Filed under: Minnesota
Today, if I heard correctly, 6 generations of Treacy, Mahling, Furnstahl descendants of Stephen Treacy and Mary McCarthy met in Randall Minnesota thanks to some heavy lifting of the most dedicated progeny. Stephen was born in Doon, County Limerick; Mary was from Cleveland, Le Sueur County MN. They were married in 1888. They had eight children: Mary Leone (Sister Leone), Charles Timothy, Catherine Bridget, Margaret (Nell), James William, Florence Irene, William Joseph (my grandpa) and John Patrick (Uncle Jack).
Mary died days after Uncle Jack was born. One of the photos included here, is Sr Leone’s memory of his death. She was the oldest at the time at 12. Somehow they managed to not get separated but rather my grant grandpa became a single father and the oldest (Sister Leone) kept everyone together. Someone mentioned that the key was that everyone did their part and everyone remained close. Pat Furnstahl actually wrote a book about the whole genealogy and history of this corner Irish-Minnesota history. It is a labor of love lasting years of research and it’s fun to have.
Today we drove by the family farm. I call it that and I remember going there (or many some other farm) as a kid but apparently, they didn’t really have a legit house-type structure on the land until my grandpa was 14. We also saw the post office where Nell worked. Much of the family still lives in the areas and many have moved to the Twin Cities, Chicago Kalamazoo, other locations and I think my daughter Kate (in Ireland) and Katie’s Molly (in New Zealand) might get farthest afield award.
I definitely know my first cousins and some were there today. Always fun to catch up! (The Calabreses were missed!) And I know a few of my second (maybe once removed maybe not) cousins and fun to see them too. But it’s very fun to be at an event of 140 family members where even if you don’t know them – people look familiar. Lots of blue eyes. A few serious red heads. A lot of sunscreen on the tables. A lot of Bills, Steves, Marys and Anns.
People are nice and friendly. They tell stories about people who you maybe met or at least know by reputation. There are a lot of smart cookies and hard workers. Hats off to the planners who had intricately coded name tags, set us up with a community center, pavilion, tables and chairs as well as so much good food. And double thanks for moving the dinner up an hour when we all looked hungry. Not just everyone can rush a meal for 140 like that. The last big reunion was in 1982 at the convent (St Bede) in Eau Claire Wisconsin where Sister Leone lived. I remember playing move volleyball that year.
Pictures from Today:
Old Pictures:
Publications and posterboards:
Filed under: St Paul
Today 80,000 people attended the No Kings Day of Defiance TC event in St. Paul. We met at St Paul College, marched half a mile to the Capitol and rallied for more than two hours. A team of folks have been planning for about six weeks including Women’s March MN, Indivisible Twin Cities, MN 50501 and AFL-CIO of Minnesota. Today was not the event we planned. Today was the march we needed.
Sadly, a tragic event changed everything in the early morning hours. A shooter, dressed as a police officer went to the home of Senator John Hoffman and shot him and his wife. He also went to the home of Representative Melissa Hortman, where he shot and killed her and her husband. It is 7pm as I write this and the man is still at large. He apparently is targeting pro-choice and pro-abortion folks. It is abhorrent, frightening and unspeakably sad. While I did not know Hoffman, I did have discussion with Hortman on the ERA. She was frank and formidable. She’d get my vote and I was happy she was on our (ERA) side. But I don’t want to dwell, right now, on the tragedy.
Many thought we should stay at home today. The event was planned as an event to drown out Trump and his grandiose visions of being king with a scream of solidarity with 1,600 other marches around the county. The event became a time to give and accept comfort from our neighbors. To show respect for our elected officials who see us, hear us and represent us. To recognize that we need each other and that we are imminently more powerful together than alone.
I was proud to be part of the amazingly talented planning team. I did some scary things, like be interviewed live on the radio and chat on TV. My heart grew bigger to see friends (such as Venus DeMars, Surly Grrly and Kashimana) perform. Well, actually I couldn’t’ see them because I was livestreaming the march from the College as thy performed from the Capitol – but even a quarter mile away I could hear their amazing voices and songs. Speakers were amazing; big thanks to AG Kieth Ellison for showing up and being inspirational.
In the end, more people that we dreamed attended on a summer weekend in Minnesota with terrible road construction, even for Minnesota and advice from public safety to stay home. I saw many people talk to the tables of nonrpfots to learn about what they could do next to help. I saw coalitions form between speakers, volunteers, performers and security. I saw the best of Minnesota and it gave me hope and drive to continue to do what I can do to fight for our rights and freedoms for ourselves, our neighbors and everyone’s kids.
Also special thanks to my friends Monica Nilsson and Mary Magnuson for helping!
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