September 24, 2009

The Wedding: Part One

First and foremost on Fred’s mind upon arriving home, after getting honorably discharged from the U. S. Army, was getting an automobile. He had a military license to drive but had to get it certified by the Registry. After that he was in the market for a car and ended up with a blue and white Fairlane Ford.

It was helpful for his commute up to Reading every day to work for his Father and also to get around. When he would pick me up every evening in this beautiful car, my parents would be in awe. We found it easier then to visit my sisters or brother living in Dorchester and when available would babysit for them. We would frequently double-date with our friends, many whom have since passed away. We both enjoyed going to the movies so we went at least every week.

During the summer months we would be able to get to beaches in the suburbs, if we wanted to have a change from our local Carson Beach. We spent a lot of time with Fred’s sister Marion who was two years younger than him. Marion was “going steady” with Pat Cahill at this time and was planning on getting married. I could understand why Fred was so close to Marion, as it did not take me long before I thought of her as a sister. She and Pat were married a couple years before Fred and I and we spent many evenings with them in their apartment. To this day I shall never forget Marion, who became a favorite of my Mother’s too.

For Christmas of 1953 Fred surprised me with a “Hope Chest”. He had it delivered to my house and he conspired with my Father to put it in my parents’ bedroom until Christmas Eve. I guess that was Fred’s discrete way of getting my Father’s approval, much different from how it is done today. My Father really liked Freddie, maybe because he was not overpowering and is known for being “a man of very few words”. My Mother could not believe someone his age, 21-years-old at the time, was so hard-working and ambitious. After meeting Fred’s family, especially his Grandmother, my Mother, “Ma” as we called her, they was very pleased with my choice of a boyfriend.

Fred decided he no longer wanted to be just a “boyfriend” so he bought me an engagement ring in the Spring and I think I just took it for granted that we should make plans for a wedding. Now that I think of it, I do not recall that he actually “popped the question”.

My Father would not hear of us looking for an apartment because he assumed we would live at 51 Gates Street. After much persuasion he agreed it would be better for both Fred and I, along with him and my Mother, who at long last would have an empty nest to themselves.With a lot of assistance and support from my Mother and my sisters, we made the wedding plans and at the same time Fred and I found an apartment on East Fourth Street. While I was scheduling the Church and reception, Fred was working diligently to make the apartment a presentable place to live. With the help of Marion and my Mother, we both agreed on the same furniture. Next was a surprise bridal shower, of course nothing comparable to the showers today, but we thought we struck gold with the beautiful, useful gifts we received.

September 21, 2009

Part Two

The bridal shower was hosted by my sister, “TC” (Theresa), who was my maid of honor and bridesmaids Anna Green and Sissy Flaherty. It was not only a surprise but an enjoyable evening at St. Vincent’s Social Center. Of course my sister Jose (Josephine) had her hand in the necessary preparations for it.

Freddie and his friend Charlie Malley had a double bachelor party. We got married a couple weeks apart from Charlie and his bride Ann Sheehan. To my knowledge all in attendance had a great night until Fred had a car accident on the way home but luckily he was not injured. God only knows why.

The wedding day came on October 2nd; I walked down the aisle in St. Augustine’s Church at 11:00 AM that Saturday morning on my Father’s arm. I do not know who was more nervous Freddie or me but we made it through a meaningful Mass officiated by my cousin Msgr. John Keilty, even though it was 90 degrees that day. To make matters worse the wedding gown my Mother bought for me was mostly satin and lace which are heavy materials but it was beautiful.

We then proceeded to join our 300 guests at the Lithuanian Club in South Boston for our reception, which was catered by Fred’s aunt Gladys Lapsley. She provided a great four course dinner while the Johnny Powell band played a mixture of American and Irish tunes.

After the reception we immediately left on a motor trip for our honeymoon through the Middle Atlantic States, including Niagra Falls. About eight days later we returned home but were unable to stay at our apartment because there was a delay in shipment of our bedroom set, which was coming from South Carolina. We stayed at 51 Gates Street until it was delivered on October 23rd. We had only stayed at our new apartment for two nights and on Monday morning we both went off to our jobs, Freddie at F. W. Rooney Trans. Co. and mine at U. S. Testing Company on A Street in South Boston.

Late morning on that Monday I was called home from work to learn that my Father, who was in the hospital at the time, had died in his sleep. He was in the hospital being treated for a fractured ankle and died from a coronary embolism. My Mother, being the strong woman that she always was, handled the shock well. Freddie and I, after a long discussion with her, decided we should return and live at 51 Gates Street on a permanent basis.

What has happened over the years in that house since then will come next.

July 20, 2009

Hon Throws the First Pitch!


Hon and Fred Rooney throw out the first pitch at the Red Sox/Yankees game, June 11, 2009.


Let me interrupt the chain of events in my blog to comment on a night I shall never forget. On Thursday, June 11th my husband Fred and I had the pleasure of throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park before the Red Sox and Yankees game. John Hancock Financial Services which is headquartered in the South Boston Seaport District, awarded us this unsolicited honor to recognize our family contributions to civic, non-profit and youth organizations. I guess giving of oneself does have a way of being rewarded! From 4 P.M. to almost midnight we along with 45 members of the Rooney family were treated like royalty by the staff of the Red Sox organization and the Hancock team. Special thanks go to Hancock VP Carol Fulp who arranged the evening. We cannot adequately express how thankful we are for the hospitality showed to us.

I hadn’t been to Fenway Park for a couple years but do always watch Red Sox baseball games faithfully. It certainly is an amazing place and the improvements that have been made to it are spectacular especially looking down from the Green Monster seats area and looking up from the pitcher’s mound. The weather cooperated so that made the night even more enjoyable. The moment Fred and I threw the first pitch together is something I will always cherish. Yes, both pitches made it to the plate but probably would not have been called strikes!

Our family group were joined in a Hancock suite by former Red Sox left fielder Jim Rice. I do remember him well when he played for the Red Sox but did not realize the phenomenal record he accrued as an outfielder and hitter. He was recently voted to be inducted into the Baseball of Fame which will take place in July. Beyond that, I would like to comment on how impressed our family was with Mr. Rice not only as a famous baseball player but as the “gentleman” he proved to be during the six innings he spent with us. There were 10 excited children under the age of 11 with us and no one could be more patient with them as they swarmed the Hall of Famer with questions and requests for his signature.


Fred and I with Red Sox legend Jim Rice.


We want to say ‘Thank you Jim” for a night I shall always remember and I am sure my family members will never forget. As his induction into the Baseball Ball Hall of Fame approaches we congratulate him on this well deserved honor and send him our Best wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

Capping off the night, the Red Sox rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to squeeze out a 4-3 win over the Yankees. It doesn’t get any better than that!


Fred and I with our sons at Fenway Park.

June 24, 2009

When Freddie completed his Boot Camp training, he was assigned by the Army to a base in Germany, even though half of his regiment was sent to Korea as part of the US force fighting North Korea.It was the early 1950’s, and I had already had two brothers, Bernie and John, that had served overseas during World War II. I was aware of the dangers faced by US military personnel, regardless of where they were stationed. Many uncivilized, radical groups, in Korea and in some of the European countries, would shoot at US servicemen because of what they represented…freedom.

I understood that the US had good intentions when our leaders joined the conflict in Korea, to stop the spread of communism. But the South Boston community suffered dearly: several kids never came home (20 in all)…two kids from Gates Street, our neighborhood, were killed in action. It really hit home. I mean, these were kids! And we didn’t have nightly coverage on TV like we have now, so families were left to wonder what was going on. We received our news by letters from those serving abroad.

The D Street Housing Development was built to offer housing to those veterans that were returning from World War II, and eventually Korea. The price to build the development, however, was very steep: the destruction of 10 square blocks of homes, including ours. Families were uprooted and lost touch with many, many friends. Some of the older folks were never the same. Was it worth it? At the time it seemed very unfair to me and my family. Ironically, many of the small streets and squares that were created by the development were eventually named after South Boston men who were killed in action…a small reward for such a supreme sacrifice!

While Fred continued to serve his “hitch” in Germany, I was working at the Carney Hospital in Dorchester and enjoying the first two grandchildren in the Corliss Family. It was not difficult to get attached to “Little Evie” Corliss and “Little Tommy” O’Toole. The kids came fast and furious after that: Francis and Gerard in the O’Toole Family and Michael Corliss III and twin brothers, John and Jimmy. Then Maureen and Francis O’Connor (born 18 months apart) just before my sister, Jose, and her husband, Franna, moved to their new house on Mt. Ida Road in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester. Whenever possible I would babysit for my nieces and nephews.

Even though my brother and two of my sisters (the Corliss’, O’Connors and O’Tooles) were now living in Dorchester, it did not stop me from getting over to visit them. My brother, John, and his wife, Evie, decided to stay in South Boston, just around the corner with “little Evie” so that was only walking distance. Our family had grown quite a bit during this period of time and as each baby came along I realized how fortunate I was to have my brothers and sisters, and had a much greater understanding of how important family is!

Freddie returned home from the Army in 1953 and lived with his Grandmother, “Nana” Curran. His parents, Veronica and Fred, had moved to a suburb north of Boston (Reading, Ma) with their other children (two sons and three daughters) while Freddie was serving in the military. Having been born and raised in the South Boston neighborhood, he didn’t find the move to a suburb very appealing. Nana Curran was a very “special” person in Fred’s life. It was easy to figure out why after meeting her. She was warm and caring. She adored Freddie! He was now enjoying civilian life and started working immediately for F. W. Rooney Motor Transportation Co. owned by his Father. I was very happy to have Freddie back home now as our courtship “took off”!

As the saying goes, “stay tuned”!

May 26, 2009

We had a deadline to leave W. Fifth Street, so my parents found an apartment for the family. We only lived there for six months because a single family house was for sale on Gates Street, so this was now the Corliss family home. I thoroughly enjoyed growing up close to Dorchester Heights, which is a National Historic Monument. Being the youngest of five I have to say I had it a lot easier than my two sisters and two brothers. My Father and Mother would probably be considered strict, caring and hardworking parents.

They were born in Ireland but in two different counties, Galway and Mayo. After arriving in America, my Father served in World War I. They provided us with whatever we essentially needed to keep us happy and healthy. They were both very talented and resourceful so that was a big help. My Father made any repairs necessary on the house and my Mother cooked, baked, sewed and knitted for us. They certainly knew how to make ends meet.

The United States entered World War II around the time of our relocation and my two brothers, John and Bernie, enlisted in the U.S. Navy along with many of their neighborhood friends. “Pa”, as we called him, had to sign for them because they were just out of high school. He was devastated, as was the whole family, to see my brothers leave home. During basic training Jose, which is short for Josephine, the oldest in the family, took a bus down to Newport to visit them but never went empty handed. Before they were shipped overseas, John married his childhood sweetheart, Evie. After three or four years, both John and Bernie finally came home safe and sound. Many of their friends, however, were not as fortunate.

After the war TC (Theresa), Bernie (Michael) and Jose (Josephine) got married and all made excellent choices. Our family was extended now and we had many enjoyable times together. My brothers-in law and sisters-in-law treated me as if I were their little sister too. They would come back often to enjoy Ma’s excellent cooking and baking. John remained in South Boston, only two streets away, and the other three moved to Dorchester. When the babies came along, being a teenager now, I would babysit for them whenever I could and was well rewarded in one way or another. I wore a uniform to St. Augustine’s School but I always had an eye for other outfits and if my sisters didn’t get them for me, my brothers did. I was the only one left in the house with Ma and Pa now and my high school graduation was fast approaching.

Around this time, my friends and I would frequent Bessie’s Donut Shop on Broadway before or after a movie. That is where I met Freddie, my husband of 54 years. He was known as “ Buddy” to his family however his best friend, Charlie Malley, nicknamed him "Twilight" and called him that most of the time. We would see each other frequently during that year while Freddie attended South Boston High School.. Now the United States was involved in the Korean Conflict. Like many of his friends , Freddie enlisted in the Army soon after graduation in 1950.

What followed is another story. Check back!!

May 1, 2009

A Brief History of South Boston, MA.
South Boston is a densely populated neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. It was formerly known as Dorchester Neck, was annexed to the City of Boston in 1804, at which time the name officially changed to South Boston. Today it is referred to as Southie by its residents. South Boston is well-known for being a tightly-knit, working class Irish-American neighborhood.

Hon’s Story
Where and how it all started was in a little single row house in the “Lower End” of South Boston where the D Street Housing Development now exists. My Mother and Father who worked and saved for this well kept home were presented with a meager check from the Government to take our house and build a public housing project, which originally was intended for rentals to be used by veterans returning home from World War II. Most of our neighbors relocated to another area in South Boston. My birthplace, 84 West Fifth Street was leveled and our great neighbors and friends were scattered. So many wonderful memories, even though I was only 9 when this happened. Our family would now be members of St. Augustine’s Parish after leaving St. Peter & Paul Parish. It was a big change but it was also disappointing to be a distance from St. Peter’s Lithuanian Church which we frequented many times, as it was right across the street from our house, and still remains there.

After attending St. Augustine’s School and High School, which has since closed its doors, I entered the “real world”. I started working in the Office at Carney Hospital and remained there until it moved to Dorchester Lower Mills where it still stands. At the time Dorchester seemed liked the other end of the world, so I got employment at the United States Testing Corporation on A Street and remained until I married my husband, Fred “Twilight” Rooney. With our 55th wedding anniversary coming up this year, it is easy to imagine what could have happened having 12 sons, one of which passed away shortly after birth.

The posts that follow will be a mix of memories, reflections, and stories from the past and present…

Thank you for visiting my blog, check back often for updates.

-Hon