Our parents, Jack and Anna, were both born in Plymouth and lived their lives no further than Larksville. Jack, the eldest in his large family, became a mentor to his brothers and sisters over the years. His 8th grade education, then entry into the breaker as a young fellow, did not deter his life’s education. He took a correspondence course in electronics, entered local politics, serving as 7th Ward Councilman for 20 years, as he continued the hard work of a miner. He was a friend to all, and was held in great esteem. Despite the depression and a stint in the WPA and work in Detroit, he returned to mining. Our father did not escape the “black lung” but held onto life until he died at age 84.
Our mother, Anna Connor was a beautiful girl of tall stature. She had five brothers and sisters and a number of them moved to Detroit and away from the hard life of the mines. Anna finished the 5th grade and went to work in a silk mill. At age 22, she married Jack and together they raised six children. Anna was a wonderful housewife. As a child, I recall the coal stove and its upkeep, toasting on a fork over a coal fire, home-baked bread, raisin and prune pies (dad’s favorites). She canned fruits and vegetables and prepared pots of stew and soup with noodles and dumplings to fill the bellies of that large clan.
I recall my trips to Louie Levinson’s, always with a note for food items of importance, never frivolous, and my worry at being caught charging a cupcake. Dora’s handwriting never gave me away! One weekday was dedicated to baking and another to clothes washing. For the latter the Maytag and rinsing tub were pulled into place next to the kitchen sink. Then to the clothesline, hanging in all kinds of weather. A “babushka” always in order for cold days.
Always in my memory is my mother’s grandmother, Mary Conlin, who despite losing her husband Peter to the Avondale mine disaster, traveled from England with her three children for a life in Pennsylvania – true grit! Our mother, Anna, lived a long life, passing away at age 91.
As a family, we enjoyed our lives together – trips to Pernse’s Marsh, Sandy Beach and Sans Souci Park – and a few trips to Detroit via Niagara Falls. No restaurants – food was always carried from home – among them minced ham and pickle sandwiches, eggs in beet juice, potato salad and fresh lemonade.
For the holidays, our best memories include a beautiful fresh tree, music on the Victorola, a new Bing Crosby record and chocolate treats purchased at Woolworth’s via the street car driven by “Lightening” – a name well deserved. Never a store bought stocking for Santa; our own socks were always hung, waiting for the treats of oranges, walnuts and hard candy.
Included in this story are our family pets; dogs “Elmo” and “Harp” and cats, too many to mention, who worked for their keep. Our last cat “Anthracite” bit this writer in the leg and had to be put down by Sgt. Piekanski of the LPD. No more cats thereafter, to the delight of the mice.
Altogether, Jack and Anna had six children, 17 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Of the six, Jimmy worked in the breaker, Tom at General Motors in Detroit, Mary a nurse at Mercy, John an engineer at IBM in NY, Anne a lab technician in New Jersey, and myself, Phyllis, worked in advertising and sales promotion in CT. John graduated from Marist College and Mary became an RN, but of the 17 grandchildren, 13 went to college. Of the 29 great grandchildren, 24 went on to higher education. Only Jim worked at the colliery, while four of us lived out of state, a sign of changing times.
A wonderful life, despite the hardships, and the appreciation of a grateful family.
Written by Phyllis Wright Ferry
Jack Wright Family Tree
John (Jack) and Anna Connor Wright
James and Mary Jane (Lucas)
Mary – Harold “Jeff” Christiana
Karyn – Corey Chenoweth
Benjamin
Riley
Harold “Jeffery” – Courtney (Albert)
Harold Jeffery “Harrison)
Lauren
John – Nancy (Yuscavage)
John “Jay”
Kerry
Ann – Bill Ritsick (Div)
William “Bill”
William
Kaitlin Spencer
Yvonne (with) Larry Medico
Matthew Magda
Randy – Karen (Grandinetti)
Brittany
Ashley
Mary – Matthew Bonawits
Justin Raitter
Annie (with) Rebecca Stull
Thomas and June (Tobin)
Tom – Cindy (Lowell)
Erin
Tim – Kathleen (Reilly)
Tracy
Brenna
John “Toby” – Penny (Wygant)
Audrey
Elise
Logan
Grant
Mary and Chester Grochowski
Mary Pat – Tom Maiese
Jonathan Grochowski – Shelley (Lepore)
Gavin
Josh
Benjamin
Krista Fuchs – Eric (Div)
Marcus
Anna
Vanessa
Michael Maise – Jillian (Lange)
Jasper
Elizabeth (Lizanne) – Ken Chmielewski
Leah – Matthew Bond
Connor
Kathleen
Michael
Kaitlin
Patrick
John – Lucy (Kryger)
Ryann – Coulter Jones
Evelyn
Steven
John and Maurita (Conahan)
Patrice – Jose Anjos
Laura
Nicole
John
Aidan
Anne and Bill Burke
John “Paul” – Katie
Maura
Kayla
Corie
William “Bill” – Karla (Kiefer)
Lisa Marie Lucio – Michael Boissiere
Elizabeth
Caroline
Jonathan Michael – Elizabeth Candito
Michael Jonathan
Jennifer Francis
Neil with Elizabeth Brown
Phyllis and Sam Ferry
Robert – Lori (Brdar) (Div)
Meghan
Sam
Carolyn – Alejandra Navarro
