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.

Wounded Tom Sullivan, 1925

This drawing, done by Ruth M. Rooney, first cousin of Tom Sullivan, shows Tom as a "wounded" football player. We assume that Tom must have been injured playing football in 1925, the date of the drawing, but do not know this for sure. He would have been 17 years old at the time and a student at St. Mel High School in Chicago.  This framed drawing hung on the wall in his home. At his death, his grandson, John, became the proud owner of the drawing.       Image courtesy: John Sullivan.

Alex and Nell Sullivan Certificate of Marriage, 1907

Alex and Nellie were married at St. Agatha Church located at 3147 Douglas Boulevard in Chicago on August 20, 1907. Witnesses were Peter O'Sullivan (I believe this was his brother Peter, I don't know why the priest wrote the "O" before Sullivan) and Clementine Madigan, Nell's first cousin, the daughter of her Uncle Michael Madigan.

Alex Sullivan, Birth Certificate, 1880

Alexander Sullivan was born on March 24, 1880. The birth certificate shows that he was the seventh child born to Ellen Connor Sullivan and Philip Sullivan who was a grocery keeper. At the time of his birth the family lived at 90 Sholto Ave, Chicago.

Helen Sullivan and Thomas D. Sullivan, 1937

Helen Sullivan is pictured here in 1937, most likely at Halloween. She is with her nephew, Thomas D. Sullivan the "pirate." They are standing in the backyard of 18 No. Latrobe in Chicago, where Helen lived with her parents. She wed the following month.

Hummel Madonna

When Nell's grandson, Thomas D. Sullivan, was in the Army in Germany, he sent this "Flower Madonna" to her as a gift. She loved it, mostly because it came from her Grandson, but also because it is so beautiful. The porcelain piece was first made in 1935 by sculptor Reinhold Unger who created the original from drawings by Sr. M. I Hummel.

Lamp Lighter

This brass statue of a lamp lighter (or street urchin lighting a cigarette) on Rue Barree was once an electrical lamp that sat on a table in Nell Sullivan's home at 18 North Latrobe. The plaque on the front reads: GAVROCHE Par A. de Ranieri (Statuaire). The works of sculptor Artiste de Ranieri are in a special collection held by the Musee Labenche d'art et d'histoire in Brive-La-Gaillard, France. On the back of the statue is an imprint that reads: Made in Paris, France. Nell always loved this statue. Although there is no proof, it may have been given to her by her brother John who was in France during WWI.