1950s - 1955-56 Kindergarten

I went to the Marshall Spring School on Waverley Avenue for Kindergarten - it is now the West Junior High School. I started in September 1955. Miss Corcoran was my teacher - there were two sessions - morning and afternoon - we spent half a year in each session. I used to bring a pastel plaid blanket to school - we all had to spread out our blankets and lay down on them for a nap during each day. I think we also had to bring a snack every day. Unfortunately I don't remember much more about kindergarten. 

This photo is on https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search?f%20%5Binstitution_name_ssi%20%5D%5B%5D=Watertown+Free+Public+Library

I guess we had pictures taken some time during the year. My mother must have compiled this booklet and labeled all the pictures. Some of these classmates went on to St Pat's with me while others went to Watertown Public Schools. 

So that is my name and part of our phone number - 9143.

"About Me!

My name is Mary Ellen.

I am 5 years old and in the Kindergarten grade in

the Marshall Spring school.

I like 

Swimming

Cartoons

Pinky Lee - Howdy Dowdy.

Miss Corcoran is my teacher."

"My Pal - Susan Fisher"

The next pages from the book are pictures of my kindergarten classmates - my mother labeled the pictures.

Miss Corcoran on the left - me standing on right in the white dress. Enlarging the picture doesn't make it any clearer. Does anyone recognize who is who? I knew a few and made a few guesses using a magnifying glass.

1st row: Linda Little, ? Kathy Hawes, ?, Teresa Ricky, Kathy Furey

2nd row: ?, Buttons Miranda, GeeGee Rafferty, Kathy Femia, Sandie Mosca, ?, Arlene O'Donnell, MEM

Back row: Miss Corcoran, ?, maybe Ricky Caruso, ? Ralph Deldon, Paul Regan, Billy Hughes, Peter Regan, ?

I guess Billy Hughes gave me the picture

Linda Little - I seem to remember Linda living on Main Street near the Stop and Shop. I found a 1968 Watertown High School Yearbook picture below for her.

"Linda Little

522 Pleasant St.        Business

A self-styled comedienne, Linda has sent many

classes and studies into hysteria during her years

at WHS. She finds time for boys and bowling.

Presently employed at Puritan Dress as a typist,

she looks toward a secretarial career."

Doris Church

Arlene O'Donnell went on to St Pat's School with me. Years later her nephews Kevin and Robert went to school with my Danno.

Mary Anne Adams - I found a 1968 WHS yearbook picture of her.

"Mary Ann Adams

53 Bennett Rd.                    College

Mary Ann's artistic talent has been well exemplified

this year as art director of the Bulletin. Her versatility

is evident as she is a member of National

Honor Society, Tri-Hi-Y, French Club, chorus 

and the Tennis Team."

Ricky Caruso

Jerry Laiman

Richard Caruso

Ralph Delphin (Deldon) graduated in 1968 from WHS.

"Ralph Deldon

175 Fayette St.                      College

Ralph is President of the Senior Class and a member 

of the Student Council and Hi-Y. He is the 

captain of the football team and also belongs to 

the baseball team and the Gridiron Club. He enjoys 

coaching."

     

MEM

Kathy Hawes

Kathy Furey went on to St Pat's School with me.

Susan Fisher lived across Green Street from me. We used to play together, and I remember picking up cherries from the tree in her driveway - also getting sticky birds on my pants from her backyard. 

Peter Massa graduated in 1968.

"Peter G Massa

298 Waverley Ave.                                       College

The track teams, both indoor and cross country,

have seen a lot of Peter during his years at WHS.

This capable advertising editor of the Annual enjoys 

Italian food, sports cars, and football. After 

attending college he plans to become a teacher."

Paul Regan went on to St Pat's School with me.

Paul Regan went on to St Pat's School with me.

Billy Hughes also went on to St Pat's School with me. He is the one who gave me the class picture. He also lived on Green Street but down toward Pleasant Street. I think his aunt lived in the two family house in front of us. She sold my father her old Cadillac at some point.

Jean "GeeGee" Rafferty - I remember her and her sister Kitty at swimming lessons at the MDC pool on Pleasant Street in the summer. We later worked together at Sancta Maria Hospital in Cambridge and became very close friends.

"Jean Rafferty

399 Orchard St.                            College

Jean, who is known to many as GeeGee, is planning 

to attend a nursing school. She was elected

an election commissioner during her senior year

and has been a member of Pep Club and Office

Worker." 

Kathy Femia came along to St Pat's but graduated from WHS. We worked together at Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham and became fast friends. 

"Kathleen Femia

22 Cushman St.                            Business

Kath's warm personality has made her a successful

sales clerk. Besides being a three year office 

helper, she was also a member of the Pep Club. A

Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority sister, she plans to attend 

a business school."

Maria "Buttons" Miranda went on to St Pat's School with me. She lived around the corner on Cuba Street.

Sandie Mosca also went on to St Pat's School with me. We went to Boston College Nursing School. Another friend from BC - Beth McCusker - and I have visited Sandie and her husband Frank in Fort Myers - they took us out in their boat and couldn't have been nicer.

Billy Cowing

 

Teresa Ricky 

Bobby Vello

George Russas graduated from WHS in 1968.

"George Russas

36 Piermont St.                             Business

George enjoys tinkering in mechanics, especially

working on cars. Juge is planning to enter the field 

of airline mechanics in the near future. He is presently

employed at the Lite Control Corporation."

Donna Deffley graduated from WHS in 1968.

"Donna Deffley

17 Pine St.                            Business

Donna's time is engrossed in her three pastimes - 

Majorette practice, dances, and parties. This summer, 

when Donna wasn't perfecting her twirling

skills at Victory Field, she was off on weekend 

trips to Hyannis. After graduation Donna's career

includes secretarial work."

And that is it for Kindergarten!

1950s - 1955ish

If the pictures aren't dated on the back, it can be difficult sometimes to figure out the dates. I think most of these pictures are from 1955, but if anyone knows better, please let me know. 

My father holding Patty, Johnny, and MEM at Saltonstall Park where the old Grant School was located. 

Johnny helping my father pull Patty and MEM on sled - Town Hall in background. 

 

January 30, 1955 - MEM, Dad holding Patty, and Johnny on Green Street - St Pat's Church in background.

My mother holding Patty, MEM and Johnny - that must be my father's Ford.

That is the 2 family house at 220-222 Main Street in the background - we rented the 2nd floor when we came back from Ireland.

January 1955 - Johnny and Patty - on Green Street - we had a two bedroom apartment - Johnny and I slept in this room  - Patty was in the crib in my folks' room. I miss the big old radiators that we used to have - they were great in the winter for drying wet mittens, jackets, ski pants when we came in from the snow.

Feb 1, 1955 - Diane, Patty, Joanie, Johnny, MEM in our living room - I wonder what the occasion was that we are all dressed up - apparently it was a Tuesday.

Johnny, Joanie, and MEM

It looks like they are all sitting under the clothesline - with diapers blowing in the breeze. Dickie is having a beer. Rita, Ricky, Johnny, Patty, MEM

Johnny, MEM, Joanie, Diane but I don't know where this was taken.

Joanie, Johnny, Diane in highchair, MEM and Patty - this might be my 4th birthday. I love the doll hanging from the ceiling - the radio on the shelf over the table. 

Everybody looks happy! Patty has a couple of cushions under her so she can almost reach the table - Diane is in Patty's high chair.

"You will share in A Novena of Masses at the Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help 

Mission Church, Roxbury, Mass.

To a Wonderful Father 

An Appreciate Gift

from Mimi, Jon Jon, Patti."

I'm thinking this is for Father's Day but maybe it's for my father's birthday.

Mission Church is where my grandmother, Margaret Moriarty married my grandfather, John Keohane in 1918. Ma's two sisters lived in the Mission Church neighborhood.

Johnny devouring a piece of watermelon, MEM, Joanie and Patty on the steps on Green Street. I can't make out what is in Patty's hand.

Johnny and Patty - the clothesline is still there - looks like more diapers!

Diane, MEM hugging a doll, Joanie and Patty - Mary Courtney's laundry hanging in the background. I wonder why that basin of water was there?

Joanie, Johnny, and probably Patty - I don't know what happened to her!

Falmouth Harbor - Johnny, Patty with my mother, MEM and Joanie.

Norman reading to Joanie and Johnny at a cottage on the harbor - I love the striped T-shirts on all of us! Those striped shirts were very popular in our family. 

Joanie with pigtails, striped shirt and plaid pants, MEM with Norman and my father playing ball in the background. I suppose one car is my father's and one is Norman's.

MEM and Johnny having a ride on my father - Patty in the rumble seat!

MEM

Joanie, Johnny and MEM in army tanks! Hannie holding Ricky in the background. 

Eileen, Joanie sitting on fence, MEM, Diane and Hannie at Nobska Lighthouse - more striped shirts.

MEM, Norman holding Diane maybe, Joanie and Johnny. I love Norman's hand around Johnny's waist and Johnny holding onto Norman - so casual.

I wonder how deep that water was? 

? my mother on left - MEM, Johnny, and Patty inside fence- not sure where these pictures were taken. 

My mother, Patty, Joanie, MEM and Johnny

Johnny and Joanie looking out the door, Mum holding Patty, and MEM looking out the window.

Norman holding Diane in doorway with Joanie, MEM, and Johnny looking out the window.

Diane and Norman

Norman holding Diane, Joanie, Johnny, and MEM - love the dark sox and dark shoes with shorts!

Diane looking at the pony, Norman, and Joanie

This picture is very dark - MEM, Patty, Joanie, and Johnny on the boat - Mum is a landlubber I guess!

Looks like a frog maybe? Joanie, Johnny, MEM, Patty and my mother.

Is that a cow on the roof? Patty, Joanie, Johnny, MEM and Dad.

Johnny and I must be going for a pony ride - 10 cents!

I wonder if this was Diane's first birthday? It looks like upstairs on Green Street. Patty, Joanie, Jay Navien, Diane, Chris Navien, MEM, Johnny, Mary Patricia Navien.

Johnny, MEM, Patty at the grotto. I wonder where this was?

Patty

Johnny, MEM and Patty

I wonder what Patty has in her hands?

I think these pictures were taken my first day at kindergarten at the Marshall Spring School on Waverley Avenue.

Ma and Aunt Nellie on Green Street.

Keohane cousins night out at Blinstrub's - Peggy Keohane Navien, Kathleen Cooney Lavalle, Frances Keohane Smith, Josie Keohane Nelson, Eileen Cooney Griffin, my mother - Ellen Keohane Manning, Hannie Keohane Huliston, and Mary Cooney Feeney. I wonder where Mae Keohane is - Frances' sister? Or my aunt Rita Keohane Walsh?

I always thought the restaurant was called Blinstrum's but I just found out it was Blinstrub's - and it was a restaurant and a nightclub located in South Boston at West Broadway and D Street. I didn't know what a popular nightclub is was - Wayne Newton got his first big break there - Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr, Nat King Cole, Julius LaRosa, the McGuire Sisters, Eddie Fisher, Al Martino, Dionne Warwick and many others performed there. Blinstrub's had their own photographer taking pictures of the tables like the one above. 

Blinstrub's burnt down in 1968 and was never rebuilt - it was not insured. Richard Cardinal Cushing, who was a close friend of Stanley Blinstrub, gave him $100,00 and held a benefit for him at Boston Garden where many of the celebrities who had performed at his nightclub participated. Because of increasing building prices and the cost of hiring celebrities, Blinstrub's was never rebuilt. 

Here is a link for more information on Blinstrub's - https://www.blinstrubas.com/index/en/blinstrub-family/blinstrubs-manors/blinstrubs-village-club/

Having a picnic somewhere - Diane, Johnny, Joanie, MEM.

MEM on Green Street

Johnny's 4th birthday - Joanie, Johnny, Patty - look at her expression, MEM

Is Johnny still blowing out candles?

Norman with Joanie on his shoulders, Johnny with a new fishing rod, Patty on Dad's shoulders.

There are 4 candles on the cake but this is not the same day as the above pictures but it is downstairs. Joanie, Patty, Diane, MEM, Norman, and Johnny who doesn't look too happy,

Patty, Johnny and MEM - the photographer came to the house - I can just barely remember it. 

Halloween at the Hibernians - my mother made these bathing suits and we all wore them over the years for Halloween and other events. Hannie, my mother, Frances Smith, Peggy Navien, Paul Navien, Bob Smith, my father and Norman.

Christmas Day - MEM, Patty, Johnny

I'm laughing at the Christmas tree - we always had the saddest looking trees - but we loved them!