Month: December 2020

A Birthday Shout-out Dec 30th*

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Mulligan, PhotosLeave a comment

Kevin Francis Xavier Mulligan has himself a birthday today. Son of the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and the late Walter Francis Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957), he is the youngest of the four Mulligan siblings and the only male.

Someone once said to me, “If you’re from Pawtucket, then you know Kevin.” To be well-known and well-liked is a nice label to have, and KFXM certainly carries that tag well. A high school athlete, a fireman, a teacher, a coach and later a high school and college track official, Kevin has himself quite a CV. Now-a-days his duties revolve around his two grandsons, Teddy and Ben, and some travel with his much better half, Gail.

Oh yeah…Kev likes to do some cooking

Yup, Kevin is the type of guy who still chums around with his boyhood friends. He looks a lot like his handsome father – the original Francis Xavier.

Kevin’s dad – Walter Francis Xavier Mulligan. courtesy of KFXM

Happy Birthday, Kev! May all your replaced parts continue to work smoothly.

*see blog post December 30, 2019

Gifts from A Distant Christmas

On By 19pondstreetIn Photos, Riley, Stories and Trivia1 Comment

Every year Kathy places the Santa bank that my aunts Marion and Gertie gave to me under our Christmas tree. I think I was five years old when I received their gift. Here is a picture of it sitting under our present tree.

Looks in good shape for being at least 67 years old.

The gift that I have kept the longest is this maple rocking chair. It was gifted to me by Grandma Riley (1876-1962) on Christmas Day in 1949. My mother wrote the information on the bottom of the chair.

Nowadays the rocker occupies a prominent place in our family room.

December 24th A Birthday Remembrance

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Photos, RileyLeave a comment

Francis Charles Riley , “Uncle Francis,” was born in Pawtucket on this date in 1915.* His mother and father were the late Marguetta Etta Greenhalgh (1876-1962) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955). Uncle Francis was actually born at 146 Pond Street, not the “iconic number 19” that is so familiar to some of us.

This site has already written about Francis’s early life – the youngest of the eight Riley siblings, graduating from St. Raphael Academy, being a very good second baseman, marrying Rita Colemen in October of 1941 and entering the US Army just four months later and serving until 1945. And of course we cannot forget back in the early 50’s, the birth of their son, Stephen Francis.

What I fondly remember about “Uncle Frank” was how nice he always was. He had a great personality, seemed to love work and actually had this great wallpapering skill. I think he papered every room in our house on Perrin Avenue! What surprised some was how the guy could dance. Frank could glide across the dance floor as smoothly as a professional ice skater. It was neat to see him display his dance moves.

Here is Uncle Frank pictured with Gertie on his right and Marion to his left.
Across the top: Patrick, Bill Mulligan, Bill, Frances, Walter Mulligan; bottom row: Kathleen Riley Mulligan, Margaret Bartley Riley, Helen Manning Riley, Rita Coleman Riley and Margaret Riley Mulligan

Francis and Rita were married for almost 33 years before Rita passed away on January 6, 1974. Francis passed on March 2, 2004 at the age of 88.

*see December 24, 2019 post

December 21st A Birthday Remembrance

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Mulligan, Photos, RileyLeave a comment

On this day in Pawtucket, back in 1910, Margaret E. (Riley) Mulligan* was born to the late Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (07/27/1876) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (06/07/1875). Margaret’s first year or two of life were spent with the family at 237 Middle Street, in the old Sacred Heart Parish section of Pawtucket. She then lived most of her life within 3 miles of where she was born, which was the norm back in early years of the 20th Century. During her twenties, Margaret worked at the “phone company,” then know as New England Telephone and Telegraph – a good job back then. Some years later, one of her daughters had a nice career within the phone industry.

Margaret married Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957) on September 6, 1937. It is their wedding reception photo that is featured across the header of this 19pondstreet website. Here is their engagement photo:

Early 1930’s photo, courtesy of Kevin XF Mulligan’s collection

Everyone loved “Aunt Margaret.” Just the thought of her brings a smile to those who knew her. I can tell you that she was very kind and welcoming to my mother (Margaret F Bartley 1911-1978), when she married into the Riley clan.

Margaret and Walter had three daughters: Judith, Martha, Paula and one son, Kevin. Unfortunately, Walter passed away on February 4, 1957 at the age of 51. Margaret passed at the age of 78 on September 2, 1989.


* see blog post dated 12/19/2019

A Birthday Shout-out, Dec 19th

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Fleury, PhotosLeave a comment

Nicholas (Nick) Richard Orlando , son of Nancy Lynn Fleury and Anthony F. Orlando, was born in Providence on this date, so Nick’s got himself a Happy Birthday today. The weather that day was a bit cloudy and it was pretty cold, even for a day in December. The high struggled to hit 28 degrees with a late night low of 11. At the time, Nick didn’t really care about the weather, he just wanted some nourishment and to get on with life.

Nick’s maternal grandmother, the late Barbara Riley Fleury (1927-2015) and his grandfather, the late Richard B. Fleury, Sr. (1928-1992) were pretty excited about this new Orlando. I can even remember getting the call from Barbara while I was at work.

Nick, a University of Rhode Island grad, follows the strong Fleury tradition of working with one of America’s top defense contractors. Not too sure what he does or in what division he works, and that’s they way he wants to keep it. Now, he could explain it all, but I wouldn’t know what the heck he was telling me. I am still struggling with compound interest and basic fractions.

So Happy Birthday to Nick, and enjoy those animations classes.

A Double Birthday Shout-Out Dec 6th

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Mulligan, PhotosLeave a comment

In Providence on this day, the Mulligan twins were born to Gail and Kevin. Can’t remember if it was Caitlin then Elizabeth or Elizabeth then Caitlin who was first born, but I bet it mattered to each as they grew up.

Liz and Caitlin – the early days

All of that is behind them now. Liz, is the Controller at The Sage School in Foxboro, MA. She and her husband Nick Murzycki are raising their two boys, Teddy and Ben. For a while now, Caitlin has been an attorney at Ropes and Gray in Boston, which happens to be one the nation’s most prestigious law firms. Whether it be for work or for pleasure, Caitlin enjoys traveling the world. So, you never know where Caitlin will pop-up next.

Liz and Caitlin

Happy Birthday to Caitlin and Liz! On this cold day, we lift a nice mulled wine in your honor.