Category: Stories and Trivia

A Riley Flu Story

On By 19pondstreetIn Riley, Stories and Trivia3 Comments

The year was 1918 and the Rileys, Marguette (1876-1962) and Patrick L. (1875-1955) and their seven kids were renting part of a three decker at #146 Pond Street in Pawtucket. It would be several years before they moved to the more familiar #19 Pond Street address.

The house at #146, which sits at the corner of Pond and Arch, is two blocks from present day McCoy Stadium. Back then, McCoy Stadium didn’t exist. It was just a swampy pond next to a grassy area. Some area residents grazed a cow or two on that grass. In fact, every morning, our Irish immigrant ancestor, Patrick Riley (1835-1906) led his cow from the backyard of his house at #181 South Bend Street over to that green patch. But, that’s another whole story which will be told in some other post.

Here is a present day photo of the house on 146 Pond Street :

Here’s how the story goes.

Summer was just about over, but there had not yet been a hint of the coming autumn chill. But for some, that autumn was never to arrive. The “Spanish flu” had taken hold and lots of people were falling ill, very ill.

My father, Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985) said he hadn’t felt well all day at work. At the time, he was an inventory clerk at US Finishing (see May 19th entry for photo). My father said when he got home from work that day, he went right up to his bed on the third floor. For the next five days, he battled the Spanish flu. It wasn’t until five or six days later that my father regained consciousness, when he heard people talking in the street right below his window. Mustering all his strength, he got up to see about the commotion. My father stuck his head out the window (before screens) and feebly waved to the guys down below. At the time, he didn’t realize why his friends were all grouped together. They were just about to knock on the door and pay their respects to his mother, because the word had gone out that “PJ” had died from the “Spanish Flu,” When the guys realized it was “PJ” who was waving from the window on the 3rd floor, they became excited and began to sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow“.

Picture “PJ” Riley sticking his head out of the top 3rd floor window on the right.

My father told me that he didn’t realize all that happened until another three or four days had passed, when he began to recover form his near death experience.

When he went back to work at US Finishing, he didn’t get paid for a month. No sick leave back then, and they docked his next pay period to cover the cost of the person who replaced him while he was laid up.

I did a bit of research and read that between 2,000 – 2,500 Rhode Islanders died from that pandemic. Massachusetts was really hit hard with up to 45,000 deaths, many of those located in communities in and around the Fort Devens area.

Below is a link to the CDC timeline for 1918-1929 flu pandemic:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/pandemic-timeline-1918.htm

Influenza, by Dr. Jerry Brown is an interesting read concerning the history and spread of that “Spanish Flu.” I read it about two years ago and thought it was a good read even then.

Born on this date – Aug 10th

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Photos, Riley, Stories and TriviaLeave a comment

Marion Rosemond Riley was born on this date in 1902 to the late Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (1876 – 1962) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875 – 1955) in the City of Pawtucket.

Marion was the third born in this second generation family (Kathleen, Patrick J., Marion R., Gertrude C., Rosanna, Margaret E., William L. and Francis C.) and lived her whole life in Pawtucket, primarily in two locations; 19 Pond Street and 52 Wilton Avenue. Although she never married, Marion was engaged to a young man named Robert F. McElroy, who, by all accounts was a great guy. Mr. McElroy, who died on the 10th of January in 1937, actually plays an important part of this blog/website.

Robert’s mother Catherine, a widow, owned the three story house at 19 Pond Street. The Riley family lived on the second and third floors, 21 and 23 respectfully. When Robert passed away, Marion became Catherine’s caregiver. In fact, I seem to recall my father (Patrick J. 1900 -1985) saying that Marion moved downstairs and lived with Mrs. McElroy all in an effort to provide her needed late night care. When Mrs. McElroy passed away, the 19 Pond Street property was deeded to Marion. For the next forty years, 19 Pond Street became the setting for the Riley Family gatherings, thus the name of this blog – 19 Pond Street.

Marion’s working life was spent as a weaver toiling in Pawtucket’s textile factories (I have a wooden bobbin from one of her spinning lines). A quiet and kind woman, Marion loved her cups of tea, her puzzles and novels. She lived 91 years, passing away on August 22, 1993 at the Mount St. Rita’s Health Centre in Cumberland.

Attached are some photos of Marion:

Portrait taken at the Shepard Store Studio in Providence post WWII
Picture taken from driveway side of 19 Pond Street
Marion with some youngster somewhere
At a beach with her sister Gertie, maybe they are 17 and 15 years old
One of Marion’s 91 birthdays
Another birthday cake, this one at the Riley Family reunion on Wilton Ave.

Interesting tidbit in an obit

On By 19pondstreetIn Immigrants, Riley, Stories and TriviaLeave a comment

Recently, I was reviewing the information I have on Patrick Riley, who was born in Ireland about 1835 and died in Pawtucket on September 12, 1906. There isn’t much documentation of his early years and some of the information we do have is conflicting. It appears he arrived in New York City on May 28, 1862 and first emerged in Pawtucket, with family in tow, in 1872. It seems bit strange that there is little mention or reference to those 10 years he spent living in and around New York City. Where were he and his young family living? Were they living on their own, or with another branch of the family? Still can’t figure that out.

What gave thought to all of this was a re-reading of the obit of his death in the Evening Times (Pawtucket) on September 12, 1906.

As posted:

“RILEY – In this city, Sept 12th, Patrick Riley. Funeral from his residence, 181 South Bend Street. Saturday Sept 15th. at 8:00 am. Services at St Joseph’s Church. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. New York papers please copy”

What struck me was the last line which called for the New York papers to copy the notice, that is, to post the news of Patrick’s death. To me, that indicates the strong possibility of other Riley family members were still living in the New York City area in 1906. Love to know if that was the case. 



			
					

	




			
				


			

		

			
Born on this date – Aug. 3rd

						

				On  By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Riley, Stories and TriviaLeave a comment			

					


		

			

William Leo Riley, Jr., born to the late Helen Francis Manning (1921-1984) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1994). Born in Providence, Bill has lived in and around Pawtucket all his life and was the second of the three Arch Street Riley children. 





It is interesting to note, that Bill’s middle name, Leo is shared not with just his father, but also with his grandfather, Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955). It seems they are the only family members to have that name.





Bill lost his wife, Janet Barbara Schmitz Riley on January 12, 2015. May Janet, and all the souls of the faithfully departed, rest in peace.







			
					

	




			
				


			

		

			
Born on this date – July 27th

						

				On  By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Greenhalgh, Riley, Stories and TriviaLeave a comment			

					


		

			

Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (“Grandma Riley”) (July 27, 1876 – June 10, 1962), was born in North Providence, RI.  Her father, the late John Greenhalgh (1845 – 1907) was born in New York City. The Greenhalgh family roots can be traced through Lancashire in the northwest of England. Grandma’s mother, the late Margaret Cullen/Cullon was born in Waltham, MA in 1848. Interesting note on John Greenhalgh, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War.





Marguetta married Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) in 1898 and had eight children: Kathleen (1899-1988), Patrick J. (1900-1985), Marion R. (1902-1993), Gertrude C. (1904-1999), Rosanna (1908-1910), Margaret E. (1910-1989), William L. (1912-1985) and Francis C. (1915-2005).





Grandma Riley was blessed with a strong personality and a commanding presence that, in retrospect, was what the family needed to establish itself in the first part of the 20th century. It wasn’t easy back then, but she was the commander and held them all together. 





Grandma Riley outside the back door of 19 Pond Street. c1950
Grandma Riley outside the backdoor at 19 Pond Street c1950.





From left to right Bill, Margaret,Marion, Francis, Patrick, Kathleen and Gertrude with Grandma Riley sitting. 





Three generations sitting around at Aunt Kathleen’s house in Foxboro, MA. 


			
					

	




			
				


			

		

			
Born on this date

						

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Patrick J. Riley on this date in 1900, son of Patrick L. Riley and Margaret E. Greenhalgh. Born and raised in Pawtucket, he was one of eight children and the first born son. Patrick had to leave St Joseph’s Grammar School after the 8th grade in order to earn money for the family. One of his first jobs was hustling coal. He would follow the horse carts used to deliver coal to businesses and homes. As pieces fell off, and hit the ground, he would have to out hustle the other kids for that fallen piece of coal. Some of the pickings would be brought home and others would be hawked in the neighborhood. PJ, as he was called, liked to reminisce about carrying “dinner pails” from the Pond Street area in Pawtucket, to the Potter and Johnson factory which was located where Hasbro now sits on Newport Avenue. He said a good day was when you got to carry four pails for all three shifts.










Pictured above is a 1920 photo from the shipping room at US Finishing which was located on Prospect Street in Pawtucket. PJ is the man in the vest and tie looking directly at the camera. His job was to check the length of the cloth bolts before they were shipped out. In 1925 he went to work for the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric Company and remained with the utility for 42 years until he retired in 1965.





Patrick J. was widowed twice, Margaret C. McSally in 1938 and Margaret F. Bartley in 1978. He had 5 children and passed away on August 22, 1985. 


			
					

	




			
				


			

		

			
“Life of Reilly”? (Riley)

						

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Recently, while culling through some files, I came across this Ask the Globe (Boston Globe) article from 6/16/92, and thought you would get a kick out of it.





Q. Who leads the “Life of Reilly”?





A. Anyone who so chooses, although the original name was “O’Reilly.” The expression comes from the American vaudeville song “Are You the O’Reilly?” popularized by Pat Rooney in the 1880s about everyone’s pleasures once the the song’s namesake strikes it rich. Two of the promises made in the lyrics are “A hundreds day will be small pay,” and “On the railroads you’ll pay no fare.” At the end of each verse the vaudeville audiences would join in the chorus: “Are you the O’Reilly they speak of so well? Are you the O’Reilly they speak so highly? Gorblime me, O’Reilly, you’re looking well.”