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A May Day Tradition: New York Moving Day

“Never knew the city in such a chaotic state. Every other house seems to be disgorging itself into the street; all the sidewalks are lumbered with bureaus and bedsteads to the utter destruction of their character as thoroughfares, and all the space between the sidewalks is occupied by long processions of carts and wagons and vehicles omnigenous laden with perilous piles of moveables.” -The Diary of Templeton Strong (Cover Photo: May Day in New York, Harper’s Magazine, 1850) Moving Day…packing...

John Joseph “JJ” Carroll: Overcoming the Odds

(Illustration above: New York City in 1851)  “What place is this, to which the squalid street conducts us? A kind of square of leprous houses, some of which are attainable only by crazy wooden stairs without. What lies behind this tottering flight of steps?…This is the place; these narrow ways diverging to the right and left, and reeking everywhere with dirt and filth…See how the rotten beams are tumbling down, and how the patched and broken windows seem to scowl...

Mathew Conlan: Death by Gravel?

La Grande Famine, Illustrated in London News by Smyth, 1847. May they feel the warmth of a tear! May they hear the piper’s lament, May they know we, the survivors, keep vigil. irish tenant farmers Mathew Conlan was born in 1795 in the North Connaught region of Ireland to John and Anna Conlan, poor farmers near the town of Sligo. Similar to the Husmann in Norway, Irish tenant farmers rented land from wealthy landowners, primarily English and Scottish supporters of Elizabeth...

A little mischief?

Nettie Ove with Mary (Conlin) Sullivan and Agnes (Conlin) Gregoire (about 1922-23) This picture of Aunt Nettie with Mary and Nana (Agnes) was taken while the family was living in Poplar, Montana. My favorite part is the mischievous expression on Nana’s face in the corner of the frame....

Eliza (Sherlock) Duffy: A Young Mothers Determination

“In Heaven a noble work was done when God gave man a Mother”. -old Irish proverb Stories of the valor of frontier men during America’s colonization are fairly common. However, the achievements of frontier women are seldom heard. As a businesswoman and mother, Eliza Duffy’s accomplishments, during a time when a woman’s identity was derived entirely through their spouse, were extraordinary. coming to America Elizabeth “Eliza” Sherlock, was born April 27, 1821, to Thomas and Hannorah (White) Sherlock of Kings...

Agnes (Conlin) Gregoire: The Storyteller

Photo of Agnes Gregoire “Nana” with me as a child “Did I ever tell you the story about…” At some point in every conversation with my grandmother, Agnes Gregoire, she would pose this rhetorical question. I have many happy memories of sitting on a barstool in “Nana’s” kitchen and listening to tales about her childhood in Montana. Her stories never bored me, but one day out of curiosity I answered her question by saying that I had indeed heard the...

Merry Christmas from the Conlins!

the clem conlin family Clement “Clem” Conlin was the oldest son of George Conlin’s brother, Edward. (Clem was Nana’s cousin). Clem managed the Conlin’s chain of furniture stores with George and Ida (Ove Conlin).  He was also the best man in Marvin and Agnes (Conlin) Gregoire’s wedding. The wedding photo (below) of Father McHale with Clem is one of my favorites! Clem married Patricia Scofield in 1945, after being wounded in action during WWII. The couple settled down in Clem’s...

Agnes (Conlin) Gregoire: Styleshow

As modern American style becomes increasingly casual, it is fun to reflect on the style of generations before us. Agnes Gregoire was always impeccably dressed, whether she was out on a lunch date or headed to a Hospital Auxilary meeting. This slide-show is a little peek into her unique fashion. (And how about that stylish pink and white outfit that Bumps (Marvin) is sporting?) I hope you enjoy this blast from the past…...