The Uncle Johnny Files: Tonawanda Trove, Part One

The Newlyweds
In September, Uncle Johnny died days before his 98th birthday. Johnny was our mother's brother, the second of 10 children. Mary was the oldest. Over the years, we were close with Johnny who was a bachelor and who lived in the family homestead in the upstate New York city of Tonawanda. A modest house, on the corner of Fuller and Highland Avenues, the dwelling was across the street from train tracks. When, as kids, we visited Tonawanda, the freight trains would pass in endless progression with a clickity-clack sound. It is safe to say that nary a nail was hammered to keep the house at 63 Fuller Avenue from falling down. So when Johnny died, my upstate cousins has their work cut out for them in clearing the place. He was a bit of a hoarder.

Uncle Johnny was a party guy who loved to wear funny hats.
 He skied with a team of retired American Airlines 

employees until a few years ago. There is a story that he once skied

with an oxygen tank. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps and served
in World War II and Korea. He retired as chief mechanic from American
Airlines in Buffalo.

Fortunately, the cousins recognized the importance of the many photos and letters that Johnny had saved. They were kind enough to send us a box of these mementos. In going through the pictures, it occurred to me that there were some touching family stories within. One was the marriage of my parents, Mary and Sam.

Mary and Sam Markel on their wedding day,

September 28, 1942. Grandpa John is to Mary's left and Grandma Kate

to Sam's right. A mighty wind is blowing Mary's veil in a cloud of ghostly white.

Aunt Peggy, then a little girl, stands in front. 

"The bride wore a white net gown, the close fitting bodice of lace with sweetheart neckline and the bouffant skirt trimmed with lace, the sleeves bracelet length. Her finger tip length veil, edged with with lace to match the dress, was caught with a spray of orange blossoms. Her arm bouquet was of white baby chrysanthemums and bridal roses.... Her younger sister, Margaret, wore a rose-colored taffeta frock, with matching hair bow and corsage of baby chrysanthemums in blending colors."

Miss Mary Katherine Keleher Wed this Morning to Mr. Markel

From the Society Column of a Tonawanda newspaper.

"Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding breakfast was

served to members of the family and some fifty friends. The bride's

table with covers for twelve, was centered with a three-tiered 

wedding cake, surmounted by a miniature bride and groom,

and decorated with pink and white streamers."

"The couple left on a short wedding trip, the bride wearing

a royal blue, velveteen two-piece costume, with dubonnet hat

and accessories. Her corsage was of gardenias. They will

be at home after October 1st in Camden, N..J."

Mary and Sam. They look so happy.

Mary, from a large, Irish Catholic family from upstate New York,

 and Sam, a Jewish man from Brooklyn.

Together they forged a good life with success and happiness.

They provided their four children with wonderful life 

experiences and opportunities.

I would like to thank my sister, Jeanne, for copying these photos.

Also, thank you to my cousins, Mary Linda and

Kathleen, for sending the photos to us.

A Bientot!