I'm still very busy working on a documentary film but my conscience tells me I shouldn't totally neglect my blogs and websites. Google Analytics tells me who visits and from where, but not much more. As 99 percent of you lurk but don't leave a message, I can only guess at your interests.
I still have no time time to write Saint John history articles, but I did want to add a bit to the last piece on Brenan's Funeral Home. As I have written in previous articles, our family has hired Brenan's on Paradise Row several times over the years. My mother and her twelve brothers and sisters lived at 92 Paradise Row, opposite to Brenan's, and on cold winter days they sometimes slipped into the funeral parlor to get warm.
In this photo, taken in February 1940, the funeral prossession for Charles Gorman is passing our house ay 92 Paradise Row. It's a sad occaision but I like the photograph because it helps me establish another scene in my head. Only a few months earlier Paradise Row had been lined with throngs of happy, cheering North Enders who had lined up to wave at the limousine carrying their King and Queen. I would love to have a photo of that great event from precisely the same angle.
Funeral for Charles Gorman, Feb. 1940. The funeral car and procession were photographed on Paradise Row, moving West. The author's family lived at 92 Paradise Row, indicated in red on the photo.
In my earlier piece, "DEATH IN THE VALLEY", I discussed the records of Brenan Funeral Home which have been made available by the N.B. Provincial Archive. I have extracted the personal information for Charles Gorman, Saint John's champion speedskater, from the Brenan file. It adds much to our appreciation of this great photo, and will (I hope) encourage you to do your own history sleuthing. Mike Mullen wrote an interesting story about Charles Gorman, not long ago. You can read it here.
BRENAN'S FUNERAL HOME
Date 1940.02.11
Name of deceased Gorman, Charles I.
Age 41
Sex Male
Marital status - Single
Residence - 34 Sydney St.
Place of Death - S.J. General Hospital
Place of Birth - Saint John, N.B.
Mother - Ingraham, Mary Ann
Place of Birth -Saint John, N.B.
Father - Gorman, William John
Place of Birth - Saint John, N.B.
Interred - Cedar Hill Cemetery
Physician - Emerson, Dr.
Clergy - Filer, Rev.
Comment - Ord. by brother-in-law H. Drinan for Estate.
I could make a request for similar LOST VALLEY funeral photos to share here, but I rarely got a response when I have asked before. Sooner or later I find what I need. It's just a matter of persistence. The Lost Valley collection is now approximately 2000 images, which combine to help me piece together the heritage which has been lost.
