Difference between revisions of "Walter (Bud) Galuza"
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Blanche spent the war years living in their apartment in Brunswick, Maine working as a riveter at Bath Iron Works. Bud spent the war years in both Italy and in Northern Africa. Thankfully, he came home safely right around Christmas day in 1945, just about the same time as Bill and Albert did, much to the relief of Blanche and the entire family. | Blanche spent the war years living in their apartment in Brunswick, Maine working as a riveter at Bath Iron Works. Bud spent the war years in both Italy and in Northern Africa. Thankfully, he came home safely right around Christmas day in 1945, just about the same time as Bill and Albert did, much to the relief of Blanche and the entire family. | ||
| − | <gallery widths=180px heights=200px perrow= | + | <gallery widths=180px heights=200px perrow=4 caption="Click on the photos below to view a larger image:"> |
File:Bud-enlist.jpg|left|Bud's enlistment records indicating Bud enlisted only 6 months after the wedding. | File:Bud-enlist.jpg|left|Bud's enlistment records indicating Bud enlisted only 6 months after the wedding. | ||
File:GaluzaBudinWW2.jpg|Bud in 1942, just before shipping out to Italy. | File:GaluzaBudinWW2.jpg|Bud in 1942, just before shipping out to Italy. | ||
File:Bud-WW2-c43.jpg|Bud in WWII. Location unknown. | File:Bud-WW2-c43.jpg|Bud in WWII. Location unknown. | ||
| + | File:GaluzaBlanche-c43.jpg|Blanche in 1943, we have no idea where she got the uniform. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 17:19, 2 April 2015
| Wladislaw Walter (Bud) Galuza | |
| Nationality: |  American (Naturalized)
|
| Born: | May 25, 1908 Vilna, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania) |
| Died: | February 1, 2002 Topsham, Maine |
| Father: | Jeremiah Galuza |
| Mother: | Malwina Mazsimovich |
| Spouse: | Blanche Alice Gagnon |
| Married: | Easter, April 5, 1942 St. Rose of Lima RC Church Livermore Falls, Maine |
| Children: | Judith Ann Galuza (adopted) |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Residence: | Vilna, Poland Mexico, Maine xx, Maine Brunswick, Maine Topsham, Maine |
| Profession: | Ferrymaster Lumberjack Custodian |
Contents
Bud's Childhood
On May 25, 1908 Vladimir Galuza (a.k.a. Walter “Bud”) was born in Vilna which was a part of Poland at that time. However, the town is now called Vilnius and is part of Lithuania. His mother’s name was Malwina Mazsimovich and his father’s name was Jeremiah Galuza.
NOTE: Please read Jeremiah's story - it is quite interesting. His leaving Poland was more of an escape.
Jeremiah Galuza had heard of opportunities in the United States, where many jobs could be had. Several people from his town in Poland had settled in a place called Mexico, Maine which was located on the Swift River and the Androscoggin River. At the time, the town had a paper mill and a brick mill always looking for hard-working employees to support their corporate growth objectives. Mexico, Maine was attracting many families from the same area in Poland, people who already knew each other, thereby reducing the anxiety of relocating half a world away and learning a new language, too. Jeremiah set out for Mexico, Maine sometime after 1908.
By the summer of 1913, Jeremiah had sent for his wife and children. When Bud was 5 years old, he, his mother and three other siblings emigrated to the United States. They left from Riga, Latvia on a freighter called the BREMEN or the BIRMA (the discrepancy may be a case of translation). When recounting the story as an adult later, he said it took 16 days and 16 nights to cross the ocean. It must have been quite a voyage! A freighter, not a luxury passenger liner, so the conditions must have been difficult. We do not have any information how they were fed or housed during the trip. Eventually, they reached the U.S. and were processed at Ellis Island, NY, and then they joined Jeremiah in Mexico, Maine, in whatever housing he had prepared for them.
Bud was eventually one of nine children, the rest of whom were born here in the United States. Bud was very close to his siblings. At some point, Jeremiah and Malwina became citizens of the United States, granting citizenship the same time at to all of their children not born in the United States.
Bud Buys a Ferry
Bud was a very smart man, but we are not sure why he elected not to complete more than one year of high school. Certainly, English was a second language for him, which could have held him back from completing grades at a normal age. But also, coming from a large family, by the time he reached the age of 18, he may have felt the need to help support the family.
Bud grew into an extremely handsome man, possessing a rich, deep voice, and his trademark pencil thin moustache. At one point, he was presented with an opportunity to purchase a ferry for $1.00, which he immediately seized. He operated the ferry for several years, carrying people, cars, and bicycles back and forth across the Androscoggin and Swift rivers, industriously saving his money for a future he had not yet mapped out.
Blanche and Bud
Claudia, Bud's younger sister, went to work in Boston some time between 1934 and 1941. It was during this time that she became good friends with Blanche Alice Gagnon. Knowing her brother Bud as she did, Claudia thought the two would make a fine pair, so on one of their weekends home in late 1941, Claudia made sure that Blanche managed to meet her brother Bud. They hit it off immediately, because it was a short courtship. And apparently, the eleven year age difference between them was not an issue either.
It is a commonly known fact among Catholics that no weddings can be performed during Lent. This did not delay the engagement. The wedding was quickly planned, and since Bud's older brothers were not available for some reason, Blanche's brothers Bill and Albert were pressed into Best Man and Usher service. Bud and Blanche were married at the earliest moment after Lent (on Easter itself!).
- Click on the photos below to view a larger image:
Bud and Blanche, Easter, 1942.
Albert and Wendy the Bridesmaid.
Bud and Blanche, with Bud's mother, Milvina on the left, and Rosa on the right.
Bud Joins the Army
Merely 6 months after marrying, and certainly after discussing it with Blanche, Bud presented himself to the Army Recruiter in Portland, Maine, and enlisted. Now Bud and Blanche understood the consequences of this decision, since both Bill and Albert had already left for the war. Despite his marital status and age (34), he was accepted into the Army, and almost immediately shipped out to the European theater, in Italy.
Blanche spent the war years living in their apartment in Brunswick, Maine working as a riveter at Bath Iron Works. Bud spent the war years in both Italy and in Northern Africa. Thankfully, he came home safely right around Christmas day in 1945, just about the same time as Bill and Albert did, much to the relief of Blanche and the entire family.
- Click on the photos below to view a larger image:
left|Bud's enlistment records indicating Bud enlisted only 6 months after the wedding.
Bud in 1942, just before shipping out to Italy.
Bud in WWII. Location unknown.
Blanche in 1943, we have no idea where she got the uniform.
After the War, A Beautiful Baby
After Bud came home, Blanche and Bud concentrated their efforts on starting a family. They tried unsuccessfully for several years. During the course of trying, they purchased the house at 13 Hennessey Ave in Brunswick which was a large, 4 bedroom home, with a nice yard. It was a huge disappointment to both of them, who loved children that they were unable to have children. Finally, in 1950, they became aware of a baby being made available for adoption, and they leapt at the chance. They were thrilled to bring home a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed baby girl that they named Judith Ann, who was only a few months old. Their family was now complete, and they poured their love on Judy, who became the light of their lives.
Job Changes, Life Settles In
Bud and his brothers became lumberjacks for one of the paper mill companies. It was back breaking work. Blanche got a job in the local shoe shop. On weekends, they would get together with Bud's sister Claudia and her husband Rocco (Rocky), or one or two of Bud's brothers and their wives. The get togethers were loud and raucous, with free flowing vodka, which suited the fun-loving Blanche quite well. On Sundays, they would go to church at St. John the Baptist RC church on Pleasant St in Brunswick, and then inevitably, scoot to Livermore Falls, for an expected visit at Blanche's parents. Rosa's controlling influence, in was felt by all of her children in one way or another. Certainly, if you lived close by, you were expected to visit regularly, or have a good excuse why not.
Because they were both employed, and only had one child, it was natural that they were a bit more affluent than the other siblings. These factors, combined with the fact that they were frugal, and utilized their resources intelligently, sometimes caused Blanche's less fortunate siblings to become envious. But Blanche and Bud did not try to show off - in fact, just the opposite. They would often visit and arrive with unsolicited gifts when they saw that childrens' basic needs were not being met (like winter coats that did not fit, or they would invite that family for a much needed meal and somehow there would be too many leftovers that would have to be taken home).
In the family, if Albert was the "fun" brother, Blanche was the "fun" sister. If there was a family celebration, you knew that Blanche was going to be there and have a great time, you'd be able to hear her laugh anywhere in the place. When the younger siblings began to get married and have children, Blanche and Bud were the #1 pick for Godparents.
Because their house was large, it was often the place for large holiday gatherings, especially Easter, Bud and Blanche's anniversary. Blanche loved to have a houseful of guests. It was there that the grandchildren learned the concept of the "kids'" table(s). The main table was for the oldest adults. Then, the nearest next table was for the oldest children. There would continue to be additional tables for as many children, in descending ages until you ran out of children. Babies were fed on their mothers' laps at the adult table. As you got older, you would get promoted to the next table.
Author's Note
I remember in 1969, when Memere (Rosa) got married to Donat, I was 18 and had finally been promoted the adult table. However, Memere returned from her weekend honeymoon to Blanche's for Sunday dinner, and all of her children were there, and I (and several other cousins) got demoted back to the kid's table again! It was all about seniority! All of the adults laughed - don't get too big for your britches!
One thing that was always special about dinner at Aunt Blanche's house was real butter!! Everyone else in the family was buying margarine. I could not get enough butter, especially on Aunt Rita's homemade bread. I vowed then and there that when I grew up, no matter what else I had to scrimp on, I was never going to buy margarine.
Items to Add
Irene & Al visiting in Maine, Blanche went to work, Blanche left the food for Mom to cook, Bud was a lumberjack, he said where’s the rest of it, as soon as Blanche came home from work, he said make me some supper. Meal for Bud – fried fish, potatoes, vegetable
'62Trip to Italy with Rocky & Claudia, saw Pope, lost luggage Generosity Sundays in Livermore Falls come hell or high water Clam bake at Galuza's Rocky & Claudia Always the life of the party Dinner at Blanche's, kids table we had to sneak into Brunswick or upset Memere and incur her wrath Judy as a model Bud against women's lib Life goal - wanted to see millennium change - accomplished that gave boys rides on the lumberjack truck - NO girls, not even Judy good food, simple food moustache big laugh looked like Albert knew the Muskie family - would have been invited to the inaugural if he'd been elected always drove a Buick Aunt Blanche's favorite color Blue Only 3 blue-eyed kids Blanche, Ritaby, Bobby - they lived longest Most often selected Godparents in the family
When Dad’s family moved to a farm in Rumford they all went to a village school two miles away across the river. They used a ferry to get across. The town built a bridge a few miles up the river and sold the ferry and a house to my father for one dollar. Dad, his brothers Albert and Francis moved into the house and ran the ferry. They charged twenty-five cents per car or for horse and buggy to cross. They did this for a few years. The brothers then started a wood business. Dad had a team of horses that they used to haul the wood out of the forest with. When he went into the army Mom sold the horses and Dad never forgave her. By this time Albert and Francis were off to the war. When Dad got back he went to work at Bath Iron Works in the Carpenter Shop. He never like working there and quit and went back to cutting wood with his brothers Adam and Francis.
While Dad was away, Mom worked as a ship fitter at Bath Iron Works. When the war ended the women were laid off. After that Mom always worked in factories.
When they got married they moved into a 2nd floor apartment on Oak St. in Brunswick. Dad’s mother and father lived in a 3rd floor apartment in the same building. A few years after I was adopted they bought the house on Hennessey Ave. in Brunswick.
