Framingham Views

Much thanks go to Walter Lech of Saxonville who recently sent me this photo of some familiar Saxonville neighbors, circa late 1930s. My Grandmother (Mary) is seated on the left. Standing in the back row, l-r is Mrs. Joseph Korona, Mrs. Wm. Buinoff, and Mrs. Floryan Ruchwa (Walter Lech’s Grandmother.) Seated alongside my grandmother is Mrs. Stanley (Julia) Karp. Walter said “there seems to have been a close friendship with Julia because your grandmother was at her house often and if I remember correctly she took care of the Karp kids once in a while. The picture was taken in the back yard of 22 Chestnut St., where the Karp’s lived. One of the ladies pictured got on a bicycle one day after a picnic at the Novaks and rode down Elm St, crashing into the fence at the bottom of the hill by the Roxbury Carpet. Luckily she wasn’t hurt, but the fence had a dent in it for a long time.

The Buinoff’s were furriers and owned and did business in that brick building that is right on the corner of Concord and Danforth Streets.

Among the Polish people your grandmother was always referred to as “Gabrisha” where that name originated I don’t know.”  According to my copy of the 1937 Framingham street list, my Father and Grandmother both also lived at 22 Chestnut Street, and in 1937 they  moved to 34 Elm St.  I would guess that maybe the Chestnut Street house was a two family.  Gabrisha might be a variant on Gabriel, I’m not sure.

Thank you, Walter, for finding and sharing this picture.