Fathers' Day 2020: A year of challenges

     This may seem a strange post to include in this blog dedicated to the memory of men, women and children interred at the Grand Trunk Cemetery who lived and died long ago.  None-the-less, I thought during this unusual time in our history, I'd share some personal history.

     People I have met at the cemetery often ask if I'm related to the souls buried here.  No, I am not  My one relationship is to place.  Some of the souls originally, through their grandparents or through land purchases came from Cape Ann in Massachusetts.  Thomas Skillings lived near the 1st Parish Church and gave up some of his land to build the 1st Parish Burial Ground in Gloucester.

     The Sawyer brothers who came to ancient Falmouth between 1719 and 1727, came from my hometown of Gloucester.  There were others whose names appear in the Rev. Thomas Smith's jounal and in Willis's history of Portland.

     I am descended from Portuguese fisherman on both sides of my family.  I am also named for my grandmothers:  Marianna Batista, born May 5, 1894 (Marianne) and Joanna da Conceicao de Oliveira Vidal, born in 1881, (Joan)  It was common to name the first born after grandparents; in this case my grandmothers.  

     My husband, Joel was also named for his grandfather Joel. When our second granddaughter was born, her parents honored both of us by naming her Joelle Mariana.

     My dad, Joseph Richard Francis, was born to Joao Francisco Mano born 1881 and Joanna on June 3rd, 1913.  He was one of eleven chidren born to the couple.  My grandfather came to the United States, probably with his parents in 1889 at the age of eight.  He obviously went back to the old country where he married my grandmother.  Two of my Dad's siblings were born in Portugal prior to my grandmother's immigration to the US. in 1907.

     Names were Americanized and my grandfather became John Francis and my grandmother, Joanna Vidal Francis.  Here is a photo of the family gravestones in Calvary Cemetery in Gloucester.

The inscriptions read:  Francisco O. Vidal, 1848 - 1926
Maria da Conceicao, 1858 - 1921 ( I believe these may be my grandmother's parents).
Amadeu, Son, 1898 - 1934, Genivieve, 1919 - 1925 (my father's little sister)
John M. 1881 - 1965 (my grandfather) and Joanna V. 1881 - 1974 (my grandmother.)

My parents grave plot was shared through my Aunt.

     My Dad would have been 107 years old this year, but died about a month after his 82nd birthday in 1995.  My Mom followed three years later on March 15, 1998.

     During their lifetime, they lived through the Great War, the influenze pandemic, the Second World War. Korean War, racial unrest in the 60's, the assasination of a president, and lived to see their sons go off during the Vietnam War.  Of course there were many special moments that they treasured during their 53 years of marriage.

What follows next is a pictorial journal I hope readers find interesting.

     Here is a scanned photo of my Dad at the age of four, just prior to the devasting outbreak in Gloucester where between 183 and 250 deaths were recorded in the small city of about 22,000 people.  My father recalled that half the household was inflicted. The rest took care of the sick.  My grandmother was pregnant at the time with Genivieve and was terrified about losing the baby and any of her children.

     My Dad attended Gloucester High School and apparently was a good student so much so, that he was recommended to apply to the Naval Academy.  He was devoted to his family and chose instead, to apprentice with a Master Carpenter. 

    While his brothers served in the military during World War II, he served on the home-front at the Boston Naval shipyards as a foreman.  I still have his desk plaque.

    The story of how my Dad traveled from Gloucester to the shipyard is interesting.  He did not own a car, actually, he didn't own a vehicle until 1950 when my sister was born.  At this time, he must have been issued an electric scooter which he rode to Lynn where I assume crews were then transported.

     Later, when Dad was himself a Master Carpenter he rode to job sites with his workers.  There is a motel off of Bass Rocks in Gloucester that Dad built.

      I mentioned that he was devoted to his parents who owned a home at 75 Friend Street and which now belongs to a nephew.  Here are some photos of that home and of my grand parents.

House at 75 Friend Street in the heart of Portuguese Hill

My grandmother Joanna and her favorite companion.

My grandfather John with son, Anthony and his bride, Madge.

Three of my Dad's sisters: Lucille, Sylvia and Mary.

My Dad always loved to sing and play his guitar. He learned
many of the Portuguese folk songs.

Dad with his brother Anthony

The picture on the right shows Dad with Anthony
and my Godfather Frank Francis

     On April 12, 1942, my parents were married at the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage, a national shrine of the Fisherman. 

The Wedding Picture

     My Mom was the daughter of Joaquin Luiz (Lewis) and Marianna Batista, born August 9, 1916.  My grandparents were married on April 15, 1914 and immigrated to the US in May that same year.

     For a period of between six and nine years, my grandmother returned to Portugal with three of the younger children.  Here are some photos of my Mom, Virginia Ann Lewis.

This picture was probably taken in Portugal.  The face in the corner
is my Mom's older sister Carmen.

My Mom's high school graduation photo with Dad in the corner.
Marriage Notice from 1942.

Memorial Day 2020 Reflection

      Flowers are blooming in my garden and in many gardens

 throughout the city. 

      Many families will place bouquets on the graves of loved ones while observing social distancing; the new norm.  This Memorial Day weekend is glorious with bright sunshine and warm temperatures.  One could almost forget that we are in the midst of a pandemic.

     But this year, Memorial Day is different, and one which will be written into history.  There will be no crowds lining the sidewalks from Longfellow Square to Monument Square and gathering at the Our Lady of Victories, Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

     There will be no Veterans laying on the wreathes as in years past,

     No Civic leaders marching down Congress Street accompanied by the music of bands.  No speeches to remind us of why we gather to commemorate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  No crowds of Veterans " who daring to make the ultimate sacrifice lived" and honor their fallen brothers and sisters.

     There will be no procession down Stevens Avenue to Evergreen Cemetery with little girls in white dresses carrying baskets of flower petals to spread on the graves,

     No beautiful black rider-less horse bearing the empty boots to remind us of those lost, particularly during the Civil War when 72, 945 Mainers served.  7,322  were killed, 5000 from the city of Portland, one sixth of the population at that time.

     The Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post, the organizers of Portland's Memorial Day Parade each year, wanting to continue to honor the fallen will hold a procession with one single Veteran, Sgt. Richard Cobb, US Army carrying a flag to Monument Square.  Sgt. Cobb served 20 years and is a recipient of the Bronze Star received for his service in Iraq.  Sgt. Cobb will be accompanied by two police vehicles beginning at 10:30 AM from Longfellow Square.

     The simplicity of this procession seems  particularily solemn and poignant at this time and we can't forget that during the last two months, 12 former soldiers died due to Covid 19 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough.

         The custom of decorating the graves of soldiers can be traced back to post Civil War and continues today with the placement of flags and wreathes. We have continued this practice  at the Presumpscot/ East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery since the restoration project began in 2010. 

      For several years, our Portland Girl Scouts held a simple Flag Ceremony to honor those who served in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and our one Civil War Veteran.  Because of the virus, this event could not take place.  None-the-less, city crews placed the flags and Joel and I laid wreathes.

     I'd like to add some recently found articles to the story of James Moseley, our Civil War Veteran. James  came to live in East Deering after the war, probably to reconnect with his sister Sarah who married John H.Blake, son of Samuel and Martha Blake.  James and his brothers served for three years in the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment from 1861 - 1864.  James, according to census and city directory records was here in Maine from at least 1870.  He was an iron worker at Casco Iron Works and was seriously injured as recorded in this article in the Daily Eastern Argus from April 18, 1870.

Here is a map showing the location of the Eastern Forge Company where
James Moseley worked.

     Despite his injuries, James continued to work and live residing in what was then Westbrook in a home on Ocean Street (Avenue).  He joined other Veterans of the Civil War and became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Frederick W. Bosworth Post. 

The Bosworth Post Building on Free and Cotton Streets

Bosworth Hall was torn down in 1972/1973.  Even the corner with Cotton Street was eliminated.  It Became a big parking lot,and a new building is going up on the site now -- alas, a bit of our history gone forever.

     The Dahlgren guns out at Evergreen come from the little  side lot with bushes next to Bosworth Hall in one of the pictures you displayed.  At least some things survived !( Note from our friend and historian, Herb Adams.)

The Bosworth Civil War Monument at Evergreen Cemetery

Bosworth Post c. 1900

      In May 1891, he apparently had a stroke at work

 from which he would not recover.  James Moseley, Veteran of the Civil War, died on December 9, 1892, seven months later.  Here are his obituary and related articles.  While his obituary indicates that he served in the Navy, this is undoubtably a mistake.

     Finally, as we enjoy this weekend, despite the restrictions we may have to endure, let's not forget to honor the memory of those who paid for our freedom with their lives and those who survived to make our lives better.

Patriots' Day 2020

     This year marks the 245th anniversary of the battles that ushered in the Revolutionary War and the long and arduous road to America's independence as a free nation.

     This Patriots' Day, like the palnned events celebrationg Maine's bicentennial, have been put on the back burner in the light of recent events; events that will long be remembered and whose impact has world-wide implications now, and for the future.

     This Patriots' Day willl not be celebrated with parades,speeches, re-enactments or the Boston Marathon or Portland, Maine's annual 5 mile race.  Instead, we will remember  folks out walking along Back Cove or the Eastern Prom keeping  their respectable 6 feet distance from one another and, many are wearing  face masks.

We will remember the doctors, nurses, health care professionals and staff working long hours to care for the sick and the dying.  We will remember lines to get into grocery stores and shortages of a number of staples we have come to expect. 

 We will remember how much we missed our Friday night get togethers at local restuarants, or movie date nights, or Sunday morning religious services.  There will be many remembrances of how we adjusted to changes in our everyday routines,and what " thanks" meant to grocery clerks, mail carriers, delivery persons and our first responders.

     We will remember this Patriots' Day for another kind of war; a war for the health and well-being of people in our state, our nation and people all over the world.

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     Somehow, the lyrics of this favorite Patriotic Hymn seems appropriate for this Patriots' Day:

O beautiful for pigrim feet

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thiine every flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife, 

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Til all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

 From sea to shining sea.

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     Lest we forget, Joel and I placed flags at the Grand Trunk Cemetery to honor our Revolutionary War veterans in rememberance of their patriotic service and sacrifice, this Patriots' Day, April 20, 2020.

          Wish all who follow this post good health, stay safe and remember.