Black Tuesday: The People Who Lived Through The Great Depression | When ...

 This one is for my First Grandson Joel (Joseph Andrew Chappel) You so remind me of a Chappel. They were tall and handsome Blue Chappels (Legend in PA.) Nana Mabel Wagner your Great Grandmother would say your Grandfather Joseph Chappel was off the charts Intelligent, he like your dad and yourself show had been in Mensa. You like him you're quiet, intro-spective and reserved that much I see you as 'All Chappel', be proud of your name, it comes from a long line of Brave, wise men...be careful with the drink that was their down fall. Uncle Jerome-Jerry is the one I will be speaking of here shortly, remember him as the man that always said about working at a young age, 'WITH THESE HANDS!' yes, he did shout it. The story begins like the Beatle Song~There are places I remember In my life~I loved them all...Picture 1970's my son a Joe Chappel baby, and we lived in Grandma Nolan's house in Queens. Aunt Flo and Uncle Jerry visiting...Uncle Jerry, 'Remember Ma! when dad died, you took me out of school at 12 years old, during the depression! and I'd go out looking for a job and no one was hiring...I asked 'Why?' and then I saw the sign 'No Irish need apply. (I'm crying as I'm remembering and writing this...mom/nana ana). So goes the Irish side of our family. Uncle Jerry would continue reminding mom how hard it was...he'd say, 'If I ate one more Apple or Apple pie, I was gonna puke! Then he'd pick Grandma up and she'd yell 'Jerry, put me down!'. He did, but he never let her down always the obedient, loving, caring son, who worked since the age of 12...he'd put up his hands to his face and exclaim, 'WITH THESE HANDS' I worked to support you, mom! and Sweet William and Ally~the oldest and you wanted 'him' to go to college. Meanwhile, Aunt Flo (Italian) sat stirring her Tea with a Tea Bag she bought from home...why? cause she never wanted to feel like she owed Grandma anything. More stories from Days gone by...Mom, Nana Ana 8/25/22AD. A Legacy: Your Father Joseph George Chappel III came from a line of French Descent. 'Oh, He looks like my Father French a 'Dark Irish' Grandma Nolan would exclaim upon first seeing him. She showed me her Father's picture on horseback as a young boy, your dad Joey looked just like him. She also had an 'Irish Clapheart' Ring in the mix that was for her granddaughter Suzy a Nurse. Grandma Nolan & Aunt Rosie McGilligudy loved little Joey a lot. Rosie was an orphan girl Grandma bought her home from the convent years ago to live with the family~and she was affectionately called Aunt Rosie. I remember Grandma Nolan saying, 'Mother spoke Galick and English and she was born in America!' What was the big deal, back in the day, it was a big deal to be born 'In America' due to all the discrimination against the Irish, but they lived and survived it. That's why the Kennedy's although rich had a heart for the downtrodden cause they also lived thru. It began in Brookly~near Carnarcey Street (picture the show-The Honeymooners~Your dad's nana looks like the Bus driver's wife and his Uncle Jerry looks like the Bus driver's neighbor friend Ed played by Art Carney. Grandma had a house built by her sons after they came home from WW2. A pretty little house, she'd tell the story a thousand times everyone would moan, but I was always fascinated and listened. There was a row of houses the sons built the rooms for their war brides with one big country kitchen everyone shared. One day after the new plumbing was put in Aunt Florence (Italian) Uncle Jerry's (Jerome)wife let out a yell! A dead mouse in the toilet! Everyone laughed at the crazy memories :) But the most that stuck in my heart was when Grandma would say, 'My mother spoke Galick', I imagine her with Red flowing hair like Maureen O'Hara yelling at the priest in a movie (when she got so mad and yelled at him in Galick). Grandma worked at the age of 12 for a butcher who doubled as a surgeon, she assisted in operating on a man's shoulder. She said, 'He drank enough whiskey to knock him out and cut precisely around the tendon as if working on a piece of steak. So many more stories, but these just come to mind. Joel, you come from a long line of proud Irish men intelligent, caring and hard working~I see Chappel in you.  Remember your Great Great Grandmother was born in America be proud of that. Love you then~love you still...till I see you again...going up the hill. Take good care of yourself ~God will provide and always be by your side. Love you always~now have some Chinese on me :)  Nana Ana Sept.9, 2022AD~In the year of our Lord. p.s. how bout them Chappel-Apples! p.s. The govt bought all the houses on Carnarcey Street...Grandma Nolan and her son & wives stuck out till the end not selling the home they built 'With these hands'...Being a 'No Sale' for distruction...the Govt payed Grandma and the boys 3x what they invested and because it was so well built kept the home as a Girl's dorm for what today is known as 'Brooklyn College', so you do have a legacy to be proud of your Chappel name.!