No. 12042 Everett School on Sumner Street.
I attended the old Edward Everett School, which was behind a fire station (if I remember correctly) on Columbia Rd. [note: the school building was actually on the corner of Willis Street and Sumner Street].
My first grade teacher was Miss Lynch, the sister of Drs. Charles & James Lynch who practiced in the Dorchester area. I lived at 11 Virginia St., which was next door to #9- the Glynn Hospital.
No. 4628 11 Virginia Street, 2004.
I have lots of memories of my residence there, which was only from 1931 to 1936. My sister was born in 1934 at the Glynn Hospital, delivered by Dr. Charles Lynch. We moved to Milton, but returned to Uphams Corner in 1940 until July of 1942- when we moved back to Milton. Virginia St had a lot of lovely old Victorian homes and the Piotti and Cifrino families lived there.
The Glynn Hospital was started by Mary Glynn, an immigrant from Ireland, along with her sisters Sally and Kitty. Mary was an RN, but I don’t think Kitty was, although she ran the nursery, and my Mother would often go over and help her feed or bathe the babies- Mum worked off her own hospital bill when my sister was born in 1934- times were tough!! Mum even worked in the kitchen, cooking, and I would help set up the trays.
The delivery room was on the first floor- right rear, and the operating room was upstairs, as was the kitchen. Mary and her sisters lived on the third floor, and occasionally another nurse who had come in from the “old country”. Mary might have been helped to get started by the Drs. Lynch, but my Mum (almost 99 yrs old) would remember better. I will ask.
I used to go over after the patients’ nap times & sing or dance for them. When my sister was old enough- 2 or so, she would tag along and imitate me. My Godfather, Dr. Frank G. Watson was the owner of #11 Virginia St., and had his office in the house. He died in 1931, and his wife, my Mum’s aunt was alone in the big house, so she asked my parents to come and live with her. Again, being 1931, they accepted, and were accompanied by my Mum’s mother and sister. So the house was full of adults and I got lots of attention.
I started first grade at age 5 yrs (born 8/25/1930) and was walked to school by the Piotti girl. The street cars ran on Dudley Street as well as Columbia Road, and we had to walk down past the Uphams Corner Market and cross Columbia Road- I’m sure there weren’t any crossing guards in those days! There was a furniture store at the foot of Virginia St., and one day a car let loose on the top of the hill and coasted down into the windows of the store. Myers Dept. store was on one corner of Dudley & Virginia and there was a drugstore on the other corner- had an Irish name, but it’s not coming to mind. When I was about 2-3, my Mum had tied my overalls & me to a tree in the yard- I promptly shed the overalls, climbed over the low fence, and went down the hill to look in the windows at Myers!
I remember of course, the ice man coming, as well as the coal man, and the rag man (that we were afraid of) with his old nag, calling “Any old raaaags?” Or the knife sharpener who pushed his grinding wheel.
My great aunt, who I called Lulla, had an Italian lady friend on Alexander Street, in one of those brownstone type buildings. She lived on the lowest level- the door was under the front steps, and Lulla used to go to have her tea leaves read. I was always intrigued by the difference in the surroundings, as they were much darker than the big house I lived in, with all its windows. [note: the “brownstone” was probably a three storey brick row house].
I remember going to the 5 & 10 which was on the corner of Columbia Road & Dudley St- to get paper dolls. It was a 2-level and when you entered from Dudley St, you could exit on Columbia Rd and go up the street to the bakery, which was on a corner just before the
Pilgrim Congregational Church. St. Kevin’s didn’t exist when I first lived on Virginia St- I think it went up after the war.
This is enough for now- do you have any questions for me?
Virginia Mucciaccio