Nell Madigan Sullivan's 140th Birthday

Nell Madigan, c1900

Ellen “Nell” Madigan Sullivan was born in Chicago, Illinois 140 years ago today on May 29, 1880. The second oldest of seven children of Irish immigrants, Patrick Madigan (c1850-1890) and Bridget “Bessie” Thompson/Thomas (1852-1935) both from County Limerick, she grew up on the west side of Chicago. When she lost her Dad of pneumonia at only 10 years of age, her Mom was pregnant with her sixth sibling. It must have been a most difficult time for the family.  She would eventually meet the love of her life, John J. Burke 

John J. Burke, 1900

and get engaged, 

Engagement ring, three opals in a gold setting

but sadly before they married, he also died of pneumonia. Life went on and she then met her future husband, Alexander Aloysius Sullivan (1880-1956) 

Cropped from a photo with Claude Cooley c1907 on Filmore Street, Chicago

and married on 20 August 1907 at St. Agatha Church in Chicago. She had two children, Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996)

Thomas A. Sullivan c1909

 and Helen May Sullivan (1914-2008). 

Helen M. Sullivan c1916

Around 1918, Al and Nell bought a two flat home further west in Chicago at 18 N. Latrobe Avenue where they lived the rest of their lives. 

18 N. Latrobe, c1933

Her daughter and family moved into the first floor flat in 1949 and lived there until 1967 with Al dying in 1956 and Nell passing away in 1966. Nell Madigan Sullivan lived a happy life in adulthood involved in her church at St. Thomas Aquinas, her bridge club and watching after her family. I had the pleasure of living with my grandparents for most of my childhood, moving into my grandmother’s apartment when her husband died. Rest in Peace, Nellie, your are still much loved.

Sources: Information collected by Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin in her genealogy research. www.McIntyreGenealogy.com. Photos: In the collection of Elaine M. Beaudoin.

A Four Year Old on Her Own

In her "Story of a Lifetime" book, Mom wrote about one of her experiences:

Question: Did anything unusual or strange happen to you during your childhood?

Helen McIntyre 6 years old, c1920

Answer: "This probably was unusual or strange! I was about 4 years old and living on Fillmore St. I was playing in the back yard, suddenly got bored and decided I wanted to go to the movies. My Mother and Father would take me to the Twentieth Century or Gold Theaters on Roosevelt Rd. which was 2 blocks south of us. So I went out the back gate, cut through the neighbors' yards and got to Roosevelt Rd. I saw the Gold about a block away. I went there and followed some people in the show and went in and sat down. My Mother looked all over for me and when my Father came home from work she sent him to look for me. After asking everyone if they saw a little girl with long blonde curls, he asked the Ticket Taker at the Gold. She said "Oh, about 3 hours ago I did, she went in the show." My Father got the usher to go down all the aisles with a flash light and there I was in the front row. I didn't want to leave but he got me out."

I can't imagine what someone would think today if their 4 year old daughter disappeared from the backyard. 

Helen did love the movies her whole life. I remember her taking me to the movies in downtown Chicago when I was 4 or 5. We would arrive in the morning and spend all day at the theater.

Happy 100th Birthday, Helen

Al and Nell's second child, Helen May Sullivan, was born on March 11, 1914 -- 100 years ago today. The video is called "Happy 100th Birthday Seedy" because that is the name her three granddaughters called her. However, her great grandchildren called her Gigi.

Al and Nell Sullivan in 1940 US Census

Alex and "Helen" Nell Sullivan are listed as living at 18 N. Latrobe, Chicago, in the 1940 US Census.  This is not a surprise to anyone in the family.  However, the other information provided on the 1940 census gives us a unique glimpse into their lives at the time.

Although it is noted Al was a steamfitter, he was not employed at the time of the census and had not been for 40 previous weeks.  I'm sure that was a very difficult economic time for the Sullivans.  The census additionally reports that he was employed for only 26 weeks in 1939 and had earned $2,200 during the year ending December 31, 1939.  $2,200 (using the CPI, about $34,500 in 2010 dollars) was a very decent salary for 26 weeks of work in 1939.

Al and Nell owned their home which was valued at $3,500.  Their tenants, Robert and Agnes Hutchison, lived on the first floor and paid $45 per month rent.  I remember my Mother telling me that Robert Hutchinson was also unemployed at some point during the depression, but in the 1940 census it states he was working as a teacher in the public school system.  When the Hutchisons moved from 18 N. Latrobe in the late 1940s, the McIntyre family moved in and stayed until 1967.

The census reports Al completed four years of high school.  He attended St. Ignatius High School (St. Ignatius College Prep today), which was called St. Ignatius College at the time.  In 1894, St. Ignatius College enrolled 400 students, most were first generation Irish, as was Alex.  This is the same school his grandson, Laurence McIntyre, attended nearly sixty years later.  To my amazement, Nell only had an eighth grade education.  She sure was smart for only having attended elementary school.  For those of us who knew her, I don't think one of us would have guessed she hadn't had more education.

Although Nell and Al were only 2 months apart in age, when they reported their age to the census taker, somehow Al suddenly became five years older!  In April of 1940, Al would have just turned 60 the week before and Nell would have been two month shy of 60 but she reported her age as 55!  Ah, the female privilege!

1940 US Census, Chicago, Illinois; ED 103-2329, page 2B

To enlarge the 1940 US Census, double click on image.

Source: National Archives, 1940 US Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, ED 103,2329, page 2B, T627.

Happy 131st Birthday, Nell Madigan Sullivan

Ellen "Nell" Madigan would have been 131 on May 29, 2011. Since her birthday often fell over Memorial Day, the family always celebrated her special day on that weekend. Here are some photos from her life.

Nell, c late 1890s, probably in South Haven, Michigan
where she would often go for summer visits with Laura Carmody.

Al and Nell, c early 1930s, with daughter, Helen

Nell with grandson, Tom,
in backyard of 18 N. Latrobe, c1937

She was a wonderful lady who was a super cook (oh those roast beefs), a fun grandmother and a devout Catholic, attending Mass everyday.  Happy Birthday!

Grandparents, c1949

Al and Nell Sullivan with two of their grandchildren, Elaine and Larry McIntyre, at Lake Lawn Lodge, Delevan, Wisconsin c1949.  They are standing in front of the old hotel which has been torn down.  Good times were had at LLL.

Alex Sullivan, Death Certificate, 1956

Alexander A. Sullivan died on January 26, 1956. He had arteriosclerosis for several years before his death. I remember his legs would fill with water and look very swollen. I was told this was because his heart was not beating properly and therefore not removing extra fluid from his body. Dr. Fitzgerald signed the death certificate. He was the family doctor.

When Al died, he had been retired for several years. For almost all of his working life he had been a steamfitter.  A steamfitter is one who installs and repairs heating, ventilating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems.  As early as 1908, on his son's birth certificate, his occupation is listed as steamfitter.

Al was waked for two days at the Hursen Funeral Home located at 5911 West Madison Street, about seven blocks away from his home on Latrobe Avenue.  It was the funeral home the family normally used.  He was buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery on January 30, 1956 after a funeral mass at St. Thomas Aquinas church, his parish for nearly 50 years. His son, Thomas Sullivan, was the informant on Al's death certificate.

If you double click on the image, it will increase in size.

Nell Madigan Sullivan, Death Certificate, 1966

Nell died on January 21, 1966, almost 10 years to the day from when her husband, Al, passed away. A few weeks before she died, she had a party for all of her friends at her home at 18 N. Latrobe on Chicago. She spent the week before the party cleaning the apartment, walking to grocery stores, the bakery and the meat market -- collecting the food stuffs for the party.  I remember she was so happy getting ready for the event. However, within days of the party, she seemed to fail. Mom said she was supposed to be taking high blood pressure medication, but felt the pills weren't necessary and thought that an aspirin was just as good. Mom thought Nell might have chosen not to take the pills because of their high cost.

She probably had had several small strokes which eventually made her bed-ridden. An ambulance was called but Nell refused to go to the hospital and they had to leave. Her doctor came to the house and gave her some medication that caused her to relax. Unfortunately, it may have also taken her "fight" away and she seemed to slip into a coma. The ambulance was again called and took her to St. Joseph Hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Like her husband, she was waked at the Hursen Funeral Home on west Madison Street. Her funeral service took place at St. Thomas Aquinas Church -- the Church where she attended Mass each day, almost to the day she died. She is buried next to her husband in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.

Nell was a homemaker her entire married life raising two children and tending to her husband Al.

Note, although her death certificate states she is 79, she was actually born on May 29, 1880.  She would have been 86 at the time of her death per her birth certificate.

Tom Remembers Living on Latrobe, 1918-1929

Excerpt from "Notes About Things I Remember" by Thomas A. Sullivan, March 4, 1996.

Move to Latrobe Avenue

18 N. Latrobe

"When I was 10, the City announced they wanted to buy my grandmother's [Bessie Thompson Madigan's] house to expand their ward storage yard. She sold and bought a home on Congress Street.  Father had about $1,000 in the bank and bought a two-flat in Austin, at 18 N. Latrobe Ave., a nice area on the far west side of Chicago.  Helen - who was about 5 at the time - and I were fascinated for some reason with a large closet with two doors.  We lived on the second floor, mother died there 48 years later.

"Our tenant downstairs was Mr. Hutchinson.  He was a school teacher and loved to work with his hands as did my father.  The two of them did a lot of work modernizing the house.  I can't remember the details.  He taught shop at Crane High School and was very against my buying a clunker of a touring car for $20.  "I wouldn't even buy it for junk for my students to work on at school."  I ignored his advice and we loaded it up with friends and went for a ride one Sunday, after that single day it broke down and never ran again.  We pushed it out in the street and the City finally towed it away.  My Mother then bought me a model T Ford Coupe for $25 and it lasted about 5 years and started breaking down while I was rushing Margaret to the hospital at 2 a.m. for Tommy's birth.  But, the car DID make it to the hospital with Margaret and Tom.

"During those earlier years I lived on my bike, a second hand one that I liked to take apart.  We would ride other kids on the handlebars and do tricks like standing on the seat, etc.  We would ride out to the Des Plaines River, about 4 miles, for variety.  I walked a lot along the river also, I think it was with my Father.  When I say we, Eddie Peterson was my buddy.

"In St. Mel High School I played football sophomore through senior year.  It's now Providence-St. Mel, a highly rated Black school.  At home there was a group of about 5 boys and 5 girls who spent lots of time together.  Strangely we didn't pair off but escorted different girls as the occasion presented itself.  We didn't drink but spent lots of time at the piano singing.  My memories of my teenage years come flooding in, but they are of no general significance.  Suffice to say that both Helen and I got married from Latrobe Avenue, and after the Hutchinson moved Helen and her family moved in.  My bedroom was empty so Elaine slept there for convenience and privacy, making more room downstairs for Larry Jr.  When Mother died Helen sold the house and moved to Lake Shore Drive - a smart decision."

Helen writes about being a child and teenager

In The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre, Helen takes a moment to answer a few questions about herself.

What were you like as a child?

I was shy.  My Mother used to say I was afraid of my own shadow.  She said "You let people walk all over you!  God help you when I die!"  I guess I was a mope.  I always had lots of dreams but never fulfilled them.  My Mother always talked about how I would never cross a street without hanging on to my Father's hand; while my brother Tom would run head first into the traffic, and that's how he lived -- going right up the ladder to his highest potential.  I was the opposite. But next month I'm going to be 84.  Don't mess with me.  I'll tell anybody off!  My Mother would be PROUD!

What was your greatest fear when you were a teenager?

That I would never stop growing.  I was afraid I would be 6 feet 5. When my Mother's friends would see me every so often, they would always say "Helen I think you've grown a foot since the last time we saw you."  I didn't like to hear that at all

I thought I'd never have a boy friend or ever get married.  And, if my Mother and Father died, I'd be all alone.

To whom did you turn for advice?  Why that person?

I wasn't much for asking advice but my Mother always gave me advice anyway.  Tom would give me some advice too.  I remember I was going on my first date, Tom decided to talk to me.  He said never to let a boy take advantage of me; and not to let them touch me where they weren't supposed to.  Then he pointed to my breasts and said, don't let them touch your breasts.  I guess I said OK, turned red and walked away.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your teen years?

It was hard at first.  It seemed I was just a little girl and then all of a sudden I blossomed into a tall young lady.  I had lots of insecurities at first, but it all turned out OK.  When I think back it was a fun time.  No big worries, just what we were going to do for fun.  I went up to Long Lake a few times with Mary Alice (Hopkins).  Her folks had a cottage there.  I went up to Lake Lawn Lodge on Delevan Lake, Wisconsin, for the first time with Ruth Nott.  I loved it and went back again many times.  Mary Alice would borrow her brother Ish's car and she, Junadell and I would ride all over Chicago.  We had club meetings and a group of us would get together every few weeks.  We saw all the latest movies, ate many a hot fudge sundae, took long walks in the summer, usually down Madison St. or Washington Blvd.  In our late teens we wound up with Jim Moffett, Jim Cullen and Larry McIntyre.  We took rides in Jim Cullen's roadster.  Had parties at our houses.  Had my first drink! Never enjoyed myself.  My dates were nice, good looking, tall, but I just never could relax and was glad when the date was over.

Yet, when we got mixed up with Larry and the two Jims I enjoyed myself and when Larry first kissed me, I knew I loved him right away!  There never was anybody else.

Tom Sullivan Describes the Area Where he Grew Up

Excerpt from Thomas A. Sullivan's Memories, March 4, 1994.

Tom begins his 12 page "Notes About Things I Remember - Mostly Trivia" noting that the write up has been requested by his grandsons.

"I was born at home on Fillmore Street in the Westside of Chicago, in the upper of a two-flat owned by my grandmother (maternal [Bessie Thompson Madigan]).  It was a true 'back of the yards' neighborhood.

"We faced north.  In our long block from the east:

• St. Louis Ave, going west
• An empty lot
• The Pattons, a little brick home with three generations of widowed or unmarried ladies
• Our brick two-flat
• An empty lot
• The Maloneys, four rough-necked boys and a girl
• A yard owed by our city ward for storage of trucks and maintenance equipment
• A saloon
• Central Park Avenue

"On the north side of Fillmore street, facing south:

•  A City pumping station for water
• More City Ward equipment
• A swimming pool
• A factory making screens
• Homan Ave.
• This is a two block stretch as St. Louis ended at Fillmore

"Behind the above is the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad tracks and behind it a multi-storied Sears Roebuck building that stretched the two blocks from Central Park to Homan Avenues.

"None of this is meaningful to anyone but me -- I spent the first ten years of my life here, and here Helen was born, at home, on 3/11/14.  This was the Center of my Universe."

 This Google Maps shows were 3511 W. Fillmore was located.

Tom Sullivan's Memories of Fillmore Avenue, 1908-1918

Excerpt from Thomas A. Sullivan's Memories, March 4, 1994.

My Early Life - 3511 W. Fillmore Avenue, Chicago

"My Father had a workroom in the basement of Fillmore Street and he formed a number of things out of pipe. He had a crude ability for woodworking but metal was his forte.  I remember him making a wide swing on the second floor porch where we lived.  I must have been about three as I could just stand and look out the kitchen window while he worked.  This is the earliest memory I have.

"When they built the swimming pool across the street I was about seven.  A friend of my Father's was in charge and I used to go over every day and play along the edges of the pool.  One day he asked me if I wanted to learn to swim.  I greed and he threw me in.  I thrashed around and nearly drowned.  He had to jump in clothed and pull me out.  That ended his interest in me.  I still hung around until the job was done but he ignored me.  Guess he thought I didn't try.

"Another memory - one day my Father and I took Helen to Garfield Park in he buggy.  He was sitting on a bench at the top of a hill while I pushed the buggy.  Suddenly the buggy got away and rolled down the his dumping Helen in the pond.  My Father raced down and fished her out, ruining his shoes, trousers and the rest of the day.  I must have been eight.

"In my first year I went to Our Lady of Sorrows School because they had a bus.  I was five but good at spelling because of my Mother's efforts at home before that time.  I used to place second in all the spelling bees after a girl who had a lock on first.  all through grammar school there always was some girl who would beat me at most subjects, tho I generally was among the top boys.

"My second and third year where at a "German" school a few blocks from home.  For some reason my folks didn't like it so fourth, fifth and sixth were at St. Agatha's about a mile from home - where I was baptized.  I used to walk there in the morning, back and forth at noon, and home in the P. M.

"It didn't help much, I was still a fat kid.  The Jews were just starting to move into the neighborhood.  When we walked in orderly class lines from the school to the church they threw pennies out the window and pandemonium developed.  After a couple of instances the kids were threatened with eternal damnation if they didn't stay in line so the Jews gave up.  We had the B.V.M. sisters who prided themselves on teaching so my seventh and eighth grade3s at St. Thomas Aquinas were a breeze.  We had moved to Latrobe Ave. by then.

"To wind up Fillmore Street - Ruth [Rooney] would come to visit from Denver a couple of times a year.  Her Father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad so he would get some sort of a deal for his family when he traveled.  Ruth was bound to make a gentleman of me: tipping hat, ladies first, men walk on the outside, etc.  My Mother was strict on table manners but didn't bother with other things, but Ruth made up for it."

 Ruth Rooney and Tom Sullivan, c1910.

 From Helen Sullivan McIntyre's Album.  Photo entitled "Pals"

Helen remembers Tom when they were young

Helen writes in The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre about when Tom and she were young:

Tell about your brothers and sisters and your relationships with each of them when you were little.

I just had a brother called Tom.  He was 5 1/2 years older than me.  We didn't do too much together.  He always seemed so grown up.  Although I did remember when I was about 6 we would play down in the basement.  We'd fill the double wash tub with water and sail home made boats.  My tub was the Atlantic Ocean and Tom's was the Pacific Ocean.

I also remember when I was in second grade and Tom was in eighth grade at St. Thomas Aquinas School, I became sick to my stomach and the nun said I should go home.  She said do you have any friends or relatives in the higher grades that could walk you home.  I thought and thought, finally I said I know Joe Differman in 8th grade.  So she had him brought down to my room and he took me home.  He was a good friend of Tom's.   When Tom got home he was mad and asked me why I said Joe and not him.  I said, "Oh, I forgot you were in 8th grade!"  He sure thought I was dumb!

We also had some white rabbits in cages in the back yard.  We never cleaned their cages and sometimes forgot to feed them and a couple died.  My Father got disgusted and opened the cages and let the rest run away.  We were upset - but had no more rabbits.

What other memories would you like to share?

Tom was in 8th grade at St. Thomas Aquinas and I was in 2nd grade.  He was an altar boy at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.  One day the altar boys were told to bring their cassocks home to be washed and ironed.  When I saw my Mother ironing this pretty, white lacy thing I thought she had made me a new dress.  I wanted to wear it.  She told me it wasn't mine, it was Tom's  I started to cry.  I said "Why is Tom getting a new dress and not me?"  My Mother tried to explain why, but I still was jealous.

My Mother always had Christmas Eve with all her relatives.  We always had the biggest real tree ever but there was never any presents put under the tree until Santa Claus came.  When it was time for him to arrive, Tom and I were told to go and wait in the kitchen, a bit later we would hear the doorbell ring and a few minutes after that we were called back into the living room and there was loads of presents under the tree.  One Christmas Eve we were waiting in the kitchen and the bell rang.  I said "Oh that's Santa Claus!"  Tom said " There is no Santa Claus, That's Mother ringing the bell.  Then she hurries upstairs and puts all the presents under the tree."  That was when I didn't believe in Santa Claus anymore!

Al and Nell Sullivan on Honeymoon, 1907

Al and Nell spent their honeymoon in Denver, Colorado, per their daughter Helen.  They married on August 20, 1907.  In 1907, it is believed Nell's sister, Nanette, was living in Denver.  They most likely traveled to Denver to visit with Nan, her husband George and their then 2 year old daughter, Ruth.

Helen pasted the photo into one of her albums, making it the front page.

  I thought it appropriate to keep her "artistic" rendering of the photo!

Tom Sullivan's Early Memories of his Parents and Sister

Excerpt from "Notes About Things I Remember" by Thomas A. Sullivan, March 4, 1996.

Mother, Father and Helen

"Mother was the most important person influencing my mind and career.  We had a blackboard and she used to teach with it faithfully every day.  Before I started school in Sept. 1913 at 5 yr., 3 mo., I knew the alphabet backwards, count well above 100, and spell common words.  My table manners were good but my clothes consisted of "Buster Brown" suits and long curls which were cut off just before starting school.  When I found I was the only one in the school in Buster Brown, that ended.

"My Father tried to bully me rather than explain.  I tended to go my way without confiding in him.  For example, when he announced, when I was in eighth grade, that he was taking me down to St. Ignatius High to enroll me, I told him I had already registered at St. Mel several months before.

"My Mother was very concerned about Helen's birth.  I was much overweight and she had a bad time, but Helen was normal but a fussy baby.  I was a much older person (5 years) and ignored her as she wasn't a boy and hence from a different world.  We grew up separately, she had her friends and I had mine.  I didn't get to know her until Mother died when she suddenly took over as the head of the family and began to get me in line as part of her world."

 Photo of Nell and Al Sullivan, Helen in car window, on a vacation trip late 1920s

Memories of Al Sullivan by his Daughter

From The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre:

What memories do you have of your father during your childhood?

"How hard he worked.  He was a steamfitter and put the heat in all the houses on the north shore.  He'd leave at 6:30 in the morning and come home about 4:30 dead tired.  He was always dirty from the work and rushed to the bathroom to wash up.  On hot summer days he would come home not only dirty and tired but his clothes were wringing wet!  He used to tell me how he would walk on the high steel girders while the homes were being built.  The girders were only a foot wide and he was up 2 or 3 stories with no protection on either side.  I would say "aren't you afraid you'll fall?" He'd say "No, just always keep looking up - never down."

 This photo, taken in the 1910s, shows Al Sullivan (second from right) at work.

  Behind him is some of his steamfitting handiwork.  

"I remember his sitting in his den reading western magazines one was called Argosy.  He loved the western stories and bought several magazines a month.  Whenever we would ask him what he wanted for his birthday or Christmas, He'd always say, "Just a few kind words."  He loved to listen to Laurel and Hardy on the radio.  I can still see him sitting in the living room and laughing his head off.

"He liked to tell funny stories and our alderman Tom Casey would always stop by to listen to him.  He was very conservative and didn't feel like spending a lot of money foolishly yet he saw we had great vacations and everything that we needed.  He was a great guy.  Now that I realize it -- I wish I had told him how much he meant to me!"

What other interests did he have?  What were his hobbies and what did he do for fun?

"He loved to read, especially western story magazines.  He loved flowers.  We had the prettiest backyard on Latrobe ave.  There were roses, phlox, lilacs, peonies, geraniums, daisies, petunias, verbenas, four o'clocks. He also made a little vegetable garden with onions, carrots, radishes and tomatoes.

"He loved music and Sunday morning after Mass he would always bring home a new record for our Victrola or a new roll for our player piano.  He loved movies and stage plays.  He loved the water and taking boat rides. He loved a nice box of chocolate candy.  He also loved Christmas.  He'd buy the biggest real tree in the lot and always have to saw off the top to fit in our living room!  He also always bought real holly wreaths for all our windows."

Which of your father's physical and personality characteristics did you inherit?

"His tallness, sense of humor, the love of the water, being near a lake and going for boat rides.  He loved to read and so did I.  He loved plays, movies and music and so did I.  He couldn't carry a tune and neither could I. He was a good dancer - not me."

What else do you remember about him?

"I remember how he loved my mother.  He'd say "How's my baby," "You look so pretty today."  Even when people were around he'd say "Doesn't Nell look pretty."  Mother would get so mad -- she'd say "Oh Al, stop it, don't be so silly."  I guess she was embarrassed, but he never did stop it!  I often wished Larry would talk to me like that!"

Memories of Nell Madigan Sullivan by her Daughter

Helen Sullivan McIntyre, over a period of 10 years, answered questions, glued pictures and in general wrote down her thoughts in a book/journal called The Story of a Lifetime.  Here are a couple of memories about her mother, Nell Sullivan.

What memories do you have of your mother during your childhood?

I had long curls, almost to my shoulders.  Every night before I went to bed she would curl my hair around her finger, then wrap the curls in a piece of white cloth and when I would wake up in the morning my curls were perfect.

Every Friday night I had to take a tablespoon of "syrup of figs" for my bowels.  I hated the taste and had a hard time swallowing it so my Father got some tiny pills instead.  I couldn't swallow the pills and kept spitting them out.  Mother would call Father into the bathroom and say "Al, make Helen swallow the pills!"

One Easter I was about 6 and Mother made my outfit.  It was a pretty blue silk coat with a white lace collar.  A pink straw hat with a fluffy blue feather that matched my coat, white shoes and stockings.  All the neighbors told Mother that I looked so cute but I never like the outfit, I felt too dressed up.  I think what got me was the feather.  Now it all sounds very pretty to me!

When I was 7, my cousin Mary Sullivan and I were flower girls for our cousin Evelyn Hoy's wedding.  Our Mothers made us white net dresses with ruffles.  Mine was the prettiest.  I had ruffles from the waist down with a big white stain sash and hair bow.  Mary only had about 4 ruffles and a smaller sash.  I thought my mother did the best job.

What interests did she have?  What were her hobbies and what did she do for fun?

She belonged to several clubs.  The Culture Club at the LaSalle Hotel, Friends of American Writers at the Edgewater Beach Hotel and one at the Stevens Hotel, I don't remember what that one was.  She had her Neighborhood Club, the North Side Club (friends that lived on the north side) and St. Thomas Aquinas Mother's Club.

She and my Father loved to go to the movies or see a play or ride up to Twin Lakes or Lake Geneva and maybe take a boat ride.

Which of your mother's physical and personality characteristics did you inherit? 

I don't think I inherited any of my mother's characteristics.  She was short, out-going, always ready to help, friendly, always on the go -- I was none of these things.

What else do you remember about her?

She was a bit impatient.  She wanted things done right away.  If it snowed a lot, she wouldn't wait for my Father to get home from work, she'd go out and do the shoveling herself.

One day my Father was supposed to paint the back porch and steps from the 2nd floor to the basement.  He had to work and said he'd do it next Saturday.  She didn't wait.  I came home from school and she had painted it all.  It looked very nice too!

Helen's likes, daydreams, happy memories as a child

From The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre, Helen records some of the things she enjoyed when she was young.

What games and activities did you enjoy?

I loved to swim.  I loved to read.  I liked to write poems.  I loved movies.  I liked to walk.

Who were your favorite radio and television shows?

Arthur Godfrey, Johnnie Carson, Laurel and Hardy Comedies, Amos and Andy, Jack Paar and Rosie O'Donnell - my latest favorite.

Did you ever have a special place where you went to be alone?

I don't think so -- maybe the BATHROOM!

What did you daydream about?

Being a Movie Star, writing a book, being a dancer, a singer, an artist, a model, a poet, being pretty, being popular, being shorter.

What were your favorite things to eat?  Are there any smells, flavors, sounds, songs, etc. that bring back memories of your childhood?

Ice cream, hot dogs, my Mother's home made cakes and cup cakes  I loved the smell of them as they baked in the kitchen.  I remember the organ grinder across Madison Street with his little money, playing nice songs.  If you gave him money in his tin cup, the monkey would tip his hat.   My Father playing "Moonlight and Roses" on our player piano.

How did you spend your summers?

Always at the beach, lake, pool, sitting in the sun -- swimming -- trying to dive, never learning.  Playing tag, jump rope, jacks, run sheep run, red light, blind man's bluff.

Where did your family go on vacations?  Which is your most memorable vacation?

Helen Sullivan, mother Nell Sullivan, and cousin Mary Collette Sullivan

Up to Lakewood, Michigan or Eagle Lake, Wisconsin.  I remember Eagle Lake because my cousin Mary Sullivan would come up with us. That's where we learned to swim.  We had lots of fun.   The cottage had a row boat and we'd go rowing everyday.

What birthday do your remember most? Why?

When I turned 11 my Mother had a party for me as usual.  I hadn't been feeling good for a few days.  The day of the party my face looked very fat.  My Aunt Mae said, "Helen, I think you are putting on a lot of weight".  I started to cry.  I didn't want to be fat.  Then I felt sick and went to bed.  The next morning I woke up with the mumps.

How did Al and Nell Sullivan Meet?

From The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre:

How did your mother and father meet?  How long did they know each other before getting married?  What do you know about their courtship and wedding?

(My parents met) At St. Ignatius Hall across the street from Holy Family Church (in Chicago).  My Father went there every weekend.  They had dances and he loved to dance.  My Mother was engaged to John Burke.  He became sick and was in the hospital, so one Saturday night she went to St. Ignatius Hall with a friend of hers and her friend's boyfriend.  My Father saw her from across the room and thought she was the most beautiful girl in the place.  He asked her to dance, she did and he fell in love with her.  He wanted to date her but she told him she was engaged and wouldn't go out with him.

He kept pestering her to date him.  She said he was a pain in the neck! Then sadly John Burke died and she eventually dated my Father and she fell in love too.  They went to dances and saw all the good plays in town.  They had fun and were married about a year or so later.

A Day with Daddy, c 1916

Tom Sullivan wrote the following story in 1987 as a "memory gift" to his sister Helen in celebration of her 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Another story Tom wrote for the event is posted at McIntyre/Sullivan Genealogy about Helen and Larry's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

A Day With Daddy, by Tom Sullivan (11/6/87)

About the earliest interesting incident involving Helen that I recall was an afternoon in Garfield Park.

We lived on Fillmore Street and it was probably a mile walk to the park.  Mother usually took care of Helen and me while Father was at work, and on weekends he had projects around the house which kept him busy.  One Saturday, however, he announced he was going to take the children to Garfield park and Mother could just stay at home and take it easy.

Mother got us ready for the big event, I was about seven years old and Helen about two.   She was in a stroller.  When we got to the park Father sat down on a hill about ten feet high which overlooked the lagoon.  At the bottom of the hill was a sidewalk and then the water.  While he was on the bench I decided to push the stroller a bit.  The grass was rough and I lost control -- the stroller and Helen going down the hill and into the water.  It wasn't deep and when it hit the water the wheels stuck and Helen was pitched in head first.  Father meanwhile had taken off after her as soon as he saw what was happening.  He was in the water seconds after Helen hit it and fished her out with no harm, except --

Her nice clothes were a mess, Father's trousers and shoes were wringing wet and I was bawling in expectation of what was going to happen to me for ruining the outing.  Somehow we got home, I don't remember the trip but I'm sure it wasn't pleasant, and Father had to face Mother and explain what had happened to his charges.  I don't remember him volunteering again.