Memories of Childhood on the Boulevard, Part II
Last month, I shared stories of growing up on Minnetrista Boulevard from Janice, Helen, and their cousin Doris Mauck. This month, we’ll check out the memories of sisters Lucy, Margaret, and Rosemary. Their parents were Frank C. and Elizabeth “Bessie” Brady Ball.
The children of Frank C. and Elizabeth Brady Ball. From left to right: Frank Elliott, E. Arthur, Margaret, Rosemary, and Lucy
In her letter for the cornerstone, Frances Petty Sargent remembers her mother-in-law, Margaret Ball Petty. Frances recalls that Margaret “dreamed as early as the mid-seventies of seeing the Frank C. Ball property (her childhood home) used as a site for a college-community arts center in much the same fashion as Emens Auditorium.”
Margaret Ball Petty, January 2, 1924
Unfortunately, Margaret passed away before the cornerstone for Minnetrista was set. She had shared memories with Frances, who included them in the book Stone on Stone, a biography of Margaret. One special incident that Margaret recalled was learning to ride a bicycle while staying with her Uncle Lucius, Aunt Sarah, and Cousin Helen. She said, “I rode by bicycle down the boulevard in front of their house … toward Wheeling Avenue….” As she sped down the hill, she saw a street car coming. “I didn’t know how to stop,” she said, “so I ran into a hedge and fell off.”
Lucy Ball Owsley, May 16, 1925
Lucy fondly remembered the fun the family had decorating the Christmas tree. She noted that “My brother, Arthur, told us that he would prove there was no Santa Claus. He had us climb out the third floor window clinging onto the limestone to about the third window where we looked in and saw the gifts was collecting for our stockings….” Even the fire that destroyed her family couldn’t dim Lucy’s recollection of “The Peacock window over the landing, the wide stairway leading to it with railings down which we would slide … the many happy memories.”
Rosemary Ball Bracken, July 14, 1932
Rosemary, youngest of the family, said, “This house, with our family of seven—parents, two boys, three girls—was a happy, busy place. Mother and Father had high ideals and appreciation for beautiful things, in art, music, and literature.” She also fondly remembered the four weddings that took place in her home. The first was her mother’s sister Winifred’s marriage to the artist J. Ottis Adams. The other weddings were Margaret’s to Fred Petty, Lucy’s to Alvin Owsley, and Rosemary’s to Alexander Bracken. Rosemary closed her letter with “We were blessed with many happy times. There were sad times, too, of course. But with the love of a wonderful, large caring family we have come through with grateful hearts, full of love. Value your heritage and God bless you all.”
The original letters from these women who had so many delightful memories of growing up on and visiting Minnetrista Boulevard remain in the cornerstone. We are grateful that they shared their recollections with us.
