A VOZ DE PORTUGAL….The Voice of Portugal

Recently, while planning another series of posts, an audio memory reached down through time to me.  It was the voice of the one and only Ferreira Mendes (pronounced in Portuguese with softened consonants).  Do you remember?  This is a photo of Senhor Ferreira Mendes.

Sunday mornings the sounds of the Taunton Band Club rehearsing sweetened the air.  

Later that morning, came the well- known voice of Ferreira Mendes,

 his strong Portuguese addingto the sounds of drifting through open windows up and down the streets of the Village.  With his distinctive voice, he pronounced the language beautifully. 

 You knew it was Sunday when your ear caught his voice.

As with much of the research for this blog, the story began to tell itself.  It did that with the help of Otilia Mendes Ferreira, Sr. Ferreira Mendes' daughter who has gracefully given us all of the information.  In case you are wondering, somehow in the early days of his career,

 Mendes Ferreira was transposed to Ferreira Mendes. 

 It stayed Ferreira Mendes and it is how everyone knew him.

Affonso Gil Mendes Ferreira was a pioneer of Portuguese language radio in the United States.  He was born January 23, 1899 in the village of Barroca do Zezere on mainland Portugal.  The last of nine siblings, his mother died in childbirth.  Poignantly, and as a measure of his generous spirit, he supported his wet nurse, Ana Marcelina throughout her life.

Immigrating on August 6, 1920 to the U.S., he would be the only one of his family to do so,  Sr. Ferreira Mendes worked briefly at the Whittenton Mills in Taunton.  He and his family would always live in Taunton and be members of St. Anthony's Church in the School Street Village.

After working in the mill he one day (an early sign of his ambition),  bought himself a raccoon coat, bought a car and hired a driver until he was able to get his license. 

 Marriage came in 1929 after he met M. Rosa Santos.  He was embarked on a new life. 

 Establishing a Portuguese club located above where Hanson's Drug Store would be on Broadway, he went on to launch a Portuguese language newspaper in 

1923 or 1924, O Heraldo Portugues which was published until 1976. 

 Above is a copy of the 1929 Easter cover and below a photo of himself 

and two of his newsboys, the Fonseca boys from the Village.

Sr. Ferreira Mendes was a colorful, gregarious and generous person becoming known to one and all as simply Ferreira Mendes.  His impact began in earnest in 1933, when he became a fixture on local airways broadcasting his Portuguese language radio program, A Voz De Portugal.  He would broadcast that program for nearly sixty years!  This is a great photo as it really shows the emotion and integrity with which he approached his life's work.

There were no Portuguese radio stations in 1933.  The growing population of Portuguese people living especially on the East coast of the U.S. at that time were thirsty for news in their own language.  He began on WNBH in New Bedford, then on to WPRO in Providence, then WSAR in Fall River for 9 years until during WW II when they felt they did not wish to broadcast foreign language programs.  At that point WOCB on Cape Cod welcomed him.  Then on to WRIB, Providence, where his daily Portuguese program would be the only daily Portuguese program in the country for 15 years.  At that same time he was on WPEP, Taunton for his Sunday program.  

This is the program listened to in the Village.

Because of failing health, in 1975, his daughter Otilia did the program while he opened and closed it.  He continued to direct it, however.  He died in 1992 at 93 years of age.

As was noted earlier, Ferreira Mendes was a celebrity all on his own.  But, he was more that that, he was a tirelessly generous man.  He was an ardent fundraiser raising funds for Portuguese orphanages, supporting handicapped children or refugees and wounded veterans from the Angolan war as well as many other causes dear to his heart. There were times when requests would show up at the Taunton Post Office with no address other than his name and U.S.A.

 It is said that often when Ferreira Mendes would travel to Fox Point in Providence, to New Bedford or to the Weir or School Street villages in Taunton, people would shout out to him 

in welcome their chant: " a comissao  agradece" or "the committee thanks you." 

 He would often say this after his speeches or presentations.  

The humor was that he was the sole committee member.

Sr. Ferreira Mendes was awarded the Portuguese highest medal of honor : The Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator for his work.  That work was highlighted by what he accomplished for victims of the earthquakes in the Azorean Island of Faial in the early 1960's.  His influence helped to open the quotas for Portuguese immigrants coming to the United States.

A poignant story tells of how he helped a disabled young girl such that she went on to become a teacher.  She would write to him throughout her life.

An advocate for the Portuguese community when they were an unsung group he presented his radio programs sharing local events as well as events in mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores keeping people connected to their homeland as well as to each other.  He arranged for showings of Portuguese films renting the Park or Strand theaters in Taunton as well as others in Rhode Island.  If even a few people showed up, he would show the film.  In those days there were shifts of workers at the mills, he made early morning showings available for them.

He put on Portuguese musicals at Taunton High School.  Fascinating is the fact that he introduced the great Portuguese Fado singer Amalia Rodrigues to America in her premiere performance at Hope High School in Providence, R.I.   Fado is the traditional and haunting folk music of Portugal and the soul of that music was Amalia Rodrigues.

It was important for me to try and find an audio of Ferreira Mendes, but that seemed impossible.  However, when I spoke with his daughter Otilia I discovered something marvelous.  During WWII the U.S. government was suspicious of foreign language radio programming.  They either prohibited them or watched them closely.  It was feared that such programs would send secrets to the enemy.  In 1943, Ferreira Mendes, as we mentioned, could not present his program at WSAR as the station was leary of presenting any foreign language programs.  However, WOCB on Cape Cod welcomed him enthusiastically not being intimidated by the government.

Unknown to Ferreira Mendes, during the war years the U.S. government recorded many of his radio programs.  Thus, they were preserved for posterity.  In those days  since there were no digital or tape recordings, they were recorded on large vinyl records with a circumference of around 17 inches which can only be listened to on special equipment.  Some of them have been put on CD's and are at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MA.  More on that later.

Which brings us to the final part of this story.  In loving memory of their father, Otilia and and her sister Justina Ferreira are the lead benefactors of the Portuguese- American Archives located at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  A third sister, Esther, had passed away in 1953.  That was the only time that her father ever missed presenting his program.

The Archives were dedicated to their father in 2009.  The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese -American Archives is the largest repository of materials documenting the Portuguese people and their experience in the United States in the country.  Ferreira Mendes recordings are only one part of their extensive and ever-growing collection, including early Portuguese newspapers available online.  When I browsed through the online newspaper collection I found a photograph of one of my uncles in an early 40's ad.

Affonso Gil Ferreira Mendes is a treasure still for the people he so loved. I am one of those people and have researched at this marvelous library.  Full of genealogical information and other records of the Portuguese experience it is not that far for many of us 

who grew up in the Village: grandchildren and children of Portuguese forebears.
As we said, also, much of it is now available online.

I hope that I have been able to do justice to the memory of this extraordinary man.  You can find more information about the Archives and what can be found there at this link.

http://www.lib.umassd.edu/PAA/ferreira-mendes-portuguese-american-archives-collections

"A comissao agradece"

The Committee thanks you.

……..

I am grateful to Otilia and Justina Ferreira for their willingness to share
and for their patience.   They have made this post
 a very special post indeed.

…….



Photo of vintage radio from Pinterest.

ART AND HEART; A STORY YOU WILL WANT TO READ

Children love to draw, to create, starting early to express themselves with crayon, pencil and chalk for the sidewalks, the latter a timeless endeavor for all childhoods then and now.

Early in our schooling back in the Village, Fuller School did not have a full time art teacher but rather a floater going from school to school.  In our case, that was Miss Claire Hyland.  Somehow art class was a place where one could "puddle" going a few steps beyond mud pies and chalk on the sidewalk.  I have no photo of her but etched in my mind is her dark hair, many bracelets and creative style.

                           Bear with me folks, I really am going somewhere with this….promise.

At Cohannet School, I had Miss O'Keefe for art class.  I remember distinctly drawing a copy of a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover, a bellhop carrying a load of coats, his cap askew.

Then on to high school and this is where I have been heading.  A real art studio classroom finally, with Mrs. Rosemary Corrigan McGrath as art teacher.  A gentle quiet woman who shared with us her love of art with pencil and brush.  Sitting in front of easel tables in a quiet environment  allowed our imaginations to flow.  My project was a bride in a long ivory gown..I think in oil but perhaps, in pastel.  It seems to me that from these teachers was born a lifelong love of creating art and finally teaching it, a second career for me. I was forever hooked.  I just found this photo of that high school art room  in my 57 class yearbook.  Does it bring back memories!  One can sense the quiet intensity as we worked on our masterpieces!

That quiet intensity was fostered by this marvelous woman.  Years and years later when I taught art classes I think that atmosphere was one I tried to emulate for my students.

                                                         Rosemary Corrigan McGrath
                                                      Photo from Taunton High School
                                                             1957 Class Yearbook

Flash forward.  This is where my story gets even more interesting and we see the circles of life.  As I mentioned my first career was in health care.  In the early 70's I was a nursing supervisor at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, Mass. Mrs Mcgrath was admitted to that hospital and was very ill.  I was able to return some of her kindness and inspiration as I was able to be with her very often.  Both myself and the hospital Catholic Chaplin were from Taunton, myself one of her former students.  She was immensely comforted by this as was her husband Charles.  To be with her at the end was an honor for me.  She had gifted me with a love of art that would grace my whole life and a belief in my abilities. 

 It is such a blessing when we are ably to give something back in return.

Now on to Mr. Charles McGrath Rosemary's husband.  Here in this Village/Taunton blog along he comes to give something to us as well.  I recall Charles as a charming person when I met him at the hospital.  It seems he was a whole lot more than that. 

 Once more Arlene Gouveia has stepped into one of our stories.  

Charles and Rosemary had married in the 50's, clearly when they were older.  Each had had a career. Charles, my friends, had been in Vaudeville! One day Arlene Gouveia was able to spend time talking with him, finding out the treasure that had been his career.

Charles was a dancer for many years on Broadway in the late 20's and 30's.  He knew those performers who so enamored and entertained us  having performed in the Zeigfield Follies and other Broadway shows with them.  Such performers as Ray Bolger for just one example.  They were apparently great friends, both hailing from Massachusetts, Ray an Irish lad from Dorchestor.  Charlie said he was a nice guy….we could always tell that.

                        I include these wonderful You Tube videos so you can truly get the flavor.
                                    Below Ray Bolger and Once in Love with Amy

                                    He knew Will Rogers, a figure beloved by Americans.

In 1930 when Ginger Rogers got a plum role in the famous Gershwein musical "Crazy Girl", he was already her friend.  Charles danced in that show, too. Ethel Merman was also in Crazy Girl and Fred Astaire was choreographer!!  Charlie was there at the birth of the Astaire-Rogers 

famous partnership that charmed us all.  

 

In 1933, Charlie met Bob Hope who was on Broadway with "Roberta."  He was there for it all. He even knew Fannie Brice and Eddie Cantor who appeared with him in the Follies.

When Arlene and her husband went in search of the McGraph cemetery site they found a historic marker with a grandfather who served in the Civil War in the Union army.  Poignantly, at the base of the monument is engraved:  Designed by Rosemary McGrath, teacher and artist.  Rosemary and Charles did not have any children, nonetheless they left a legacy and their marks on history.  They did this especially by endowing an art scholarship in their names given each year to a graduating student deserving art student at Taunton High School.

Rosemary died in 1971, Charles in 1981.  For years, Charles worked as a clerk
in the Taunton City Hall Cemetery Department.

This story comes full circle as I write this post.  Who knew the story of that lovely gentlemen who sat faithfully at his wife's bedside day after day, their dignity and love impressing everyone who cared for her.  An example, once again, of the rich history that so often dwells silently in the hearts and memories of the people that God puts on our path.

Have We Come a Long Way, Baby?

In the 40's and 50's little kids wore sturdy clothes, but little girls usually wore dresses.  Take this photo from the Village (courtesy: Arlene Gouveia) Arlene is on the far right.

Even little girls wore hats, like their mothers and grandmothers. 

 Here is my Grandmother Souza with two of my cousins, probably late 40's.
 Like the sweet capes? 

 Grandmother Delphina's hats were always her trademark.

                   Christmas, my mother always made us velvet dresses, often with trimmed collars.
Many mothers made their children's clothes, my husbands mom even
made trousers for her boys.
Actually, my sisters and I often had the prettiest outfits.

                                  Here are my sister Kathy and I in matching homemade dresseswith some of my classmates,  my little brother Frank far left.  The late Sonny Mador, back left

and the late Beverlyann Martin, second row far left next to me.
On the other side of me are Cynthia Luz and Caroline Jardin.

When you went to Church on Sunday, it was de rigeur that you dressed in your best.
 I remember theselittle girls suits.  I even wore little white gloves…
Photo from  Easter 1946, my sister Kathy left, little brother Frank in the carriage,
myself in back of the carriage and cousin Helena in front.

 Ready for the Easter Parade.
 Note the old fashioned baby carriage.

              Then we went on to high school and into another era…though not far removed.

When I look about me now I join the majority of folks my age….  what youngsters wear today would be outlawed back in our youth!  I also ask myself why young women continue to wear fashions that constrict and bind.  Seems, too, that the shock value index has risen as well.  Only the hippies went for total comfort, that is for sure.

Take the case of the crinoline.  Here I am ( top right) with two high school friends and my little sister Mariellen just below me. Notice how those skirts just balloon out? That was the effect of starched, stiff, multiple crinoline under skirts. I can still feel how they scratched and irritated.  But…fashion is fashion.

                    You wore a regular slip underneath but that scratchy feeling found you anyway.

Two of us are also wearing little hats, another style statement of the times.  

This was taken around 1955 or so. Next to me my friend Janis 

and below another friend, the late Lorraine Toledo.

Nylons with (ugh) garter belts were another bit of under-fashion history. If they were not attached tightly enough they would sag.

In those more frugal days, if you sustained a run in your nylon, you repaired it with 

clear nail polish rather than go and buy another pair.

Finally, crinolines were ancient history, unless you were going to the Prom.

Along came the poodle skirt, no crinoline needed.  

When you went to a dance, say at the Taunton C.Y.O (Catholic Youth Organization)

the skirt would swing around your legs.  Weekly Friday night dances at the C.Y.O. were something to look forward to as a teen.  Remember Father O'Connor and "leave room for the Holy Ghost" during the slow dances?  No poodle dancing swirls then.  For awhile even poodle hair cuts were the thing.

The the boy's fashions:

There were two ways to go: the "bad boy" look and the Pat Boone look.

Here is James Dean sporting that bad boy look.

The bad boys often sported black leather jackets and the inevitable D.A. haircut

Sometimes the girls sported that haircut as well.

The Pat Boone look often included raised collars, v neck sweaters over shirts,

chino pants. Here is the man himself.

From my 1957 Taunton High School yearbook here are some of my classmates wearing the inevitable sweaters often in sets, longer skirts and loafers with slumpy socks.  One of them may be wearing a class ring on a chain around her neck signifying she was going steady. 

 Jumpers were also in vogue then, too.

Recognize anyone?

I could go on and on with such things as dirty white buck shoes for boys and girls.

But, you all can fill in….

Have we come a long way, Baby?

Photos from Arlene Gouveia, Souza archives,

Taunton High School 1957 yearbook and Pinterest.