Crotty 15

A Good Hair (and Care) Day with Lucille

2012-01-12T13:28:00.003-05:00

Beauty is as beauty does. And, yes, we all want a good hair day. Sometimes today it takes the better part of a day at a chic beauty salon or spa. Many women will contend that not only is their visit ‘beautifying’ in the true sense of the word, but also therapeutic and nurturing. If you were lucky growing up, you received it all in our dear Aunt Lucille Barron’s kitchen.

Imagine, living with her husband Tom, her sons Rich, Tommy and Dave and having a quasi beauty parlor right there in her kitchen with all of her guys coming and going all afternoon! Mind you, in the 50’s and 60’s one way to ‘glamour’ was the ‘permanent wave.’ This was no short nor fragrant process. Lucille sectioned your hair with row upon row of pink, blue and purple curlers followed with a solution that rivaled ammonia. Your head was then wrapped in a plastic cap for an hour, and rinsed with a second solution. At the end, the curlers came out to allow the recipient a flock of curls that made you the envy of your friends. You could set your hair in rollers and have waves, or use bobby pins and see tight locks. Yes, for about 6 months you sported your look until 4 or 5 haircuts sent your curls walking. Then, of course, you came back for your next beauty treatment.

Certainly in-style hair was great. However, longer lasting was the therapeutic element of having your hair done at Lucille’s. Throughout the process, you spent the day together. You shared news, exchanged ideas, and discussed fashion with Lucille, the iconic fashion role model. We talked about the state of the state, vented, and chuckled during this bonding process.

I always watched how Lucille did hair. I was fascinated with it all. As the years passed, I stepped in with some of our relatives, including my mother Betty, doing many cuts and perms. I have an especially fond memory of a night I spent with our dear Aunt Virginia Jackson, giving her a cut and curl, following a great dinner she cooked. I’ll never forget how pleased she was when she looked in the mirror and said, “Is that me?” After all these years, I still remember her pleasure.

As I moved on with my life in New Jersey, I continued to give cuts and perms. I bonded with friends and their daughters. To this day, I have great relationships, based upon our quality ‘hair time together.’

I had a great teacher. Thank you, Lucille, for your beauty shop at home, and the inspiration you so generously gave to all of us. Believe me, it lives on. What greater tribute can I give you, beautiful hair designs and forever bonding! Thank you, again, our dear Aunt Lucille.

***
Blogged by Lucy

Sister Mary Augustine

2011-12-22T14:33:00.005-05:00

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.

Thanksgiving back in the day…

2011-11-24T20:05:00.001-05:00

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

David Crotty

2011-10-31T15:18:00.003-04:00

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.

Confirmation

2011-09-27T19:43:00.003-04:00

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.

Number 5 Crotty child….Virginia

2011-08-30T06:40:00.002-04:00

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.

Bob Hope

2011-07-19T19:17:00.004-04:00

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

Summertime fun

2011-06-27T19:30:00.005-04:00

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 ...................

Memorial Day

2011-05-23T13:41:00.007-04:00

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.

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

2011-04-07T08:17:00.004-04:00

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.

Marbles

2011-03-29T18:43:00.003-04:00

Yikes - 57 years ago this spring!

Cauley Memorial

2011-02-23T14:34:00.008-05:00

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.

Dr. Anne E. Sullivan

2011-01-05T11:16:00.008-05:00

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....

Blackboard

2010-12-15T16:03:00.004-05:00

I remember that we got our blackboard from the old one-room schoolhouse that Lucy Crotty had bought out past Northeast. Before she had it remolded she told the family that anyone who wanted a blackboard could go out and get one. So one summer evening after supper we went out to pick one out and bring it home. I guess uncle Mike also went because Nancy also had one in her back shed. Anyway, it would have taken two guys to remove them from the wall and carry them to the car. I wonder how they fit them into a car.

Dad put our blackboard on the kitchen wall, but before he could do that he had to cut a couple of inches off the side of it. He used hacksaw blades and it took quite a while.

Tommy remembers that sometimes we would run our fingernails down the board to entertain anyone that needed entertaining. He also remembers playing a lot of tic-tac-toe, and that we'd use the chalk until there was nothing left.

I remember writing at the top "57 days till Christmas", and then changing the number each day.

Also, sometimes Nancy would drop-in for a short visit, and on her way out the door she would write her full name - always on a 45 degree slant.

For a number of years, mom would draw a Santa on the board. No one would put anything else on the board at this time. Nancy remembers lining up chairs in her back shed and playing school with her board.

Our blackboard in now in Julie's garage in Katy, Texas.

The Florida Family

2010-11-16T08:46:00.002-05:00

On Friday, October 29, several members of the Crotty family gathered here in Jacksonville, FL for dinner and lots of visiting.

I now live in Jacksonville, and my sister Nancy was coming down here for a visit. My daughter Robin, husband Anthony, and daughter Aubrey also live in Jacksonville. Mike and Chris Crotty only live a couple of hours drive south of here and they drove up for dinner. Their daughter Maggie, brother Tim, and Maggie's boyfriend Matt all live here in Jacksonville. Plans were made to go out to dinner. We chose Culhane's Irish Pub in Atlantic Beach. Two members of the 'Florida Family' were unable to make it. Anne from Jupiter and John Crotty (Mike and Chris' other son)

In the meantime, I heard from a cousin on the Jackson side of my family. Pete Tormey and his girlfriend Kate Coleman were coming from California to JAX to visit an old buddy of Pete's.

Pete and Kate joined us for dinner.

It is really a wonderful thing that people that haven't seen each other in a lot of years, or have no clue as to who they are eating with can sit down and there is never a lull in the conversation! We all truly had a good time.

I knew it at the time and was going to remind all....that day was Uncle Willie's 94th birthday! Happy belated birthday, Willie.

I have not figured out this picture 'tagging' thing. So: left to right starting at the bottom: Kate Cornwall, Nancy, Maggie Crotty, Chris and Mike Crotty, Matt Anderson, Anthony Grosso, Robin G., Aubrey G., yours truly, Tim Crotty, and Pete Tormey.

Out with the boys

2010-10-28T15:05:00.004-04:00

One Saturday when I was young I remember my dad, my brother, me, and uncle Willie (we called him Woody) and his friend Paul went over to the peninsula. My dad took a couple of pictures with his Kodak 616 camera. In the first one we are at the Perry Monument.

The second picture shows the USS Wolverine, which had been beached at Misery Bay in 1927. It was the first iron-hulled warship and was built in 1842. In 1949 it was cut up and sold for scrap.

Bottle openers and other objects…

2010-09-28T19:29:00.006-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, Robin, Anthony, and Aubrey were over here for dinner. I always make sure I have beer on hand for Anthony. He likes different kinds of beer…kinda like cousin Richie!

Anyway, to get to the point, the kind of beer I had required a bottle opener (also known as a ‘church key’). I told him to get the opener off the shelf….it was the bottle opener that Anna had for all the years I can remember. Anthony opened his beer, then looked at the opener and inquired what the ‘hooked’ end was used for. I told him it was used to get the dividers out of ice trays. He and Robin looked at me like they were ready to put me in the ‘home’.

It just reminds me of other things from days gone by. Do you remember:

Toasters that you opened the vertical side, placed the toast in there, closed the door and hoped it didn't burn?

Egg beaters/’mixers’ were very simple hand cranked items that all our moms had in their kitchens?

Coffee percolators? Nothing can come close to that smell or sound! Not even Mr. Coffee.

Clothes were always hung out on a line to dry in good weather or in the basement during the winter.

Coffee cans, always had a key on the bottom. You removed the key and inserted the ‘tab’ and worked it all around the can until it was open.

If your bike got a flat tire, your dad stuck it in a tub of water to find the leak so he could patch it.

Not every kid had their own room? You bunked in with your siblings. Most of us lived at home or in a college dorm or the military until you got married.

I can remember my mother ‘singeing’ pin feathers off a turkey or a chicken. Pre Butterball turkey days.

The clamp on meat grinder that every home had? I don’t remember what mom used it for, but we had one!

The ‘twisty’ doorbell that was on Anna’s front door?

The push button light switches in Anna’s house?

Can openers!! They were instruments of torture…They had a point on one end and you had to do an up and down motion around the whole can to get the entire lid off!!

3 TV stations!!

Most of us have seen all these emails saying ‘remember when’…..Do any of the rest of you have any more remember whens?

***

Blogged by Dede

Meeting with Surgeon General

2010-08-24T18:51:00.005-04:00

Thought I'd pass along one of the pics I got back from the meeting I had with Dr. Regina Benjamin on April 16th. I met with her at the CGI U event and was able to have her come to UM to discuss the role of the nursing in reducing costs and increasing efficiencies and quality patient outcomes for the "recent health care bill changes." We recommended that primary care be handled by the Advanced Practice Nurses and Doctors of Nursing Practice as independent practitioners. I outlined cost/benefit ratios for her based on EVIDENCE! I have asked the Dean of Nursing for another meeting with her for the fall in DC. UM is sending me a CD of more photos from that meeting...better photos.. ....I'm not bragging much, here. Ha.

***

Blogged by Anne

Anne meets President Clinton

2010-08-04T15:55:00.008-04:00

The University of Miami was the site for the 3rd Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting (CGI U) held on April 16-18, 2010. As a graduate student Anne was selected by the University to represent nursing as a facilitator for a panel discussion on health care.

Of course she got to meet President Clinton, and during her private conference, asked him to autograph her program for her dad. It says, "To Bill, Thank you, Bill Clinton. She had told the President that her father had been a Physical Training Instructor for pilots during WWII. She also mentioned that he had voted for him twice. The President laughed and said he would be honored to say thanks to her dad.

Willie at Prep

2010-07-30T16:27:00.005-04:00

Willie played football at Prep from 1932 to 1935. He was the captain of the 1935 team and played in the QB position. He best remembers the time they played in Bradford in his senior year when the rain fell throughout the game. Prep won 13 to 0. In his junior year he remembers the game against Vincent when he had the ball and ran many yards only to be stopped a foot from a touchdown. They still won the game though with the score 6 to 0.

Urn

2010-06-28T19:50:00.004-04:00

After grandpa died in 1950, Anna had an urn placed on his grave site. This picture, taken by my dad, shows the urn at the cemetery. It is behind the flag. The big stone to the left of the urn is for grandpa's father David. The stone in the back is for Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith. Sometime in the late 1980's the cemetery informed Anna that the urn needed to be removed. My dad put it in her back shed and it sat there for awhile. She later asked me if I wanted it. We painted it white and each summer we place it on our front walk. This year we have geraniums in it.

The traveling bench

2010-05-27T20:14:00.009-04:00

Many of you will remember the infamous cemetery bench. As I can recall the facts from my mother, the bench was purchased by our grandmother, Julia Sullivan Crotty, and was placed at the grave site in Trinity Cemetery of her parents John and Anna Dillon Sullivan.

The first picture shows their grave site. Their stones are in the upper right in front of the big stone. In the foreground is a cement pad. I bet that is where the bench was. The second picture shows the tomb stones.

The best we can do is surmise that this probably occurred in the late 1920's or early 1930's. During the 30's, families were advised that these benches needed to be removed. It was then taken to reside for a number of years at 509 Parade Street. Sometime around 1946 the bench was moved to my parents house - one of the 'cottages' built by Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith at 411 East 5th Street. My family later moved to Eagle Point Blvd in the early 1950's, and the bench travelled to the new Jackson homestead.

The bench stayed at Eagle Point until 1977 when my father moved to Houston to be near me and my family. I recently (May 15, 2010) moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near my daughter and her family. The bench made the journey with me.

Since I live in an apartment now, the bench is at Robin and Anthony's home. It is being given a place of honor. It will go to their daughter Aubrey. A picture of Aubrey, on the bench will be added later. Aubrey is the great-great-great-granddaughter of John and Anna Dillon Sullivan and the great-great-granddaughter of Richard and Julia Sullivan Crotty. This bench will survive us all. I wish I knew more of the history.

This bench has traveled more than Grandma Crotty ever did, or even thought about it in her lifetime. An old iron bench is the legacy for the generations to come.

co-posted by

Dede & Rich

The Crotty Estate via a 1943 Wheat Penny

2010-04-08T13:40:00.002-04:00

Any cousin who ever went to Anna’s house was familiar with her ‘pennies.’ On her buffet was a chrome wine set with what I think today, was an ice bucket. Anna gave permission for all of us to take some of those pennies from the ice bucket and make a trip to the ‘PX,’ a convenience/candy store on 6th and Parade. This store used to be owned by a family member in years gone by. It had changed hands several times. At that time, the ‘PX’ had a cadre of wonderful penny candies to include wax lips, bubble gum, tootsie rolls, amongst a host of other candies.

One Saturday afternoon, my brother Mike and I were joined by either Dave Barron, Tom Barron, Dave Callahan, or all of the noted. One of us had seen an article in the Erie Times under coin collection. It indicated that there was a rare wheat penny from 1943. This penny was worth over $100,000. Needless to say, in the late 50’s, this was a lot of money! The group of us that day told Anna that we were going to see if any of her pennies, surely over 1,000 pennies in that ice bucket, were of this vintage. Anna supported us with Rola Cola, potato chips, and Swiss cheese while humoring our enthusiasm. We spent several hours going through the entire pot. And, low and behold, we found a 1943 wheat penny!

What a thrill! We then decided how Anna would spend her newly-found money. First, she would purchase a large estate, the ‘Crotty Estate.’ This would allow all Crotty families to have a family bedroom in this mansion, probably in Glenwood Hills. We would enjoy this on weekends. There would be a swimming pool. (We no longer had to go to Chestnut pool to swim) The boys wanted a baseball diamond and a basketball hoop. We’d no longer go to the CYS Club for bowling on Sunday, we’d have our own bowling alley. Then there would be servants. One of us decided that we would ask the servants to ‘peel our grapes.’ We laughed ourselves silly and went onto other modes, totally enjoying being amongst the rich and privileged. We would return to our own homes for the daily week, going to school where we were enrolled, to return on weekends.

After all of our enthusiasm, planning and expectations, as all luck would have it, our penny lacked the final demarcation needed to command the $100,000. We again convened at Anna’s. There would be no estate, no family rooms, no swimming pool, baseball diamond or basketball hoop, nor having our grapes peeled, or fancy dinners. Looked like it was back to the CYS Club on Sunday for bowling. However, all was not lost. We still had carte blanche to Anna’s house and her penny pot with our choice of penny candy at the PX.

It’s December, 24th, 1974. I am sitting in a church in New Jersey for Christmas Eve Mass listening to ‘Silent Night.’ I am holding my new baby, 1 month old. (This baby is now 35 years old) We came home, to receive the ‘Christmas Eve Call In’ from Anna, et al. Anna always had the entire family for a Christmas Eve party. Passing the phone from one family member to the next was both a fun and sacred experience. Your first Christmas without your family is a tough one, but the call allowed for continuity in spirit.

Thinking back on the many events Anna hosted for her family, be it Christmas Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, a new chair, or a lava lamp celebration, the ‘Crotty Estate’ was up and alive. Needless to say, Anna didn’t need to be amongst the rich and famous in a palatial mansion to behold the “Crotty Estate.’ It was there all the time.

Lucy Rastatter Cappello
April 8, 2010
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Hot Fudge Sundaes at Norma and Johnnie’s

2010-03-03T18:44:00.000-05:00

Lights, Cameras, Action and Hot Fudge Sundaes at Norma and Johnnie’s

I lived in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey for some of the best years of my adult life. I shopped in a neighboring town, Westwood, New Jersey, and always managed to make my way into a little sweet shop called Conrad’s. Their homemade candy rivals Stefanelli’s in Erie. They have an ice cream soda shop that takes you back years in time. It still looks like 1959. Westwood has the charm of suburban New York, offering a variety of venues for the shopper and palate. Conrad’s still holds old charm.

Over twenty five years ago, while shopping, I was craving a hot fudge sundae. I went to Conrad’s. I took one taste and went back in time. Could this actually be happening? The time was the late 50’s and early 60’s, at Norma and Johnnie’s house.

After putting on our Sunday finest, Mike, Ann and I, in my parent’s Ford, were excited to be on Greengarden Blvd, knowing ‘the turn’ was coming. We walked into Norma and Johnnie’s greeted by Norma. She always had perfectly coiffured auburn hair, with a “Gibson Girl” twist in the front. She wore a crisp apron and always, red nails with an understated yet beaming smile. Johnnie was always gentle and warm.

We kids (Patty, Mike, Ann, Mike and I) could care less what the adults were going to do for the afternoon. We went downstairs to the basement stage and had a ball creating an original play. How I loved that time in their great basement! After much planning and practice, we put on our original play. Our audience of parents gave rounds of applause. We had succeeded. Look out Broadway.

Before dinner, I’d admire Norma’s original art work. I thought it was so cool. She had oil paintings, some by numbers, beautifully framed throughout the house. Then, time for a great dinner. Yes, a great dinner, but I couldn’t wait for the dessert, a hot fudge sundae. You could smell the sauce cooking. God, nothing could compare, except tasting it! It had a rich chocolate flavor and a moderate creamy consistency dripping over pure vanilla ice cream. I’ve tried many times to recreate the sauce with the Hershey’s cocoa hot fudge recipe, and maybe I’ve come close. Then I went into Conrad’s in Westwood, New Jersey. No matter what diet I tried to be on over the past 25 years, I’d give myself a reprieve and have that hot fudge sundae. I am amazed. How can I be so lucky? It’s just like Norma’s! I enjoy my sundae. I go back in time. I relive my childhood memories. I reconnect with what’s good and important. Conrad’s, please never go out of business.

Lucy Cappello
March 2, 2010

I am REALLY a Crotty..

2010-02-28T16:49:00.002-05:00

As I begin the next phase of my life, I find that those Crotty 'no frills' genes are really part of who I am.

When I started looking thru the accumulation of over 40 years of marriage, I initially wanted to save everything. As I go thru it each time, more and more 'stuff' is getting discarded, ready to be sold at a garage sale, or donated. I finally realized that my memories are not in 'things', but in the memories I will carry with me wherever I go.

I recently sent my daughter Robin a text asking her if she wanted something. She replied that yes, she would like it, but the Crotty in her says no!! So, she declined whatever item it was, and really only wants things that remind her of her home here and her Dad. I think Kevin is realizing too that it is possible to have too many things that really don't mean that much.

Another "Anna" thought...I have decided to take minimal furniture mainly because it seems foolish to drag with me what I will not need. I will be starting my apartment in Jacksonville with only my recliners, no sofa! It reminded me of a post Mary Ann made that Anna was the only person she ever knew who had no sofa in their living room. Mary Ann...I know you are up there laughing!!

I will never start pitching family heirlooms and pictures out of the attic window though!!

Daniel Cappello

2010-02-20T18:48:00.003-05:00

Daniel Cappello is a great-grandson of Richard and Julia Crotty. He is the founder of 47 Ventures - a creative consulting company. Dan draws on an encompassing career that has spanned the worlds of media, politics, design, philanthropy, fashion, and the arts to offer clients a uniquely customized experience for their personal and business development needs.

Dan is currently the Fashion Editor of Quest Media, which publishes the cultural magazine Quest and the fashion magazine Q. He has worked on the editorial staffs of The New Yorker, George, and Harvard Current. He has covered and written about science, politics, literature, fashion, and etiquette for publications such as Playbill, Absolute New York, W, Ralph Lauren’s RL Magazine, and www.newyorker.com/. He has been a ballet critic for Dance and Pointe magazines, and has written and photographed for New York Social Diary.

Dan served President Bill Clinton as Director of Specialty Press and has worked on such creative projects as the redesign and installation of the permanent exhibit “Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady,” at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, in Boston, and Richard Avedon’s final photographic portfolio, “Democracy.”

Dan Cappello received his B.A. degree in Government from Harvard University, where he also earned a Citation in French Language.

http://www.fortysevenventures.com/

The Clubs

2010-01-28T13:36:00.005-05:00

Sometimes on Sunday afternoon we would go to the East Erie Turners on 9th & Parade. When I was very young the club had slot machines, and I can vaguely remember grandma playing the penny machine. When we were a little older, Pat, Harry, Tommy and I would play around the club. Pat and I would look for Tommy and Harry or the other way round. There was the main club room, a smaller dining room, the bar room and the bowling alley downstairs. It was a crowded place and so it seemed easy to hide from each other. As the day passed the building got very smokey, and your eyes would burn. Who ever heard of the dangers of second-hand smoke?

By the mid 50's we started going to the CYS club on East 2nd Street between French and Holland. We called it the Russian Club. I'm not sure why we started going there, but I remember that they had chicken in the basket - 1/2 chicken and French fries - for a dollar. In the early evening they had bingo, and Anna would get extra cards so the kids could play.

Razanauskas Brothers in WWII

2009-12-20T20:20:00.005-05:00

On the left is Eddie. His rank was Petty Officer Third Class and served in the engine room on the aircraft carrier USS Franklin.

Bill is the guy in the middle. In his wife's Crotty family he is known as Willie. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Army, and was stationed at Frederick Army Airfield, Frederick, Oklahoma. He was a Physical Training Instructor for pilots.

Walter's rank was Ensign. He commanded a Navy Landing Craft. These boats were used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. He was stationed in the Pacific.

Norma

2009-12-09T14:44:00.003-05:00

A note to Dede from Mike Crotty:

Dede--thanks for your comments about my Mother. Throughout her life, she always helped out family and even strangers deal with health, and many other issues. I think a significant factor was that her own Mother died the year she was born and she was raised by her Grandmother (Mary Chellis) and her aunt (Mary LaVerne Chellis aka Gooie). Her Grandmother was in fragile health so from a very young age, she was a health care provider,homemaker, cook, etc. Gooie worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 52 years so my Mother had to fill in for many of the day to day duties.

The honeymoon picture was taken at Miami Beach in July, 1942.

Also see "The Veterans" posting from Nov 2007.

Horrigan

2009-11-20T19:58:00.003-05:00

One time years ago I was at Anna's. We were sitting in the kitchen having a few beers when for some reason I asked what she knew about the family history. I remember that she said that her grandmother Lucy had come to the U.S. through Canada. A few years after that my dad went up to Betty and Willie's to see the family bible. There wasn't much in it except the Marriage Certificate for Lucy's marriage to Michael Smith. It had Lucy's parents as "Daniel Horrigan and". Her mother's name is not written!

This week using Ancestry.com I've found the Horrigan's in the 1851 Canada census! They were living in Flamboro West, Wentworth county. Daniel, 35, is listed as a cooper from Ireland. Others listed are Margaret, 35, Lucy, 12, Margaret 10, Richard, 6, Johannah, 2, and David, 1. The last two children were born in Canada.

Lucy's sister Johannah shows up in the 1870 census working as a domestic in Erie. In the 1880 census she is the wife of Dyer Colgrove in Meadville, PA. It shows her as being born in Canada. She has four children - Anna, Harry, Daniel and William. Anna later became a nun taking the name Sister Augustine. My mother had told me that sometimes she would go over to the convent and walk with Sister Augustine over to her house so that her father could visit with his cousin. I remember that my mom said that she was a very jolly person.

Johannah's son Daniel had a daughter Mary in 1904. Mary shows up in the 1910 census as living in St. Joseph's Orphanage. She later became a nun taking the name Sister Pierre. My mother sometimes mentioned her also.

Lucy shows up in the 1870 census also working as a domestic. The 1880 census shows her with her two sons, Pierre David and Richard J. She is running a restaurant on State St. In 1881 she married Michael Smith. He died in 1914. She died in 1929.

I cannot find anything on Lucy brothers or her sister Margaret. Maybe only Lucy and Johannah came to the U.S. But what about Grandma Powers? Was this Lucy's mother Margaret who remarried a Mr. Powers? I cannot find anything in the census or Erie City Directories that shows them living here.

It seems Lucy named her sons after her brothers. I wonder who the original Pierre was.

Happy Birthday Willie

2009-10-28T08:59:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday!

Remembering Mary Ann...

2009-09-30T10:07:00.002-04:00

September 25, 2009 marks the passing of the second oldest of the Crotty 15 cousins. Our dear cousin, Mary Ann Callahan Niedzielski died early that morning surrounded by her children.

Mary Ann….I remember one time asking Julia why she named her Mary Ann as it seemed kind of ‘rhymey’ with Callahan. She said she was named for the Blessed Mother, and her mother, Saint Ann. ‘Nuff said. That was Julia.

As a kid, I used to spend the night at the house on west Third street…. I remember that she was always sewing, LOVED to sleep late and was so pretty. I aspired to be as talented and pretty as she was. When I had my first dance at St. Pat’s in the 8th grade, Mary Ann let me wear one of her dresses. (I was a whole lot skinnier then!) I felt like a princess.

Mary Ann gave me my first year St. Ben’s uniforms. We knew they were going to change uniforms between my freshman and sophomore year and it made the most sense for me to wear her ‘hand me downs’. Kids today would be appalled….but that is the way it was.

When I graduated from St. Ben’s, she was my sponsor (don’t remember exactly what it was called, but she attended a luncheon with me)

Mary Ann was Miss Industry of Erie in 1963. See the picture of her attached on the float in the parade.

When I got out of high school, Mary Ann was already working at Hammermill, and I was working at Westinghouse on Hess Ave. About once a month we would go to our house on Eagle Point and Mom would fix us lunch. We would talk away the hour….

After Kim was born, I would go over to their house on 7th street to play with Kim and visit with Mary Ann and Stan. Funny story, I met Rick on Memorial Day, 1968. (May 30). On that weekend, Mary Ann and Stan were going to go out and had asked me to babysit. Rick really wanted to come over or call me while I was there. I wouldn’t tell him where she lived, but I did tell him that Stan’s name was Niedzielski…I figured he would never be able to spell it. He did, looked up the phone number, called me and we talked the night away after Kim was asleep! He reminded me that he too grew up in Erie and knew how to spell Polish names! The rest of Rick and I are history…we were married 6 months later.

When Mary Ann was expecting daughter number two, we all had the biggest shock when David died. A truly tragic time that we will all never forget. But then sadness turned to joy, when little Karen was born and I was asked to be her godmother!! What a thrill!!

I kept up with Mary Ann intermittently through the years…mostly keeping up with Karen.

We have all kind of gone our separate ways through the years, marrying the loves of our life, some getting divorced and then finding that special someone again to share their life with. Some of us have lost our spouses due to death. We mourn that loss with each other, but celebrate lives well lived. We raised our families, watched them grow, excel, and then marry and have families of their own. Some of our children now have grandchildren of their own.

The 14 remaining cousins have reconnected in recent years and it has been wonderful. We sit down to talk and the years just melt away.

In October, 2007, Rick and I were in Erie to attend his nephews wedding. I had been emailing Mike Crotty and found out he was going to be in Erie that weekend. We took a ‘mug shot’ of the gang of us at Nunzi’s Restaurant.

Also attached is a picture that was taken at Kristin’s on June 7, 2009. On July 3, Rick died, and now Mary Ann on September 25. May you both rest in peace and know no more pain.

I feel very fortunate to have been her cousin. The joy and happiness we have had in our lives far out shadows our sadness. Through it all, our life and our legacy lives on.

My better half...

2009-08-24T19:20:00.004-04:00

On July 3, 2009, I lost my best friend and husband Rick to Cancer. He was envious of the way that I grew up....all the aunts, uncles, cousins that were a part of all of our lives.

His memories of growing up in Erie were not as memorable as mine, but he truly loved going back to Erie and sharing with our children the way it was 'growing up Crotty'....the many times sitting around the kitchen table at Anna's.

He was so supportive of the time and energy that I spent on our reunion in 2006. He was an incredible help with the genealogy program, working on favors, encouraging me that it was all going to work out and we would all walk away with memories for the rest of our lives. ...and that we did!

We were able to come away from that reunion, reconnected with each other as we all march into this next phase of our life.

True adversity and heartache show all of us how strong we all are. We are a strong family and even stronger individuals and I truly have all the Crotty, Sullivan, Jackson, and Queeney families to thank for this. God Bless the Irish!!

Letter to Humphrey Sullivan

2009-07-30T21:27:00.007-04:00

This is a letter to Humphrey Sullivan from his brother, Michael Sullivan in Ireland, dated December 28. 1928. John Sullivan was also a brother. Tom (mentioned in the letter) died in Queensland, Australia - he was a gold miner.

The following is my decipher. Click on either image to enlarge.

The Crotty kitchen table

2009-06-30T19:34:00.006-04:00

This is the old kitchen table from 509 Parade. I think I remember mom saying that just the kids sat at the table at supper time, and 'mama and papa' sat off at the side somewhere. Mom also said that the kitchen was unheated in the winter, and any warmth came from the kitchen stove. She said that her father would be the first one up in the morning, and would fix oatmeal for the kids for breakfast.

The table was then in Anna's shed for almost 50 years. Anna always had pop, and that is where she kept it. Whenever Anna had a party that required a keg of beer, the tap sat on the table.

I've now had the table for about 15 years. It's in the basement and has laundry stuff on it and can goods and a lot of junk. Some day I need to fix it up. It has casters on the legs, but one of them is missing.

Market at 10th and Parade Streets

2009-05-29T19:40:00.007-04:00

When we were kids we always went grocery shopping with mom and dad on Friday evenings. It was a popular time to shop as the store was always crowded. I remember that the floor in the store was just bare concrete, and that it wasn't level. As soon as we arrived at the store mom would tell Tommy and me to go and pick out our cereal. This took a fair amount of time as we had to look at the back of the boxes to see what would be interesting to look at when we ate breakfast. When we made our selection we'd find mom and put our cereal in the cart. Then it was time to wander around the isles and play. I don't remember what we played, but we didn't get too rambunctious as no one ever said anything to us. At that time the store was known as Loblaw.

One time I remember mom giving the man in the meat department a can of cooking grease that she had saved. I think people did this during WWII.

I remember mom saying that when she was a kid that she and Johnny would take their wagon and go to the same market with their mother. In those days it was known as the Parade Street Market. It was made up of many stalls operated by different people. I think that they sold meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, bread, etc. - everything except packaged items.

Here's a coincidence. This picture of the market was taken 53 years ago today - May 29, 1956. I remember when it was taken. They were going to start demolishing the building the next day, but my dad had a problem with his camera or didn't have any film. Being historically minded he wanted to photograph the building. Mom suggested that he use my Brownie. He reluctantly agreed and we went up to 10th and Parade after supper. As you can see it's not very sharp.

Toilets and Bridges

2009-04-20T14:18:00.007-04:00

When Tommy and I were very young we called them Woody and Betty, and Betty called us Ditchard and Tow-wow (say like bow-wow). I can remember when Woody got out of the Army, that he and Betty lived upstairs in the front room at Anna's. I can remember that one summer evening they took me down to the foot of Wallace Street to watch a baseball game. Sometimes mom and dad would go for a Sunday afternoon drive, and invite them along. I can remember sitting in the back seat, and Betty would sing the song "Sentimental Journey". She also liked to sing the Irish lullaby "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra". Now, this reminds me of something my mother used to talk about - that when they were kids, it was her and Betty's job to do the supper dishes, and as they did, they sometimes would sing in harmony the traditional folk song "Down in the Valley".

Now for the Toilets and Bridges - one time Tommy and I were having a dish of ice cream, and as kids like to do, we'd stir it up. Betty saw us doing this and asked us what we were doing, "building toilets and bridges?" For years whenever she saw us, she'd asked about the Toilets and Bridges.

Addendum: Willie reminded me of the day that my dad and I and Willie and his friend Paul went over to the peninsula to see the USS Wolverine. It was the first iron-hulled warship and was launched in 1843. It sat on a sand bar in Misery Bay from 1927 to 1949 when it was cut up for scrap.

Guess that's it. So, as Betty always said when she was leaving, "We're off, like a herd of turtles".

P.S. The little girl is Nancy.

Lucille Crotty Barron

2009-03-17T14:25:00.005-04:00

Mom marched with the Ave Maria Society in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade for years. Here she is - the classy lady in the tan coat - in the 1986 parade. Mom was very active in the Ave Maria Society at St. Patrick church for many years. She participated in the card parties, style shows and other fund raising activities, and one year she was the president of the Society.

In 1980 she was knighted a Lady of the St. Patrick Church Knights and Ladies for her dedication and work for St. Patrick Church.

John Sullivan, d. Nov. 12, 1922

2009-02-24T19:14:00.004-05:00

John Sullivan, city assessor, residence 236 East Second Street, Erie, Pa., was born in Bantry, county Cork, Ireland, February 15, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Ellen (McCarthy) Sullivan, both natives of county Cork. Thomas Sullivan was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1886, aged 68 years. His wife departed this life in 1893, aged 90 years. To this couple were born five children: John, Michael, a farmer on the old homestead in Ireland; Thomas, a gold miner in Australia; Humphrey, county assessor for the First ward, Erie; and Margaret, wife of John Donavan, of Ireland. John Sullivan was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and worked on the home farm till his 23rd year, when he came to America, landing in Boston in 1863, where he worked as a laborer till 1871, when he came to Erie, arriving May 24. He secured work at the Anchor Line elevators, and in 1874 was made time-keeper and served for four years. He continued in the employ of the company till 1887, when he was elected ward assessor, serving till 1893, when he was elected tax collector for the First ward, serving four years. Mr. Sullivan was married, in 1865, to Miss Ann, daughter of Timothy Dillon, of Rosscarbery (Ros O gCairbre), county Cork, Ireland. To them have been born eleven children: Nellie, Margaret, a dressmaker; Thomas, a conductor on the Erie street railway; Mary, a dressmaker; Kate, Hannah, Julia, John (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Humphrey and Annie. Mrs. Sullivan departed this life November 1, 1888, aged 39 years. The family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He is a member of the C. M. B. A., Branch 12. In politics Mr. Sullivan is a Democrat, and is an honored citizen of his ward.

Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County, Pennsylvania - 1896

Some memories of Anna

2009-01-05T14:05:00.005-05:00

Written by Julie.

Because my grandparents lived next door, my brother and I spent a lot of time at Anna's. She would offer us a 'pop' and we would sit in her 'funky' Scandinavian furniture and watch TV. I remember she would often knit or embroider. One time she was making a blanket. We bantered back and forth for a while because I thought she must be making it for SOMEBODY, and she insisted she didn't have a plan for it. Finally I said "Oh! You must be making it for my daddy". I'm pretty sure she wasn't, but a few weeks later she gave it to my dad.

She had the emptiest house I've ever seen. I think she didn't believe too much in worldly possessions. This, however, made great space for kids to play. One time my brother and I and my cousins Chris and Andy were running round and round her kitchen table while she sat in the middle drinking her beer. She kept saying "Stop it, you're making me dizzy". We just laughed, "How can you be dizzy? We're the ones running around." Did she send us back to 501 sooner than usual? Probably.

One family picnic at our house in Conneaut Lake we found out Anna had never ridden a bicycle. We children were shocked. "No problem", Anna assured us. She could do it if she tried. I called her bluff, and brought her my bike. Lo and Behold! She did it! What a good time we had that day.

I also remember the adults writhing in frustration at the positions she took during discussions on world events or child rearing or anything else. These could be quite heated debates. Sometimes I think she just liked to be contrary, but I'm also proud of her because, just because the whole world says you are wrong doesn't mean you are, and she stood strong in her opinions.

Aside from the good times I think she had a strict ritual for living her life. I could never get over her getting ready for bed before the sun did. That was way before even my bedtime. Often after a Sunday dinner at 501 Parade I would rap on Anna's bedroom window at 505 on our way to the car. She always got up out of bed to peek at me through the curtains to wave goodbye.

Thank you Anna. For good times, living your faith and lessons taught.

Springerle Cookies

2008-12-13T14:06:00.004-05:00

A part of Christmas when we were young was making Springerle Cookies, which we would do about a month or so before Christmas. Mom would go to the drug store to get the secret ingredient, which I now realize was Anise Oil. After mom mixed the dough, it was rolled out to about 1/8 inch in thickness. We had a Springerle board which was made by my grandmother's father, Karl Froess. This board was placed on the dough, and pressed down to emboss the pictures into the dough. We then cut out the cookies and arranged them on the dining room table to set over night. The next day mom would bake them, and we would put them in tins to age until Christmas. I remember that the cookies were very hard, and were puffed up with air pockets, which we called caves.

Grandpa Crotty

2008-12-07T12:30:00.001-05:00

Today is Grandpa Crotty's birthday. He was born December 7, 1874. He would be 134 years old.

From Tom Barron

Knight of Saint Patrick

2008-12-06T13:43:00.007-05:00

Dad was bestowed the distinction of KNIGHT OF ST. PATRICK on March 17, 1982. This honor was in rightful recognition of his service to God, church, and the community.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Nov 22, 1963

2008-11-22T15:04:00.002-05:00

I had been stationed at Karamursel Air Station in Turkey for about 17 months. I was now a 'short-timer' with less than a month remaining in my tour at this semi-remote site. I was working the swing-shift that Friday, and after I had been at work awhile the sergeant came over and told me that it was my turn to have the night off. After going back to the barracks and changing, I decided to take a book that I was studying, and go to the snack-bar. It was sometime after 7PM (1PM Erie time) and I was sitting there with my book and snack, when several guys came in and announced that Kennedy had been shot. I thought to myself - they don't know what they're talking about - I would go back to the barracks to try to verify this, but when I got there everyone was heading to the Airman's Club. The club was packed and the Voice of America on the radio was being piped over the loudspeaker. Everyone was quiet and just listened to the news. I don't remember too much more about that night or even how long I stayed at the club. It had seemed like a family member had died. It had been a little over three years when I had seen the future president speak at a rally at the Lawrence Hotel on 10th and Peach Street in Erie in 1960. See http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=74256

Halloween

2008-10-30T10:34:00.003-04:00

It seems that Halloween wasn't such a big deal when we were kids. Actually I can't remember anything about Halloween in my younger years. Maybe it was because David had a costume, that the subject came up at supper that Halloween in 1955. Mom said that she could make up some costumes for Tommy and I. She blackened our faces with a charred cork. I was made up as a hobo and Tommy became Aunt Jemima. When we went to a house we didn't say 'Trick or Treat'; we said 'Do you have any handouts?'.

Notice the headline on the newspaper 'Big 3 Fear Middle East War'. Some things don't change.

Grandma Smith

2008-09-11T14:16:00.004-04:00

My mother (Lucille) related the following anecdotes to me about her grandmother Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith.

Once when my mother and her brother John were pretty young, their grandmother gave Johnny some money to go up to the corner store to get a half dozen of some kind of sweet treat. On the way back from the store, Johnny was so excited that he ran down the street saying "We each get two! We each get two!"

In her later years, grandma Smith's room at 509 was at the front of the house, which was originally the living room. Whenever one of her grandchildren would go by in the dining room, and she saw them, she'd tap her cane on something and exclaim "Oy-ye! Oy-ye! Come here". So, being little kids, they tried to avoid going through the dining room.

There was a Mrs. Riley who lived in the neighborhood. She was hired to come each evening and get grandma ready for bed. She'd stay with her through the night, and then help her get dressed in the morning.

P.S. The "We each get two" phrase stuck with my mother, and she often used it throughout her life. For example, if she made cookies for desert, she'd say that "We each get two".

P.S.S. Grandma Smith was a businesswoman. She owned a tavern on State Street between 4th and 5th, and then I believe the tavern just east of State Street on East 5th. She built the big house at 509 Parade as well as the five look-a-like 'cottages' on 5th and Parade, which she rented out. I also believe she owned a house near 7th and Parade.

The cherry tree

2008-08-13T18:59:00.006-04:00

I thought that because I have a couple of pictures that show the cherry tree in the yard at 509 Parade, and because I have a block of wood from that tree, that I should put it in the blog. I can remember eating the cherries, but it was probably when the Filipkowski family lived there.

The B&W pictures were taken about 1939. With the bench (which Dede has in Houston) are Lucille, Nancy, Betty, grandma (Julia) and Anna.

About 1980 the tree succumbed to old age, and the man that owned 509 at that time told my dad that I could cut it up for my wood stove. I saved one piece for posterity.

P.S. After talking with Nancy, we've decided that the tree in the second picture is a different tree. It would have been taken from about where the bench was.

Summer time in the 1950's....

2008-07-29T10:00:00.003-04:00

What was it like in July in the 1940’s or 1950’s??

My earliest memories are of picnics at Lucy Crotty’s Cottage (former schoolhouse) in North East. This is now the home of Lucy’s niece, Judy Hart Coughlin and her husband Mike. I remember the cherry tree, the porch and I recall a big open area in the house.

I remember later years with picnics at Turnwald. There was always a constant theme to the food. My mother would make her baked beans, Julia would make potato salad and Anna brought the Planters Peanuts in the shell. Plenty of beer and Ox Roast and of course pop for us kids.

Other fond memories are of taking Nolan’s ferry to the peninsula to swim, and also going to Chestnut Street Pool to swim. Julia and Harry’s house was our ‘home base’ for these excursions.

I seem to recall that the stores in downtown Erie were closed on Wednesday afternoons.

Each July, my parents and I would hop in the ole family jalopy and head east to Avoca, Pa. To visit my grandparents, the Jacksons. It was a trip I looked forward to every year.

Johnny and Norma would have family picnics at the house on Charlotte Street. Norma always made sure us kids had plenty of treats.

Conneaut Lake Park……..nickel day……..spaghetti dinners aftewards. I also remember the trip we took with the Callahans and Anna to Niagara Falls. David and Bumpy and I had a good time buying souvenirs and enjoying a picnic lunch that our Moms had made.

I guess the most significant memories of summers past were just the families getting together…

Birthday party

2008-06-30T14:27:00.006-04:00

My grandmother, Madeline Froess Barron Yorke, had her birthday on June 15th, and mine was on June 16th, and so we often celebrated together. These pictures are from my 4th birthday in 1946. The party was in the yard at 509, and were taken by my dad's cousin Jim Barron.

Party goers in the first picture are Judy Hart, Betty, me (Richie), Grandma, Tommy, Diane, Julia, Eileen (my cousin Diane's mother), Pat, Nancy and Mary Ann. Anna and my mother (Lucille) show up in the second picture.

The tradition continues - My grand-daughter Meghan was also born on June 16th. Each year as the day approaches, we discuss the kind of birthday cake we want. Meghan always says she wants chocolate, and to be contrary I say I want cherry. In this picture she was 8 and I was 64.

Decoration Day...

2008-05-24T13:56:00.002-04:00

Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day, brings back memories. In my youth, Decoration Day was always celebrated on May 30 (until 1968). Since then, it is now observed on the last Monday in May.

Decoration Day always started out for my family by a visit to Trinity Cemetery to visit the Crotty graves. I remember my mother telling me about her father being in the Spanish American War. The family urn was there (Richie has this now) and I remember it always being filled with geraniums. My mother would then tell me that the cemetery bench that we had at our house was originally at the cemetery. This bench now resides in Houston. She then told me that it was considered an "outing" when she was a kid to go to the cemetery, place flowers, and neaten up the grave sites.

As a kid, the day progressed to a family picnic at Turnwald. It also symbolized the beginning of summer, even though we had more school before the end of the year.

It always made me proud to see a flag on my grandfather's grave...still does.

Butchie Dog - submitted by Tom

2008-05-02T19:07:00.006-04:00

His name was Butch, but we often called him Butchie Dog.

The floor mat that is in the picture with Butchie Dog came from Mike Jackson when he worked at Continental Rubber. It was made out of some kind of scrap material from one of the rubber molds they had at Continental. Butchie Dog never liked to step on the floor mat for some reason, so he walked around it whenever he went in or out of the house. Hmm, wonder where the rubber mat ever went?

Do you remember milkmen and milk boxes? The milk box in the picture was from either Dairyland or Bernie Cosgrove's Dairy (we had two different milkmen - one delivered early in the week and the other later in the week). Trish still had a milk box when her children were in their early years. She thinks that she had a milkman (Meadowbrook) until the twins were 5 or 6 years old. She hated to see that go as she really liked having a milkman. She misses the personal touch, and still remembers it fondly.

1956 Thanksgiving snowstorm

2008-04-25T13:28:00.005-04:00

No matter how many snowstorms Erie has had over the years, none of them seem to measure up to the 1956 Thanksgiving storm. I remember that on Thanksgiving morning we started to notice the surprise snowstorm outside. The Wednesday newspaper had said that 'Erie was due for flurries, rain and snow squalls, and a wet Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving Day's paper said that 'High winds and low temperature under an overcast sky promised dismal conditions for those who venture outside'. I really don't remember too much about that Thanksgiving, except that we seemed cozy in the house and there was a snowstorm outside.

By sometime Friday, after 36 hours of snowing, there was two feet of snow on the ground. The mayor declared a state of emergency and called out the Pennsylvania National Guard Army, which was across the street from our house. Many of the Army trucks and a couple of the tanks were put into use for emergencies around the city, and to make paths through the streets. I remember that evening there was a knock at the door. It was Johnny! Boy were we surprised, as he lived up on Charlotte Street. It seems like he said that he hitched a ride on one of the Army vehicles. Anyway, after a short visit he left. I thought at the time, boy what an adventure and wished I could go with him.

On Saturday morning the city was starting to dig out. Late that morning my dad, Tommy and I went for a walk up town, to see what we could see. My dad took his camera, but I don't think that he took any pictures. Therefore, the accompanying picture is from a similar snowstorm that occurred on December 12, 1944.

65th Wedding Anniversary...

2008-03-31T22:50:00.000-04:00

Today, March 31, would have been Virginia and Mike's 65th wedding anniversary.

As I think about my parents on this day, I recall little vignettes of that day as told to me by my parents.

It was during World War II, and the 'rules' for getting married to a serviceman were liberal. No waiting period was required, and this was before the days of the Pre Cana marriage counseling. Basically, a couple could get married whenever the military person made it home. I believe Dad was stationed in Texas (how ironic!) at that time, and was scheduled to arrive in Erie by train. When my mother knew his arrival was imminent, she called St. Patrick's (Fr. Hastings, I believe) to schedule the wedding.

When Dad came home, he went to the jewelry store to buy my mother's ring. It was a narrow white gold band with orange blossom engravings on it. It cost the princely sum of $10.00. My mother never had that ring off her finger, and was buried with it at my Dad's request.

The Crotty clan then called the 'family'.....aunts, uncles, and cousins to attend the ceremony. They were married at 5:00 on a Wednesday afternoon...Julia and Harry were their attendants. If I remember the telling of this information correctly,they had a family dinner at the Antlers Club.

Dad always like to joke that they almost got married on April Fools Day...and he wondered aloud that if they DID get married on April Fools day, would the marriage
be valid or not??

I have the newspaper clipping and will add it to this posting.

Ya got to love Mike's sense of humor. Happy anniversary Mom and Dad!!

In my Easter Bonnet; Easter Sunday in the 1950's...

2008-03-22T15:56:00.000-04:00

As Easter Sunday approaches, I remember back to my childhood. I always had a new outfit for Easter Sunday...didn't we all?

One time when Kevin was little, he and I were looking through the album of pictures from when I was a kid.

There is a picture of me taken on Easter Sunday in our backyard on Eagle Point, Anna by my side. I was happy and grinning in my new clothes. This would have been around 1955, and I would have been about 9. I had a dress (with a crinoline underneath), patent leather shoes, white anklets, and a short white jacket that was called a topper. To cap off the ensemble, I had a hat on my head that looked like a dinner plate with a flower on top!! My hair was kinda fuzzy (permanent from Lucille??).

When Kevin saw the picture (he was around 5 at the time) he looked at it very carefully, then looked up at me with a very solemn look, and said, "Mommy, were you poor when you were little? " In his mind, I looked like an urchin!! At that time,1955, I thought I looked gorgeous. Now when I look at it, I see only the happy little girl that day.

I laughed so hard, tears were coming to my eyes. Out of the mouths of babes...

St Patrick's School, Erie, PA

2008-03-11T18:57:00.001-04:00

During Lent at St Pat's the kids were given a little cardboard box about the size of an individual serving cereal box. It was our 'miter box', and during Lent our mission was to fill it with coins - pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, and possibly fifty-cent pieces. At the end of Lent we brought our miter boxes to school, and the nun and some of the kids counted the money. I think that for each $25 the class collected, we could buy a 'pagan baby'. The class also got to name the 'pagan baby'. Each student would write a name on a slip of paper and put it in a box. I remember one year Pat and I got the idea that we should get a 'good' name. We came up with Casper, and got a few of the other boys to also submit Casper. As the names were pulled from the box, they were announced and totaled. Casper got a chuckle the first time it was read. At the end, Casper was the winning name. The nun tried to get us to select another name, but the class united, and Casper it was.

A few notes:
St. Patrick's Day was always a 'no school' day, as was St. Joseph's Day (March 19).
It seems that we also had March 18th off (why go to school for 1 day?).
Whatever we gave up for Lent we were allowed to have on St. Patrick's Day.
Sr. Marie Sylvia was the principal.

My Teachers:
1st grade - Sr. Mercedes
2nd grade - Miss Burgoyne
3rd grade - Sr. Genevieve
4th grade - Sr. Mary Edmund
5th grade - Sr. Teresita
6th grade - Sr. Leonie
7th grade - Sr. Leonie
8th grade - Sr. Genevieve

The Class:

Crotty, Erie, PA

2008-02-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

Our grandfather's brother, PD, had a store at 6th & Parade Street (P.D. Crotty's Confectionery). He sold penny candy. I can remember going there with a nickle or dime and spending a lot of time choosing the candy I wanted. The candy was in display cases. You pointed to the pieces that you wanted, and the clerk, possibly Lucy Crotty, put them in a little white bag. The other thing I remember about the store was the large pendulum clock that hung on the wall.

Sometime after PD died in the late 1940's, his wife Mayme (grandma's sister) sold the store, and it became Vine's Cut-rate. A few years later it was bought by the Filipkowski's, who had also bought grandma and grandpa's house at 509 Parade Street. At that time it was known as Harriet's Ice Cream. The Filipkowski's also had a place called Harrietts Ice Cream on Glenword Park Ave. Ext., and also Harriet's Confectionery at 1435 Parade St.

After the Filipkowski's, the store became Dan Borden's PX.

Sometime after that it was used for the Emmaus Soup Kitchen.

A few years ago the large front windows at the store were removed, and the dark red brick was painted a light green. This is how the place looks today.

Bricks and mortar from our past...

2008-02-29T15:18:00.000-05:00

Places made of brick and mortar, but forever in my memories. Those of you that still live in Erie, still see some of these places that have not been torn down or ‘re-purposed’.

…do you remember the Josephinum on 5th & Peach Street?
…Old, old St. Joseph's orphanage on 3rd between German and Holland? When I went to St. Pat's the nuns lived there during that time (I think it was torn down in the late 50's)
...The old orphanage on West 6th which is now where Willie lives. I went with some of the girls in my 8th grade class to the orphanage to deliver presents to kids that had gone to St. Pat’s. I remember that the kids were always dirty and hungry, and the nuns would feed them lunch as it was their only meal. I have thought of the two of them through the years and I wonder what happened to them.
…Intrieri's drug store at 4th and German
....Sullivan's tavern……3rd and French……old time tin ceiling…
…Koehler brewery on state street……
...The library on South Park Row.
…Warner Theater!! How I would love to see it again!
…Other theaters…Strand, Shea's, Columbia and Colonial. When I was a kid, Nancy used to work at Shea’s candy counter. She took me to the movies and I had to sit in the last row (behind the candy counter) so she could keep an eye on me. One night I went with Dad to go pick her up. Walking down 10th street was Archbishop Gannon and another priest. I guess they walked every night.
…The Old Customs House on State Street.
…The Brig Niagara and part of the hull of another ship (the Wolverine)
…The restored tall ship Niagara…….I have a 16 x 20 picture of this in my house…courtesy of Uncle Tom.
…Dickson's Tavern at 2nd and French.
....Rayl's drug store on Parade Street between 6th and 7th. (straight out of 'It's a Wonderful Life').
…There was also a store on the SE corner of 4th and Parade (shoe repair shop). Anna told me a very sad little story about that place.......she was a little girl and it was Valentines Day. She had made valentines for everyone in her class and she did not get one in return!! On the way home from school she stood on the porch and cried and cried, her heart was broken. As a child my heart broke for her and even now it makes me incredibly sad for her.
…I also remember the store (Eddy's, later Ronnie's) at SW corner of 4th and parade. The store was owned by the mother of a kid in my class at St. Pat’s.
...The store by St. Pat’s at 4th and Holland (now an insurance agency for Erie Insurance),
…Sophies down the street from Julia's.
…The top of the dock (when it was larger)
…Riders on the bay.
…Nolan’s ferries to the peninsula.
…Who could forget Kraus' dept store on Parade St?
…East Erie Turners, Turnwald.......(AKA Turner's Farm).
…The Boston store and it's fancy clock, nice dining room at the top and the cafeteria in the basement........such a fascinating place. Maybe I will move there!
…The real old city hall…looked like a castle and I just knew there was a dungeon in the basement!
…Candy stores with home made chocolate—Stefanelli's…...Chacona's.........Pulako's.
…Mr. Peanut walking outside the peanut store at 10th and State.
…Anthony Wayne blockhouse
…The armory at 6th and Parade
…Our collective recalled vague memories (or remembrances from our parents) of Shug's (always regret that I never went into the place......I think maybe it was still Shug's back in my day..but, maybe had changed names)
…The train station. Another classic piece of architecture.
…New York Lunch (the Greeks).
…Rainbow Gardens at Waldemeer.
…The schoolhouse owned by Lucy C in North East and the 4th of July picnics there. Per our cousin Judy: The schoolhouse was built in 1898 and closed in 1946 or 1947 and Lucy bought it that fall and it took 2 years to remodel it to what you knew. She designed the whole thing. No one lived here full time until we moved in in 1998.

…Last, but certainly not least, the incredible beauty of St. Patrick's church!! The magnificent Stations of the Cross. Does everyone have a set of the pictures that Uncle Tom took? I have been in a lot of churches (believe it or not!) and it is hands down the most beautiful.

Early TV

2008-01-28T19:22:00.000-05:00

WICU began broadcasting on March 15, 1949. By the fall of that year the Jackson's became the first Crotty family to own a TV. I remember one Sunday in the early Fall that there was a baseball game on - maybe it was a World Series game - and there was a family gathering at the Jackson's on East 5th Street to see this new wonder.

Tommy and I were soon going over to Dede's every evening after supper at 5:30 to watch the Howdy Doody Show. The picture of Dede shows that TV set.

Anna told me that grandpa really liked TV after he had seen it for the first time at a tavern at 24th and Parade St. She said that because Papa liked it so much, that she just went up to 12th and Parade St., and bought one. In those early days the station didn't come on the air until the late afternoon. Anna related the following story to me many times when she was at St. Mary's. One afternoon, she, my mother and their mother were leaving to go some place. Because grandpa had a very hard time getting around he told Anna "Don't leave here without turning that thing on!", and Anna said, "but Papa, there's nothing on until 4 o'clock", and Papa replied "I don't care, turn it on". She did, and they smiled at each other being so pleased that grandpa so enjoyed the TV.

Johnny and Norma were also one of the first to get a TV. All us kids thought that their TV was neat because the screen was round instead of rectangular.

After Dede moved to Eagle Point Blvd., Tommy and I went over to Anna's to watch TV. I think we got a TV about 1951.

When they were young

2008-01-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

Her father called her Lucy ------- Johnny

--------------Betty with their dog Pat----

David -----------------------------Julia---

Godparents...

2008-01-13T09:59:00.002-05:00

Who are your godparents? I think a lot of us have Crotty Godparents...

Dede: Lucille and Tom
Rich: Anna and Jimmy Barron
Patty: Aunt Mary and Uncle Dave
Mike: Mary LaVerne Chellis (Gooie) and Uncle Pierre
Dave: Anna Mae (Barron) Yorke and Charles (Barron) Sullivan
Tom: Julia and Harry
Nancy: Julia and Johnny
Anne: John Razanauskas and Anna
Mike: Johnny and Norma
Lucy: Stan and Florence Razanauskas (brother and sister of Willie)
Mary Ann: Johnny and Virginia
Patrick: Pierre and Lucille
Harry: Willie and Betty
David: David and Mary
Bill: Uncle Bill Callahan and Anna

As a child, I remember being told that Uncle Pierre (1909) was the
first to be baptized in the family christening dress. This gown was then used for the siblings that came after him and all the grandkids (I think).See attached picture of Richard Barron and his godparents. Is that the family heirloom?

According to the Barrons, we believe that the last baby in this dress was great grandson Jeff Barron (1985) The dress is now long gone due to age.

If you can shed any light on this, or have a detailed picture of the gown, please share it with all of us.

People I thought I was related to....

2008-01-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in previous posts, as a kid there was extended family/friends that I assumed must be relatives and who also figured into the tapestry of our lives. These are some of these people:

Anna Mae and Paul Yorke
Mrs. Yorke
Charlie Barron Sullivan
Madeline and Paul Eighmy
Mrs. Razanauskas and son Stanley
Gooie Chellis
Jean and Bill Callahan and Alice
Mr. Sinnott
Mary Lou Sinnott
Tommy and Betty Schrenk and kids
Jocko and Izzy Maloney

As I recall others, I will add them...

Uncle Richard

2008-01-07T13:15:00.000-05:00

Just over 102 years ago, Richard was born on October 22, 1905. He was the second son, and according to Anna, was born at home, which was near 3rd and Myrtle Streets. My mother, Lucille, said that he went to grade school at Longfellow School, which was located at 2nd and French Streets. I remember mom and Anna describing him as always moving about the house at 509 Parade Street in a quite stealthy manner, that you hardly noticed his presence. I think that my mother said that he left home at the age of 23. She said that when different members of the family returned home and asked about where Richard was, that they were given no answer, and it has always remained a mystery.

Through the Social Security records and the Freedom of Information Act, I have found where Richard went to live. He signed up for Social Security in 1936 because of the Social Security Act of 1935. His application shows that he lived at 160 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village in New York City. He was employed at the Reuben H. Donnelley Corp., which is still in existence today as a publisher of telephone directories.

I've discovered that Richard enlisted in the Army on Dec 1, 1942, and that his Army Serial Number was 32650806, and that he was a private.

I have a copy of his Death Certificate, and it shows that he died on June 16, 1981. It gives his occupation as a retired hotel clerk, and the final resting place as Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island, New York.

At this time the only other information I have is from Willie - he says that Richard resembled his father in looks, and that his hair was red. He also mentioned that Richard had left home once before. The family had found out that he had gone to Buffalo, and so his father went there on the train, and brought him home.

Wedding Bells.......

2007-12-10T20:08:00.001-05:00

We have pictures of some of the happy couples when they married. Hopefully we will be able to add the rest of them, or just add a nice picture with all the info.

Julia and Harry Callahan - St. Patrick's - June 26, 1939

Lucille and Tom Barron - St. Patrick's - July 15, 1939

Johnny and Norma Crotty - July 4, 1942 in Wilmington, NC

Betty and Willie Rastatter - St. Patrick's - October 31, 1942

Virginia and Mike Jackson - St. Patrick's - March 31, 1943

Our gang....

2007-12-09T08:27:00.000-05:00

These pictures speak for themselves......

Rich & Pat - First Holy Communion May 25, 1950

New Contributor

2007-12-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

Lucy will be contributing shortly.

Random thoughts continue...

2007-12-06T16:59:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember the light switches in Anna's house that you pushed a button to turn off and another button to turn on?

Remember the door bell that you turned/cranked?

Above Anna's doorbell she had hung a crucifix? When she went to St. Mary's that was hanging either outside her door or was in her room. Richard Barron now has the cross and sent this picture.

In my very early years, I recall a huge radio in the middle room. There was also a desk that had a 'kidney' shape..........also an etagere or curio shelf. On this shelf, there was a 'silver' cocktail service with a pitcher and silver goblets.

Anna's 'modern' bathroom with the very high vanity and sink..........the high vanities are now coming into style.........we have one in our house. After it was in, I remembered the one Anna had.

More Random Thoughts

2007-12-03T19:48:00.000-05:00

Who remembers a davenport – a/k/a couch or sofa?

Who remembers a purse being called a pocketbook?

Being told that girls shouldn't whistle because it made the Blessed Mother cry. My mother, Julia, told me that all the time.

How many of the cousins have the gene – drinking beer in small glasses?

The five Crotty sisters all wearing dresses or skirts, nylons & high heels. Only remember Betty occasionally wearing slacks.

Why did Anna use the name Ann instead of Anna? Anna is a great name!!

What did Grandpa Crotty do for a living?

2007-12-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

I have often wondered what Grandpa Crotty did for a living. We do know that he ran several taverns. That he served in the Army during the Spanish American War. And I believe that he was a Deputy Sheriff at one time.

Does anyone know more?

Crotty’s West Third St. Residence

2007-12-03T19:37:00.000-05:00

Grandpa & Grandma Crotty had lived on West Third St. between Myrtle & Chestnut Streets sometime before moving to 509 Parade St. Grandpa Crotty ran the tavern that sometime later became Sophia’s Tavern. Some may remember that Sophia’s Tavern was across & down the street from where we, the Callahan’s, lived.

The tavern had a residence connected to the back. My mother, Julia, was born there. Her uncle, probably Dr. Wilson, delivered her. She was baptized immediately after birth. There must have been a problem because she was the only one of the nine children that was born at home.

I’m not sure how long they had lived on West Third St. My mom said that the drivers of the beer trucks use to give her & Pierre rides on their trucks until one day Pierre fell off and was seriously hurt.

I wonder if Grandpa Crotty had owned that tavern.

Does anyone know of any other places they may have lived?

Richard may have some resources to help answer my questions.

Mike Rastatter - SpeechEasy

2007-12-03T13:17:00.000-05:00

The following is from Willie - as told to Dede, and posted by Rich.

As we look to our past to recall fond memories, it is important to acknowledge where we are going. We come from families that were part of the wave of immigrants that made this country what it is. A lot of family members did not even complete high school, and college was only a far reaching dream.

I have been blessed to be a part of the Crotty clan and want to preserve in this blog the accomplishments of my children. Mike is my second child, and only son. He is currently a professor at East Carolina University.

Mike is part of a team that designed the SpeechEasy device, which has allowed stutterers to speak fluently almost immediately. Mike has been interviewed by ABC News, NBC News, British Broadcasting Corp, and People Magazine about the device.

If you do a Google search on SPEECH EASY, you can see testimonials from people that this has helped. You can also do a Google search on U S Patent 5961443.

A person can have no better legacy that helping others.

Aunts and Uncles

2007-11-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

Dede's comment about marrying into the family prompted me to send what I wrote about her dad.Most of my memories of my great aunts and uncles come from Anna's parties in the 1970's. I remember the unique smell of the back "shed", empty except for storage of beer and pop. No matter the time of year it was an uncomfortable temperature. We kids used to like to play behind Anna's vanity dresser in the winter. In the summer, we played on the porch which turned our hands black. What I remember most about the grown ups was poker and laughter. Harry Callahan told jokes that made people peal with laughter. I never got the jokes. But, because I was often shy around my cousins, I would sit near my parents in the crowded, smokey kitchen and listen to the adults. This is why I was witness to one poignant memory.It was a warm summer party at Anna's when a new widower came late to the party. He seemed nervous to me and he began to cry and tried to leave the party. Next thing I knew, the Crotty sister's jumped up in unison. (Of course this woke me up from my casual day dreaming). My grandmother (Lucille) reached out to him and said, "Mike, you are part of the family, now stay". He composed himself and started to relax. I remember he turned to me and gave me a "High five". This must have begun the infatuation my cousins and I had for Mike Jackson. We always expected "high fives" after that.Something struck me as significant at the last Crotty reunion. We have all moved across the United States chasing our dreams and assuming we are just the average American from the melting pot. But, I came to realize that I too have ethinic roots. It's some kind of Irish, Catholic, blue collar, industrial, Great Lakes, beer drinking roots where families laugh and love in their unique way. (over beer that is).

The Veterans

2007-11-11T08:32:00.000-05:00

Richard Crotty

Richard Crotty was a sergeant in Company A of the 15th Pennsylvania Regiment during the Spanish-American War. He is in the front row in the center with his arms crossed. This picture was photographed from a book that used to be in the Heritage Room at the Erie County Public Library when the library was located on Perry Square. The book disappeared some time ago. (Click on the write-up to enlarge).

Anna Crotty

If I remember correctly, Anna said that one day during the war, she decided to go up to the recruiter's to inquire about the Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps - WAAC. She came home and announced that she had joined! This raised quite a stir in the family. In early 1943 she attended Administrative School in Daytona Beach, Florida. She then was posted to Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Later that year the WAAC was converted to Woman's Army Corps WAC. As a WAC Anna served as a Supply Clerk with the rank of corporal. She was discharged in early December, 1945.

John Crotty

Johnny was drafted into the Army in August 1941. He was in the Ninth Air Force Service Command, which serviced the fighter planes and bombers. He was stationed in England and went with the D-Day invasion into France.

The following shows a letter which was given to the troops as the D-DAY invasion began. It is from General Eisenhower. There are also two pictures which were taken following the Liberation of Paris. One is of Johnny holding a baby in the French countryside in 1944, and the other shows him as a victorious American soldier holding a tattered American flag.

Richard Crotty

All that is know about Richard's militay service is that it earned him the right to be buried in Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island in New York.

Michael Jackson

Mike was in the Army from June 25, 1942 until December 19, 1945. In 1943 he was stationed at Camp Howze, Texas. He was in the 86th infantry division, 404th field artillery battalion. The 86th was also know as the Blackhawk Division. His Military Operational Speciality (MOS) was 814 - Operations NCO. Steve Barron, who is currently an Army lieutenant wrote the following:

An operations NCO would assist in running the operations center ( a TOC, Tactical Operations Center). In my day, we have our TOC filled with digital maps with live feed showing where all the troops are in sector. Soldiers send reports to the TOC, and their Stryker vehicles send off an encrypted FM signal that transmits back to the TOC so we can see their location at all times. We project live video streams from un-manned aircraft and show this in the TOC, amongst many other digital methods. Mike Jackson would probably manage the TOC in a similar way. In his day, he probably received continuous reports over an AM radio, and compiled reports for the Commander. He would update a paper map with symbols showing the status of everything on the battlefield. He would manage all the soldiers who would be constantly monitoring reports from troops on the ground. He would have to maintain clear situational awareness at all times to brief any high ranking officer who came by at any time.

Mike kept a record of his European tour of duty. It follows (click on each page to enlarge).

After Victory in Europe (VE Day), the 86th returned to New York. After a short leave they were off to the Philippines. Dede has a copy of a map showing the return route from the Philippines, and a 'certificate' that shows he crossed the dateline on August 27, 1945. Mike came back on the USS Adm Hugh Rodman.

William Rastatter

Willie (Bill) was a Staff Sergeant in the Army, and was stationed at Frederick Army Airfield, Frederick, Oklahoma. He was a Physical Training Instructor training pilots PT, how to land after a jump, hand to hand combat, and how to protect themselves and a lot more. He also served at Randolph Field, San Antonio, TX. He was up for promotion to Sergeant Major, and the war ended.

(Click on newspaper clipping to unlarge)

Norma Crotty

Norma was a registered nurse in the Army Nurse Corp. She spent most of her service time at the 809th Army Air Force depot in Erie, and then with the VA. Later she was employed at St. Vincent's.

Below is her graduation picture from St. Alexis College in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941.

Aunt Hannah...

2007-11-02T11:54:00.000-04:00

Aunt Hannah.....it seemed like she was a permanent fixture in Anna's living room....I remember her smoking and being cranky.....she would give me money to go to the corner store to buy her some candy bars. She would give me a quarter and I had to get her five candy bars. I would go back to Anna's and give her the candy bars....she would stick them in her pocket and never give me one. As a kid, I thought that was very mean. I guess I still think it was kind of mean!!

I have memories of her living on East 5th street in the same flat that Uncle Humphrey lived in.

The following is by Richard -

I don't really remember too much about Aunt Hannah. She was born in 1875 and died on May 17, 1960 at the age of 85. Some time in the 1950's, Anna told her mother's sister that she could come and live with her. One thing that sticks in my mind was that Anna gave up her TV chair so that Hannah could sit there. I remember a few times Anna came over to talk with my mother because she was so upset over Aunt Hannah.

My mom related this story. She had always admired a ring with a blue stone that Aunt Hannah wore. She told Hannah that she liked the ring, and if someday she no longer wanted the ring, could she have it. She gave it to mom. It was Hannah's engagement ring, and when the engagement was broken she just kept the ring.

This picture is of Aunt Hannah in 1952.

More random thoughts...

2007-11-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

...Did you know that I have Grandma Crotty's wedding ring? It is a plain gold band.
...What did Aunt Hannah do for a living?
...Do you remember Aunt Hannah sitting in the chair in Anna's house....all the time?
...Was Aunt Hannah as much of a curmudgeon as I remember?
...From our great great grandfather, David Crotty (Ireland in the early 1800's) and all the descendants, there are currently only 3 male Crottys left in our branch of the family? PD did not have sons and Richard had Johnny who had Mike who has two sons (John and Tim). No pressure, boys!

Memories of Mike...

2007-11-01T13:33:00.000-04:00

I don’t think we can fully acknowledge our growing up without also paying homage to the brave men and women that married into the Crotty Family!
These brave souls did not just marry their intended, they married the whole family. We all need to share their story.
While reading through the Cousins15 blog, I realized that one very important person (to me, anyway) was my Dad, Mike Jackson.
Memories of my Dad, a great sense of humor, a ready smile, and total love for his family. He was first and foremost a family man…and his family included all the Crottys as well as the Jacksons. There was no difference to him. Family was family.
He had nicknames for some of the cousins, and always affectionately referred to Uncle Tom as "The Barron". He would set out on Saturdays and to go "around the block". This was Mike speak for going to the Callahans and/or Anna’s for a beer (or Mozdy’s or Sophies). He could always be convinced to have just one more….
When I was a senior at St. Ben’s, we had a Dad and Grad banquet. The night before the banquet, I came home and found him sitting on the couch with 2 front teeth missing!! I was horrified…how was he going to go to the banquet? He gave me this huge gap toothed grin and said nobody would notice….he looked awful!! My mother was sitting there staring intently at theTV not saying a word and ignoring me. Finally, he started laughing and pulled out a small black candy wrapper that he had stuck to his teeth. I was saved!! He would not look awful…..we went to the banquet…I had never noticed before that my father had good table manners…….It was very evident when compared to some of my friends fathers. I was so proud. After the banquet, he and I went to the Turners. Elsie Campbell was playing the piano. We sat at the bar, Dad had a beer, and I had a pop. I was 17 and felt so grown up. I have a picture (thanks Richie) taken that night in front of Anna’s, that I will add later.
Dad always helped everyone, not expecting anything in return.
Dad was born in Avoca, Pa on March 17, 1912. Extremely proud to be 100% Irish and born on that day. His parents were Will and Annie Jackson. He was one of 5 children, all gone now. After graduating from high school, he hung around Avoca for a while. There were no jobs there, except for the coal mines. He went to New York City and lived with a distant cousin while working for Horn and Hardart (an automat). I do not know how long he stayed, but at some point decided to move on. This was in the middle to late depression, and jobs were scarce. He relocated to the thriving metropolis of Erie, PA. When he came to Erie, he lived with his cousin, John Tormey and his wife Margaret at 304 Myrtle Street. This is where the relationships get interesting.
While living there, he worked at Parker White Metal (I believe), but I don’t know for how long. When WWII began, Uncle Sam tapped him on the shoulder, and he was in the Army. At some point during this time, he met my mother. Dad’s other cousin, Leo Tormey and wife Elizabeth, lived in the other half of the duplex with Julia and Harry. To complicate this further, Elizabeth and Harry were cousins. During my Dad’s stint in the Army, he met and married Virginia and 6 year old Nancy!! Like most that have served during war time, he did not talk about it. I believe that he was infantry and served in Germany and possibly the Phillipines too.
When Dad got out of the Army, they moved into the little house at 411 East 5th St. Dad took a civil service test for the post office and was qualified for a job in Pittsburgh. They elected not to go….it was either the fact that they were expecting me (!) or they just didn’t want to leave Erie. They stayed, I was born, and the rest is history.
We moved to Eagle Point when I was 4………It was a little house, but I loved it. Dad stayed on after my mother died, but was lonely and decided to move to Houston and live with us. I think it was more a decision to be closer to his little grandson, Kevin Michael.
An important side note here, Dad and Mom were looking forward to his retirement so they could kick back and enjoy life and to spend more time with Nancy and I. Mom died before this happened. When I decided to retire at age 58, one of the 20 reasons that I retired was so that I could truly enjoy my life, my husband, my children and grandchildren. Life is too short…..grab it while you can!!
Dad brought many laughs to all of us during his life and I thank him for being the strong man that he was. I still think about him.

Richard and Julia Sullivan Crotty Descendants

2007-10-29T09:29:00.000-04:00

24 Jan 2008
Descendants of Richard J. Crotty

1 Richard J. Crotty b: 07 Dec 1874 in Erie, PA d: 22 Apr 1950 in Erie, Pa
+Julia Sullivan b: 12 Jul 1876 in Erie, PA d: 04 Sep 1950 in Erie, PA
_ 2 David Crotty b: 12 Oct 1904 in Erie, PA d: 16 Jul 1975 in Erie, PA
___ +Mary Sinnott
_____ 3 Tom Shrenk
_______ +Betty
_ 2 Richard Crotty b: 25 Oct 1905 in Erie, PA d: 16 Jun 1981 in New York, NY
_ 2 Pierre Crotty b: 01 May 1909 in Erie, PA d: 09 Feb 1963 in Erie, PA
___ +Helen Blossey b: Abt. 1910 d: 26 Jan 1987 in Erie, PA
_ 2 Julia Crotty b: 03 Jul 1910 in Erie, PA d: 25 Oct 1997 in Erie, PA
___ +Harry Callahan b: 30 Mar 1914 in Pittston, Pa d: 05 Oct 1999 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Mary Ann Callahan b: 27 Nov 1940 in Erie, PA
_______ +Stanley C. Niedzielski, Jr b: 18 Apr 1940 in Erie, PA d: 25 May 1991 in Erie,
PA
________ 4 Kimberly Niedzielski b: 21 Nov 1967 in Erie, PA
__________ +Christopher Lucas b: 15 Mar 1966 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Zachary Lucas b: 27 Mar 1989 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Julia Lucas b: 05 Nov 1993 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Karen Niedzielski b: 27 Sep 1969 in Erie, PA
__________ +Gregory Feltenberger b: 19 Sep 1969 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Brittany M. Feltenberger b: 24 Oct 1989 in Yokoto Air Base, JAPAN
____________ 5 Aaron S. Feltenberger b: 05 Mar 1992 in Yokoto Air Base, JAPAN
________ *Partner of Karen Niedzielski:
__________ +Michael Warren b: 17 Feb 1958 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Kristen Niedzielski b: 22 Sep 1975 in Erie, PA
__________ +Matthew Bruschi b: 30 Aug 1964 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Luke Stanley Bruschi b: 14 Sep 2007 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Maria Rose Bruschi b: 14 Sep 2007 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Stanley Niedzielski b: 07 Oct 1978 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Patrick Callahan b: 29 Jul 1942 in Erie, PA
_______ +Angie Gruenwald b: 14 Dec 1943
________ 4 Patrick Callahan b: 11 Mar 1961 in Quonset Point, RI
__________ +Jane M. Schnider b: 27 Oct 1960 in Pittsburgh, Pa
____________ 5 Megan Julia Callahan b: 24 Aug 1991 in Chicago, IL
________ *2nd Wife of Patrick Callahan:
__________ +Renee E. Harrington b: 21 Nov 1961 in Warren, Pa
____________ 5 Martin Gehrlein b: 09 Mar 1981
______________ +Hilary Rectenwald b: 27 Dec 1980
________ 4 Freida Callahan b: 11 Nov 1962
__________ +Ronald Donohue b: 12 Apr 1960
____________ 5 Jennifer Donohue b: 22 Dec 1981
______________ +John Richard Anderson b: 18 Aug 1982 in Little Rock, Arkansas
________________ 6 Naomi Amari Lamb b: 14 Nov 2002
________________ 6 Mariah Alena Anderson b: 19 Nov 2007
____________ 5 Blane Donohue b: 28 Mar 1985
____________ 5 Joseph Donahue b: 24 Jun 1986
____________ 5 David Donohue b: 27 Feb 1989
_____ *2nd Wife of Patrick Callahan:
_______ +Carole Charney b: 19 Aug 1942 in Rimersburg, Pa d: 14 Sep 2000 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Michelle Callahan b: 09 Sep 1969 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Erin Callahan b: 21 Jul 1971 in Erie, PA
__________ +Sean Michael Spinelli b: 16 May 1972 in Erie, PA
____________ 5 Noah Sean Patrick Spinelli b: 17 Dec 2007 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Harry Callahan b: 27 Sep 1944 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 David Callahan b: 15 Nov 1948 in Erie, PA d: 05 Jun 1969 in Viet Nam
_____ 3 William Callahan b: 30 Mar 1951 in Erie, PA
_______ +Marie Bruno b: 22 Aug 1951 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Kati Callahan b: 27 Nov 1983 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Kevin Callahan b: 16 Sep 1987 in Erie, PA
_ 2 Virginia Crotty b: 30 Aug 1911 in Erie, PA d: 26 Nov 1975 in Erie, Pa
___ +Albert Barber b: 01 Jan 1902 d: 31 Dec 1940 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Nancy Barber Jackson b: 25 Mar 1937
_______ +John Mozart b: 30 Apr 1930 d: 21 Jan 2006 in Mentor, Ohio
________ 4 Melanie Mozart b: 06 Jul 1955
__________ +Patrick Mahoney
____________ 5 Colleen Mahoney b: 25 Sep 1985
________ *2nd Husband of Melanie Mozart:
__________ +Richard Providente
_ *2nd Husband of Virginia Crotty:
___ +Michael P. Jackson b: 17 Mar 1912 in Avoca, PA d: 23 Dec 1979 in Houston, TX
_____ 3 Doris Margaret Jackson b: 20 Sep 1946 in Erie, PA
_______ +Richard Zacks b: 08 Jun 1944 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Kevin Zacks b: 19 Nov 1973 in Houston, TX
__________ +Amy Grubb b: 10 Apr 1976 in Huntingdon, PA
____________ 5 Jeffrey Zacks b: 19 Nov 2001 in Harrisburg, Pa.
____________ 5 Erin Zacks b: 18 Aug 2003 in Harrisburg, Pa.
________ 4 Robin Zacks b: 12 Nov 1982 in Houston, TX
__________ +Anthony Grosso b: 16 Oct 1983 in Houston, TX
____________ 5 Aubrey Celeste Grosso b: 19 Apr 2006 in Whidbey Island, Wa
_ 2 Anne Crotty b: 20 Nov 1912 in Erie, PA d: 01 Apr 1999 in Erie, PA
_ 2 Lucille Crotty b: 15 Jul 1914 in Erie, PA d: 20 Jan 2007 in Erie, PA
___ +Thomas Barron b: 27 Jan 1914 in Windsor, Ontario, CANADA d: 22 Jul 1998 in
Erie, PA
_____ 3 Richard Barron b: 16 Jun 1942 in Erie, PA
_______ +Barbara Whitbeck b: 27 Mar 1948 in Meadville, Pa
________ 4 Julie Barron b: 12 Nov 1968 in Meadville, Pa
__________ +Robert McCracken b: 07 Jun 1968
____________ 5 Michael McCracken b: 14 Dec 1993
____________ 5 Meghan McCracken b: 16 Jun 1998
________ 4 Michael Barron b: 11 Feb 1971 in Meadville, Pa
__________ +Michelle Sundberg b: 21 Mar 1969
____________ 5 Molly R. Barron b: 29 May 1991
_____ 3 Thomas Barron b: 03 Feb 1944 in Erie, PA
_______ +Margie Boyle b: 04 Jan 1947
________ 4 Christopher Barron b: 26 Jul 1972
____________ 5 Kyle Barron b: 15 Jun 1996
________ 4 Andrew Barron b: 20 Aug 1975 in Erie, PA
_____ *2nd Wife of Thomas Barron:
_______ +Patricia Johnson b: 07 Jan 1948
________ 4 Heidi Wolf b: 30 Sep 1972
____________ 5 Michael Wolf b: 23 Jun 1993
________ 4 Trista DeSanti b: 09 Aug 1974
____________ 5 Alexis DeSanti b: 23 Mar 1994
____________ 5 Christopher DeSanti b: 21 May 1996
_____ 3 David Barron b: 02 Mar 1949 in Erie, PA
_______ +Sandra Connick b: 07 Jan 1952 in Conneautville, Pa
________ 4 Steven Barron b: 18 Aug 1982 in Washington, DC
__________ +Ashlea Novalis b: 31 Dec 1982 in Wheeling, WV
________ 4 Jeffrey Barron b: 02 Sep 1985 in Erie, PA
_ 2 John P. Crotty b: 09 Apr 1916 in Erie, PA d: 13 Jun 1986 in Erie, PA
___ +Norma Chellis b: 27 Feb 1919 d: 03 Oct 1977 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Patricia Crotty b: 02 Jul 1951 in Erie, PA
_____ 3 Michael P. Crotty b: 21 May 1953 in Erie, PA
_______ +Christine E. Hess b: 07 Nov 1956 in Warren, Pa
________ 4 Mary Margaret Crotty b: 24 Jan 1984 in Warren, Pa
________ 4 John Hess Crotty b: 03 Feb 1986 in Cocoa Beach, FL
________ 4 Timothy M. Crotty b: 17 Feb 1988 in Cocoa Beach, FL
_ 2 Betty Crotty b: 17 Apr 1917 in Erie, PA d: 08 Mar 1999 in Erie, PA
___ +William Rastatter b: 28 Oct 1916
_____ 3 Lucy Rastatter b: 31 May 1949 in Erie, PA
_______ +Joseph Cappello b: 27 Sep 1946 in Erie, PA
________ 4 Sarah Cappello b: 03 Nov 1974
________ 4 Daniel Cappello b: 24 May 1977
_____ 3 Michael P. Rastatter b: 13 Oct 1950 in Erie, PA
_______ +Colette M. Vetter b: 13 Jul 1955 in Portsmouth, OH d: 26 Oct 2007 in
Greenville, NC
________ 4 David M. Rastatter b: 01 Sep 1980 in Bowling Green, Oh
__________ +Heather Currie b: 01 Oct 1976 in Lumberton, NC
____________ 5 Jack Michael Rastatter b: 28 Jan 2006
________ 4 Brian W. Rastatter b: 14 Jul 1982 in Bowling Green, Oh
__________ +Alyssa Schumitz b: 02 Sep 1983
____________ 5 Jasen Brice Rastatter b: 17 Jul 2006
_____ 3 Anne Sullivan b: 11 Sep 1956 in Erie, PA

Random thoughts from the middle grandchild...

2007-10-23T18:26:00.000-04:00

....Remember the skating parties that St. Pat's used to have at the rink on Payne Avenue?
....And Lucille used to skate with us?
....the Little Flower Novenas in October?
....Uncle Tom trying to get everybody to be still for photos?
....the cemetary bench that used to be at our house and is now in Houston?
....how Doris become Dede, 2 Davids became DaDa, William became Bumpy?
....going up in the attic at Anna's and discovering stuff? like Grampa's Spanish American War Flag?
....Great Uncle Humphrey living in the house at 5th and Wallace?
....Aunt Hannah also living on E. 5th, then having to move in with Anna?
....Mike Mulligan with his boisterous personality?
....Picnics at the 'schoolhouse' in North East? (owned by Lucy, Mary, and Anita, I think)
....Picnics at Turners Farm? our food all prepped at home and taken there. Kegs of beer and planters peanuts in the shell?
....Italian food at Hectors (?) on Liberty Street
....Sleepovers?
....East Erie Turners? Special dinners there...Elsie Campbell playing the piano?
....Lucille and Tom Dancing? Betty and Willie dancing?
....The basketball games at the Cauley when we were in grade school?
....The mysterious 3rd floor of St. Pat's school?
....The sunken gym at St. Pat's? While I was there, it was converted to a lunch room. The nuns patrolled us from the top of the railing.
....Sledding on Frontier hill?
....Taking Nolan's ferry service to the peninsula?
....Betty TRYING to teach me how to dive and then giving up?
....Chestnut pool? taking your sandwich and a bottle of pop with you?

As more lovely, but useless thought ramble through my head, I am going to add to this. This is a work in progress!!

Memories of Virginia...

2007-10-23T12:44:00.000-04:00

I am finding that writing about your own parents is extremely difficult. My mother, first and foremost a Crotty. A complex person to say the least, but I think that is a trait that all the Crottys shared.

The picture above is from her Senior year at East HS (1928-1929). Note in the yearbook entry her nickname was Tinny. I believe that the one on the right was taken by the family photog, Tom Barron, probably in the 1940's.

An extremely smart woman.........she was valedictorian of her HS graduating class, but froze and couldn't give her speech. She had a scholarship to Villa Maria College, but elected not to go.........she said they were snobs. She worked during WWII at the Lord Corp. The Navy took over Lord's during the war and she was a secretary for a Navy man there. (thanks for remembering this, Richie!)

My earliest memories of Mom are in the kitchen at 411 East 5th St. Don't remember what she was cooking or doing, but I remember her being there. I also remember Richie, Tommy, and I playing in the back shed on 5th Street.

When we moved to Eagle Point, my memories are also of the kitchen. (food thing again!) Each Monday she did laundry.......if it was nice, the clothes got hung outside....in inclement weather, they were hung in the basement. Tuesdays were ironing day.

The most memorable part of Mondays was that she would bake.When she baked, it was all from scratch....Mayonnaise cake, spice cake, apple pie, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, nut bread. I have most of these recipes on note paper in my mothers handwriting....priceless.

I would climb on the chair and watch her. We talked, but I don't remember about what. One distinct memory was the smell of vanilla.......I loved to smell it and thought it would taste wonderful. She gave me a taste and of course it was awful! I still love the smell of vanilla and it reminds me of my mother. She also used to let me eat chocolate chip cookie dough. When she baked a pie, she would take the leftover pieces of the crust, spread some butter and cinnamon sugar on the pieces. I would then get to roll them up, and she would slice them and then bake them. I thought I was baking and they were wonderful!! I also remember waldorf salad.............I have not had this since I was a kid. We used to have either parnips or turnips on Thanksgiving day.

On particularly sharp memory is going out to play in the snow....coming in to the house freezing!! I would stand on the register to toast my feet..I would then sit down and Mom would rub my feet. She always had dry warm socks waiting for me to put on..........she would lay them on the register until I came in the house.

As I became a teenager, I was convinced that my mother didn't know anything..........boy, was I wrong! After I married and Kevin was born, I truly realized that mothers know just about everything. When Kevin was about 3 months old, he had a bad upper respiratory infection....he wouldn't take a bottle. I called good old Mom. She told me to just feed him his formula from a spoon...she reminded me his nose was all stopped up and when you stuck a bottle in his mouth, he couldn't breathe. I tried it and it worked.

Mom has been gone over half of my life. I still think of her often.

Erie....the center of the universe

2007-10-23T12:15:00.000-04:00

Well, not really the center of the universe, but it was to us growing up....5th and Parade, that is. Gramma and Grampa always lived in Erie, 8 of the aunts and uncles did also. There were other places to see and to visit, but Erie was home.

As our generation grew up, some of us established our lives and families far away from Erie. Of the 15 of us, we live in Ohio, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and some still remain in Erie.

Our children live in Washington, Pennsylvania (other than Erie), Texas, Kansas, New York, New Jersey, West Viriginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, and of course Erie. We have one doing a semester in Japan, and one providing military service in Iraq. God Bless you, Steve and keep you safe.

Wow!! we sure have spread out!!

As I think about home, the first thought that comes to mind is the home and family that I grew up with. I have been gone from Erie for almost 39 years!! But thoughts of Erie still brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart.

I believe that as a group, we have made efforts to stay connected. Email and this wonderful blog that Richie created are two ways we can recall the past fondly and remain part of each other going forward.

Recalling memories and creating new ones........

Memories of Pierre and Helen

2007-10-03T09:42:00.000-04:00

The thing I remember most about Pierre, is how do you spell "Peery"? I always wondered about that.

My memories of Pierre and Helen are not as abundant as those of the rest of the family. I remember them living in strange little apartments...one that I remember was on lower State Street. I recall Helen as a very sweet lady, but very nervous or ill at ease around all of us. (I guess we were an intimidating bunch!)

I do remember when Pierre was the janitor at Edison school. I was in the second grade in Mrs. McGovern's class and was sitting in the first row. (probably because I talked so much!) He came in to empty the trash and said "Hi, Dede!" I was so embarassed because all the kids laughed at the name Dede (they knew me as Doris) I also think some of the laughs were because my uncle was a janitor.

As a kid, I had attended numerous funerals of the Sullivan sisters. When Pierre died, I believe that I was 16 or 17. It was the first time that I really locked into the fact that my parents could die too and I wasn't ready for that.

Hindsight working now, I wish I had known them better. This picture is from Richie Barron. Inscription reads :Geom Class East HS 1924".

Crotty legacy

2007-10-02T10:02:00.000-04:00

We know that Grandpa's father was David, and that he died on December 10, 1876, aged 28 years and 8 months. The 1871-72 City Directory has the following two entries:

Crotty, David Jr., Saloon, 410 State - Boards at Wm. Power
Crotty, David, Blacksmith helper, Erie Car Works - Boards at Wm. Power

I believe David Jr. is our great-grandfather. Is the other David his father or cousin?

Who is Wm. Power? Was he grandma Powers husband? (When my mother was young she said the family sometimes mentioned grandma Powers, but she wasn't sure who she was).

The cemetery records have a P. Crotty as being buried in the same lot as grandma, grandpa and David Crotty. Who was this P. Crotty?

When did the Crotty's come to Erie? Where in Ireland did they live? Who were David Crotty's parents?

What did grandpa do during the Spanish-American War?

Answers to these and other questions may have been answered by the contents in the attic of 509 Parade St. In the summer of 1946 the house was sold to the Filipkowski's. One day before they moved in, I was riding my tricycle up the sidewalk past the house. I heard a crash and looked in the narrow area between 509 and 511. There on the ground was a lot of "junk"! Anna was in the attic on the 3rd floor, and was throwing everything out the window. I quickly went home and told my mother that "Anna was throwing stuff out the window"! She quickly ran up to 509. She was upset with Anna. After awhile, my mother picked up two antique picture frames. Nothing else was done. Everything was lost.

Mike Jackson

2007-09-17T20:22:00.001-04:00

Mike occasionally stopped by Anna's to have a quick beer when he was out and about. Whenever he saw Tommy, he'd say "What do you know, Moe?", and Tommy would reply "Not much, Joe". He always called me Long-John.

Memories of Johnny and Norma....

2007-09-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

I cannot recall memories of Johnny and Norma without going into the recent past. In February of 2006, Rick and I were in Florida with his brother. I called Little Ann and Mike to arrange to meet for lunch.

While driving to our lunch spot, I was trying to think of how long it had been since I had seen Mike. I pictured him as a much younger man with reddish hair....It had been 20 years plus since we had seen each other. We got out of our car, and a man was walking toward me and said "Hello, Dede"........my heart skipped a beat.......he reminded me so much of Uncle Johnny. If he had greeted me with "Hiya Kid" (the typical Johnny greeting), I probably woul have fainted. More on this later.

Johnny and Norma............the house on Charlotte Street.....I remember Christmas....Norma made doll clothes for Patty's dolls...........and Norma made the best fudge!! What was it called?? Here I go with the food thing again. As Richie mentioned in his blog, Johnny would go into his 'when I was the durango kid...' routine.

Patty and Mike were such quiet kids compared to the rest of us hooligans......

Norma....so assured, red nails, hair kinda swept back in a 1940's style. I remember picnics in that big back yard......Norma made popsicles that were yummy (food thing again). I remember that she liked to play cards.

Their collie..........what a beautiful dog. Why do I think his name was Mike, but then changed to Bummy when Mike was born??

I remember Gooie.........didn't she live on East 5th Street? Again, I also thought she was a relative of mine.

Fast forward to 2006.......when Rick, Mike, Ann and I met for lunch, I couldn't help but wonder what we would talk about........boy was I wrong!! The hours melted away as we all caught up on our lives, and reminsced about our past.

The idea for a cousins reunion started after Jack Mozart died. When we had lunch that day in Florida, we really decided to go forward and do it. It was a wonderful afternoon that we all hated to see end.....but it started a beautiful connection with all of the cousins.

Memories of Betty and Willie...

2007-09-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

When I think about Betty and Willie, I immediately picture Betty of the 1950's era. Black hair pulled back in a bun, dressed to the nines, and very high heels....always the character. And her laugh!!! Willie.......just being Willie, now the last of the aunts and uncles.

I remember their house on East Lake Road........first with just Lucy and Mike, and then little Ann made her debut. I was going to St. Pat's then and rode the bus. I would stop after school, just to see the baby, and Betty would let me hold her. Such a big thrill!!

At Christmas time, the room off the living room (sun room?) would have a huge tree......in my child's mind it was the biggest tree ever. When I would go over there, they had no backyard, so Lucy, Mike, and I would run through the house like wild indians!

When I made my first communion, the Rastatters came to it....Lucy and Mike were dressed up so cute. We have a picture (attached)of the 3 of us on Eagle Point on that day. My dress was scratchy and Lucy and Mike looked uncomfortable in their church clothes.

Betty and Willie moved alot....it was always an adventure to see where they moved next. I remember the downstairs flat across from St. Pat's church. Also the house on 5th st next to St. Pat's school....little Ann would stand and peek through the fence at the kids on the playground....she was such a solemn child!! I think she was trying to figure out the world and her place in it.

I also remember the flat on Parade Street between 6th and 7th.

I remember the picture of little Ann and butchy dog looking out the front window....like they were waiting for someone to come home. Did uncle Tom take that one?

When I was a freshman at St. Ben's we were allowed to bring a younger child to school one day...I think it was for a Christmas program and we were encouraged to bring little ones. Betty let me take Ann to school. I was so proud of her. She would have been around 4 yrs old.

Turnwald (aka Turners Farm) I remember Mike falling in the creek and me pulling him out. I don't think any of us were supposed to be down there.

I remember Mrs. Razanauskas and Stanley in the house on Ash between 5th and 6th. Mrs. R made the best pickles ever.......every time I eat a dill pickle, I mentally compare it to those. I remember Lucy and I made dill pickles and peanut butter sandwiches at our house on Eagle Point. They were pretty tasty.

I also remember that when Lucy ate, she either ate one thing all at once OR she had to make sure no food was touching another...not sure which it was.

My mother loved pickled pigs feet (yuck). She would get them from Betty....did Mrs. R. do those also??

I remember Madeline and Paul Eighmy.....for years I thought I was related to them!!

When I was in my teens or early 20's, they lived on East 6th st. During their later years, they moved to Florida and then back to what little Pat refers to as 'the center of the universe, Erie'.

Dear Uncle Willie.........I can't wait until he gets online again to get his wonderful jokes and his prayers for all of us.

Has anyone noticed...

2007-09-11T09:57:00.001-04:00

Most of my memories seem centered around food??

Memories of Anna...

2007-09-11T09:17:00.000-04:00

Memories of Anna....505 Parade Street. We all have many Anna stories to share......sitting around her kitchen table.......lots of beer for the grown ups and Rola pop for the kids. Planters peanuts, swiss cheese in a dish with mold on it.........you just scraped off the mold and ate the good parts (I still do this). She introduced all of us to epicurean delights....boiled shrimp, lobster tails, good cuts of steak. I remember one time when she cooked duck....I remember not liking it. Does anyone remember when she would bake a whole roaster pan of chicken wings?
Going to Turnwald (aka Turners Farm) in the summer....Anna always brought the huge bag of Planters peanuts in the shell. When we had our reunion last year, little Pat and I tried to figure out a way we could have the peanuts in the shell......but made a grown up decision that it would be too much of a mess that we would have to clean up.
Anna was always ready and raring to go for any adventure or for a chance to visit her sisters, brothers, and nieces and nephews. She made many trips to our home in Houston.
I have in my house the bottle opener that she had at 505. Most beer bottles now are twist off, but the opener will always be here.
When I learned how to knit when I was about 10, Anna wanted me to knit her an afghan. She and I went to Trasks and bought pink and green yarn, and I proceeded to make a bunch of little squares. My mother sewed them together. While Anna was still in the house, she gave it back to me.....my daughter Robin has already called dibs on it.
On Christmas eve, after I was married and gone from Erie, I waited that night for the call from the gang at Anna's. After saying hi to everyone, I knew that the Christmas tradition was still alive and she made sure Iwas still part of it.

Remember the glass of dimes she collected and kept in her cupboard? When you reached a certain age, you were given a key to Anna's house....a rite of passage that you eagerly looked forward to......you were welcome at Anna's any time.

Anna loved her 15 nieces and nephews unconditionally.

Memories of Julia and Harry....

2007-09-10T09:32:00.001-04:00

My memories of Julia and Harry center around the house on West 3rd St. Kids always running through the house...the glider on the front porch...and Leo Tormey going into the back shed and swiping Harry's beer!! The boys all shared a big bedroom at the front of the house...it was like a dormitory.

One very clear memory was a time when David was lost. Julia was frantic and calling everyone. She finally called later and said that David had crawled under one of the beds and was back in the corner sound asleep.

I remember Julia sitting in her rocker in the living room. I also have a very early recollection of a very old lady (Harry's mother?) also being in the room.

Every summer, we would go with the Callahans (and Anna) to Conneaut Lake Park for 'nickel day'. It was looked forward to before the event, and remembered after. After the return from Conneaut Lake, we would go to an Italian restaurant on Liberty street.

The Callahan's house was the place to be to go down to Chestnut Street Pool. Girls and boys had separate days...Boys: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Girls: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Thinking back, I can't believe we actually went in that water! We would take our lunch and spend the whole day there....then trek back up the hill to Julia's.

In the early 50's, Julia had to be hospitalized. During that time, David stayed with us. Nancy and I slept in our double bed, and David slept on Dad's old army cot, all in that little bedroom on Eagle Point. Harry would make his rounds in the evening to visit his farmed out kids. He brought Da Da and I coloring books.

Trains in the Attic...

2007-09-10T09:27:00.000-04:00

Remember Tom's wonderful train set that took up about 1/3 of the attic? I remember it from from my childhood. It wa still there when Kevin and Robin were little...not quite as big, but still there. They remember this also. I also remember all the National Geographic magazines he had up there.

Lucille used to joke that when she moved out of 501 she could take everything she owned in a paper bag, all the rest of the stuff was Tom's!!

Richard Crotty

2007-09-09T21:21:00.000-04:00

Born October 25, 1905, died June 16, 1981.

You were a part of this family yet none of us knew you. We all wondered about you often...where you were, what you looked like.

Whatever reason compelled you to leave, I hope that it gave you peace in your life.

Uncle Willie and the Pope

2007-09-09T15:34:00.000-04:00

Does anyone think that Uncle Willie looks like Pope Benedict or is it just me?

"The Big House"

2007-09-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

I remember living at 509 Parade St. with grandma and grandpa and 8 of my aunts and uncles (all of whom were in their twenties) for the first 7 years of my life. What an experience! There were 4 bedrooms and a bath on the second floor with radiators in the hall not in the rooms. In the morning I remember rushing down to the kitchen to stand shivering in front of the wood stove to warm up. The hot steamy kitchen was a place I spent a lot of time with grandma, "helping' her bake lemon pie or iron with my toy ironing board and iron.

On the first floor there was a front parlor with glass French doors, a fireplace and a piano which I used to play with great abandon. Uncle Pierre claimed it sounded like I was really playing something. Next was a living room with a room attached which was used as an extra bedroom or for whatever was needed. The dining room was a good size with what seemed to me like an enormous dining room set. The stairway to the second floor was off the dining room. The kitchen was large with a long table. I remember grandma making her own noodles for Sunday chicken soup. She would have these large sheets of pasta on towels draped over the chairs which she would later roll up and slice into thin noodles. The soup mainly consisted of noodles and broth, and she always gave me the heart. I liked chicken hearts...strange kid! Off the kitchen was a large walk-in pantry with the sink and many cupboards.

Life at 509 was always exciting. Irish aunts and uncles know how to have fun as we all know. Someone was always coming or going, putting on makeup, buying new clothes, or having poker parties in the kitchen. I was the waitress. I even had a tray to carry the beer to the table and carry away the empties or empty ashtrays. They tied a towel around my waist as an apron. They all thought it was a hoot to have free labor. No tips either. They would let me stay up till all hours. I loved it.

Grandpa used to take me to his neighborhood "pub", Calvano's, on the corner of either 3rd or 4th and Parade and put me on the bar. He would visit and I would have pretzels and pop. I would say we were going "calavantin"

With 11 plus people in the house, using the bathroom was a challenge. There were no daily showers. In fact there was no shower. Just a big tub. Anna told me one time that our great grandmother had the first indoor plumbing installed in the city? Maybe someone else knows more about this. I don't know how they managed it. I guess everyone had to be patient.

Then WW II came along and things began to change. I found it all very scary. Going to the depot with Johnnie, Willie, Mike and Anna was a very sad time. Before, during and after this time everyone was getting married and moving out leaving my mother and me (Mike was in the army also) grandma, grandpa. I was at all of your parents' weddings. When you all started arriving, I was so excited to see and love all the new babies.

When Mike came home we moved to 411 East 5th. This house was like Anna's. The move was like culture shock for me after being surrounded with all of these people for most of my young life. But I soon adjusted.

Memories of David and Mary....

2007-09-09T10:13:00.000-04:00

The most significant thing I remember about David and Mary, was that I always called him Uncle David, and Mary always called him Dave. As a kid I thought that calling him Dave was funny! I guess I thought Dave was a name for a kid. The house on East 5th st was a fascinating little place..........the bathroom before they remodeled it was huge and Mary had a vanity table with all sorts of perfumes, etc on it. As a little girl, I wanted a vanity with all of the foo foo stuff on it....I think I still am waiting for that!

At Christmas, I recall Mary knitting hats, mittens, or scarfs for me. I don't know if this was every year or just one or two years.

When the Crotty caravan made its way to David and Mary's on Christmas day, she would have the dining room table set up with food. She would have a ham on a platter and you could slice some and help yourself. Having a huge ham on the table, just waiting for you to help yourself.........that was so cool!! I remember Mary's son Tommy Schrenk and his wife Betty........they had several kids. I was confused at that tender age as to how he could be Mary's son, but not really my cousin. Boy, how times have changed.

I also remember Mary's father........we always called him Mr. Sinnott. I remember Mary Lou Sinnott also.

Crotty Stats...

2007-09-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

Just a thought for you..........Richard and Julia Sullivan Crotty had:

9 children
15 Grandchildren
25 great grandchildren
21 great great grandchildren
2 great great great grandchildren

That is 72 people!!!

Julia Callahan has the most descendants. This doesn't include any spouses............

And we are still growing!!

Memories of Lucillle and Tom....

2007-09-08T08:28:00.000-04:00

Lucille was my official 'hair cutter' while I was growing up. When I needed a haircut, I would sit on the high stool in the kitchen at 501 and get my hair cut........I think she may have also given me a perm!! She would refer to her and I as "Dede and Cici, the soap suds twins".

I remember the blackboard just inside the kitchen and the pictures of Santa that she would draw on it.

She made the absolute BEST maple breakfast rolls. When I smell maple sticky buns, I am 10 again and in Lucille's kitchen. I also remember her making burnt toast and scraping the burned part off.

Uncle Tom....always doing something, and always anxious to share with you what he was doing. Every important picture that was ever taken of me while I lived in Erie was by Tom....right up to my wedding! I sure hope one of the Barron boys has all those pictures.

As a young adult, I went with Lucille and Tom to the Kenley Players and we would go for dinner. It opened up a whole new world.

I also remember manhattans made by Uncle Tom.....the next time I go to Rich and Barb's, I am gonna have one and toast all the relatives!!

Santa

2007-09-05T20:28:00.000-04:00

Anna always had a party on Christmas Eve. Some years Santa would show up. You could hear him tramping across the attic floor above. He'd come down the stairs into the back shed, through the kitchen and into the next room.

Phone Number 77-106

2007-09-04T21:08:00.000-04:00

I remember that Anna's phone number in the early 50's was
77-106
I looked in an old phone book from the 40's, and this was also the number for 509 Parade, except it was written as
7-7106
Before we had a phone, my dad strung a wire between 505 and 501 for a buzzer. If Pat called me, he'd call Anna, and she'd press the buzzer 3 times, and I'd go over to Anna's to answer the phone. If Harry called Tommy, it was 4 buzzes, and if David called David, it was 5 buzzes.

Anna.......

2007-08-24T16:18:00.000-04:00

Our beloved Anna.........

A good time in the Big Apple...

Memories of Gramma and Grampa...

2007-08-24T13:53:00.000-04:00

My earliest memories of Gramma and Grampa are in Anna's house. I remember Grampa with his shock of white hair.......so tall and so stern looking. In my memories, he always had on a white shirt and a black cardigan sweater. This picture was taken, I believe, in our house on 5th Street. He would reach into his sweater pocket and give me a Planters Peanut bar. All these years later, I think of him every time I see a Planters Peanut candy bar.
I remember Gramma, but only as being sick and in bed. I thought I had a memory of 509, but I think that memory was perhaps from when the Filipkowskis lived there.
I remember our house (one of the cottages) at 411 E. 5th St....It was similar in layout as Lucille's and Anna's.
As a little kid, we had the first tv in the family and on the block...........that was interesting....little did any of us kids realize that in future years everyone would have multiple tv's in their homes.
As kids, we were always welcome in any of the aunts and uncles homes....you just walked in like you lived there.....we were always safe......
The Christmas memories that Richie posted are fond in my mind too.
Our dear beloved Anna..........our own Auntie Mame!! At Christmas time, she would take Lucy and I out to eat...either the Parade St. Tavern or earlier years to the Cathay house. We then got to help her pick out Christmas gifts at Trasks for all the nieces and nephews. When you got old enough, you got the money instead of a gift....$10!! What a princely sum to spend any way you wanted. Lucy and I also spent several Christmas eves at Annas peeling shrimp and making deviled eggs.
I have jumped from the late 40's to the 50's....I intend to post again and fill in more of those wonderful days of my childhood and youth.

Grandma & Grandpa

2007-08-21T20:43:00.000-04:00

My mother always spoke of her parents as Mama and Papa.

One thing that stands out in my memory of grandpa Crotty was when he gave me a quarter, and asked me to run down to the store and buy him a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes.

A thing that I remember about grandma was when she swept the sidewalk - she would swing the broom back and forth, and walk slowly along. I must have thought this was a good method, as I have always remembered it.

The Cousins

2007-08-17T19:32:00.000-04:00

Here we are - from the oldest to the youngest.

Nancy Barber Jackson - Mar 25, 1937
Mary Ann Callahan - Nov 27, 1940
Richard Barron - Jun 16, 1942
Patrick Callahan - Jul 29, 1942
Thomas Barron - Feb 3, 1944
Harry Callahan - Sep 27, 1944
Doris Jackson - Sep 20, 1946
David Callahan - Nov 15, 1948
David Barron - Mar 2, 1949
Lucy Rastatter - May 31, 1949
Michael Rastatter - Oct 13, 1950
William Callahan - Mar 30, 1951
Patricia Crotty - Jul 2, 1951
Michael Crotty - May 21, 1953
Anne Sullivan - Sep 11, 1956