O'Hara - Richard &
Russell Beaton - Joan Calnan
17. Reel
Mary Gain - Mary Jane Jennings - Barbara Green - Kathy Brand -
Linda DuBeau - MaryAnn Dunn - Mary Barry - Mary Connolly -
Marie Bell - Joan Bresnahan - Jean Wasslege
18. Blackbird
Susan Dyer - Eileen Fitzgerald - Kathleen Cogavin - Suzanne
DuBeau
19. Eight Hand Jigs
Marie Bell - Joan Bresnahan - Mary Ellen Foye - Mary Gain -
Karen & Mary Renihan - AnneMarie McCarthy - Ann O'Reilly -
Betty Morley - Kathleen O'Brien - Martha McGann - Marilyn &
Marjorie Gleason - Joan Calnan - Janice O'Hara - Mary Ellen
Manning
20. Song George Nelson
21. Three Hand Reels
Ann Marie McCarthy - Karen & Mary Renihan - Jean Wasslege -
Richard Beaton - Mary Ellen Foye - Trudy Whalen - Christine
Flynn - Rosemary Barrett
22. Jig
Steve Carney - Richard Beaton - Michael McDermott - Russell
Beaton - Michael Cotter"
I am missing the front page of the program as well as the back page - I think there were more dances. I also highlighted the names of Mary Flynn's pupils. Patty and I as well as Joanie and Diane were taking Irish dancing.
Steve Carney and Michael Cotter were also Irish dancing teachers.
"To Mary Ellen
From Alice
1961"
Sr Marie de Montfort taught 5th grade - she taught French as well. The next 4 pictures are of our French Club.
Linda Gianazo, Quinn Centola, Paul Cameron
Jay Navien
Martha Melican and Kevin McNamara
Martha Melican lived on the corner of Palfrey and Church Streets on the 2nd floor. She had a sister Ann and a brother Walter who was blind. Kevin McNamara lived up Main Street - he used to ride his bike - I remember talking to him one evening at the end of the driveway on Green Street - no one ever called me for supper - when I went in, someone was singing "Mimi has a boyfriend." I could only wish.
Roberta Fuschetti lived up off Waverley Ave - Donna Camden lived on the south side of Watertown. I wonder who drew that Eiffel Tower?
"Honors
This Honors Certificate is awarded to
Name Mary Ellen Manning
88% School: St Patrick
Teacher: Sr Marie de Montfort
9 June 1961
Day Month Year"
Below is the final report card for 5th grade.
"St Patrick School
Watertown 72, Mass
Mr & Mrs John Manning
59 Marshall Street
Watertown 72, Mass."
St. Patrick School
Watertown, Massachusetts
Grade 5
Report of Mary Ellen Manning
Rt. Reverend Michael J. Houlihan
Pastor
School Year
1960-1961 Sep 8/ Oct 24/ Dec 12/ Feb 6/ Apr 4/ Dio Final
Oct 21 Dec 9 Feb 3 Mar 30 May 19 Exam
Days Absent 6 3 2 0 2 0
Times Tardy 0 0 0 0 0 0
Religion 90 92 90 95 90 88 90
Language Arts
Oral Reading 85 86 85 86 81 85
Silent Reading 82 80 83 82 80 83
Literature
Composition 88 85 87 90 85 90 88
Grammar 80 83 85 88 83 88
Spelling 90 91 90 93 85 100 94
Penmanship 85 83 83 84 80 84
Social Studies
History/Civics 85 84 83 90 85 88 87
Geography 87 86 90 88 85 86 87
Arithmetic
Computation 85 90 91 90 85 90
Prob Solving 80 80 82 85 83 85
Science, Health,
Safety 85 83 84 85 80 94 90
Music 75 82 83 83 70 74
Art 80 83 85 82 80 85
Avg. 86 87 87 90 87 88
100-90 Excellent 69-60 Passable
89-80 Good Below 60 Failure
79-70 Average Promoted to 6
Sr. Marie de Montfort O.P.
Teacher"
"Personality Record
I. Conduct A A A A A- A
A. Is Attentive A A A A B+ A
B. Accepts
Correction A A A A A A
C. Is Courteous A A A A A A
D. Takes Care of
Property A A A A B+ B
E. Does Careful
Work A B+ B+ A- B+ B
F. Works Well
With Others A A A A A- A
G. Finishes Work
On Time A A A A A A
II Effort
A. Puts Forth
Best Effort A A A- A- B+ B+
A - Excellent, B - Good, C - Fair, D - Poor
_________________________________________________________
Parents are requested to read carefully, sign, and return this report card. They should encourage home study each day.
September 8 - October 21 Ellen Manning
_________________________________________________________
October 24 - December 9 Ellen Manning
_________________________________________________________
December 12 - February 3 Ellen Manning
_________________________________________________________
February 6 - March 30 Ellen Manning
_________________________________________________________
April 4 - May 19 John Manning
_________________________________________________________
Mary Ellen's French conversational work is fair."
St Marie de Montfort - she used to flirt with the boys - it was scandalous when a few strands of her hair slipped out from under her veil! She later left the order and married I believe.
Pedro was the name of a mission that we contributed money to. I can't make out the writing.
Sheep, Alice Nelligan and MEM - Not sure where this was taken but must be summer time.
Summer on Green Street - this might have been Diane's birthday.
On the right are Mary Navien with her arms around Nancy and Kathy Navien, Maureen is in front looking at them with Joanie behind her. Diane is in the center with Janice Connolly beside her - Janice lived up on Green Street Terrace - she went to St Pat's and her father and mother were active in the Hibernians. Patty making faces is on the right with a mad looking Jimmy in front of her.
October - Christine and Jimmy in the leaves in the backyard on Marshall Street. The picnic table behind them is where we used to eat when my father cooked out - Mrs Green's (later Hannie's) garage in the right background. Hannie and Norman bought Mrs. Green's house after her husband died and she downsized and moved into an apartment.
Speaking of Mrs Green, she was very religious - she held the 'Good News Club' in her house for the neighborhood children when Christine and Jody were small. I can't remember if Christine went, but one day Mrs. Green asked the kids to sing a song. Jody stood up in the midst of this religious gathering and sang Don Ho's 'Tiny Bubbles':
'Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
In the wine (in the wine)
Make me happy (make me happy)
Make me feel fine (make me feel fine)
Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
Make me warm all over
With a feeling that I'm gonna
Love you till the end of time'
My mother was mortified when she found out!
After Mr Green died, Johnny used to cut the grass for Mrs Green - my mother would send me to rake it up. Mrs Green would pay Johnny but I never got anything from her or him! Same with his paper route - sometimes Johnny would have a Boy Scout meeting or camp and I delivered the Watertown Press for him - I never got paid for it. That probably wouldn't happen these days!
Maureen's birthday upstairs on Green Street - Nancy, Maureen, Diane, Patty, Jimmy, and Joanie minding Christine in the chair.
The following pictures were taken November 1, 1960 - Some of the kids are wearing Halloween masks.
Ann Marie Loughrae is at the end of the bench with a white hat on, then there is someone with a skeleton mask, then Johnny. Diane is sitting on the bench in front holding onto Christine's carriage - someone in a mask is on Diane's other side.
Jimmy is standing on the picnic table - I am looking out from behind him beside Alice Nelligan, then some one in a mask then Joanie.
I'm not sure who is in the skeleton mask but Nancy and Maureen might be wearing the other masks - Nancy beside Diane and Maureen beside Joanie? The original size of this picture is below.
Joanie with Ann Marie Loughrae's white hat beside her, Patty and Diane - I wonder what they are holding? Johnny's head, Alice, MEM, Jimmy standing on the table, ? Nancy and Maureen?
?, Diane, ? Nancy in front of Ann Marie Loughrae, Joanie in front of ? Maureen, Christine in carriage in front of Alice, Jimmy in front of MEM and Johnny.
? who is in the skeleton mask, Diane, Ann Marie Loughrea in front of ? Nancy, Patty, Alice, MEM and Johnny holding basketballs, Christine in carriage and Jimmy holding onto the carriage. Where is Patty?
My mother and father had a Crucifix hanging up in their bedroom - this was not unusual in a Catholic family. But this Crucifix could be used for a sick call - when a priest would visit a family member who was sick or dying. I have that crucifix now and here are some pictures of it:
The inside holds 2 small candles and a small bottle of Holy Water.
When you slide the cross off the base, you can insert the bottom of the cross into an opening in the top of the base to hold it up.
I set up the crucifix as it would be for a home visit - the candles had been used previously.
"Preparation for a Sick Call
Sick Room Table
1. Clean cloth. 2. Crucifix. 3. Two Blessed Candles, lighted. 4. Finger bowl. 5. Glass of water. 6 Spoon. 7. Holy Water and sprinkler. 8. Napkin. 9. Saucer with six balls of cotton. 10. Plate with bread and lemon."
"Preparation For A
Sick Call
The Viaticum
The Blessed Sacrament is the bread of life, of which every good Catholic partakes frequently in health, but a new and peculiar obligation of receiving it arises when serious illness occurs, and the soul may set out on its journey to heaven. The Holy Eucharist administrated to the sick, is beautifully termed 'Viaticum,' which means, 'pertaining to a road or journey.' The Blessed Sacrament is the safeguard that preserves the soul on its last journey, and is a pledge of immortal glory. The sick person will, therefore, use his best endeavors to make a worthy preparation for the reception of this sacrament.
Before the priest arrives, the patient and the sick-room should be prepared for his coming. It should be clean and in order. If the sick person is to go to Confession, place a chair at the head of the bed, facing the foot, so that the confessor will not be obliged to turn away in order to avoid looking the patient in the face.
For the other sacraments a table, covered with a clean, white cloth, is required, placed, if possible where the the patient can see the crucifix. On the table should be: 1, a crucifix. 2, two candlesticks with two blessed, lighted candles. 3, a small bowl of common water. 4, a glass of water. 5, a spoon. 6, Holy Water and sprinkler. 7, a napkin. If Extreme Unction is to be administered, have also, 8, a saucer with six small balls of cotton, and 9, a small plate with small piece of bread and lemon.
The priest, bearing the Holy Sacrament, should be met at the door by someone holding a lighted candle, who should go before him to the sick-room, where all are kneeling. All should then retire while the confession of the sick person is being heard; return immediately when given a sign by the priest to do so, and remain kneeling and praying while the priest gives Holy Communion to the sick person. Kneel in silence until the priest gives his blessing before before he leaves.
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Keep this circular for reference in case of a Sick Call/Keep this circular for reference in case of a Sick Call
Jimmy and Christine on Marshall Street on Thanksgiving- I love Jimmy's flannel shirt and baggy pants that are too short! Christine looks cute in her plaid skirt. Is that a crib in back against the wall?
2nd Christmas Eve on Marshall St - Johnny, MEM holding Christine, Jimmy, and Patty
Christmas Day - what is Christine looking at so intently? Behind her is David and Ricky Walsh, Johnny, Patty and me in the corner. Jimmy is behind Johnny in front of the Christmas tree.
MEM, Jimmy, Christine, and Patty - the Christmas Tree is better than some of the earlier ones.
Family portrait! I love Jimmy with his arm resting on the chair and his other hand in his pocket - so casual! Johnny and Dad behind Jimmy with their flannel shirts on. Mum holding Christine - Mum cooked a big turkey dinner, and Rita, Dickie and kids probably came for dinner. Rita always brought ice cream from Green Meadows Dairy on Main Street. We always looked forward to that as well as to the turkey dinner.
Did I already say that the holidays were a big deal when I was young? My mother gave me $5 to clean the living and dining rooms and clean them I did - very thoroughly. My mother would have bought mixed nuts and peanuts and put them in her 'good' glass bowls - one was a round cut glass bowl with a cover - the mixed nuts would go in here, and we would be picking out the peanuts and cashews until they were gone - we never had nuts except on holidays. The table was laden down with food. Rita and my mother would be in the kitchen - my mother making her turkey gravy that we all loved. Dad and Dickie would be making highballs - then the four of them would cheer the occasion/holiday. We would be in the living room playing with new toys and Ricky and David. We would gather around the table to eat - there was always a small table where the youngest - at least Jimmy and Christine - sat. When dinner was finally over, my mother and Rita would collapse upstairs in bed, and my father and Dickie did the dishes. If it was a nice day - especially if it was Easter - the rest of us would go play outside or take a walk - I'd be in charge of the youngest.
I didn't appreciate the amount of work that went into preparing dinner for such a big crowd until after my kids were grown - Johnny Murphy did most of the cooking in our house while our kids were growing up and I was working. When I finally started preparing the dinners, I would get everything organized and ready the night before. In the morning I would start cooking vegetables and potatoes after putting in the turkey or turkey breast. We also had a ham which was an Irish custom - to have turkey/chicken plus a ham - or at least it was a Murphy custom. It seemed like the dinner would be ready, the kids would come and eat, we would exchange presents and they would be gone! I would be exhausted! Then I would drive up to Christine's for desserts or later I would go up with Johnny and Vickie. I'd come home and get up for work the next day. And I wasn't making my own stuffing like my mother - I used Stove Top. And I hadn't spent the evening and night before the holiday boiling gizzards for gravy or making apple pies. I don't know how my mother did it with 6 kids! She wasn't working at that time but she still had 2 small babies - Jimmy and Christine - at home with her.
