Joanie and John Huliston - I'm not sure when this was taken but I was thinking Joanie was in a summer shirt.
We must have made a trip into the Prudential Building observatories which were brand new in 1965. Building started about 1960ish, and I think it opened in 1964. My cousin Chris Navin worked in the restaurant at the top of the Prudential. We used to yell 'Hi Chris' as we drove under the Pru when the Mass Pike opened.
Cullen's cottage on the Heights during our July vacation. I think that is Patty on the chaise lounge. Norman - Rita sitting on the steps. That may be my mother going up the steps - it looks like Christine on the porch. I don't know who is in the dress - Nancy? Diane? There is someone beside her. And that must be John's new baby carriage.
Dickie Walsh - maybe that is him above hidden by whoever is in the dress.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of the Attorney General
State House, Boston 02133
Edward W Brooke
Attorney General July 6, 1965
Mr John J Manning
59 Marshall Street
Watertown, Mass.
Dear Mr Manning:
It has been called to the attention of the Attorney General's Office by Kevin H White, Secretary of State that you have not filed the statement of receipts and expenditures in connection with the recent election in the form and with the detail required by General Laws, Chapter 55, Section 16.
Please be advised that unless you file a statement in compliance with said provisions within twenty days from the date hereof, this office will proceed forewith to compel compliance with provisions of the above statute. I suggest that you immediately contact Miss Cunningham, Elections Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Boston, and she will inform you exactly how to meet the requirements of the statute.
You should also know that willful violation of the above law constitutes a criminal offense and will be prosecuted as such.
Very truly yours,
Edward W Brooke
EWB:kc"
I was surprised to read this letter and I'm not sure what to think of it. We saw last year the lists of donors and donations to my father's campaign and the expenditure receipts as well as the official form they were recorded on. Did my father not file it? I guess he must have straightened it out - I never heard that he was arrested!!!
Remember that letter back in June from a boy in Mauritius looking for a female pen pal 15 years of age? Well I guess the address at the Police Barracks didn't put me off writing to him - I received a reply.
The address and date are missing in the right upper corner of this letter where the stamp was.
"Dear Mary,
It is with the greatest pleasure that I received your letter on Monday last. It is a very long time since I wrote to the Voice of America, but without receiving any answer. And now here is your letter, which I read with much pleasure.
Well before going further, I shall describe myself. I have auburn hair and brown eyes. I am 5 feet 8 inches tall. I shall be eighteen (18) in October. I go to the Victoria College at Rose Hill and I am preparing for the General Certificate of Education. I can write and read French well - better than English. In Mauritius nearly all the people speak French.
Do not be surprised if I tell you that have 9 (nine) brothers and one (1) sister. The eldest is twenty-six years old and youngest is thirteen. Two of my brothers (Robert and Jack) are married. My father is a Sergeant in the Police Force but he is thinking of retiring after thirty years service. I have lived in different parts of the island but always lived with my parents.
You are only Pen-Pal that I have. As you shall give my address to your pen-pal in Australia, well, tell her sister to write to my brother Georges, who is 19 yrs old ...
"Description of Curepipe,
Curepipe is the second town of Mauritius and its population is about 40,000. It is situated at 2,000 feet above sea level and the weather is always cool. There are many high and important buildings. The most famous one is the Royal College which was constructed in 1888. It was also the residential places of one of the greatest navigator of XVIII century named Laperouse. It's also a touristic centre and it offers to the tourist many wonderful views to them.
You asked me what I plan to do. Well, I'm going to be a clerk on a sugar cane Estate.
In my next letter I'll write you more about Mauritius and Curepipe.
I hope you are well, as well as your family.
Well that's all for now so 'Good-bye,' until next time. Hope to hear from you soon.
Your Pen-pal,
Joes Feillaje
PS Write about the people of your town. Are your town a multi-racial one? and write something on the Massachusetts state."
Interesting that Jose asked if Watertown was a multi-racial town - I was living in my white Irish Catholic cocoon but the Civil Rights Movement was underway in the south. Earlier that year there were the marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to protest Jim Crow laws denying blacks the right to vote and the ensuing violence after each march. I was recently in Selma when my brother, sister-in-law and I were driving down to New Orleans. We walked over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. We are planning another trip back next month - it was 60 years ago that the marches took place.
The postmark on this postcard is
"Hull, MA
July 18
1965
02045"
It is from "Paragon Park, Nantucket Beach, Mass. Getting a Big Splash on the new Jungle Ride of the 57 different attractions."
"Dear Mary,
You had a good time at the beach I trust. Don't get too burned. Enjoy your summer. I'll give you a call Aug 6.
Red Rover
Mary"
Red Rover was Mary Power - one of my classmates and a cousin of Alice Nelligan although I don't remember the exact relation - she was also related to George Miller. A group of us including Mary Power used to go into Harvard Square to coffee houses. Mary was very smart - and I think she was teaching herself Russian or maybe taking a Russian course somewhere.
1 Bankhead Street
Cohuna, Vic.
Dear Mary Ellen,
Thanks for the postcard, coin, and your most interesting letter concerning the World's Fair. I'm so sorry I haven't answered sooner but after the exams were over, I really started to celebrate and forgot about the letter I had to write to you. Last week I was in bed with the flu and that took up more time but now I'm finally writing it.
The way you described everything you saw at the World's Fair was most interesting and everything that you described was wonderful. I just wish it could have been me but anyway I'm glad you had such a wonderful time and saw all the terrific sights. Pity about the hotel you stayed at. Thanks for telling me about everything as I really enjoyed reading it all.
In my last letter I said I would start telling you about each of the states of Australia but I'm afraid that will have to wait until my next letter as I've got a bit of recent news to tell you and I'm also enclosing a few things.
The first thing is the exams. I passed quite well in about three of my subjects and just passed in the other three. I('m) really satisfied with my results but I will have to work a lot harder as the final exams are external ones. After the exams we had our social and the band was the Checkmates; they were quite good too ...
"I had a fantastic time and was sorry to see it end. I will only be going to one more social at the end of the year. Do you have a social after your exams or is it a prom you have?
The next thing that happened was all the winter sports against other schools. We played Kerang, Swan Hill and Echuca. The winter sports are Basketball, Hockey and Football and Cohuna didn't do too bad but we lost a few games. What sports are being played at your school?
After the sports it was another trip to Melbourne for Form Five and we went to see a play called 'An Enemy of the People.' The play was okay but the trip was terrific and exciting. After arriving at Russell Street we heard sirens and bells and then the fire brigade came racing around the corner and finally stopped outside BOB (a radio station). We were all curious so with a half hour to spare we went to see what was happening. The publishers office above BOB was on fire and the next day the paper printed that the damage was estimated at 70,000 pounds. It was quite a big fire too. I also met Lou Richards in Melbourne; he is a person who writes a section in 'The Sun' concerning football each week. I was going to call Carl Ditterich after that but found I didn't have enough time and I was really disappointed as I was looking forward to it so much. Anyway I'm hoping to meet Carl in September and Merv Benton too.
While on the subject of Merv Benton, well I received another letter from him about a week ago. He said he didn't (mind?) me writing to him and he would answer my letters. He's real nice and writes terrific letters.
About three weeks ago two men from the army were at school ...
"to show films to the boys and I had the opportunity to meet and talk to one of them. He was real nice and he gave me quite a few details about the army. Last Saturday when Mum, Elizabeth and myself were coming home from Spencers Bridge two big army trucks were coming behind us, they passed us and we followed them right to Cohuna. They stopped in town and so did we, it was a coincidence but we both went to the same cafe. I met a real nice one in the shop. Mum's still against me joining the army but each time I keep working on her and maybe she'll give in before I'm seventeen.
I'm sorry this letter can't be any longer but I just heard some bad news, my brother's best friend and also a close friend of mine (he used to be my second boyfriend a long time ago) has had a car accident and he's pretty badly hurt. When I went out to see his car it was just a mess, it was really wrecked and it's a wonder he's still alive. He's a terrific kid and I just can't believe such a thing could happen to Bernie as I've known him nearly all my life. I can't understand why it had to be him. Please forgive me for ending so abruptly but I'm rather worried and upset. More news next time. Bye.
Lots of love from Mary.
PS Please forgive me for taking so long to answer. I'll try to be faster next time. Please excuse my writing, it's a mess.
PS 1 I have enclosed a Winston Churchill stamp, two photos of my Mt Hope trip and a picture of Merv Benton.
PS II Say 'Hi' to your family from me and I hope they're all well.
PS III Write soon. PS IV Bye till next time. PTO ...
"PS V I just received your postcard as was glad to hear you are having such a wonderful time.
PSVI I just heard that Bernie's going to be alright, only three broken jaw bones and a few broken ribs, but I'm glad he's going to be alright."
I don't remember what particular pictures Mary sent me in this letter so I've included several from that trip to Mt Hood that she sent me over time.
Mary's bus group to Mt Hope
Mount Hope
The back of this photo says "Looking down on Mt Hope."
Pineapple plantation
Banana tree
I'm finding these letters from my penpals quite fascinating - I only wish I could read my letters to them!
The postcard reads:
"F - 1961 - 4 Narvik, Utsikt over byen med fjellheisen i forgrunnen.
Norway View of the town with the mountain lift in the foreground."
Narvik was a tiny northern city above the Arctic Circle in Norway where there were rich deposits of iron which the Nazis wanted for their war effort. There was also an ice-free port to transport the iron. The Northern Norwegians put up fierce resistance to the Nazis and aided by Great Britain they eventually defeated the Nazis.
Ninni wrote: "8/8 on the train from Navrik - Kiruna. Navrik is situated in Norway. Tomorrow we (I and my father, sisters and brothers) going to visit ?Maya? to Finland (Tonea. So long your pen-pal Ninni"
So Ninni and her family had taken a train to a battle site in the Arctic Circle and were heading to Kiruna in Sweden and then maybe to Finland. I would loved to have done that! I was able to look these places up online tonight - I couldn't do that back in 1965 - I would have had to go to the library or more likely I would have asked about them in my next letter. I presume that anyway!
The tickets below were for Jordan Marsh's Charm School that my cousin Mary Navin and I attended in August. I remember going in town for the classes - but all I remember from the classes was, when getting into a car, to sit down on the seat and then swing my legs into the car in a graceful manner. I found a blog that mentioned the charm schools that all the Boston Department Stores ran quite inexpensively. I guess there were fashion contests and fashion boards - I wasn't involved with those - just the charming part! I suppose my mother thought it was a good idea - I certainly don't remember asking to become more charming!
Both tickets say "Class 2" and both are held on Wednesdays - August 11 and August 18 at 2 pm.
"Jordan Marsh Company
Hereby Certifies That
Mary Ellen Manning
is a graduate of
Charm and Beauty Workshop
Having satisfactorily completed the course of study
and in token thereof is entitled to this
DIPLOMA
in testimony whereof, we have here unto set
Our Name this 21st Day of August AD 19656
Jordan Marsh Company
Edna Somers
Fashion Director"
"1 Bankhead Street, Cohuna,
28th August 1965
Dear Mary Ellen,
Once again I must apologize for taking such a long time to write as I've been quite busy having to clear things up at school before I left. Just the routine things such as handing in my locker key, library books and collecting my report book and loads of other things. I left school last week and I will be starting work at the Cohuna District Hospital in about two weeks time as a Ward's maid. My main job will be to serve the patients their food and it will be great background experience if I decide to go nursing instead of the Army. In these last few weeks I have been considering Nursing but I haven't quite made up my mind. Everything changed so fast in the last couple of weeks that I've gotten behind in most things.
First of all, after that long explanation I'll thank you for the picture of your family, the samples of your school newspaper, the postcard and the picture of the baseballers family. I don't know whether I've thanked you for the postcard of the Casino or not but if I haven't - thanks. Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time on your holiday at Falmouth. You met some quite interesting people. Instead of explaining everything about the army I have enclosed a booklet ...
"Thanks for informing about the Red Socks, too bad there not doing well as my favorite team St Kilda who are on top and the finals start next week.
At the moment I've got a couple of week holidays until I start work and I'll be picking oranges at Barham to fill in time. The Thursday before I start work I will be going to Melbourne for a few days and I'm going to buy my spring wardrobe. At the moment I've got nothing to wear if it gets warmer.
I don't think I've told you before that my brother Joe has sent in an application to join the Police Force and if he does become a policeman it's going to be quite funny having a cop around home. The other day Joan turned 18 and now she can go for her driving license. I can't wait to turn 18 and get mine. What is the driving age in America?
Spring is officially here now and it was quite warm for the first few days and then it started pouring rain. It's fine again now, how's the weather up your end?
Tennis will be starting in a couple of weeks time and games are played every Saturday. There's a tennis court next to our place and the people who owned it died a short while ago. I mainly use this court instead of the one across town.
Last week P J Proby came to Melbourne but I ...
"missed him because I'm not going down until the Thursday before I start work. Peter, Paul and Mary will be coming soon too. Last week Billy Adams (a popular Melbourne singer) came to the Cohuna dance and I think Merv Benton might be coming soon. He's coming home from Queensland on Monday and while he was in Queensland he got lost for four days but didn't waste those four days as he shot three kangaroos.
Bernie's doing fine and he came home yesterday but he's still in bandages.
I just happened to glance at the paper and read about the trouble in Vietnam. Isn't it awful and I'm beginning to wonder if there's ever going to be an end to it. Since a short time ago I've become very interested in everything that happens there because I'm writing to one of the soldiers. I'll just simply have to close now because I've got an appointment with the hair dresser and I'm taking French lessons in my spare time so au revoir.
Love from your pen pal
Mary XXX
PS I'll really TRY to be faster in answering my letters to you. I have enclosed a photo of myself and the ensemble I modeled on Education Day.
Have also enclosed a couple of stamps. PTO ...
"A friend of mine at school asked me if I would ask you to ask some of the older people in your neighborhood what the conditions were like in the Depression years of 1929; also before and after World War One. Hope you don't mind as it concerns my friends Modern History course for this year. Thanks.
Bye for now."
Humbug Fish - 7 pence - Australia
and
Golden Whistler - 20 pence - Australia
It was interesting that Mary and I both had an interest in nursing - I had always wanted to be a nurse until I was a senior in high school when I briefly thought I might want to be a history teacher - I love history. Then I thought about talking/teaching in front of a class and figured I could never do it - too shy and hated public speaking - but I applied at colleges as well as 3 year nursing schools just in case.
"Picture yourself in the
WRAC
Women's Royal Australian Army Corps
WRAAC a fine career for you!
Something must have spilled onto this brochure as the inside pages are stuck together. But the inside pages look interesting.
"The WRAAC has a lot to offer
Have you ever stopped to think what kind of life a girl leads in the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC)? - why she joined the Service? - how you would fit into the life? Have you ever thought that, in most ways, you are like her - keen to get on, to do an interesting job, to make the most of your youth and energy?
Whatever you do in the WRAAC is something to stand you in good stead all your life. You'll become one of a team where individuals play a vital part. You'll share the companionship of girls - and men - of your own age, both on and off duty.
WRAACs do many interesting jobs and WRAACS go places ..."
Clerk, Draftswoman, Signals operator (including cipher,) Psychological coder, Cook, Storewoman, Driver, Stewardess, General Dutywoman.
"The WRAAC trains you on all these vocations, on full pay, from joining. You have to show character, intelligence, and enthusiasm, for these qualities are the backbone of our Army.
Girls who like to travel can do so in the WRAAC.
In all States, WRAAC girls are enjoying work in good company, with security, and in pleasant surroundings. In easy reach to many are Surfers Paradise, Sydney Harbor Melbourne's shops, vistas of Adelaide, Perth's Swan River, Hobart and its scenic charm."
"The uniforms you'll wear with pride" ... "For the occasion, whether walking out, as at left, or driving an Army vehicle."
"Here is some of the range of summer and winter outfits, of excellent design and quality, fitted to you, and free. There is an allowance of 18 pounds also for Regulars to provide their night attire and underwear. The winter uniform is an attractive Highland Green twill suit and comprises jacket and skirt with gilt buttons worn with shirt and tie, and beret with gilt badge pinned over the left eye. The summer dress is parchment creaseless linen, worn with felt hat and green tie or open neck. "
Items of issued dress: 2 winter uniforms, 1 greatcoat, ???, some kind of hat, 1 cardigan, 1 pair of gloves, 3 ties, 5 pairs of stockings, 3 pairs of shoes, 3 summer frocks, 1 beret, 1 mirror, 3 towels, 5 brushes, 1 pair of sports shorts, 1 sports blouse, 2 pairs of ankle socks, 1 pair of gym. shoes, 6 handkerchiefs, 1 attache case, 1 suit case, 1 shoulder bag.
I can't open the remaining pages without tearing the brochure apart but I can see that it discusses medical care, pensions, leave, living conditions, and sporting activities as well as where training takes place and opportunity for promotion to an officer.
"Wherever you ask, and throughout your service in the WRAAC, you will find a helping hand and a friendly word. You will soon find yourself radiating goodwill to others in many WRAAC activities. You'll find it's really good. Picture yourself - serving in the WRAAC.
Army recruiting publication No 31 (Dec 1964)
Issued by the director if recruiting."
The brochure, I think, was quite enticing for teenagers - no wonder Mary was interesting in joining!
I guess someone used the brochure for a coaster and whatever was in the cup or glass spilled onto the brochure.
After her comment on Vietnam, I looked up just what was happening in Vietnam in the summer of 1965 to remind myself of what was going on. According to History.Com:
"• July 1965: President Johnson calls for 50,000 more ground troops to be sent to Vietnam, increasing the draft to 35,000 each month.
• August 1965: In Operation Starlite, some 5,500 U.S. Marines strike against the First Viet Cong Regiment in the first major ground offensive by U.S. forces in Vietnam. The six-day operation diffuses the Viet Cong regiment, although it would quickly rebuild."
I was only 15 at this time - Vietnam didn't really affect me directly, but I was aware of it - why wouldn't I be - it was on the nightly news. There was a draft but it hadn't affected anyone in my family - yet. Although thinking back, my cousin Chris was getting ready to graduate - I suppose he had to register for the draft when he turned 18.
Speaking of Vietnam, I found this list of soldiers' names and addresses in the 1965 section of my scrapbook. It says these boys were from the Framingham area and "Try to get the names of boys in your area." I guess I gave out names to my cousins and friends including Mary Patricia Navin, Joanie Huliston, Roberta 'Birdie" Green, Maureen Stinehart - Ma Linehan's granddaughter, Susan Munhall? - her father was our oil man, Sandy Mosca, Lizzie Craig - her father was our pediatrician, and I guess I sent one to Ninni! I wonder what happened to all these young guys? Such a tragic time - and this was just the beginning.
This must be the reply from the boy I wrote to.
"Dear Mary Ellen
Hi there! How might you be this great day in the history of the US? I hope you don't sit in the locker room too often and grind your teeth and pull your hair out of your head because then everyone will make fun of you and call you either 'Gums' or 'Baldie'. Thanks for writing and I hope to hear from you again soon.
Buster"
I don't remember if I wrote back to Buster or if he wrote back to me. It was all so very sad - the war, the deaths, the resulting physical and emotional trauma.
"Eddie Feigner "King and his Court
vs Watertown
Sponsored by the Watertown Fir(e Department)
To Benefit Muscular (Dystrophy)
Saturday Evening, At
Victory Field
Gate Admission"
The Fire Department supported and still supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association - this was a game - probably basketball - to raise money for MD.
"From: Ampaipum (?) Vichaidist 1718 New Road
Yanawa Bangkok. Thailand"
"1718 New Road Yanawa Bangkok
26 September 1965
Dear Mimi,
I am very glad to received your letter and you was the pen-pal for me but no time to answer your letter because my school have many home-work and I hope that you will forgive me that I write your letter to late. I'll try to tell you what I'm like.
I was born in February 18, 1950 and now I am 15 years old like you. I have black hair and brown eyes. I am 5 feet tall and weigh 88 pounds. I am a student at Assumption High school and I'm in the 10th grade.
I live with my parents. I have two elder brothers and one elder sister. Sidhiphol 23, Kamolivour 20, Dhananchai 17, I am youngest.
I like to kepe some magazines and postcards, listen modern music, reading, watching television an going to see movies. TV programs in Thailand there are America film and Thai film changing show. I like it almost. My favorite actors are George Chakiris, John Richardson, Russ Tamblyn, Fabian, Peter Brown, Gardner Mckey, Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson.
My favorite actresses are Doris Day, Ann Margaret, Elizabeth Tailor ...
"I want to tell you about Thailand. Bangkok is a capital of Thailand. It is important because it is center anything. There are many shops in Bangkok where you come to go by boat. Why Thai people call water market? because the seller they will sit on the boat and sell thing such as vegetable fruit and others. Everyman who want to go to water market. They will awoke on five o'clock in the morning. (Five o'clock it is the time of Thai) I want to ask you about the time of America.
In Thailand is very hot and I think it is very good because it instead of winter. In winter of Thailand don't snow. In America the winter is very cold but in Thailand it is very warm.
I hope you reply soon and say 'Hi' to your family for me.
Good luck
Your pen-pal
Ampaipum Vichaidist
PS I Enclosed is a postcard from Thailand and a postcard about art of Thailand.
PS II In Thailand I speak Thai language. Do you want to speak Thai? If you want, I will to teach you.
PS III Enclosed is a my picture for you and I want your picture for change.
PS IV My favorite Singing groups are the Beatles, Fabulous Echoes, Dave Clark 5 ...
"and the song in Thailand there were every kind such as Rock N' Roll, shades, Birds, twist, Watusi, etc.
PS V Reply soon"
School, music and TV/movies were threads I had in common with all my pen pals. I also liked Russ Tamblyn in Seven Wives for Seven Sons, George Chakiris in West Side Story, Peter Brown from Laredo and other western TV shows. I used to rush home from school to see Gardner McKay in Adventures in Paradise. And not only did I take pictures of the Beatles when they appeared on Ed Sullivan's TV show, I also took pictures of the Dave Clark 5 - I loved Mike Smith!
Dave Clark 5 on Ed Sullivan's Show. Mike Smith on right. Dave Clark on drums.
The back of the picture says "For you, From Ampaipum" - I noted that it was 1965.
The back of the postcard says "No. 87 - Bang-po-in (Former King's Summer Palace). Thailand"
"No. 373 - Yaran Following the Peacock. An episode of Inao, a Thai version the Javanese romance of Panji."
September - AOH Past Presidents - I don't know all of them but 2nd from left is Dick Johnson, 4th and 5th from left is Eddie Wallace and Walter O'Leary I think, I can't think of the next two but then there is Bob Smith and my father. Picture of JFK on wall behind them - JFK was a member of AOH Division 14 in Watertown.
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