As I promised in this last SCRAPBOOK post featuring old clippings from my hometown newspaper, found at an online archival site, I'm posting a new set of them that pertain to my family here.
If you recall, the archives have a rolling end date of about 50 years, that is, the database is searchable from the year 1900 to the end of 1975, right now. Last time I queried this site, it was in January of 2024 so I only had up to that month in the year 1974 to search, it didn't have all of 1974 then.
So here's what I found, using my family's last name "Chausse" as my search parameter, from February 1974 to December 1975:
From May 24, 1974: This clipping shows all the kids that spring who graduated (is that the term?) First Communion from St. Joseph's Church on Mendon Road (our parish when we were still living at Morin Heights). And there, listed towards the bottom is my sister's name. I know, big whoop as I do think she's, like me, quite, shall we say, a "lapsed Catholic" but, I posted my clipping for this "accomplishment" last time so there you go. Whenever we get to 1976 or 77, whenever Russell made his FC, I'll do likewise.
From July 8 and July 12, 1974: My godmother/aunt Neuna's obit and funeral notices. I do remember this funeral. I was indeed, as the article says, a pall bearer, dressed in my only suit, a bright red and white checkered polyester monstrosity with a red velvet bowtie (my mother should have sprung for another considering). Thankfully I was only ten, so I guess my non-funereal decorum could be forgiven. Plus, well, it was the seventies after all. I think I remember others in similar ghastly attire.
From July 30, 1974: So this has nothing to do with my family, but I thought it was interesting as a snapshot of what was going on at the time. Our congressman (a Democrat, of course) is recorded as being "prepared to vote for the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon." Ah, Watergate. Of course, we all know what happened with ol' Tricky Dick eventually. And to think we though HE was the worst president ever!
From November 4, 1974: So this police blotter goes through all the crimes of that day and, lo and behold, my mother's car has yet again befallen another act of vandalism! In the same year! Oh it's a good thing, as you'll soon see in upcoming clippings, that we got out of that hood 'cause the gangs were definitely targeting my momma!
From February 28, 1975: My maternal grandmother died. This is another funeral I clearly remember one specific event: sitting in one of the limos with my Aunt Connie (my grandmother's sister) she flatly said "You know, I think that Hell is really here on Earth." Okay, I know now, looking back on it, she was in grief, but really, why say that with a ten year old kid right there?
From June 4, 1975: Okay, now this one's a freaking mystery. Do I remember who this older couple Mr. and Mrs. Masse were? Nope. Do I remember attending anything like this kind of an event? Nope. But the clues add up: My name, my sister's name, the maiden name of Mrs. Masse is Desmarais which is my paternal grandmother's (Elizabeth) maiden name, the venue, Club Embassy was one we went to often back then...I mean, it has to be, right? My surname is not THAT common in my hometown but, surprisingly, since I didn't know any non-family Chausses personally, I find a lot in these newspaper searches so...who knows?
From July 21 and July 28, 1975: My parents bought the Pearl Street house. I've shown a recent picture of this house here, from when I visited up north a few years back and, as I said, it looks pretty much the same as it did when these notices were printed in the paper. In the first clipping above, look at the house prices, LOL, nothing more than $35,000! (Makes me wonder if they actually got a good price since, for a small three bedroom cottage, should it be in the mid-range of a random sampling of homes listed?) In the second clipping, I included the ads on the same page...love the hairstyles of whatever group was performing at Sidney's (I don't remember this place at all) and, oh look, Jaws is playing at the movie theater! I hear it's a scary thriller by this new director Steven Spielberg or something!
From December 11, 1975: My sister competed in track?! From the article, it seems like it may have been a more or less compulsory activity as part of PE class. I can't imagine her volunteering for something like this. But she fared well, coming in third place for her grade. I don't remember having any PE classes in elementary school. I didn't go to this school, Globe Park. When we moved to Pearl Street, she and Russel were placed there and since I was already in sixth grade, I got placed in another school, South Main Street School, a converted Catholic school.