Thursday, December 22, 2011

Sister Mary Augustine



Our great-grandmother Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith had a sister Johannah. She married Dyer Colgrove and they lived in Meadville. Anna was the first child of five. Both her mother and the fifth child died soon after his birth in 1883. By 1890 Anna was living with her cousins Pierre and Richard at 14 East 5th. Lucy and Michael Smith had their saloon at 12 East 5th. In 1896 Anna became a Sister of St. Joseph and took the name Sister Mary Augustine.






I remember my mother saying that a few times when she was young, she would go over to the nun house on East 3rd, and walk back to 509 with Sister (nuns weren't allowed to walk alone), so as Sister and her father could visit. Mom said that Sister was a jolly person and a good conversationalist.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving back in the day…

At the close of yet another Thanksgiving day, I am drawn back to my childhood memories.

We came from a large ‘clan’, but always seemed to celebrate Thanksgiving with our own little family units. The exception was Anna who was always free to choose where she went for the day. My memory is that she always went to Julia and Harry’s, but I could be wrong. I think she had Thanksgiving with us one year, but I am not sure.

One of the strangest memories was watching my mother ‘singe’ the pin feathers off of the turkey. No nicely prepared, ready to cook Butterball Turkeys in the 50’s!! The birds back then were always scrawny! (Remember Donna Reed pulling her Turkey out of the oven in "It’s a wonderful life"). Back in those days most of our meal was the veggies, not as much meat as we eat now.

The kitchen table at our house on Eagle Point was always set with a tablecloth for the meal. When we lived on Fifth Street, we had a dining room, but I don’t remember ever eating in there….but then I was only 4 ½ when we moved from there!

My mom always stuffed the turkey--and none of us died from it! We would have mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (Southerners call it dressing and make it with cornbread ). I think our vegetable was always parsnips or turnips, and for the life of me, I can’t remember which it was…maybe it was both. Parker House rolls too! I think we always had sweet potatoes (not the canned with marshmallows, but real ones that she would scoop out and put butter and brown sugar on them and of course, pumpkin pie. My mother also made a pudding with ‘hard sauce’. It was delicious, but I can’t remember what it was called.

A staple that I loved was we always had black olives and green olives on the table. A tradition that I continued with my family and they now have for theirs.

When I was little, I used to like to pull the meat off the turkey neck and eat it. I think I was a weird, picky eater. As my scales can attest to, I got over that pickiness!

The best Thanksgiving for a kid was the horrendous snowstorm of 1956!!

Cousin Rich shares the following Barron memories:

I don't remember Anna ever coming for Thanksgiving, but sometimes my grandmother would be with us. I remember that one year my Dad said that he thought that turkey was always dry, and suggested that we have duck instead. It seems that it was all dark meat and we kids didn't really like it. It also seems that for the next few years we'd vote on it, and so sometimes we would have duck. I haven't had duck since.

We always had Thanksgiving dinner in the dining room around 5 o'clock. I remember Thanksgiving 1956, as that was the year of the big snowstorm. It was dark and snowy outside, and we were warm and cozy inside.

This is one thing I remember about Thanksgiving afternoon in 1954. The kitchen radio was on while mom was setting the dining room table. The song playing was 'Hey There' by Rosemary Clooney. About half way through the song, Rosemary says in a talking voice, "Are you talking to me?". Four year old David, playing on the floor, spoke right up and answered her. Wish I could remember what he said, but whatever it was, mom got a big kick out of it.

Happy thanksgiving to all….may our fond memories continue!

Posted by Dede and Rich

Monday, October 31, 2011

David Crotty

Our David Crotty was born in April, 1848. He married Lucy Horrigan in Saint Patrick Church on January 4, 1872. They had two children - Pierre and Richard. David died at the age of 28 years and 8 months on December 10, 1876.

From the 1871 City Directory:
Crotty David Jr., Saloon, 410State. Boards at Wm. Power

From the List of Deaths in the 1877 City Directory:
David Crotty, Heart disease, Dec 10, 1876

Also in the 1871 City Directory is an entry for another David Crotty:
Crotty David, Blacksmith helper, Erie Car Works. Boards at Wm. Power

So here's the mystery. Is this David the father or is he a cousin? This possible cousin was also born in April 1848, but he lived until 1923. He married an Ellen Osborn in 1881. The other mystery is who was William Power, and is Grandma Powers connected with him?

The following newspaper clipping is from the weekly newspaper. December 10th was a Sunday.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Confirmation




Pat and I were confirmed when we were in the 8th grade. The nuns had us terrified that we would not be able to answer a question that the bishop may ask us. But as it turned out very few, if any, questions were asked. At Confirmation you could pick or change your middle name, so Pat and I made a pact to use each other's name. Thus my middle name became Patrick, but Pat reneged. My high school and Social Security records are P. When I joined the Air Force I explained why I had two middle names, but they said I had to choose one or the other, so I reverted to John (I was named after uncle Johnny).




Now my mother wasn't given a middle name at birth. At Confirmation she choose Frances after a neighbor lady who she liked very much.




The picture was taken after the services. I don't know why I'm not in it.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Number 5 Crotty child….Virginia




On Wednesday, August 30, 1911 , mine and Nancy’s mother, Virginia, was the 5th child born, second daughter. of the 9 children that Richard and Julia Sullivan Crotty had. I believe my mother told me that she was the first child in the family born in a hospital.

Today marks the 100th birthday of my mother, Virginia.

She has been gone now almost 36 years……gone for more of my life than she was in it. I still have recipes that she wrote in her own hand…..most of them I don’t make anymore….foolish to cook that much food for one person, but I will never part with them. Hopefully they will be carried through to the next generation! (I know they will)

She was a wonderful mother and loved Dad, Nancy and I… there was never any doubt. She also loved her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.

The picture attached was take by the family photographer, Tom Barron. The date on the picture was November, 1942. At that time she was a 31 year old widow with a 5 year old daughter. I would assume that she had already met my father, as they were married in March, 1943, in St. Patrick’s Church. He was off fighting in WWII. Maybe it is just me, but this picture has a ‘Mona Lisa’ quality about it.

She was thrilled when I made her a grandmother. A little boy was finally in our family!! She had two years to enjoy being with him before she died. It brought her such joy!!

Not a day goes by that I do not think of her and Daddy with loving memories. Mama, I will always miss you and love you and Daddy both.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Bob Hope




This picture of me was taken off the TV by my mom. The camera was set up on a tripod all ready to go by my dad. He was not home at the time of the airing of this Bob Hope Show from Vietnam. Lucky for me that guy in front lowered his head at just the right moment! That's what mom always said about this picture. Great timing, mom.




***




Blogged by Tom










Monday, June 27, 2011

Summertime fun

Written by Dede -

During the summers, many a carefree Sunday afternoon was spent by a lot of us at “Turner’s Farm”. The actual name of the place was Turnwald. Turnwald was owned by the East Erie Turners, 9th and Parade Streets.

As you made the right turn on to the property, there was a dual stand of pine trees on the left that curved towards the entrance. On holidays, they had either a wagon or an old firetruck (? Not clear on this) that would take kids for rides thru the trees. They always had a police man (state or
county??) checking membership cards at the entrance. It
was the same man for all the years I can remember going
there.

Another thing that they had on Holidays was the clown,
Rusty Rusterholtz and his calliope! My goodness….I can’t
remember how many cups of coffee I had this am, but I
remember that!!

Going to the Turners farm usually were, at best, semi-
planned. It was a good inexpensive way to pass a Sunday
afternoon. The grown ups would sometimes get a ¼ keg
of beer…..Anna ALWAYS brought Planters peanuts in
the shell that she bought at 10th and State. Julia’s specialty
was Potato Salad, my mom’s was baked beans. I can’t
remember what Lucille and Betty brought. Gosh…..all that
mayonnaise in the sun and we all lived thru it!

As people say now…’back in the day…’ All of us kids
could run all over and play and be adventurous. There was
the standard playground equipment and those wonderful
woods that you can run around and play in….I think we
were junior explorers before somebody decided you had to
be organized to be ‘allowed’ to do that.

They had a food stand that sold things if you did not bring
your own picnic equipment; and the also had a room full
of gas burners so you could warm up your baked beans!
Outside they had charcoal grills to do your hamburgers and
hot dogs.

Of the few buildings they had, to me the most fascinating
was the barn (aka the bar), where there was a GIGANTIC moose
head hanging from the wall!! You could buy your beverages
there if you had not arranged for a ‘keg’. They had a fair
amount of covered picnic areas, but in the event of rain,
you could also run to the barn for cover.

As kids, we didn't (at least I don’t think we did!) complain
of being bored. We were our own entertainment….I don’t
really ever remember any of us fighting….we just played.

So sad that as the years have gone by, Turnwald has long
been sold. And the East Erie Turners is now gone.

We were indeed the ‘fortunate generation’

...................... Blogged by Dede ...................

Monday, May 23, 2011

Memorial Day


David Callahan - Vietnam hero
This picture and the newspaper article say it all.
In all the wars that our family has been involved
in, he was our only casualty (that we know of).
May he be the last.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Losing our last member of the “Greatest Generation"….


I am sure that Tom Brokaw would not mind that I borrowed the title of his book, “The Greatest Generation” for this post. If you haven’t read this, you really should. Willie and all of our parents made this country what it is today and that is what Brokaw’s book is about. When we lost Willie, it made the 13 of us remaining cousins the older generation now. When Richie started the blog back in 2007, it was about our parents, grandparents, great aunts and uncles….all gone to their eternal reward. I sincerely hope that as life goes on, our kids will have some interest in all of this family history. I was unable to attend Willie’s funeral service, but I understand from Rich and Barb that they gave him a good ‘Irish’ send off over a couple of days. You know Willie was up there looking down and saying “I want a shot and a beer”! Everytime Rick and I came to Erie, we would go see him. One time it was near his birthday. We stopped and got him a cake (Boston Creme Pie) and a box of chocolates from Steffanelli's. He was like a little kid at Christmas. Willie, as all the other aunts and uncles, loved us all…..a very sentimental man. When we had our reunion in 2006, I remember Willie standing and watching the slide show with tears in his eyes. I am sure he was flooded with wonderful memories. I also remember about 10 years ago (he would have been about 83 or 84) he sent me an email at work….”Remember, when life hands you a lemon, ask for tequila and salt and make a margarita!” I burst out laughing….my co-workers thought his comment was funny, but were even more amazed that at his age he was able to use a computer. When Lucille died, Nancy and I took Willie back to the St Joseph Apartments after the luncheon. I teased him about being the Lithuanian patriach of this Irish family. He got the biggest kick out of that. God Bless and rest in peace to the last of our Greatest Generation.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Marbles


Yikes - 57 years ago this spring!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Cauley Memorial



The Cauley Memorial was built in 1957 the year after I graduated from St. Patrick's School. Parishioners made a pledge towards it's construction, and would then make monthly payments as I remember mom and dad doing.

Uncle Harry used to coach basketball, and his sons David and Billy (aka Bumpy), and cousin Mike R. played when they went to St. Patrick's. I know that they had championship teams, but I don't know any details.


When Tommy and I were in high school we would go with our friend Joe to the Friday night record hops. Father Plunkett hired us to clean up afterwards, so we got in for nothing. After we finished he would sometime drive us home in his Imperial. It seemed his car just glided over 4th Street which was brick between German and Parade.

We used to watch wrestling on TV around 6 PM on Saturdays. We liked to see the Gallagher Brothers, the Miller Brothers and Bobo Brazil who was famous for his "coco butt". One time the Gallagher Brothers wrestled at the Cauley. We peeked in and saw them as we couldn't afford to buy a ticket.

The famous rhythm and blues/rock and roll group, the Coasters, also performed at the Cauley. I remember that they each drove up in their own Cadillac. Again, we couldn't afford to buy a ticket, so we missed the show.

In the 80's the church had an October fest. They would show movie clips of horse races and you could place a bet on each race. Then there were the St. Patrick's Day dinners. I think Barb and I went about three times with mom and dad.

Recently the Cauley was sold to Erie Insurance.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Dr. Anne E. Sullivan



On December 18, 2010, several of us cousins had the opportunity to join our cousin Anne in celebration of her earning her Doctorate. Lucy was able to be there and actually observe the ceremony on December 16. Anne had a graduation party on December 18. Patty Crotty was in Florida from Dayton to spend Christmas with Mike, Chris, and family. I drove from Jacksonsville to Satellite Beach and met up up Mike and Patty. Mike so graciously was our driver to Jupiter, several hours south.

It was wonderful to be able to be there and share in her joy as she reaches this milestone. What an accomplishment!!

Anne had organized the festivities in true 'Anna' fashion.....the food was wonderful and enjoyed by all. The only casualty was a stone crab shell 'attacking' Mike while he tried to crack it! That thing bled like crazy. Funny post scrip to that little accident is there were doctors and nurses there and it seemed like they discussed it for the longest while....then somebody found the gauze and wrapped it.

As usual, when you get a bunch of us together, we dont lack for anything to talk about!! One thing we did discuss is trying to get the cousins (only 13 of us now) together perhaps this summer....dont know if it will happen or where it will happen.....we are open to suggestions....I think we put Lucy in charge of this? Lucy?? A good time was had by all....


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