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Mary-Ann Tirone Smith
posts on 8/13/2009 3:19:55 PM
To all of you most wonderful readers whose hearts were touched in some way by my memoir GIRLS OF TENDER AGE, I would ask that you feel free to email me at tironesmith@aol.com. I need to answer each post on an individual basis. Would love to hear from you. Meanwhile, if you don't know, I collaborated on a novel with my Red Sox blogger son, Jere Smith (letsgosox.blogspot.com). If you're a fan of the Sox or mysteries or just a plain old fun read, I hope you'll consider reading DIRTY WATER: A RED SOX MYSTERY.
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Ann Gallucci Rath
posts on 8/13/2009 10:21:54 AM
So enjoyed Girls of a Tender Age. I grew up in an Italian family in Meriden in the 50s and your book brought back vivid and priceless memories. Today I live on the shore in Southeastern CT. After marriage and children, we rented a tiny cottage at Chalker Beach (it had a small front porch and lovely stone wall right on the beach). A brother-in-law from Virginia would bring his child-size, home-made sailboat to the cottage, and taught the older children to sail. As time went on we rented at White Sands Beach in Old Lyme. One day Ned Coll approached us on the beach with children in tow and we "borrowed" a little girl for a visit and dinner that evening. (Couldn't do that today I suppose.) Luigi's in Old Saybrook - still there. Trips to G. Fox (still mourn the loss of that store - you could place a phone order and the next day your package would arrive via the blue truck, wrapped and in perfect condition). My close friend, who loaned me your book, went to Conn. Central State and became a teacher. The aunts and uncles so perfectly portrayed - (never knew who we were or weren't supposed to be speaking to); my parents were each part of six children families). The food (endless holiday dinners including Grandma's ravioli), the grandfathers' winemaking skills, the well tended flower and vegetable gardens. What a precious period of time in which to grow up! Did you ever go to the old State Theater in Hartford? I recall Sammy Davis, Jr. at about age 12, his father and uncle performing their vaudeville act on stage, and also watching Johnnie Ray perform in his white suit and orchid shirt and tie. Such fun! Love your writing. I intend to read your other books.
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Bill Albrecht
posts on 3/29/2009 8:40:32 PM
Really to the attention of Steve Saretsky from C-O-T. Steve, this is Bill and I have that vague recollection of your name as well. I have two older sisters, Linda & April but I do not recall them having gone to Hooker as they were 4 1/2 and 3 1/2 years older. I have not heard from Mary Ann nor did a post I made to the site for the co written book with her son. I really did want to find out who the "Gail" was in her book. So it goes. My family started out for a couple of years in the C section before moving to A117 after I was born, we needed the third bedroom. In any case if you want to drop a note my email is Bill3joana@aol.com, your call.
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Steve Saretsky
posts on 3/29/2009 4:37:24 PM
Dear Mary-Ann, I believe we were classmates and I think I remember you and Bill Albrecht's name sounds familar too. I lived in the C section (C75) of Charter Oak Terrace. I was 2 months old when the Hartford Circus Fire occured. My Mother told me that she had planed to take me and my sister Sandra, who was 2 years old at the time, to the circus that day, but I was crying and acting up and she felt that she better keep us home. Obviously, that's a story that I will never forget.
I don't have too many fond memories of those years. In fact, I blocked out most of my time at Mary M. Hooker. I do recall the long walk to school from the C section, crossing over the Hog River and walking by Rice Heights and section D along the way. My Father had a vegetable garden near the west side of the Hog; there were a few people that had one back then. I remember the hurricanes of 1955. The Hog was so flooded, we were cut off from going to Hooker because of it.
Do you remember the Market Basket, the store west of the Hog River on Flatbush? I remember Shorty's, a small convenience store on Flatbush Ave., the ice cream trucks, Good Humor, etc. I remember getting Hood mild or Sealtest delivered. In the winter when it was cold, the mile would freeze, pusing the cream through the cardboard seal on the top.
Please accept my hearfelt thanks for writing this book. I'm sure that Irene was one of my classmates, but I don't remember the details. My daughter, who lives in Maine, told me about the book and it was a wonderful, well written book. Recently, I found out that my ex-wife's mother, who passed away a few years ago, was Irene's Aunt.
I look forward to hearing from you or anyone else from the terrace. Thanks again.
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Bill Albrecht
posts on 12/14/2008 9:43:16 AM
Mary-Ann - I think I want to say hello to maybe an old friend. But then my memory for the other students at Mary M. Hooker is incomplete at bestI think I want to ask you if we were in Mrs. Bowie's classroom at the same time or were we a year apart. I just tracked my calendar back and determined I was in that classroom from September 1954 until June of 1955. I got to Hooker as I recall in the middle of 2nd grade from New Park Avenue School. I am guessing that was when Hooker was opened. At that time my family lived at A117, across the river. And yes, the Hog River as we knew it. I recall you noted Mrs. Bowie as your favorite, I had to place her second behind Mrs. Jennings whom I had in third grade. After all, she had made me the leader of the "band" of triangles and whatever else passed for an instrument at that time. Reading your book I came to conclude that many of the 'D' section kids were virtually unknown to me because of the river keeping us apart. I did come to know Al Griggs but only later at Hartford Public. You had also mentioned Mr. Shusterman and he was our "breadman" as well. Finally you did mention a girlfriend of yours named Gail and I wondered if that was Gail Zacchio? I remembered her because we had done a "famous" play about Mr. World. It was famous becuase it got our picture in the paper. I thought we did that as part of Mrs. Bowie's class but 55 years can cloud some memories. Being able to relate first hand to so much of the neighborhood made the book virtually impossible to put down. Thank you for putting the story out there.
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Linda Wolfe
posts on 6/5/2008 1:37:59 PM
Mary-Ann, Thanks for Girls of Tender Age. Like the others, I enjoyed it tremendously, benefited from the catharsis of laughter and tears, and learned so much about Connecticut. My book club is now reading it and I'm rereading it for our next meeting. Which brings me to the other reason I'm writing. I'll be hosting the July 1st discussion at my home in Salem,CT (not far off of exit 70 on 95N) at 6pm (date and time can be changed at your convenience). I, we, would love to have you join us! I can promise you good food (yes, pineapple cream pie too), wine, and a very grateful and happy group of bibliophiles to share an evening with. We're close to the shore and casinos so you may want to stop by on your way home and bring along any family or friends, the more the merrier! Mary-Ann, I hope you will consider it, and yet I will completely understand if the answer is no. I'm guessing you have my email from this posting, if not I'll post it. In any case, I've been told by two friends that your presentation at Lyme Library was great. Is there some way to find out your speaking schedule? Thanks for what you've given us.
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Faith
posts on 5/6/2008 11:44:06 AM
Hi Mary Ann,
I am reading Girls of a Tender Age and was surprised to see that my grandfather was mentioned on p167. I am the 57 yr old granddaughter of Mr. Schustermann. Actually, his name was Morris Shusterman. He lived in the Parkville section of Htfd and did deliver bread to Charter Oak Terrace. I would greatly appreciate if you would respond in this blog or email me any other memories you have of him.
Thanks,
Faith
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Mariann Cichocki
posts on 4/5/2008 12:34:12 PM
I read Girls of a Tender Age. I had my brother read it. Since we grew up on Hillside Ave.,went to St. Lawrence O'tools and White st school, this really hit our hearts. It will be a read that we will always remember and keep close to us.
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Sheila Phelan Wright
posts on 4/4/2008 7:28:53 PM
My brother just finished your book and suggested I read it. Amazing tale. We all grew up on Monroe Street, but left in 56-57 for West Hartford. I've been doing some memoir writing about those days in Hartford and it's so close to your experience. Identical experiences at the library; I couldn't get a book from the adult side no matter how hard I tried. St Lawrence O'Toole, the library, and Hillside Ave. Great writing.
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mary-ann tirone smith
posts on 3/29/2008 6:31:34 PM
Linda, Hope and Bill.
I will be coming to Southern soon. New date will be announced by the Ethnic Center.
I so love to hear from students who were assigned my memoir and connect with my life even though that life might be removed in terms of race, gender and time.
My mother's good friend was Peg Foberg. when I worked at CG on the housewives' shift (though I was a student at CCSU not a housewife), I used to cover for Peg when she'd go smoke a cigarette. She pretended she'd quit years earlier. Such enabling would not happen today, for sure.
Thank you all, for the kindly words.
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