Born in predominantly Irish Catholic South Boston in 1895, my father Edward H. Burke rose to become battlefield combatant, sign letterer for the City of Boston, family man and post commander of the American Legion. He fought in France in World War I with the Yankee Division out of New England and attained the rank of sergeant. He received a chest wound and was gassed as well. … [Read more...] about Photo Album: The Yankee Division
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Family Photo Album: Traveling Mary
Mary Dolan was born in Croghan, Roscommon in 1862, the oldest child of Andrew Dolan and Anne Tansey. She had a case of wonderlust and kept on the move over the years of her youth, first to South Africa, next to Australia, then to New Zealand. From there she moved to Fiji, later Samoa, and still later to Hawaii. The last queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani, asked to meet her, … [Read more...] about Family Photo Album: Traveling Mary
Photo Album: Grandfather’s War Years
My grandfather, John Fay, was born in Finavarra, County Clare in 1896. The youngest of twelve children, he grew up on a farm that juts out into Galway Bay. Family lore has it that he had an almost idyllic childhood - trapping lobsters and playing amongst the ruins of an abandoned fort. He also attended school until he completed his secondary education. That in itself seems … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Grandfather’s War Years
Photo Album: Grandma Carrie
Pictured in this photograph is my Scotch-Irish grandmother, Carrie (O'Neal) Miller, the shining light in our family. Over the years, she wore a variety of hats: cook, nanny, housekeeper, nurse, and coach, among others. Many times she was gently teased about her height, or lack thereof. Petite at less than 5 feet, she and grandpa made an interesting pair, as he was over 6 feet … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Grandma Carrie
Photo Album: “What’re You Having?”
1939 – Astor Bar, New York My father, Michael Rogers, was a bartender at the legendary Astor Bar on 44th and Broadway from 1937 to 1965, one year before it was destroyed. The large photo above was taken by the New York Daily News for its pictorial series called The Correct Thing -- the subject line for this segment was "Tipping Bartenders." My father was born in Co. Longford … [Read more...] about Photo Album: “What’re You Having?”