A Special Life

Vi Burgan is pictured here in her early teens. Her father loved amateur photography, and the family continued to have professional portraits, such as this one, taken as well. Vi was beautiful , sociable and smart, did well in school, and was active in her church and denomination throughout her life. Her Mom passed away when she was five, and her Dad was absent quite often, going to where the work was. Agnes and Aunt Annie raised her, for the most part, but she always displayed an independent spirit. After going to local grammar schools, she attended Eastern High School, which was located at the time at North Avenue and Broadway. She graduated in 1918, during the time of the Great War. Her training there prepared her for office work, including working in the Catholic Office for the Propagation of the Faith. Among the staff there was Father Toolen, a priest that had taught her catechism

as a young girl. He would later become the Bishop of Mobile, Alabama, and offer the sacraments to Vi and her daughter in unique circumstances.

The Irish Matriarch must have taken special pride in Vi. The three granddaughters that she helped to raise ended up in variant circumstances. Maria would die in 1917, and Carrie seems to have married and moved away. Vi would care for Grandmom and Aunt Annie until their death. She delayed her own marriage until 1936, which she explained away with The Depression. I wonder if her husband to be was still a wild rover, and it took her that long to settle him down, at least a little.

The Big Move

Mary Viola, or "Vi", would enjoy a close relationship with her Grandmother, the Irish Matriarch. She would move in with her in 1905, after her parents' experiment with city living had taken its course. Dad was a successful marble cutter and setter for Hilgartner and Sons, making 25.00 a week at the time, and life was good. An opportunity came for even greater income, and William E. decided to move his wife, Mary Catherine, and daughter Vi to New Orleans to take advantage of a special opportunity. His company paid all travel expenses, and he received a raise to 30.00 for relocating, which seemed like a lot of money to a little girl.

Vi left a bit of an autobiography for us. It shares her impressions of a gracious train trip down south, viewing the cotton and peach fields along the way. They found a home quickly when they arrived, and spent time getting to know the city, including the parks and local Catholic Church. Vi also met a Creole friend at the Fourth of July Celebration, and Dad took a photo of them together. Doesn't she look thrilled?

New Neighbors, New Parish Home

Agnes Bettie Kenney brought her Catholic faith with her when she arrived in the 1850's , and raised her children in the tradition as well. Early records show that The Irish Matriarch was a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist, at Valley and Eager Streets, in 1870. The family move to Homestead would be at a time when a new parish was being established, just a few blocks from their home. According to diocesan records, St. Bernard's Catholic Church began in 1891 ( see http://www.archbalt.org/parishes/closed-parishes.cfm ), and local families would attend there, regardless of their heritage. Agnes' children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren would receive the sacraments there. Her grandaughter would attend the early mass and attend Sunday School there, and had the privilege of being the May Queen in 1905.

As family members moved to points further north, St. Bernard's was not the busy parish it had once been. The building is still being used, by another denomination.

Wonder & Treasure

The Irish Matriarch would spend most of her life caring for others, and a special joy for her was the arrival of her third grandaughter, Mary Viola, in 1902. She played a part in naming her, as a girl born in Galway, Ireland had a little trouble pronouncing "Delores", a middle name that Mary's mom preferred. So Mary Viola, or "Vi", it would be. Grandmom and Grandaughter formed a special bond which would be strengthened when they became next door neighbors. Family members shared both sides of a duplex, and three generations enjoyed each other's company on a daily basis. The family shared their spiritual lives as well.