Letter to Humphrey Sullivan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.