The Last Summer and Other Stories: A Medley of Joys and Losses

By Patricia Bohl Wilhelm

A Rose Like No Other

This is a book about a time when things were as they were. It was not fake. Bad things were bad and dealt with. There wasnt a constant dread. What happened was done with. It did not become an obsession

The loss of the family fortune. Wars and abdications laid ruin to all trappings of wealth. The elders decided not to ever speak of what once was in the old country: the land in the Black Forest, the castle created by a family architect, the castle which is now one of the most famous tourist attractions, the abdication of a great uncle and the princess arrival with the baron in Philadelphia. The wealth dispersed through real estate transactions in the well known buildings and businesses in New York City.

Businesses were founded which prospered or foundered. Large families were born into the new world. Some, like William Blemly, thrived in real estate. Great discussion groups, forerunner of the coffee klatche which drew the intellectuals, the artists, writers, leaders of the new legacies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491732700

Patricia Bohl Wilhelm

I was born May 17, 1930 in Mt. Vernon{ N.Y.} Hospital to Frederick John and Agnes Rose (Bush) Bohl. Mom said the day I was born , I could be heard crying blocks away, a slight exaggeration, I trust. But, maybe a telling of things to come. From the start, a voluminous reader, writer and actress. I spent as much time with those occupations as I could squeeze in. Fortunately, I was schooled by the good sisters of The Presentation in The Bronx, where literacy was encouraged. I remember standing before the class reading a composition that Sister seemed to think was well done. And, of course, I was in the Christmas pageant as Mary, which was a thrill. The stage was always a draw beginning with kindergarten when we performed our rowdiest “Babes In Toyland.” The next opportunities to perform were in high school where we acted, danced and sang our ways through operettas and Broadway shows. Later, I performed in Little Theatre plays and musicals, and summer stock. While in the Womens Army Corps, I again, was in show biz largely as the military’s version of a booking agent, scheduling talent and shows at various military installations in Japan. Imagine getting paid to mingle with celebrities. Keep in mind that I was less than 21. I even got a chance to perform, occasionally: sing, dance, act. Prior to my overseas assignment, I was sent to Special Services School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, outside of Indianapolis, to learn how to have such fun. College was always on my agenda, depending on where I was located: Upstate New York Community College, University of Buffalo, University of Southern California, Tokyo University. Never in one place long enough to complete a degree, until now. For several years, I was a reporter for daily newspapers in upstate and western New York, where I met my husband. Married once, we adopted two children. Now, as a widow, I have two grandchildren and four of the most beautiful great grandchildren you ever saw. I don’t vegetate now: community, church, the American Legion, volunteerism, the Literacy Coalition and, hopefully, Guardian Ad Litem are among my interests.

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THE LAST SUMMER AND OTHER STORIES

A MEDLEY OF JOYS AND LOSSES

Copyright © 2014 Patricia Bohl Wilhelm. .

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-3269-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-3271-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-3270-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908109

iUniverse rev. date: 07/03/2014

Contents

Acknowledgments

A Rose, Like No Other

Second Verse

The Last Summer

North Ninth

Time To Go Away: An Epitaph

Different Drum Beats

A Day at the Park

The Neighbor

The Forty Houses

It’s Coming

Out of the Ashes

The Light Was Coming Though

Acknowledgments

Mark McGinley, Technical Director

Susan Gillis, Curator of Boca Raton Historical Society

Catherine Theriault, Photographer, author photo, technical assistance

Original residents of Forty Houses:

James and Sherry Weid

Arlene Owens

Dale Frost

Jerry Christiansen

Bernice Lamp

Readers:

Marie Gardner

Jack Bloom

Jenny Guastella

John Banter

A Rose, Like No Other

Steam rising from a pair of tall blue agate kettles boiling on the stove filled Agnes Rose’s senses as she swung through the squeaking screen door into the downstairs kitchen where her mother pumped up and down in one of the kettles with a long wooden spoon.

It was Monday. To Agnes Rose that meant vegetable soup and bluing, the odors clouding the dark, steamy kitchen. In a corner were willow baskets heaped with shirts, waists and garments ready for the rest of the school term, another two weeks. Reaching for the blue smock with embroidered flower borders that she wore when helping with chores. She slipped it on as her fingers slid over the embroidery she had hand stitched herself as Aunt Maggie had taught her.

Back down to the kitchen, she wanted to pull her mother aside, give her a hug and tell her what wonderful news she had gotten today, but she could read Mama’s mood and it was not the right time. She would have to discuss these very important things with Papa, when he had time, so involved was he with the Knights of Columbus. His election to Grand Knight of the City of New York and his introduction of the Communion Breakfast brought him prominence in the society as well as around the city. The demands of speeches, meetings, the stories in newspapers meant he was seldom able to be with the family much, even for Mass on Sundays, which had always been so important.

His being a popular figure was of small comfort to Agnes Rose, his first born, Dolly, as he had called her. She missed him dearly. Not even the luxury of Sunday afternoon surrey rides with her grandfather, which Mama looked forward to, could fill the void. Grandfather’s trucking business had a stable of horses, as well as, carriages, a rare treat for the children to ride in.

Little could Agnes Rose know how precious moments with her parents would become as she silently bemoaned the lack of attention for which she longed. It was a burning that had grown as almost every year, a new baby came into the family. And now Mama was once again growing heavy and Agnes Rose would, once again, have to help that small and delicate woman (she had overheard her aunts’ whispers), with additional chores while studying her Latin and Greek and preparing projects for graduation. Being tops in her class carried with it responsibility, the valedictory address for the baccalaureate right after Monsignor would speak, was imminent. And, looming up were Diocesan and Regents examinations to prepare for. Then, Sister had said, if she were to score as high as she had been,