Mystery and Intrigue

I came across an interesting article in the Boston Daily Globe Aug 2 1920:

Ida is the wife of Richard Ryan (Dad's uncle) and I've recently made contact with Richard's granddaughter.  You don't even need to read between the lines to see there's a great deal more to this story than told here in print.  Unfortunately, I don't know what that backstory might be but I do know Ida was "found" as she apparently continued her family life until her death in 1954.  The article implies Ida may have been a victim of foul play in a long string of missing women that year.  She seemed to be a very small woman, good looking, dressed well and recently released from the hospital.  Of the most common reasons for such cases as described by the police, it's my belief that "unrest" is the most likely cause for this disappearance.

I offer you this small mystery for your consideration this week.  We are going to Gloucester for Easter and I hope to spend a fair amount of time in research.  This is one of the leads I plan to follow so stay tuned!

Clare, Sligo, Meath and More

I let St. Patrick's Day slip by without a post.  I didn't mean to do that, but I was working hard to formulate my thoughts about the day.  For many, it's a little bit like New Year's Eve or a birthday party.  But doesn't quite hit the mark for me.  But I won't turn down another of those wonderful shamrock shakes even if I have to wait until next St. Patrick's Day!

Our Irish ancestry runs deep.  St. Patrick's Day allows me to consider our immigrants and their struggles.  I have nothing to prove or disprove that our ancestors came to this continent escaping famine but it seems logical that there were significant "push and pull factors" (remember that from US History?).  Irish immigrants everywhere faced severe discrimination and I have no doubt the same held true for ours. 

Our Irish immigrants were largely farmers or fishermen; livelihoods that depend upon unpredictable Mother Nature and many other factors beyond control.  I imagine that Henry Nevins' father was beyond proud that he became an attorney -- the grandson / son  of an immigrant. 

I think I've talked before about our Irish surnames, but haven't talked too much about their Irish homeland.  That's mostly because I don't know too much first hand (yet) but one day I hope to.

Here are your great-grands and what I know about where they came from.  Match 'em up on the map.
Patrick Flynn's mother Ellen:  County Clare
Patrick Flynn's mother Barbara came from Munich Germany (we aren't counting her right now)
Henry Nevins' grandfather Henry born Ireland:  his mother Julia born County Meath
Caroline Brown Nevins daughter of English immigrant

William H. Ryan's father Timothy born Ireland (maybe Tipperary)
Kate Bentley Ryan's mother and father born Galway
William Pierce was born in Canada latest in a long line of Canadians (Nova Scotia)
Edith Handran Pierce's mother was born in Sligo

Patrick Flynn worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad; Henry Nevins was a well known lawyer who spawned many more in the same line of work; William H. Ryan worked in various blue collar jobs such as lunch cart keeper; William Pierce was a fisherman. 

So I guess the pictures in my head when St. Patrick's Day comes around look more like these than those pretty green shamrocks.

Rant warning: TSA

You've been warned.  This is a rant.  It's been brewing since I heard the story about a breastfeeding mother being told she couldn't bring empty bottles and an ice pack on board.  She was leaving Hawaii and planned ahead for the empty bottles so she wouldn't violate the "no liquid" policy.  TSA representatives there told her she couldn't bring the empty bottles unless she 'proved' they were for breast milk (?!?).  This woman was forced to use a public bathroom to pump her milk which filled the empty bottles.  After this, the bottles were deemed safe for the airplane.  WHAT??  The mother (an elementary school principal) said “It really confuses me as to how an empty breast pump and cooler pack are a threat to national security and 20 minutes later, with milk, they no longer pose a threat to national security,”  Confusing might be one word for it.  There are others I can think of.

I regularly check the official TSA blog after such incidents because it amuses me to read how they spin these events.  This time, however, there was an apology of sorts.  I'm sure THAT made the poor woman feel better.  Whew.  I know I do. 

As I was checking the blog for the apology post, I noticed another recent post dismissing some viral video purporting to show how to "beat" the body scanner.  Here's what the blogger had to say about their scanners (remember this is an official blog for the TSA):   It’s one of the best tools available to detect metallic and non-metallic items, such as… you know… things that go BOOM.    Are you thinking the same thing I did?  Can you IMAGINE what would happen if a passenger made such a comment (joke)???  That poor sucker wouldn't be seen again for days and days.  Apparently it's OK if the TSA makes the jokes.

And apparently there's some kind of thin blue line such as with police officers when someone goes rogue such as the flight attendant outburst recently on a flight leaving Dallas.  There was a struggle and one of the other attendants was injured.  No charges will be filed.  Mental stability issues have been mentioned. A passenger outburst requiring restraint and involving attendant injuries result in federal charges.  Oh yes, even with mental stability issues.  These aren't precisely the same cases but close enough to make the average potential passenger wonder about the level of authority given to TSA and airport officials in this post 9-11 world.  Bullies is a word that comes to mind.  Sanctioned bullying.


Sometime between reading about the breast feeding mother and hearing about the flight attendant, I read a column in the New York Times called On the Road  which only added to the fires of this developing rant.  The writer's 82 year old mother in law was trying to get to Binghamton from Tuscon.  No direct flights between those two cities, by the way.  She ended up stuck at Dulles airport on Saturday night being told they couldn't get her to Binghamton until Tuesday.  An 82 year old woman might even be able to walk home in that amount of time.  One of the other stranded passengers expressed frustration to the United agent at the service counter and was told: "Listen, if you don't stop complaining I could call the police and have you arrested because I feel insulted."  Insulted.  The airline employee threatened to call the police because he felt he'd been insulted.  Seems to me he insulted the intelligence of the passengers by offering a 72 hour delay as a reasonable solution.  It worked though.  She shut up and they ended up flying to Elmira the next morning.  

I'm not comfortable with the level of authority that's been granted in these everyday areas of our lives to organizations (such as the TSA) in the name of protecting the general public.  It feels as though we are being assaulted from within.  If this blog rant should make its way to the TSA (and I'm trusing my family members probably won't do that)  I'm sure I'll never be allowed on a plane.  But that's OK because I am one single passenger who will make alternate plans.  For my own safety.

I found some articles about Weenie that I don't remember.  I'm sure I must have seen these at some point since they are in my piles and piles of family history trivia, but I don't remember these and I thought you might like to see them too. 

These are contained within a folder of Hall of Fame induction programs for 1970 (Weenie's year) and 1969.  Inside the induction programs are programs for the game held that day.  On Feb 14 1970, St. Bonaventure played Providence College and it was the ECAC Game of the Week.  One of the captains of the team was senior Bob Lanier who went on to become a well respected NBA player for Detroit and Milwaukee.  I can remember Weenie talking about how big this kid's feet were (size 22).  Until I saw these articles, I had forgotten this game and the Hall of Fame ceremonies were broadcast on network TV.  I can't remember who stayed with us since Mom and Dad were there also. 

It tickles me to note he's described as "not beefy enough" (an understatement) and 40 years later his great grandson is described as BEEFY and chugging around the bases to win his league championship.

I love this drawing.  It's from the Hall of Fame program.

Just a little something I thought you might enjoy.