Onesime Gagnon (1892) - Revision history

Gagnon at 20:11, 20 April 2016

2016-04-20T20:11:12Z

Louise: /* 1942 and During World War II */

2015-04-04T13:56:05Z

‎1942 and During World War II

Louise: /* 1936-1941 Back to Town and More Changes */

2015-04-04T13:54:12Z

‎1936-1941 Back to Town and More Changes

Louise: /* 1936-1941 Back to Town and More Changes */

2015-04-04T13:53:29Z

‎1936-1941 Back to Town and More Changes

Louise: /* Onesime's Illness and Death – Rosa’s Own Words */

2015-04-04T13:52:31Z

‎Onesime's Illness and Death – Rosa’s Own Words

Louise: /* 1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years */

2015-04-04T13:50:22Z

‎1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years

Louise: /* 1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years */

2015-04-04T13:48:57Z

‎1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years

Louise: /* 1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years */

2015-04-04T13:47:38Z

‎1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years

Louise: /* 1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years */

2015-04-04T13:46:59Z

‎1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years

Louise: /* 1948 and Early 1950's */

2015-04-04T13:44:44Z

‎1948 and Early 1950's

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox person
+{{Infobox person pic
 |name=Onesime Gagnon
 |nationality=[[File:Usflag.png]] American
 |born=March 26, 1892<br>Soldier Pond, Maine

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 ==1942 and During World War II==
-Bill left for the war in 1942, as did Albert.  By this time, Cecile was already married and having children, and Blanche was married in 1942 as well.  Rita graduated from high school shortly thereafter and joined the Navy, stationed in San Francisco.[[File:Rita-WWII.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Rita in the Navy.]]  So all of the older children were gone, and Norman and Bobby were only 12 and 9 respectively.  Of course, during the war, many items were rationed: gasoline, sugar, and flour to name a few.  Each family was issued a ration card, and could only purchase the rationed items by using their ration coupons.  This was a huge change, and when ever anyone would complain about the hardships, they were told, “don’t you know there’s a war on?”  This usually limited further complaints, especially because everyone was in the same situation.  Families got very creative, and there were “Victory Gardens” everywhere, to supplement the food supply.  Bartering also became very popular, as goods and services were traded.
+Albert left for the war in 1942, and Bill left in 1943.  By this time, Cecile was already married and having children, and Blanche was married in 1942 as well.  Rita graduated from high school shortly thereafter and joined the Navy, stationed in San Francisco.[[File:Rita-WWII.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Rita in the Navy.]]  So all of the older children were gone, and Norman and Bobby were only 12 and 9 respectively.  Of course, during the war, many items were rationed: gasoline, sugar, and flour to name a few.  Each family was issued a ration card, and could only purchase the rationed items by using their ration coupons.  This was a huge change, and when ever anyone would complain about the hardships, they were told, “don’t you know there’s a war on?”  This usually limited further complaints, especially because everyone was in the same situation.  Families got very creative, and there were “Victory Gardens” everywhere, to supplement the food supply.  Bartering also became very popular, as goods and services were traded.
 Norman and Bobby were raised as an almost separate generation. The economics of the family had also changed, as the depression was over, and jobs were plentiful.  The family had more money and fewer children to support.  However, the younger boys were encouraged to get their own little part time jobs to have spending money.

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 In 1939, Bill was laid off from the mill. He went to Dexter, Maine to learn to be a machinist, and then later, to learn to be a tool and die maker. Although he returned to J.P. mill, he was soon laid off again. Clearly, the news in the world was not good.  Europe was now embroiled in a war with Germany.  Bill went to Connecticut to find work, and the family did not know if he would return to Maine (in fact, Bill did not return to Maine to live until his retirement many years later).  Before Bill  left, Rosa and Onesime decided to sieze the opportunity to have a family portrait taken.
-[[File:Gagnonfamilyc39-fixed-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|375px|The family (standing from left): Albert, Cecile, Bill; (seated from left): Rita, Rosa, Norman, Onesime holding Bobby in sailor suit, and Blanche.]]
+[[File:Gagnonfamilyc39-fixed-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|350px|The family (standing from left): Albert, Cecile, Bill; (seated from left): Rita, Rosa, Norman, Onesime holding Bobby in sailor suit, and Blanche.]]
 At that time, jobs were very hard to come by, as the depression was still on.  Now that the family was not living on the farm and growing much of their own food, it was difficult to feed the family.  Bill had already been in the CCC’s, and it was now Albert’s turn.   In October of 1939, Albert, who had completed school through the 8th grade, went into the CCC’s to help support the family.  It was not uncommon for the oldest boys to join the CCC’s, earn their own room and board, and send money home.  Albert was in the CCC’s twice.

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 In 1939, Bill was laid off from the mill. He went to Dexter, Maine to learn to be a machinist, and then later, to learn to be a tool and die maker. Although he returned to J.P. mill, he was soon laid off again. Clearly, the news in the world was not good.  Europe was now embroiled in a war with Germany.  Bill went to Connecticut to find work, and the family did not know if he would return to Maine (in fact, Bill did not return to Maine to live until his retirement many years later).  Before Bill  left, Rosa and Onesime decided to sieze the opportunity to have a family portrait taken.
-[[File:Gagnonfamilyc39-fixed-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|400px|The family (standing from left): Albert, Cecile, Bill; (seated from left): Rita, Rosa, Norman, Onesime holding Bobby in sailor suit, and Blanche.]]
+[[File:Gagnonfamilyc39-fixed-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|375px|The family (standing from left): Albert, Cecile, Bill; (seated from left): Rita, Rosa, Norman, Onesime holding Bobby in sailor suit, and Blanche.]]
 At that time, jobs were very hard to come by, as the depression was still on.  Now that the family was not living on the farm and growing much of their own food, it was difficult to feed the family.  Bill had already been in the CCC’s, and it was now Albert’s turn.   In October of 1939, Albert, who had completed school through the 8th grade, went into the CCC’s to help support the family.  It was not uncommon for the oldest boys to join the CCC’s, earn their own room and board, and send money home.  Albert was in the CCC’s twice.

@@ Line 180: / Line 180: @@
 “In April, 1967, Onesime started to get sick, trouble with his stomach. He was operated on in August, but they discovered he had cancer throughout his body, and could not fix the problem. A strong man like that – they gave him 5-6 months to live, and gave him some chemotherapy, which caused him to lose his hair. The children all got together and brought him his Christmas early and bought him a very nice suit. It looked so nice on him.
-In September, he wanted to go back to his birthplace, and where he grew up. We left on a Friday, with our daughter Rita driving for us. Onesime was in the back seat with a pillow and blanket to make him more comfortable. He was so pleased – I will never forget the look on his face when he went to mass in Keegan. We slept in Madawaska and the next day headed for Fort Kent. There we visited all of his cousins, since none of his aunts and uncles were living. The next morning we went to Soldier Pond and Wallagrass, to the church where he was baptized and he made his first communion. He came home from this trip very pleased, satisfied and happy.
+In September, he wanted to go back to his birthplace, and to the town where he grew up. We left on a Friday with our daughter Rita driving for us. Onesime was in the back seat with a pillow and blanket to make him more comfortable. He was so pleased – I will never forget the look on his face when he went to mass in Keegan. We slept in Madawaska and the next day headed for Fort Kent. There we visited all of his cousins, since none of his aunts and uncles were living. The next morning we went to Soldier Pond and Wallagrass, to the church where he was baptized and he made his first communion. He came home from this trip very pleased, satisfied and happy.
 On January 8, 1968, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, God called him, and he passed away, so peacefully. It was quite a blow after being married to him for over 51 years. The Thursday before he died, he told me that he would always watch over me.

@@ Line 166: / Line 166: @@
 Onesime and Rosa had some government bonds, so they could have tried again to have a larger house of their own, abut her leg operation was expensive and they didn’t have medical insurance. They ended up using up all of their savings on the operation.
-Onesime and Rosa enjoyed their retirement. They took many trips together, and even went to California quite a few times, because by this time both Bill and Bobby lived out there with their families. [[File:RosaOne-CA1-c1958-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]] Once, they went by car with Annette and Bobby (who notoriously disliked flying) on Route 66, and came back by the south route in order to stop in Alabama for three days to visit Clarence Fournier (Mina’s son). On one trip to California, they even went by bus - that was quite a trip! They were on that bus from Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock to late Friday afternoon, but they enjoyed the adventure, going through all the cities and states. However, most of the time they went by plane. Now, Onesime almost always wore a hat – inside, outside, it didn’t matter – he liked to wear a hat - a fedora. There’s a great picture of him inside a Las Vegas casino, wearing his hat. [[File:RosaOne-CA2-c1958-cropped.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
+Onesime and Rosa enjoyed their retirement. They took many trips together, and even went to California quite a few times, because by this time both Bill and Bobby lived out there with their families. [[File:RosaOne-CA1-c1958-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]] Once, they went by car with Annette and Bobby (who notoriously disliked flying) on Route 66, and came back by the south route in order to stop in Alabama for three days to visit Clarence Fournier (Mina’s son). On one trip to California, they even went by bus - that was quite a trip! They were on that bus from Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock to late Friday afternoon, but they enjoyed the adventure, going through all the cities and states. However, most of the time that they traveled to California they went by plane. Now, Onesime almost always wore a hat – inside, outside, it didn’t matter – he liked to wear a hat - a fedora. There’s a great picture of him inside a Las Vegas casino, wearing his hat. [[File:RosaOne-CA2-c1958-cropped.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
 ==50th Wedding Anniversary==

@@ Line 162: / Line 162: @@
 ==1957 Onesime Retires from the Mill, and their Later Years==
-[[File:Onesimeretiresc57-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Click on this picture to read the article of Onesime's service at the mill.]] In February of 1963, Patty remembers that she and her siblings were outside sliding, across the road from Memere’s house when she saw Rosa come out of the house. Suddenly, she slipped on the ice and fell.  Now Rosa (Memere) often played pranks on the grandchildren, and at first they thought she was kidding them. It quickly became clear that she had seriously injured herself, and Patty came running and called for medical help. [[File:Rosa-brokeleg-1963-cropped.jpg|right|thumb|400px|]] It turned out that Rosa had broken her leg, and because of her difficulty in now getting to work, she called the foreman and retired for good.
+[[File:Onesimeretiresc57-cropped.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Click on this picture to read the article of Onesime's service at the mill.]] In February of 1963, Patty remembers that she and her siblings were outside sliding, across the road from Memere’s house when she saw Rosa come out of the house. Suddenly, she slipped on the ice and fell.  Now Rosa (Memere) often played pranks on the grandchildren, and at first they thought she was kidding them. It quickly became clear that she had seriously injured herself, and Patty came running and called for medical help. [[File:Rosa-brokeleg-1963-cropped.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Rosa with a broken leg, 1963.]] It turned out that Rosa had broken her leg, and because of her difficulty in now getting to work, she called the foreman and retired for good.
 Onesime and Rosa had some government bonds, so they could have tried again to have a larger house of their own, abut her leg operation was expensive and they didn’t have medical insurance. They ended up using up all of their savings on the operation.

@@ Line 151: / Line 151: @@
 ==1948 and Early 1950's==
-[[File:Rosa-daughtIsabella-1948.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Rosa was a long-time member of the church women's group, The Daughters of Isabella.  This photo from Spring of 1948.]]In early 1948, Rosa made a trip to Canada with the group she belonged to from the church, The Daughters of Isabella.  Later that year, Rosa’s mother, Adelaide died.  She was in her 90’s.  Rosa was very affected by her death, and missed her terribly.  Later that same year, Albert joined Wilfred in Connecticut, at first living with Wilfred and Rena. Later, he found other living arrangements in a rooming house on Prospect Ave, in West Hartford, within walking distance to the gasoline station they bought and operated. (more about that in Albert’s Story).
+[[File:Rosa-daughtIsabella-1948.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Rosa was a long-time member of the church women's group, The Daughters of Isabella.  This photo from Spring of 1948.]]In early 1948, Rosa made a trip to Canada with the group she belonged to from the church, The Daughters of Isabella.  Later that year, Rosa’s mother, Adelaide died.  She was in her 90’s.  Rosa was very affected by her death, and missed her terribly.  Later that same year, Albert joined Wilfred in Connecticut, at first living with Wilfred and Rena. Later, he found other living arrangements in a rooming house on Prospect Ave, in West Hartford, within walking distance to the gasoline station they bought and operated. (more about that in Albert’s Story).
 Then in February of 1949, the doctor advised Rosa to get a job outside of the house, as she was depressed and anxious. A shoe shop had opened in North Jay, and she got a job there. At first, she had a lot of difficulty because she was nervous. She couldn’t stand the noise of the stitching room. Finally, she became adjusted to the environment and working outside of the house. She thoroughly enjoyed her job, and eventually worked at the shoe shop 13 years.