This is a photo of me when I was eight years old growing up in Dorchester area of City of Boston Mass.
~ The Year was 1945 ~
~ The Year was 1945 ~
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In the photo above is
In the photo above is
My Grandfather Casey, with Sister Dee, Sister Elaine, Brother`s Jack, Paul, Tommy, Frank, Bobby, Larry.
GROWING UP IN THE 1930`s
GROWING UP IN THE 1930`s
HERE IS A GERAIUM PLANT I BOUGHT EIGHT YEARS AGO 2007 FOR ELLEN`S GRAVE SITE, I BRING THE PLANT IN TO MY HOUSE DURING THE WINTER
New Up Date 2017
this Geraium plant lasted 13 years, it had flowered all year around winter and summer. it never was out of a blosom on it for 13 years
I WAS BORN IN THE 30`S
I have a story to tell about growing up in Boston ( Dorchester Mass. ) in the 1930`s It was not a ease task to do, Not when you come from a eight children family. I was born in 1937, and I went though the 1930`s depression that was still going
on when I was born, there was no help or money for family`s big as ours. And I feel that my parents had no right to have eight children when life was so hard to get by even if you had only two children. I was four years old when Pearl - Haber was attacked in 1941 on December 7th.My Father was asked why are you entering the Army when you have eight Children? He told them, "I have eight good reason and signed his name. My Father was not some kind of a hero with eight children, He went in because he could not support his family, He could not find work, and he could not feed his kids. At least the government check would help the wife`s feed their children, Many Fathers went in to the services in 1943 to feed there family`s and many of them did not come home.*
*
I DO MENTION ROUGH TIMES MY SISTER`S AND BROTHER`S AND I WENT THOUGH WITH IN THIS STORY , BECAUSE IT IS A PART OF MY MEMORIES, AND THE ANSWER IS YES, I DID AND I DO LOVE MY MOTHER AND FATHER FOR GIVING ME LIFE.
*
Over the years of growing up , I learned to understand WHY..... When my parent`s first married they had no idea that the
depression in 1930`s was in their future, They already had three children by 1929, and one on it`s way. At first before all the pressure they were just a happy Irish family, and planed on a large family before the hard times came, when the stock market crashed and they were not able to handle the depression that lasted nearly ten or more years, many other family`s were in the same situation. So I give my parents a high five, for their efforts, and many times in my daily prayers thank them for what they had gone though to keep me safe..
*
It was a sad time of life, people who had always been able to put food on their dinning table suddenly found them selves standing in a bread lines and soup lines. While most Americans are well a ware of the great depression as a time of economic disaster, it`s impact on the American family may have been lost. I sometimes wonder how did my sister`s and older brother`s make it though the depression in 1930's. Like I said earlier I came along in 1937. And the depression took a long time for the better, And lots of people were suffering badly, some more then others,
*
The family structure for the poor Americans did not improve during the 1930`s The Father`s role as the provider and head of the household became more challenging because there were fewer jobs. The general expectation was for Fathers to work and support their families.
*
How ever, as the great depression progressed and more men lost their jobs, these Fathers had to spend their days searching for any kind of work they could find. The reality was few bough home pay checks. Some Fathers suffered anxiety and feeling of worthlessness for failing to provide for their families. Many driven by desperation resorted to stealing food and money just to get by.
*
Again many distressed Fathers committed suicide during this difficult decade ( 1930`S ), then we went to war in 1941.
My Father went in to the army when he had eight children because there was no work to be found, and he just went though a divorce . For him to be able to feed his children was to go in the Army and let the Government support us and send a monthly check home to Mom. If there wasn`t any war on, my Father would not been able to get in to the services with eight
children, So the government had to been hard up for men after peril harbor attack. because that must to been one of the biggest monthly checks that the government had to send out to a wife and eight children.
*
Woman had no problem finding work now, with the war on, many of the men went in to the service to feed their families
Although offered plenty of opportunities in the work force because of the war tended to take the position of the stay - at - home Mothers. This attitude was based on traditional family values.
*
Men resented employed women for they felt that they were occupying jobs that could be given to the unemployed men with families. Children were expected to get an education so that they could improve their situation, they were needed at home to help with house work chores while the Mother were gone to work. Unfortunately, many children of the poorer families dropped out of school because they felt obligated to help support the family financially, My two brothers did not finish school as like many other children did not. at their age. Money was the main reason for the families breaking apart.
*
There was an obvious difference in life style for the middle class. The upper class the well to do folks still managed to live well and comfortable with even having servents to wait on them. However most lower and middle class families barely had enough to provide the basic necessities for their families.
*
People who always been able to put food on their tables suddenly found them selves standing in the bread line and the soup line with the poor folks. Families were broke up because of the constant migration from town to town in search of work, some lost their homes and had to make temporary shelters out of boxes they found on the streets
*
These shanty towns constructed of packing crates and boxes were called ( Hoover-vile ) because frequent sites .
( A nickel sure looks good here )
*
For the children of the middle class families , school was a temporary vacation from the money problems at home. They were treated to one or two outings a week, such as to the movies or to the zoo so that they wouldn`t be bored by the humdrum of every day life during the depression. How ever these outings were often more for the parents sake than for
the children`s.
*
The family structure of the upper class during the Great Depression did not vary much from the family structure before the Depression. It differed from the lower class in that the Father had a steady job and there for was able to give his family above and beyond what they needed.
*
The woman of the upper class had a very relaxed life style and sometimes had servents Mothers usually were at home which meant the children had more chances to spend time with them. It was made sure that the children of the upper class
got a good education. They were sent during the day to boarding schools and spent the rest of their time with their
families.*So I do hope you can understand where I am coming from when I say.
( I KNOW THE VALUE OF A NICKEL. )
Because i was not so lucky as the upper class children, i did not get to spend time with my mom or family as they did,
i did not get a good education 7th grade,
New Up Date 2017
this Geraium plant lasted 13 years, it had flowered all year around winter and summer. it never was out of a blosom on it for 13 years
I WAS BORN IN THE 30`S
I have a story to tell about growing up in Boston ( Dorchester Mass. ) in the 1930`s It was not a ease task to do, Not when you come from a eight children family. I was born in 1937, and I went though the 1930`s depression that was still going
on when I was born, there was no help or money for family`s big as ours. And I feel that my parents had no right to have eight children when life was so hard to get by even if you had only two children. I was four years old when Pearl - Haber was attacked in 1941 on December 7th.My Father was asked why are you entering the Army when you have eight Children? He told them, "I have eight good reason and signed his name. My Father was not some kind of a hero with eight children, He went in because he could not support his family, He could not find work, and he could not feed his kids. At least the government check would help the wife`s feed their children, Many Fathers went in to the services in 1943 to feed there family`s and many of them did not come home.*
*
I DO MENTION ROUGH TIMES MY SISTER`S AND BROTHER`S AND I WENT THOUGH WITH IN THIS STORY , BECAUSE IT IS A PART OF MY MEMORIES, AND THE ANSWER IS YES, I DID AND I DO LOVE MY MOTHER AND FATHER FOR GIVING ME LIFE.
*
Over the years of growing up , I learned to understand WHY..... When my parent`s first married they had no idea that the
depression in 1930`s was in their future, They already had three children by 1929, and one on it`s way. At first before all the pressure they were just a happy Irish family, and planed on a large family before the hard times came, when the stock market crashed and they were not able to handle the depression that lasted nearly ten or more years, many other family`s were in the same situation. So I give my parents a high five, for their efforts, and many times in my daily prayers thank them for what they had gone though to keep me safe..
*
It was a sad time of life, people who had always been able to put food on their dinning table suddenly found them selves standing in a bread lines and soup lines. While most Americans are well a ware of the great depression as a time of economic disaster, it`s impact on the American family may have been lost. I sometimes wonder how did my sister`s and older brother`s make it though the depression in 1930's. Like I said earlier I came along in 1937. And the depression took a long time for the better, And lots of people were suffering badly, some more then others,
*
The family structure for the poor Americans did not improve during the 1930`s The Father`s role as the provider and head of the household became more challenging because there were fewer jobs. The general expectation was for Fathers to work and support their families.
*
How ever, as the great depression progressed and more men lost their jobs, these Fathers had to spend their days searching for any kind of work they could find. The reality was few bough home pay checks. Some Fathers suffered anxiety and feeling of worthlessness for failing to provide for their families. Many driven by desperation resorted to stealing food and money just to get by.
*
Again many distressed Fathers committed suicide during this difficult decade ( 1930`S ), then we went to war in 1941.
My Father went in to the army when he had eight children because there was no work to be found, and he just went though a divorce . For him to be able to feed his children was to go in the Army and let the Government support us and send a monthly check home to Mom. If there wasn`t any war on, my Father would not been able to get in to the services with eight
children, So the government had to been hard up for men after peril harbor attack. because that must to been one of the biggest monthly checks that the government had to send out to a wife and eight children.
*
Woman had no problem finding work now, with the war on, many of the men went in to the service to feed their families
Although offered plenty of opportunities in the work force because of the war tended to take the position of the stay - at - home Mothers. This attitude was based on traditional family values.
*
Men resented employed women for they felt that they were occupying jobs that could be given to the unemployed men with families. Children were expected to get an education so that they could improve their situation, they were needed at home to help with house work chores while the Mother were gone to work. Unfortunately, many children of the poorer families dropped out of school because they felt obligated to help support the family financially, My two brothers did not finish school as like many other children did not. at their age. Money was the main reason for the families breaking apart.
*
There was an obvious difference in life style for the middle class. The upper class the well to do folks still managed to live well and comfortable with even having servents to wait on them. However most lower and middle class families barely had enough to provide the basic necessities for their families.
*
People who always been able to put food on their tables suddenly found them selves standing in the bread line and the soup line with the poor folks. Families were broke up because of the constant migration from town to town in search of work, some lost their homes and had to make temporary shelters out of boxes they found on the streets
*
These shanty towns constructed of packing crates and boxes were called ( Hoover-vile ) because frequent sites .
( A nickel sure looks good here )
*
For the children of the middle class families , school was a temporary vacation from the money problems at home. They were treated to one or two outings a week, such as to the movies or to the zoo so that they wouldn`t be bored by the humdrum of every day life during the depression. How ever these outings were often more for the parents sake than for
the children`s.
*
The family structure of the upper class during the Great Depression did not vary much from the family structure before the Depression. It differed from the lower class in that the Father had a steady job and there for was able to give his family above and beyond what they needed.
*
The woman of the upper class had a very relaxed life style and sometimes had servents Mothers usually were at home which meant the children had more chances to spend time with them. It was made sure that the children of the upper class
got a good education. They were sent during the day to boarding schools and spent the rest of their time with their
families.*So I do hope you can understand where I am coming from when I say.
( I KNOW THE VALUE OF A NICKEL. )
Because i was not so lucky as the upper class children, i did not get to spend time with my mom or family as they did,
i did not get a good education 7th grade,
GRAND MOTHER ELLIS GRANDPA CASEY GRAND MOTHER CASEY
( BACK IN THE CARE OF STRANGERS )
*
It did not last long, my Mother sent me and my younger brother out to live with strangers again, it was not a foster home, it was
friends who she knew from the place she worked at. and that place was called ( THE GREEKS ) It was a bar room where she bartended six days a week.
That was like living in hell all over again. Now I am only ten or eleven years old, One day when I was living with these strangers, I was being punished and was not aloud to get out of my bed , which was a cot on their front porch. I was being punish for stealing some money from the woman`s purse who we were staying with. It turned out that her own daughter took the money, and if it wasn`t for the sister telling on the other sister I would have been blamed for stealing
I was being punished for two days before the other daughter told on her sister, I don`t ever remembering getting I am sorry from the woman. the next morning I woke up my younger brother, we both had to sleep on the front porch of this summer cottage. We left the house while every one was sleeping to find our way back home to Dorchester
.
I know I did not know the right direction to go, Then a car stopped and the driver gave us a ride to Dorchester, but stop at the police station. When the man went in the station, I took my brother and left the car and we hide across the street in the bushes.
I did find our way back to our house to find no one was there, I knew of this giant red barn at the end of our street, and we went there and fell a sleep. when we woke up my brother Frank and his friend was standing over us calling my name. It turned out that my brother Frank was sent to live with his friend Johnny Bennett who lived next to the barn.
Jonny`s older sister Betty came in to the barn when she saw Johnny bringing food to us, she could not believe to see us little guys sitting there. I was eleven, and my younger brother was around nine years old. Betty found my Fathers phone number and called him, My dad came right down to the barn. after a short time, we went to stay with Betty who also lived in the same house as Johnny but a different apartment, there Mother own the duplex house. Betty at the time had three children of her own,
Betty made some arrangements with my Dad that we can stay with her as long as he brings milk and bread for us every day. I was told that my Mother came to Betty`s house to see us. Even to this day Betty reminds me about it. Now the state of Massachusetts is now stepping in. My parents had to find a place to live and big enough for the four young boys .
WE WENT TO LIVE WITH MY FATHER
Well my Father knew mayor Curley of Boston, he saw the mayor and the mayor let us move in to the first apartment in the new project in South Boston. So we moved in to the new apartment, we were the only family in the whole place. They were going to start leasing the next day any ways. but the Mayor after hearing Dad`s story he let us go in one day early.
*
I was 14 years old when my Father came home with a TV in 1951. Milton Berele was a big hit on TV then. they still call him Uncle Milty. and Mr TV. today. I remember my Father given us boys one dollars each on Friday nights. Then we would watch the Friday night boxing, and we would bet on who will be the winner of the fight he would pick the under dog fighter and bet us a dollar that he would win, knowing all the time the fighter he pick had no chance of winning so we could win a extra dollar. Sometimes it backed fire on him and won, but he always had a excuse, that made us believe we won .
*
It was great living with my Dad, We were not going out at night any more to play those games I mention earlier. Now we have a TV that kept us in the house at nights. Living with my Dad started to have it`s hang-ups,
*
All was going well with Dad and us four boys, But then my older sister came to live with us, because Dad could not continue to be responsable for us boys because he started to drink heavy, and was coming home later and later at night, we would go with out eating if we did not have any milk and cereal in the house.
*
My Dad asked my sister to come and help him out , But that did not work well, So my other sister came to live with us with her husband and two children oh my god, they all lived on one room, so needless to say that arrangement did not
work out , so my Dad married a old girl friend of his who had three grown daughters. they came and took over the whole
house,
*
Now there are 9 people living in that apartment that had only six rooms counting the kitchen. my Dad bought a house in savin hill, that had ten rooms, three room on first floor, four rooms and the bath on the second floor, and three room on the third floor. Like I said earlier that the wife and three daughters took over the house, and us four boys were put up on
the third floor. two of us slept in one room together, the other two slept in the second room, and the new wife`s aunt who was very ill, she was bed ridden all the time until she pass away a few years later. then my dad would let his drinking buddies stay in the third room on the third floor.
(WHAT A BAD SITUATION TO LIVE IN AT THAT HOUSE.
We four boys left the house and was sleeping on the park bench for a night or two, then my older brother Jack
took me in to live with them, my other older brother Paul took Frank in to live with them, my older sister Dorothy took Larry in to live with her, tommy went on his own , he was the oldest of the four of us. Then we were told that my mother died in 1960 at the age of 51, She died in her sleep one night sleeping on the living room so far because she had chest pains and did not want to disturb her husband`s sleep.
My Dad died in 1961 at the age of 55, the story that went around was that they continue to love each other and there was still a spark in their hart for each other when they died and they would not admit it to each other.
THEY ARE BURIED TOGETHER IN THE SAME CEMETERY LOT
I have been asked "Do I hate my parents for causing me to be a ward of the state. or anything."
My reply was always
NO, how can you hate two people who gave you life. and who had fell in hard times
The Ward of the state
My old brother Paul asked me if I wanted to know a little about what happen back in Oct 27 1942, That`s when officially became Wards of the state, of Massachusetts. eight children and a MOTHER crying an was weeping as we were led from the court room and placed in to foster homes.
*
The priest that was in that court room as a character reference for Dad was Father Hargedon, from St Ann`s Church. who stood before the judge and lied for Dad because he was a forth degree knight in the Kights of Columbus, still vivid in my mind, after all these years. Be very proud of your self. Each and everyone of us have come a long way....When I see kids getting in trouble and they use their broken homes as a reason why they went bad, I think of us and say "What has that got to do with it. The saddest memories I have is how Frank was treated by Mrs Rooney in North Woburn.
THE STORY BEHIND THE TORY BY PAUL CASEY
That is a long story, but one I won`t forget. My brother`s were too young to remember that day, or what led up to hat day. Our Dad was a knight of what . degree I don`t know, 4th maybe. and when we were all brought into the Dorchester court . Dad had Father Hargedon there as a character reference, and the fact that our Mother was a Catholic
also, I felt then and feel now that he had no business being there and taking sides. I remember saying to our older sister on a couple of occasion. That`s a lie. When the good Father from St Ann`s told the courts that he had gone to our house on several occasions and saw us kids running around half if not complete naked, boys and girls.
I never for got that. If I ever came from my room in just my underwear, Our Mother would have knock my head off. She never went for that. shit. Likewise my sisters would not go for that be havor I never saw our sisters that was not covered
at all times. NEVER. I attribute his Father Hargedon testimony was what did our family in, and made our Mother out to be a unfit Mother and was the reason we became STATE WARDS, Damn him,
Before our sisters Dee and Elaine wound up in the Daily Industrial school for woman with sisters Rose Patricia and sister Anseim The two beautiful woman, I might add. They lived with a woman in Woburn name Mrs o`Brien. As it was for all of us . our
sisters were nothing but slaves for this woman. I remember when I was in Woburn living with the Gallagher family and they would send me and Jack to the center for something, I use to say to Jack, lets run like hell and we maybe see Dee and Elaine. they lived four miles form us. on the road to Lexington.
WE would run and run and run to get there just for the chance to see them in the window. WE had knock on the door and ask to see our sister once before and was told no, and not to come there any more or the would get punished. So we were hoping to see our sisters that day and we didn`t, So we ran all the way back to the center, and we got back real late. WE WERE ASKED WHAT TOOK US SO LONG, I for get what we said but we got caught in a lie. They did get a call from the girl school telling them that we were there earlier. Of course we got punish to
So Bob I blame all this on Fr, Hargedon, Always have and always will , The story goes on and on, My young brother and sisters went though hell growing up in this family I kid you not. This was one of the worse families growing up back in that time. and if they did what they did to us today. These people would be in jail .
I am so proud of my sisters and brothers, We have no one to thank for where we all are today. Each and every one of us got where we are on are own, We have been though the mill, so to speak and knew what life was all about at a very early age, and we all have beautiful families of our own. and none of us ever been divorced.
Sorry to bend your ear, when I get on that subject, it tears me apart. I love and loved my siblings, I always went to bat for my sisters as well my brothers. I was suppose to be the big bully brother growing up. You know, when anyone got in trouble , I`m going to tell my big brother Paul, he will kick you ass. that sort of thing . I guess I kind of like it in a way. I felt that they looked up to me. Maybe because I was growing up with a chip on my shoulder. I would fight at the drop of a hat.
It is a long story. it was a sad story, ya know Bob, when you think about it, it is one of the saddest stories I know, and we lived it Bob We came though hell as youngsters,
WHEN THE GOING GOT TOUGH... THE TOUGH GOT GOING
And that describes all my sisters and brothers to me.
I mean every word I say.
I only know what you have told me Bob, In so far as the treatment that you got. I don`t doubt it for one second. That bitch Mrs Rooney should be rotting in hell for the way she treated you fellows. Mrs O`Brien was no exception. I use to cry because of what they were doing to my siblings. I am not ashamed to say it. And Jack as well. We both use to lay in our beds on 5 Sonrel Street in Woburn and cry and ask God to help you kids, Jack and I were a little older then our brothers. I was 12 and Jack was 13.
Do you realize that Larry was 3, I believe and you were 5 years old . What a blessing it was when our two sisters
were sent to the Daily Industrial school on Train Street in Dorchester.
There.. they were treated like humans. The nuns that ran that place were beautiful people, Even when we went to visit Dee and Elaine, the nuns would feed us always, before we left. Jack and I may have been 12 and 13,years old but we had minds of
17 and 18 .We laid in our bed night after night damning your captors, and that`s exactky what they were. Open your mouth
and complain. It would have been a one way ticket to Lyma school or Shirley Reforrm school. City of Boston would not put up with you. Once you became a problem to the City they would ship you out to Siberia. I know, I was threatened by Mr Johnson from City of Boston.
Oh well, It is 70 years later, but I still have these memories, much the same as you. They won`t go away Bob, Your memories or mine, But.... you know Bob...We built our lives on those memories,, You, me and the other six siblings. Didn`t we do a great
job?... You bet we did.... Let me say again
When the going gets tough - The tough gets going...Good for us..
These Casey`s are tough and we
showed it, Walk tall Brother.. we done something that not too many families
could do. and don`t you for get it.
My Dad
Tommy - Franky - Larry - Bobby
Did you every wounder what it was like back in your Fathers and Mothers time when they were your age, And wishing
that you asked more question when you were younger. Well I did many of times. I do remember times when my Father would say to us kids.." Boy 1906 they were the good old days" I was like most kids who never asked thier Dad`s or
Mom`s what was thier favorit movie star, or thier favorit baseball player. and that is because my parents were never around to ask. But it would have been nice to had the chance to ask.
*
I did often wondered what my father did after school back in the 1915 when he was 9 years old. Or what kind of games he played with his friends, Or even how much did the movies cost? . I wish I had asked my Dad if he ever met Babe Ruth wnen he was with the Red Sox, or Lou Gerhing of the yankee. I now wonder if he ever went to any of the baseball games. back then the park was wide open it cost five cents to sit in the bleaches. Boy what lost memories
,*
I do remembered my Dad showing me how to shadow box , and to learn to use my fist if I ever needed them which I had to use many times living in South Boston, I would come home al least once a month with a black eye from fighting at the boy club.
*
My Dad did fight in the ring in his day. We would go down stairs into the cellar, and he would show me some fency moves. do shadow boxing. and teach me some pointers. Beleave me it did come in handy some times but you know that is the only memory I have doing something with my Dad,
*
My Dad was a mailman, and he sure love to drink, boy did he like to drink. So most of his free time went to that. when I saw him coming down the street, I would hide until he passed by because I know he would be drunk. my father never had a car because he always was drunk. he would spend half of his pay on cabs and the other half in drinking.
*
Today isn`t any different. My children has never ask me about my younger years, or ask question about my favorit baseball player. Back in my younger years I done many youthful things which I will explain later in this story. My children don`t know how rough it was back in the 1930`s and 1940`s for my family. There was eight children. They also don`t
know that my Mother and Father were separated and heading for a divorce in
1942,
I was five years old with out a Father .
*
Now my Mother was alone with eight children, She could not handle eight kids so the state of massachesetts step in and sent my two sister`s Dorothy, and Elaine, to the catholic nun`s school for girls, My two oldest Brothers Jack, and
Paul, were sent to a state run home for boys. The next two brothers Tom, and Frank, went to a catholic school for boys, and my younger brother Larry, and me went to a froster home.
We were branded as STATE WARDS, untill we reached the age of 21. My children also don`t know how rough and bad it was in those forster homes. my sisters and brothers have often talk about thier odd deals at family gathering, and would talk about sad memories they even have today.
*
I speak only for myself, I remember when my Mother would come and visit me on my birthday with a gift and some candy, which I never got to keep after she left. When certain chores were not done at the home I was put to bed with out supper many of times, I was forced to drink two table spoons of cod liver oil every night before going to bed. ( WHY ) ? I have memories of being tied to my bed at night so I could not pull out the straws they put in my nose, and the tape on my mouth to teach me to breath with my mouth closed. I would get a whipping for the lest little thing three or four times a week.
Mrs Rooney was a sick women, she was a very large woman with a bun in her hair , she was six feet tall, and weigh around 300 pounds. always wearing a apron. only time she got dressed up is when she took off the apron, and spit in her hands to brush her hair back, to go grocery shopping, ..
My two oldest brothers knew about this and went to my Mother and told her to get us out of therelike she said she would ,
they kept asking her and asking her until she took us out and back home with her,If they did that kind of treatment to day, they would be in jail.
*
My Dad came to visit us, he just got out of the Army and still had his Army uniform on. I remember him looking in the kitchen window, I didn`t know who he was, I remember my Mother saying that is your Father even to this day, I don`t have any memories of my Father when I was less then eight years old. 1945 I was eight years old when I first seen my Father. Come to think about it I don`t have any of my Mother except coming to the home to visit.
EXTRA #1
THIS SHORT STORY COMES TO MY MIND,
I REMEMBER MY DAUGHTER JOAN CAME INTO MY WORK SHOP ONE DAY
AND ASK ME IF I DIDN`T LIKE HER BECAUSE I NEVER STAYED AROUND IN HER PRESENTS LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER. OF CORSE I TOLD HER I LOVED HER VERY MUCH, AND I WOULD ALWAYS WILL.
I NEVER TOLD HER THIS IS MY REASON WHY I WOULD DISAPERE FROM THE ROOM MANY OF TIMES WHEN I COULD
BECAUSE I WAS VERY A SHAME OF MY LACK OF INTELLIGENCE, I COULD NOT CARRY A CONVERSATION WILL ENOUGH BECAUSE OF POOR EDUCATION I HAD, I WOULD PRONONCE WORDS INCORRECTLY AND WAS VERY LIMITED IN MY VOCABULARY
SO TO SAVE HAVING A RED FACE EMBARRASSMENT I WOULD NOT SPEAK OR TALK TO NO ONE FAMILY OR FRIENDS
SO JOAN GROW UP THINKING I DID NOT LOVE HER.
THAT IS SAD.
EXTRA #2
IT ALSO WAS CALLED TO MY ATTENTION THAT I NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU.
I came up in the 30`s, a generation that mold my way of life, I was put in to forester homes because my Father was in the Army and my Mother could not take care of eight children.
I never was told by any one that they loved me, if they did I do not remember that they did. In my generation they did not repeat themselves every time they saw you and say I Iove you when leaving. I did not grow up with love in my life and today I feel uncomfortable when some one would say I love you, most of the time I don`t know how to react.
Now my children grow up in a generation where they were loved, and heared the words I LOVE YOU all the time from thier Mom.
And if they try to change from saying I love you when leaving someone they would feel also uncomfortable because they are molder in saying I LOVE YOU to people they love.
BECAUSE I NEVER SAY TO ANY ONE I LOVE YOU WHEN LEAVING THE ROOM OR SAYING GOOD BYE.
I DID NOT GROW UP IN THAT SITUATION SOME ONE SAYING TO ME I LOVE YOU FOR NO REASON WHEN SAYING GOOD BYE,
I DO NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LAST TIME I SAW ME.
I TRULY DON`T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU EVERY TIME THEY SAY GOOD BYE,
it more of a habit then anything els , its like part of saying good bye.
WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU TO SOME ONE THEY REALLY CAN FEEL MY LOVE WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU
AND IT WAS NOT SAID AS A HABIT OF SAYING IT EVERY TIME.
EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT ARN`T THEY ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ IT IS 1945 ~
There were no T.V.`S then, and there were no mall`s or department stores to go to. So we had to find our way to pass the time. Our parents did not have any money to spare, or to buy toys for eight children. So if you wanted any thing you had to earn the money yourself by doing many odd jobs. Which I will explain later in this story.
*
The war is just ending in 1945, and times were tough for large families like ours. Food was being rationed out When and if my Mother sent me to the grocery store to buy some butter or milk, or sugar and meats. She would give me a red token to give to the grocer for the hamberg she wanted, or a white token for the sugar, and yellow token for the butter and the
black one for the coffee.
*
I remember my Mother saying to me "DON`T LOSE THESE TOKENS ". She would put in to a small purse.The tokens had more value then any money I might have if she gave me any. Most of the time I did not have any money to give to the grocer, My mother would pay him at the end of the month..Each family had there own tokens given by the Groverment each month, once you use them you can`t get any more until next month.
( GAMES WE WOULD PLAY )
I
would go out after supper and meet my friends up at the cornor when the street lights came on. This old man would come along with his ladder, and a long stick that he would light the end and tranfer the fire to the gas light on the cornors of all the streets.
*
We would play TAG, HIDE N GO SEEK, FREE FOR ALL, AND ONE - TWO -THREE- RED LIGHT. and many others. They were the good times, No one would bother us , we did not have to be afraid that some one would come along to harm us like they do today. And when it got dark, we could hear our Mothers call us Look at the photo below, there is one of those gas light lamp post I was talking about above.
Tommy - Franky - Larry - Bobby
Did you every wounder what it was like back in your Fathers and Mothers time when they were your age, And wishing
that you asked more question when you were younger. Well I did many of times. I do remember times when my Father would say to us kids.." Boy 1906 they were the good old days" I was like most kids who never asked thier Dad`s or
Mom`s what was thier favorit movie star, or thier favorit baseball player. and that is because my parents were never around to ask. But it would have been nice to had the chance to ask.
*
I did often wondered what my father did after school back in the 1915 when he was 9 years old. Or what kind of games he played with his friends, Or even how much did the movies cost? . I wish I had asked my Dad if he ever met Babe Ruth wnen he was with the Red Sox, or Lou Gerhing of the yankee. I now wonder if he ever went to any of the baseball games. back then the park was wide open it cost five cents to sit in the bleaches. Boy what lost memories
,*
I do remembered my Dad showing me how to shadow box , and to learn to use my fist if I ever needed them which I had to use many times living in South Boston, I would come home al least once a month with a black eye from fighting at the boy club.
*
My Dad did fight in the ring in his day. We would go down stairs into the cellar, and he would show me some fency moves. do shadow boxing. and teach me some pointers. Beleave me it did come in handy some times but you know that is the only memory I have doing something with my Dad,
*
My Dad was a mailman, and he sure love to drink, boy did he like to drink. So most of his free time went to that. when I saw him coming down the street, I would hide until he passed by because I know he would be drunk. my father never had a car because he always was drunk. he would spend half of his pay on cabs and the other half in drinking.
*
Today isn`t any different. My children has never ask me about my younger years, or ask question about my favorit baseball player. Back in my younger years I done many youthful things which I will explain later in this story. My children don`t know how rough it was back in the 1930`s and 1940`s for my family. There was eight children. They also don`t
know that my Mother and Father were separated and heading for a divorce in
1942,
I was five years old with out a Father .
*
Now my Mother was alone with eight children, She could not handle eight kids so the state of massachesetts step in and sent my two sister`s Dorothy, and Elaine, to the catholic nun`s school for girls, My two oldest Brothers Jack, and
Paul, were sent to a state run home for boys. The next two brothers Tom, and Frank, went to a catholic school for boys, and my younger brother Larry, and me went to a froster home.
We were branded as STATE WARDS, untill we reached the age of 21. My children also don`t know how rough and bad it was in those forster homes. my sisters and brothers have often talk about thier odd deals at family gathering, and would talk about sad memories they even have today.
*
I speak only for myself, I remember when my Mother would come and visit me on my birthday with a gift and some candy, which I never got to keep after she left. When certain chores were not done at the home I was put to bed with out supper many of times, I was forced to drink two table spoons of cod liver oil every night before going to bed. ( WHY ) ? I have memories of being tied to my bed at night so I could not pull out the straws they put in my nose, and the tape on my mouth to teach me to breath with my mouth closed. I would get a whipping for the lest little thing three or four times a week.
Mrs Rooney was a sick women, she was a very large woman with a bun in her hair , she was six feet tall, and weigh around 300 pounds. always wearing a apron. only time she got dressed up is when she took off the apron, and spit in her hands to brush her hair back, to go grocery shopping, ..
My two oldest brothers knew about this and went to my Mother and told her to get us out of therelike she said she would ,
they kept asking her and asking her until she took us out and back home with her,If they did that kind of treatment to day, they would be in jail.
*
My Dad came to visit us, he just got out of the Army and still had his Army uniform on. I remember him looking in the kitchen window, I didn`t know who he was, I remember my Mother saying that is your Father even to this day, I don`t have any memories of my Father when I was less then eight years old. 1945 I was eight years old when I first seen my Father. Come to think about it I don`t have any of my Mother except coming to the home to visit.
EXTRA #1
THIS SHORT STORY COMES TO MY MIND,
I REMEMBER MY DAUGHTER JOAN CAME INTO MY WORK SHOP ONE DAY
AND ASK ME IF I DIDN`T LIKE HER BECAUSE I NEVER STAYED AROUND IN HER PRESENTS LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER. OF CORSE I TOLD HER I LOVED HER VERY MUCH, AND I WOULD ALWAYS WILL.
I NEVER TOLD HER THIS IS MY REASON WHY I WOULD DISAPERE FROM THE ROOM MANY OF TIMES WHEN I COULD
BECAUSE I WAS VERY A SHAME OF MY LACK OF INTELLIGENCE, I COULD NOT CARRY A CONVERSATION WILL ENOUGH BECAUSE OF POOR EDUCATION I HAD, I WOULD PRONONCE WORDS INCORRECTLY AND WAS VERY LIMITED IN MY VOCABULARY
SO TO SAVE HAVING A RED FACE EMBARRASSMENT I WOULD NOT SPEAK OR TALK TO NO ONE FAMILY OR FRIENDS
SO JOAN GROW UP THINKING I DID NOT LOVE HER.
THAT IS SAD.
EXTRA #2
IT ALSO WAS CALLED TO MY ATTENTION THAT I NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU.
I came up in the 30`s, a generation that mold my way of life, I was put in to forester homes because my Father was in the Army and my Mother could not take care of eight children.
I never was told by any one that they loved me, if they did I do not remember that they did. In my generation they did not repeat themselves every time they saw you and say I Iove you when leaving. I did not grow up with love in my life and today I feel uncomfortable when some one would say I love you, most of the time I don`t know how to react.
Now my children grow up in a generation where they were loved, and heared the words I LOVE YOU all the time from thier Mom.
And if they try to change from saying I love you when leaving someone they would feel also uncomfortable because they are molder in saying I LOVE YOU to people they love.
BECAUSE I NEVER SAY TO ANY ONE I LOVE YOU WHEN LEAVING THE ROOM OR SAYING GOOD BYE.
I DID NOT GROW UP IN THAT SITUATION SOME ONE SAYING TO ME I LOVE YOU FOR NO REASON WHEN SAYING GOOD BYE,
I DO NOT NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LAST TIME I SAW ME.
I TRULY DON`T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU EVERY TIME THEY SAY GOOD BYE,
it more of a habit then anything els , its like part of saying good bye.
WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU TO SOME ONE THEY REALLY CAN FEEL MY LOVE WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU
AND IT WAS NOT SAID AS A HABIT OF SAYING IT EVERY TIME.
EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT ARN`T THEY ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ IT IS 1945 ~
There were no T.V.`S then, and there were no mall`s or department stores to go to. So we had to find our way to pass the time. Our parents did not have any money to spare, or to buy toys for eight children. So if you wanted any thing you had to earn the money yourself by doing many odd jobs. Which I will explain later in this story.
*
The war is just ending in 1945, and times were tough for large families like ours. Food was being rationed out When and if my Mother sent me to the grocery store to buy some butter or milk, or sugar and meats. She would give me a red token to give to the grocer for the hamberg she wanted, or a white token for the sugar, and yellow token for the butter and the
black one for the coffee.
*
I remember my Mother saying to me "DON`T LOSE THESE TOKENS ". She would put in to a small purse.The tokens had more value then any money I might have if she gave me any. Most of the time I did not have any money to give to the grocer, My mother would pay him at the end of the month..Each family had there own tokens given by the Groverment each month, once you use them you can`t get any more until next month.
( GAMES WE WOULD PLAY )
I
would go out after supper and meet my friends up at the cornor when the street lights came on. This old man would come along with his ladder, and a long stick that he would light the end and tranfer the fire to the gas light on the cornors of all the streets.
*
We would play TAG, HIDE N GO SEEK, FREE FOR ALL, AND ONE - TWO -THREE- RED LIGHT. and many others. They were the good times, No one would bother us , we did not have to be afraid that some one would come along to harm us like they do today. And when it got dark, we could hear our Mothers call us Look at the photo below, there is one of those gas light lamp post I was talking about above.
MADE MY OWN TOYS
Yes that is right, I made my own toys that has been around for many years.
Rubber Band Guns, The most popular toy was the rubber band gun. Every kid had one, and we would try to out do
the best gun in our neighborhood. Differaunt shapes and styles and colors. All you needed was a rubber band made from a tire tube, two pieces of wood 4" inches long and 6" wide, and a spring action clothes pin. I remember making one for my grand child and he loved it,
*
Box Scooters, Was the next big item to come down the pike, it was a orange crate on a 2x4 board with roller skates
for the wheels. Again we all tried to make the best, and fastest in the neighborhood. We would have scooter races on Saturdays,
*
Box Car , came along, and had lots of fun making them. I had a little business going back then making box car and scooters for the kids in town. The fathers, and Mothers would ask me to make a box car for their kid and I would make a couple of bucks doing that, I like making them more then riding in them., I use to say " Henry Food look out I am coming
fast" LOL..
*
Kite Flying, became a big hit back in those day`s it got so popular that you had to go and find a area to fly them because all the parks were full with every one trying out the new gig...There was so many kites in the air they were getting all tangled up together LOL...Some of the kids got in to hot water with their Dads because of the kite. they would take their
fathers best tie to use for the tail on there kite. .LOL
*
Yoyo`s, came on the scene, Boy oh Boy did they ever took over , it was a BIG hit with all the kids boys & girls, Every kid had one in town, The Duncan Yo Yo man would come to your neighborhood on Saturday. there would be kids every where, hanging off lamp post and on top of the stores to watch him do all his tricks and give away a free beautiful YoYo to
the best YOYO performer. Boy that was the best ever. when our grand children came to visit, Ellen would make me go and get my YoYo to show the children how I still could do many of the tricks with it. .LOL
*
Marble Craze Came, ,Now I tell ya, I had the biggest marble collection that you would not believe unless you seen it . I had them every where, under my bed, in my closet, in my dresser draws, in shoe boxes, coffee cans, you would not believe it, you had to see it. Again we went around to neighborhoods all over the state to play marbles. yes there were contest at the neighborhood parks.
*
Gimp , What is gimp?, it was stripes of rawhide if you could afford it, most kids had the plastic type of gimp.
you could buy pieces long as you want a foot long or maybe two feet, it all depend on what you were going to make. You would use two pieces at a time crossing each other in the middle of the gimp, then you would over lap eack other to corner to corner to make a tight square and pull it together. you would do this until you have a nice long pieces that you tied the ends to make a neckless.
*
Collecting Baseball Cards, if you didn`t collect baseball cards, you would have had a collection of some thing else, Maybe Hoodsie cup lids with cow boys on the back, Some of the kids had a great collection of bottle caps, of differsunt soda company and differaunt brand names, Some collected Match book covers, the real rich kids had a Stamp collection, that ran in to lots of money to do. and maybe a coin collection. and of course a popsicle sticks collection,, I had a rock collection that I use to bring to school for show & tell.. what about Buttons, and cigarette packs, some kids would collect the silver foil only from cigerettes and other item with foil. And I could go on, and on, and on, and on .... .................AND ON
*
Going to the movies, was a very good pass time if you could afford it. not many could back then, I know we could not until I discover how to earn money. that is coming up soon earning money. But you did have to earn your own money if you wanted to go to the movies on a saturday. Our folks just didn`t have it to give with eight children, it only cost a nickle to see two films and a cartoon and a serial film, A serial film is like a cartoon but you are also involved in the serial film, they may have funny men raceing each other on foot, and would have a number on there backs to show the kids who won when the men cross the finish line, and that kid with the lucky number would win a bike that is setting on stage for all to
see,
If they don`t have the serisl film , they will pass out a free Hoodsie cup when going in. Boy what a deal. they would show car races, and foot races, and running races. it was always different each week, I remember crying because my Mother did not have five cents to give me to go to the movies one saturday, I was not crying because I could not see the movies, I was crying because I could not have a chance to win the bike...LOL...I never had a bike growing up.
Yes that is right, I made my own toys that has been around for many years.
Rubber Band Guns, The most popular toy was the rubber band gun. Every kid had one, and we would try to out do
the best gun in our neighborhood. Differaunt shapes and styles and colors. All you needed was a rubber band made from a tire tube, two pieces of wood 4" inches long and 6" wide, and a spring action clothes pin. I remember making one for my grand child and he loved it,
*
Box Scooters, Was the next big item to come down the pike, it was a orange crate on a 2x4 board with roller skates
for the wheels. Again we all tried to make the best, and fastest in the neighborhood. We would have scooter races on Saturdays,
*
Box Car , came along, and had lots of fun making them. I had a little business going back then making box car and scooters for the kids in town. The fathers, and Mothers would ask me to make a box car for their kid and I would make a couple of bucks doing that, I like making them more then riding in them., I use to say " Henry Food look out I am coming
fast" LOL..
*
Kite Flying, became a big hit back in those day`s it got so popular that you had to go and find a area to fly them because all the parks were full with every one trying out the new gig...There was so many kites in the air they were getting all tangled up together LOL...Some of the kids got in to hot water with their Dads because of the kite. they would take their
fathers best tie to use for the tail on there kite. .LOL
*
Yoyo`s, came on the scene, Boy oh Boy did they ever took over , it was a BIG hit with all the kids boys & girls, Every kid had one in town, The Duncan Yo Yo man would come to your neighborhood on Saturday. there would be kids every where, hanging off lamp post and on top of the stores to watch him do all his tricks and give away a free beautiful YoYo to
the best YOYO performer. Boy that was the best ever. when our grand children came to visit, Ellen would make me go and get my YoYo to show the children how I still could do many of the tricks with it. .LOL
*
Marble Craze Came, ,Now I tell ya, I had the biggest marble collection that you would not believe unless you seen it . I had them every where, under my bed, in my closet, in my dresser draws, in shoe boxes, coffee cans, you would not believe it, you had to see it. Again we went around to neighborhoods all over the state to play marbles. yes there were contest at the neighborhood parks.
*
Gimp , What is gimp?, it was stripes of rawhide if you could afford it, most kids had the plastic type of gimp.
you could buy pieces long as you want a foot long or maybe two feet, it all depend on what you were going to make. You would use two pieces at a time crossing each other in the middle of the gimp, then you would over lap eack other to corner to corner to make a tight square and pull it together. you would do this until you have a nice long pieces that you tied the ends to make a neckless.
*
Collecting Baseball Cards, if you didn`t collect baseball cards, you would have had a collection of some thing else, Maybe Hoodsie cup lids with cow boys on the back, Some of the kids had a great collection of bottle caps, of differsunt soda company and differaunt brand names, Some collected Match book covers, the real rich kids had a Stamp collection, that ran in to lots of money to do. and maybe a coin collection. and of course a popsicle sticks collection,, I had a rock collection that I use to bring to school for show & tell.. what about Buttons, and cigarette packs, some kids would collect the silver foil only from cigerettes and other item with foil. And I could go on, and on, and on, and on .... .................AND ON
*
Going to the movies, was a very good pass time if you could afford it. not many could back then, I know we could not until I discover how to earn money. that is coming up soon earning money. But you did have to earn your own money if you wanted to go to the movies on a saturday. Our folks just didn`t have it to give with eight children, it only cost a nickle to see two films and a cartoon and a serial film, A serial film is like a cartoon but you are also involved in the serial film, they may have funny men raceing each other on foot, and would have a number on there backs to show the kids who won when the men cross the finish line, and that kid with the lucky number would win a bike that is setting on stage for all to
see,
If they don`t have the serisl film , they will pass out a free Hoodsie cup when going in. Boy what a deal. they would show car races, and foot races, and running races. it was always different each week, I remember crying because my Mother did not have five cents to give me to go to the movies one saturday, I was not crying because I could not see the movies, I was crying because I could not have a chance to win the bike...LOL...I never had a bike growing up.
Photo of my Aunt Sofie and Uncle Bud My mothers Brother
Earning Money, Well I did say I was going to talk abo ut ways I had earn money in my younger days growing up, Collecting bottles was one way to have money in your pocket. I would go around to houses to house and ask
if they needed any thing at the store, that also put money in my pocket. Many times I would be in my yard and the neighbor would call me over to send me to the store and I would get a nickel for that.
*
Earning Money, I would go around with the ice man and bring the cube of ice up on the second or third floors for a penny. I would do maybe 15 or 20 trips to the third floor, but back then 20 cents was a lot of money I also did the same for the
milk man, and the baker. or bread man, every thing was delivered in those days to the houses. it was worth one penny for the driver so he didn`t have to go up to the third floors in a hot sticky afternoon.
*
Earning Money, Most kids wanted a shoe shine box, I had one that I made myself ,I did very well with it on the week
ends. This was a excellent way to earn money. I had some great spots to shine shoes. I have shine shoe in Boston at park street train station . my older brother would take me in on the train in the morning, and come and get me during the afternoon. I would go and shine shoes at the fargo building where all the sailors were, I made lots of money there, couple times I shine shoes out in front of blimstrume night club on D street and Broadway in South Boston.
(TWICE I SHINE BABE RUTH SHOES, WELL ALL I DID WAS BRUSH THEM, HE DID NOT WANT ME TO USE ANY POLISH.)
AND HE GAVE ME $5.00 THE FIRST TIME, AND $10.00 THE SECOND TIME. I DON`T THINK HE WAS A PLAYER ANY
MORE AT THAT TIME, I THINK HE WAS A MANAGER OF SOME TEAM. I NEVER SAW HIM IN A BASEBALL UNIFROM, I THINK HE RETIRED FROM PLAYING IN 1935, AND I WAS BORN 1937. AND I DID NOT SHINE SHOE UNTIL IN THE 1945 OR MAYBE LATER. But you just don`t forget a moment like that ever...
I could not wait to get home to tell my Father, and he didn`t want me to be shining shoes out side of the night club any
more he said it was not the place where young children should be at night, I later found out what he was scared about. it was a rough place for the so called mob, ..... ( WHITEY) and his gang..
*
Earning Money, I would go and sell news paper with my brother Frank in the Boston City Hospital in the morning be fore school. then again I sold news paper at the park street station at night for the rush of people going home from their work place.. again I made lots of money.
*
Earning Money, I was playing in my back yard one day, and the rug man came by with his horse and wagon yelling out
for old rugs and news papers. so this day he stop and asked me if the old looking bike that was setting there for weeks if it was mine. I don`t remember what I said to him, but the bike was not any good at all, so he gave me 15 cents for it, From that day on, I always had my nickel to go to the movies because I would look and fine rugs and old news papers , and any iron or cooper. to give to the rug man on Saturday mornings...
P.S NOTE.......
So my dear friends who may have sat down and took the time to read this I thank you for that, and I do hope it was not to boring , I do hope it was interesting some what...... I know there are many families or folks like me with their own memories. I just want to ask them who ever they are is to think about
Why
I am one of the lucky one`s, to learn and understand
WHY ?
~ THANK YOU MOM & DAD FOR LIFE ~
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