3401 - A Very Long Overdue Post

I don't know why it took me so long to post about this. I think it took some time to get my thoughts together about the whole thing. This whole thing was slightly overwhelming for me. Especially since I had resigned myself to the fact that this house didn't even exist anymore.


I am a person that is physically moved by history. I was moved touching the bullet holes at the Alamo (even though your not supposed to- don't tell). I was moved at Laura Ingalls Wilder's home. Being on grounds that she walked, seeing Pa's fiddle made my chest hurt. Things like that just do something to me. So being at my grandmother's childhood home, breathing the air, looking out over the lake; the same (kinda) view she looked at as a child was just amazing to me. I know this all sounds so ridiculous and melodramatic, but it was a really big deal for me and I'm having a hard time expressing what it did to me.

We had been in Minnesota for a very fun, exhausting week at this great lake house my parents rented. I had been in touch with the owners of the house. I made a photo copy of the picture below and sent it off in a letter explaining who I was. The emailed me as soon as they got it and were very excited. I just wanted permission to walk their property, take a few pictures. They kindly offered to give me a tour of the whole house. I had planned on seeing the house that week and just couldn't find the time. Matt and I decided to go see it on our way out of town. But with such a long drive ahead I just wanted to get on the road. Matt convinced me to just stop by, that I would regret it if I didn't go. Helping the situation was the fact that the owners weren't going to be there so could just sneak in and get back on the road

I had anxiety the whole way there. Turning the corner to where the house stood was excruciating. Matt, being the amazing man he is, just let me go and wander by myself. I walked the house, taking pictures and just soaking it all in. I poked in windows and just wanted to die... I wanted in there so bad- they have kept the integrity of the time period in their decorating which I LOVE.

So here are the pictures from that sunny day in June.....

3401 around the 1910's

When the owner emailed me, she asked about these crosses. I told her that I knew very little about them- I only know about the people who lived there

Quick story- after Catherine's father died of TB, Agatha was left to raise the two girls.  She worked for an office supply company.  She was the first sales woman they ever hired and was a great success! 

Back of the house

Side facing the Lake

This is an amazing (and valuable!) piece of property- right overlooking Lake Calhoun.  Grandma always said this was pretty much the edge of town when she was little.  It's crazy because this is about as downtown Minneapolis as it gets!

Isn't is just perfect in every way?

Is this the house?????

Big news- go check out my other site.....

http://mollied.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-this-house.html

About to wrap it up

Well, that is about all that I have for photos. I have her hospice journals, I'm contemplating getting those in here. I may just pick some gems out. Please let me know if you have pictures or stories you would like me to post- I would love to post more.

St Patrick's Day Postcard from Sister Catherine G

Greeting's for St. Patrick's Day from all your friends in Ireland. It was good to hear from you at Christmas. Hope you are enjoying good health.

Love, Sr. Catherine G.

Ireland Itinerary

May 21st (Fri)- Mpls
Boston, TWA

Sat. May 22- London
Sun. May 23- Tour of London
Westminister Cathedral
Buckingham Palace
Westminister Abbey
House of Parliment near Thames R.
Queen's Guard
Tower Bridge
Mon. May 24 Windsor Castle
(longest royal residence- 900 yrs)
Oxford
Woodstock
Beenheim Palace, Birthplace and home of Churchhill
Warwickshire
Stratford upon Avon
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Shakespere's birthplace
Tues May 25 Warwick Castle
Conventry- Lady Godiva old/new cathedral
York- St Mary's Church
Shambles (street)
Wed. May 26 Pipers on Scotland Boarder
Home of A Walter Scott
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dinner Show, Hamie's at King James Hotel
Thur May 27 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Holywood Palace, Edinburgh
Fri May 28 Devil's beef tub in Moffathills (west Scotland)
Lake District
Lake Grasmere
Wordsworth's home
Chester, England (totor houses)
Cathedral- 13th C woodwork
Roman Walls
Double row shops
Daresbury, Warrington Cheshire
Sat May 29 Horseshoe pass in Northern Wales
Llangallen
Ferry- St Columbia Skyline ferry
Port Dunleary, Dublin Ireland
Sun May 30 Tour of Dublin
Cabaret at Jerry's, Dublin
Mon May 31 Tour of Trinity College, Book of Kellis
Fitzgeralds Estate, 2000 acre thatched roofs
Killarney
Tues June 1 Ring of Kerry, Ireland
Dingle Bay
Peat Bog
Sneen
Laurel's singing bar, Killarney
Wed June 2 Blarney Castle- kissing stone
Seanachie ( MN group had picture taken along wall of bars- name means the old story tellers)
Waterford- home of John Kennedy's grandparents
Tinkers along side of wad Wexford
Thurs June 3 Fishguard, Wales, landing full inspeciton at customs
Seven Road Bridge to Bristol, England
Fri June 4 Bath- Royal Crescent 18th c
Stonehenge
Salisbury
Baurnmouth, near English Channel
Sat June 5 Heatherow Airport
TWA 727
Boston

Grandpa Bayley's Birthplace

In the doorway of Great- Great -Grandpa Bayley's birthplace

Garneman Ireland- Grandpa Bayley's Birthplace

On the road in the British Isles- May, 1982

Sister Carmel, Jim Shirley, Mary (his wife) and Sister Catherine (Mary's sister)

Catherine's trip to Ireland

The scanner cut off the bottom of the letter, but I will transcribe it when I find the original letter. This is Sister Carmel. This is who Catherine got in touch with when she went over to Ireland and who put her in touch with other family members.

The letterhead is from Presentation Convent Kilkenny the website for the convent is
here. It states that it was written in the small village of Kilmoganny. January 31st, 1982

My dear Cousin Catherine,

I was so excited to get you letter! Thank you for contacting me and letting me have the chance of seeing you. Of course, I shall make myself available on May 26th and 27th. So you see from my address, I am not near Waterford now, but I can be in Waterford at 4:30 on May 26th. I have good notice from you and right now can see no reason why I should not be able to meet you at your hotel on the 26th, and we shall be able to visit grandfather's country. You must see Waterford, of course as it ws from Waterford he sailed in 1850. Glory be to God! I am excited, even now, at the prospect of seeing you. Imagine my surprise at hearing your name is Catherine. I am convinced now that you are closely connected with me as my mother's only sister was Catherine Connerford (sp?) Their mother was Mary Jane Shirley and I know that you had a grandaunt Mary Jane Shirley also. I was sure, at some stage, it was the same person but my grandmother was born in 1857. What I do remember, very well though is that when we were young at home in Rathdyff, there was great excitement when the Bayley cousin's letters and beautiful cards arrived at Christmas. Oh! How (?) not having got all the data on the relations when I had Aunt Catherine. She loved the Shirleys. Please God, by the time you come in May I shall have some good news fro you and am going over to Cousin Jim in Garnaman to find what he has in his annals. I want you to have this soon as possible, so for now, a big love and God bless. Tell me more in your next letter. Also, tell uncle Tom I am writing to him soon and that I send my love- also to the McNitts.

Your loving cousin, Sister Carmel

Grandpa

Family Photo with the spouses

Back Row: Kathy & Bob Divine, Marie & Tom Divine, Mike & Judy Divine, Judy & Bill Divine
Front Row: Jeff & Kathy Divine, Lloyd & Catherind Divine, Mary Alice & Bill Krebs
Very Front- Joanne

Loooookin' Good!

California

Grandpa Divine- not sure where this is

Update from Bill Divine: The picture of Grandpa by the ocean is at Aunt Bees home in Carmel Calf. Mom & Dad went out there after Dad retired. Grandma Divine and Mike in California

 

Update from Laurie: Mollie, This was taken in our back yard in Eau Claire.

The Townhouse

Judy, Joan and Mike- introducing Kay to the family

Grandma in one of her many house dresses, Claire and Grandpa

Helen and John Bayley

Helen and John Bayley- Grandma Divine's cousins. Bill stayed with them when he was staitioned in San Diego, CA for the Navy in the early 60's. Dad and I used to go out to LA for spring break to visit some friends and would drive down to visit them. They were the nicest couple you could ever meet, and they looooved seeing Bill!

Mike's Family

Mike's first wife Judy, I never met her but heard she was fabulous! You'd have to be to be married to Mike

Sorry for the long hiatus from posting....had to get hitched

Bob and Bill with Santa- Daytons 1946

Thank you Lisa!

Catherine & Lloyd's 50th Wedding Anniversary 1975

Marty, Margie, Catherine and Lloyd

Looks like it was a hell of a party!

Tom & Marie's Wedding

I'm guessing that's Kathy and Mary Alice in the front?

UPDATE: That's me in front, but the older girl is Marie's sister, Annette (Tacheny was Marie's maiden name.) - Mary Alice

Great Grandma Agatha



Add caption



Family Portrait

Back Row: Bob, Tom, Mike, Bill

Front Row: Kathy, Grandpa, Mary Alice, Grandma, Joan

Bill's school pictures