DID YOU ATTEND THE 1987 REUNION?

For these great pictures, taken at the 1987 reunion, I am indebted to Rose (Mallard) Ash and Louie (Mallard) Tucker.  Does anyone else have a story or a picture from that event?  If so, I would love to post it here.  Thanks again Rose and Louie.  Your help is very much appreciated! 

 

Cathy Fitzpatrick, Dianne Baird, Sr Brendan Lynch,
Bernadine Simmons, Tony Walsh

 

Tish Mallard, Rose Mallard Ash, ?, ?,

Sr Brendan and Miss Eleanor Lawton, two of
St Patrick's excellent music teachers

THE RUBBER BAG, PART 2

Last post I promised that I would post any comments or memories from those of you who were able to identify the “curious object” pictured there and below.   As expected, all of you recognised it as a rubber bag or a gaiter bag.  The following are some of the comments received on said “curious object”!

THE FAMOUS 'RUBBER BAG'

 

Anonymous 

“Oh, the gator bag....I haven't thought of one of these in years. When you think about it these things made a lot of sense.”

 
 

c984d1d2-a786-11e2-8167-000bcdcb8a73          

“God help you if in Sister Immaculata's class, your rubbers were thrown outside the door, which she watched everyday! Some of us called it a rubber bag.”

 

Carmelita Hearn

“I remember it well....and I remember running back home as fast as I could because I forgot my 'rubber bag'.....it was just as bad to be late. Sister Immaculata would stand by the front entrance of the school on Patrick's St. and check if you had your bag, you could be sent home to get it if you forgot. I also remember mopping the second floor corridors outside our Grade six classroom when we were in her class, anyone else remember that? She was a real 'sergeant major' but we sure learned to do as we were told.”

 
 

Frances Noseworthy “That is a gaiter bag.....in winter you wore your boots to school, carried your shoes in this bag, changed in the front porch and carried your gaiters to the classroom in your gaiter bag. I'd say most moms made these for the kiddies, I know mine did.”
 

 

Catherine Altini “The dreaded boot bags. All the Moms had to make them for the girls. Carrying book bags, then boot bags, traipsing thru the snow, and then walking home uphill or downhill. No wonder we turned out strong as bulls.”

 

MARY KENNEDY   “Of course, I was in Sister Immaculata's class!!”

 

CARMEN CATTLES “Who could forget Sister Immaculata at the front door of the school making sure your boots never touched that floor.”
 

 

CAROL DUGGAN  “Someday I'm going to walk on that floor with my wet boots on in her memory---- and in memory of "rubber bags" as they were called.”

 

JACINTA DOYLE “She (Sr Immaculata) had eyes like a hawk....watching the back door and the front door at the same time...all the while doing her crocheting.....like Madame defarge.”

 

GABRIELLE PAFF   “I'm not a St. Patrick's girl but we had those bags at Mercy Convent also - they were called shoe bags. Same difference.”

 

DOREEN (McALLISTER) HEFFERNAN “ In the late 40s and early 50s I was a pupil at St Patrick’s on Convent Square, the real ‘old school’.  The entrance was on Convent Square, the doors by the auditorium.  Even way back then, dear Sr Immaculata stood at the top of the stairs waiting to see if you had your rubbers/gaiters in your rubber bag and NOT in the sleeve of your coat!  Occasionally pupils would forget their rubber bag and try to sneak their rubbers into school in the sleeves of their coats.  When Sr Immaculata asked where their rubber bag was some would pretend that they hadn’t worn any rubbers and had walked to school in their shoes.  Of course with the snow possibly up to your knees and dry shoes, Sr Immaculata certainly didn’t fall for that one!  She would know immediately that the rubbers were stuffed into the sleeves of their coats and she would say, “Let me see your coat” and then check to see if the gaiters were in the sleeves.  If they were, you got punished for lying AND sent home to get the forgotten rubber bag!”

 

Well everyone, this has been a fun post for me and I hope it has been for you too.  I certainly remember the famous (infamous?) rubber bag days.  Like most of you, I remember Sr Immaculata doing sentry duty at the ‘new school’ on Patrick St.  I know that all that you have said in your comments is fact because I too remember attempting to smuggle rubbers in coat sleeves, being sent home to get a forgotten one, and being told to leave the ‘bagless’ rubbers outside the front door.  Gabrielle, I am very pleased to learn that you girls at Mercy had to suffer the rubber bag ordeal too.  It is great to hear Doreen’s story of her days in the old school on Convent Square.  It just goes to show that, as the saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun”.  Thanks everyone!”

WHAT IS THIS????

This will be a short post because I want to know if anyone out there knows what this curious object is. If you went to St Patrick's, you definitely had one!  Mine wasn't as pretty as this one but it served the purpose.  If you know what it is, then please leave us a comment with your stories about it.  My next post will reveal all, so don't forget to look in again soon.   Thanks to Doreen Heffernan for this picture and for jogging my memory.  I hope it will jog your memory too.

 

Woe betide you if you didn't have yours!

 

MISS MURPHY'S KINDERGARTEN, 1950/51

For this beauty, I owe sincere thanks to Enid O'Brien. Enid has a rich source of material which she generously shares with this blog. As well as this photo, Enid has also supplied most of the names. If anyone out there is able to add any more names or, indeed, add any information about the photo, where it was taken or ANYTHING AT ALL, Enid & I would be delighted and grateful.

Miss Murphy's Kindergarten Class, 1950/51

Enid wrote;

"I have attached a picture of Miss Murphy's Kindergarten Class 1950/51. It is unbelievable that she could teach so many children without a helper(at least I don't remember one). Also, I think Kindergarten was a full day.

Below you will find a list of names. There are some omissions, a few girls I couldn't see their faces and if there are errors I am open to corrections. It is hard to remember everyone after 63 years."

Row 1. L-R: Paula Murphy, Barbara Crotty, Geraldine Reddy, Mary Reddy, Marie Perchard, Diane Edison, Gail Skinner, Geri Hearn, Carmelita Hearn, Pauline Reddy, Betty Finn, Maureen Shea, Marina Grace

Row 2. 1. Over Barbara Crotty’s shoulder ?, Norma Williams, ? Shirley Dooley’s sister, Shirley Dooley, Patsy Scott, #6 ? #7 ?, #8 ? , Patricia Morrissey, Francis Meaney, Patricia Squires, ? , Shirley/Sheila Power, Shirley Walsh

Row 3. Mary Hatfield (standing), Florence Furey (uniform), 3.?, Mary Neville, Sheila Pridham, Margaret Murphy, Mary Healey, Joan Picco, Joan or Marie Reddigan, Pauline Reddy, Frances Cousins, Joan Rumsey, Betty Healey, Elisabeth Roche, Joan Evans

Row 4. Betty Rodgers, Rosalie Stevenson, ? , Enid Stanford, Elizabeth White, Betty Holden, Libby Dillon, Theresa Brewer, Helen Westcott, Barbara Cleary, Trudy Hayes

You have done well to remember so many names, Enid.  And I agree, it must have been a daunting task to have to teach such a large group of children.   When I was in Kindergarten, we just went a half day.  I went in the morning as did my friend but her sister went in the afternoon.  Perhaps it was different other years.  Anyway Enid, I appreciate all your input and thank you again.  Let's hope we hear from some of the 'girls' on this beautiful picture.