Reddy Kilowatt button Garrett's Family
I was never able to understand Garrett's family situation. He spoke often of growing up in orphanage in Philadelphia, but I couldn't reconcile that with the fact that he also had relatives that I had met. He spoke of being with a group of underage boys at a bar one time when he ordered a Ginger Ale. One of the boys switched drinks on him and put a highball in front of him. He drank it, turned to the boy said "now you drink the ginger ale".
The relative I saw most often was Marie Wilson nee MacDonald who was called his niece. Married bob Wilson who was a public relations person for Philadelphia Electric. Often when he would visit Red Bank Ave., he would bring along a power company promotional sound film for us to watch. He would also distribute Reddy Kilowatt buttons for all the kids to wear.
Marie and Bob had a daughter whose name I cannot remember, but I will never forget the faux pau I made with her. We had all been told that Jeannette MacDonald was our 32nd cousin (an expression meaning beyond 2nd cousin). Not knowing that Marie Wilson was that connection, I bragged to the daughter of the relationship. She shot me down by saying she was a first cousin and Jeannette had sent her an invitation to her wedding to Gene Raymond (that's right Jeannette did not marry Nelson Eddy). I thought movie stars changed their name but Marie Wilson told me that Jeannette did not because she had developed a reputation in the theatre in Philadelphia and the name had a good ring.
Father Fallon, pastor of St. Matthew's in National Park got into our relationship with Jeannette during the mid-1930' s. He was the Diocesan Czar on the National Legion of Decency Organization. They encouraged making moral pictures and also moral conduct on the part of entertainers. Mixed marriages were looked upon a lot differently in those days, so on a trip to Hollywood he confronted Catholic Gene Raymond about marrying Jeannette in a Protestant church. I remember the stir caused at Red Bank Ave. when Marie Wilson said she could understand, since they would have felt the same way if the wedding had been in a Catholic church. Jeanette MacDonald & Gene Raymond's June 1937 wedding https://youtu.be/LbeBcH8ZJew
One other relative that I remember meeting was Philip Barry who visited Garrett from New York City. It was an exciting occasion so I was not heavily involved and don't remember much about it.
Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jack Doyle
The best known of Nellie's relatives was her sister Sarah who married Jack Doyle and they had 4 children. Aunt Sarah was famous for shopping at the stores on South St. where bargaining was practiced.
Uncle Jack died before I was old enough to remember him. She loved Atlantic City and took a place there annually. I stayed with them one year and she also found a place for our family to rent.
Their oldest daughter Kathryn (who married Tom Packer from the I.R.S.) was my godmother. They had two boys who attended St. Joseph's College near where they lived. When it came to presents, Aunt Sarah acted as my godmother. Among the gifts she gave me was a 32MM hand movie projector with Keystone Kops reels. It had a sixty-watt bulb for projection and we used it when our children were young. I was the only altar boy in St. Matthew's parish with my own surplice that she made for me.
They had 3 sons, Joe, John & Francis. They were all called "Dutch". I could never understand where that came from in a Floody – Doyle marriage. John played with the Philadelphia Athletics for a short time (hearsay). He also was a big time referee for basketball and I did see him do that.
Joe was an administrative assistant to U.S. Congressman Bradley. I remember asking him in the early forties what was the most common request from their constituents. I was very disappointed in the response "keep my son out of the military draft". Francis went into the service in World War II and married a girl from Colorado and that was the last I knew of him.
Uncle Ed and Aunt Ann Manning
Nellie's sister Ann married Ed Manning and their daughter Katie Manning Brown was very close to the family. I don't remember hearing any stories about Ann who apparently died early. Uncle Ed though was a character. He liked to play with toys especially on the 4th of July. One year he set off a little toy cannon on Nellie's kitchen table. It scared everybody in the house including me.
They had a house in northeast Philadelphia (Fishtown). This was the First house I had seen with 2 sets of stairs. The front were regular, but the rear stairs were circular. All the kids loved to run up one set and down the other.
Nobody was allowed to wash Katie's good china so guests never did have to do dishes there. We went to a birthday party there where May made one of her famous checkerboard cakes. However, to make the cake go further they cut step-mother pieces (down the middle and then square pieces). It ruined the checkerboard effect visible when the cake was cut pie-shaped.
Jim Brown (Brownie) was an accomplished (possibly professional) photographer who took family shots. His most famous comment was when he told May that her pumpkin pie was as good as Horn and Hardarts. He meant it as the most sincerest of compliments, but May did not like having her baking compared to a chain restaurant.
There was a candy store next door to Katie's house and every time we visited, Uncle Ed would take us to get candy. He always complained we didn't get enough. Katie took over raising Jeanne & Anne (Gerald's children). When Mary died Katie and Jeanne took over the candy store & made it into a fancy gift shop.
Uncle Tom and Aunt Rose
One set of relatives I know about because of a couple of famous stories.
I assume Aunt Rose was another of Nellie's sisters. She was famous for making sure that Tom got the best of everything. That included the best piece of meat, the best seat or even the best bed.
My father (Joni) must have helped Tom to get a job in the Navy yard because when he was ready to retire, he made John an offer. He could take over ownership of tom's insurance policy if he paid the future premiums.
As mentioned previously, Nellie encouraged John to do it even though money in 1935 was not all that plentiful. Tom lived for only a few months and John's investment was a wise one. That resulted in him having the down payment to buy a brand new 1937 Plymouth at a total cost of $700.
- John E. Barry
I was never able to understand Garrett's family situation. He spoke often of growing up in orphanage in Philadelphia, but I couldn't reconcile that with the fact that he also had relatives that I had met. He spoke of being with a group of underage boys at a bar one time when he ordered a Ginger Ale. One of the boys switched drinks on him and put a highball in front of him. He drank it, turned to the boy said "now you drink the ginger ale".
The relative I saw most often was Marie Wilson nee MacDonald who was called his niece. Married bob Wilson who was a public relations person for Philadelphia Electric. Often when he would visit Red Bank Ave., he would bring along a power company promotional sound film for us to watch. He would also distribute Reddy Kilowatt buttons for all the kids to wear.
Marie and Bob had a daughter whose name I cannot remember, but I will never forget the faux pau I made with her. We had all been told that Jeannette MacDonald was our 32nd cousin (an expression meaning beyond 2nd cousin). Not knowing that Marie Wilson was that connection, I bragged to the daughter of the relationship. She shot me down by saying she was a first cousin and Jeannette had sent her an invitation to her wedding to Gene Raymond (that's right Jeannette did not marry Nelson Eddy). I thought movie stars changed their name but Marie Wilson told me that Jeannette did not because she had developed a reputation in the theatre in Philadelphia and the name had a good ring.
Father Fallon, pastor of St. Matthew's in National Park got into our relationship with Jeannette during the mid-1930' s. He was the Diocesan Czar on the National Legion of Decency Organization. They encouraged making moral pictures and also moral conduct on the part of entertainers. Mixed marriages were looked upon a lot differently in those days, so on a trip to Hollywood he confronted Catholic Gene Raymond about marrying Jeannette in a Protestant church. I remember the stir caused at Red Bank Ave. when Marie Wilson said she could understand, since they would have felt the same way if the wedding had been in a Catholic church. Jeanette MacDonald & Gene Raymond's June 1937 wedding https://youtu.be/LbeBcH8ZJew
One other relative that I remember meeting was Philip Barry who visited Garrett from New York City. It was an exciting occasion so I was not heavily involved and don't remember much about it.
Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jack Doyle
The best known of Nellie's relatives was her sister Sarah who married Jack Doyle and they had 4 children. Aunt Sarah was famous for shopping at the stores on South St. where bargaining was practiced.
Uncle Jack died before I was old enough to remember him. She loved Atlantic City and took a place there annually. I stayed with them one year and she also found a place for our family to rent.
Their oldest daughter Kathryn (who married Tom Packer from the I.R.S.) was my godmother. They had two boys who attended St. Joseph's College near where they lived. When it came to presents, Aunt Sarah acted as my godmother. Among the gifts she gave me was a 32MM hand movie projector with Keystone Kops reels. It had a sixty-watt bulb for projection and we used it when our children were young. I was the only altar boy in St. Matthew's parish with my own surplice that she made for me.
They had 3 sons, Joe, John & Francis. They were all called "Dutch". I could never understand where that came from in a Floody – Doyle marriage. John played with the Philadelphia Athletics for a short time (hearsay). He also was a big time referee for basketball and I did see him do that.
Joe was an administrative assistant to U.S. Congressman Bradley. I remember asking him in the early forties what was the most common request from their constituents. I was very disappointed in the response "keep my son out of the military draft". Francis went into the service in World War II and married a girl from Colorado and that was the last I knew of him.
Uncle Ed and Aunt Ann Manning
Nellie's sister Ann married Ed Manning and their daughter Katie Manning Brown was very close to the family. I don't remember hearing any stories about Ann who apparently died early. Uncle Ed though was a character. He liked to play with toys especially on the 4th of July. One year he set off a little toy cannon on Nellie's kitchen table. It scared everybody in the house including me.
They had a house in northeast Philadelphia (Fishtown). This was the First house I had seen with 2 sets of stairs. The front were regular, but the rear stairs were circular. All the kids loved to run up one set and down the other.
Nobody was allowed to wash Katie's good china so guests never did have to do dishes there. We went to a birthday party there where May made one of her famous checkerboard cakes. However, to make the cake go further they cut step-mother pieces (down the middle and then square pieces). It ruined the checkerboard effect visible when the cake was cut pie-shaped.
Jim Brown (Brownie) was an accomplished (possibly professional) photographer who took family shots. His most famous comment was when he told May that her pumpkin pie was as good as Horn and Hardarts. He meant it as the most sincerest of compliments, but May did not like having her baking compared to a chain restaurant.
There was a candy store next door to Katie's house and every time we visited, Uncle Ed would take us to get candy. He always complained we didn't get enough. Katie took over raising Jeanne & Anne (Gerald's children). When Mary died Katie and Jeanne took over the candy store & made it into a fancy gift shop.
Uncle Tom and Aunt Rose
One set of relatives I know about because of a couple of famous stories.
I assume Aunt Rose was another of Nellie's sisters. She was famous for making sure that Tom got the best of everything. That included the best piece of meat, the best seat or even the best bed.
My father (Joni) must have helped Tom to get a job in the Navy yard because when he was ready to retire, he made John an offer. He could take over ownership of tom's insurance policy if he paid the future premiums.
As mentioned previously, Nellie encouraged John to do it even though money in 1935 was not all that plentiful. Tom lived for only a few months and John's investment was a wise one. That resulted in him having the down payment to buy a brand new 1937 Plymouth at a total cost of $700.
- John E. Barry