There were too many
Marys – Mary A. Harrington’s maiden name was Mary A. Conlon. She was my grandmother’s (Mary Doyle) cousin. By 1920 Mae b: 1902, and her three
brothers, Edward b: 1897, George b: 1899, and Lawrence b: 1901 were living with
the Doyle’s in their Manhattan apartment. I suspect since my grandmother was
“Mary,” they nicknamed Mary Conlon, “Mae.” And that is how we knew her.
In the 1920s Mae
started work in the fire department as a stenographer. She married in the early
1930s, and lived in the Bronx for the rest of her life. The 1940 census shows
John and Mary A. Harrington living in the Bronx. John works as a “typest” for
the fire department; Mae is not working. At some point she went back to work as
I remember so well how proud she was of her position as “Secretary to the Fire Chief of New York.”
Mary (Nana) Doyle Nunn and Mae Conlon Harrington 1486 Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, New York late 1960s |
During my growing
up years Mae spent her two-week vacation at our Taughannock Boulevard
house, visiting my grandmother, her cousin, Mary Doyle Nunn.
Cousins - Mae and Nana on Anna Maria Island |
Upon retirement she
then could join us during our time on Anna Maria Island, Florida, again, able
to spend time with her favorite cousin.
A kind gentle soul, Mae was a wonderful
lady, soft spoken, and with a very sweet smile.
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