Trull Street’s Creation
Trull Street, defined as being from 83 Hancock Street to 22 Bellevue street, was laid out Dec. 10, 1875. It would seem that the home building began right afterward.[Source: “List of Streets, Etc., in Boston,” page 485, author unknown, City of Boston, 1910]
History of the Trull Street Area (Dorchester Atheneum)
The first real “building boom” in this area dates between 1884-1894, with streets like Ware and Rill set out during this period. The enclave of Stick Style houses at 3, 5 and 7 Ware Street were developed by Dorchester real estate magnate Franklin King around 1880. (Note: 9 Ware Street was part of this gro but is no longer extant). King owned these houses wel1 into the 1890s. By 1910, King’s heirs owned #3 while an Annie Brigham owned the other two houses. By 1930, Frederick G. Perinee, clerk., owned #3, James F. Cooper, custodian at the Phillips Brooks School owned # 5 and William T. Coleran, clerk lived at #7.Rill Street’s housing was also mostly a prodcut of the mid 1880-mid 90s. Rill Street was named for a brook or “rill” which crossed this street near Hancock Street. King also developed properties on Tru1l Street, including #10 Trull Street which was owned by Hosea E. Bowern and later by his heirs from c.1915-1945. By 1945, this building contained the Upham’s Corner Registry for Nurses. King’s real estate on Trull extended from Bellevue to Glenn Street. Another King- developed house is 19 / 21 Trull Street which was built c.11880 and remained in the King family until c.1920. By 1930, Frank J. Armstrong, carpenter, lived at #19 Trull Street, and Ruth A. Irwin, nurse, and Benjamin A. Tyler, “helper” lived in #21.
Trull Street slopes climbs a steep rise, feeding into Belvedere Street and the site of the former Elizabeth A. and Henry J. Nazro estate. Containing 84,802 Square feet, this estate encompassed a significant part of the area between Bellevue and Quincy streets. The Nazro house (demolished) was orienred towards the intersection of Trull and Bellevue Streets and its grounds included a 1arge stable and hot house. Just to the north of this house at what is now the northeast corner of Quincy and Stanley Street was a City of Boston Public School, now a playground. 27 Bellevue Street’s, for example, was carved from the Nazro estate c. 1895-1900 and was originally owned by an Annie B. James. By 1930, William A. Sampson, a druggist with Parker’s pharmacy on Columbia Road lived here. Warners and Hoits owned 28 Bellevue Street until c.1925 when it became the residence of Dr. James J. Lynch. A survivor from the Nazro years and probably approaching the scale of the Nazro house is 14 Bellevue Street. Built by 1874, 14 Belvedere’s first owner was J. Homer Pierce, One of the civic-minded members of Dorchester’s Pickwick Club. Pierce was on the club’s committee “to solicit subscriptions, to select a design for a (Civil War) soldiers’ monument on Meeting House Hill and to take the general charge of its erection.
During the 1890s, the electric trolley was introduced along Dorchester’s major thoroughfares, ushering in a new “street car suburb” era of less costly. multi – family housing in the form of 2-family and three-decker residences.
[Source: http://www.dorchesteratheneum.org/page.php?id=612]
First Person to Live at 10 Trull Street
“History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637-1888,” by Oliver Ayer Roberts, Boston, A. Mudge & Son, printers, 1895-1901. Page 303: “The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1881 were:” … “Frederick E. Atteaux (1881), merchant, of Boston, son of Robert and Marion (Wiggett) Atteaux, was born in Lennoxville, Province of Quebec, Canada, Nov. 28, 1852. He married, May 6, 1885, Carrie E. Willard. He attended school in his native town and also Bishop’s College. In 1870 he entered the dry-goods trade, in which he was engaged until 1877, when he became a manufacturer of and dealer in dye stuffs. He is at present of the firm of F. E. Atteaux & Co., manufacturers and importers of aniline colors, dye stuffs, and chemicals, Nos. 172 to 178 Purchase Street, Boston.” Mr. Atteaux (1881) is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Mystic Shrine, Elks, and Red Men. His residence is No. 10 Trull Street, Dorchester District, Boston. Given that Nana’s house was probably built in the 1880s, Mr. Atteaux was very likely the first resident of Nana’s house.
1911 New England Medical Gazette ad for 10 Trull Street nursing care (Evanga M.S. Bowen)
The New England Medical Gazette, Volume 46 (1911) (LINK) has an interesting note about 10 Trull Street — an advertisement for patient care services:
Evanga M. S. Bowen (Graduate of Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia) 10 TRULL STREET DORCHESTER, MASS. Offers all the comforts and privileges of a private home to convalescent, chronic and maternity cases. The best care given to patients, under the direction of their own physicians. Special attention given to diet and nursing. Telephone, Dorchester 3142-L
Since the Bowen family were the immediate owners before Nana, and I recall Nana occasionally referring to her home as “The Bowen Hospital,” it is evident that Nana was not the first person to run a patient care facility out of 10 Trull – it was the Bowen family, back (at least) as far as when Nana was only 9! Of course, we still don’t know what drew Nana to this occupation, or even to 10 Trull Street, but we now have a clue as to why she chose this house – it had already been run as a business like she planned to start up.
Renting or buying
Clarification: My guess that Nana was renting 10 Trull Street when she first arrived was correct. She did indeed arrive in 1938. Franny was already living at 12 Trull with her family. The McLaughlins soon moved in to 4/6 Trull, next door to Nana. Nana brought Mrs. McLaughlin a casserole to welcome her to the neighborhood, and Mrs. McLaughlin said she didn’t want Nana’s charity. Nana told Mom that she met neighbors on the way back home and remarked that there would be trouble. Around 1941, Nana was making her rental payment at Dorchester Savings Bank and was told by one of the employees that the McLaughlins were trying to buy 10 Trull Street right out from under her. Nana said she wanted to buy the house and immediately made arrangements to do so.[Source: Mom]
This explains a lot, including Nana repeatedly saying how kind the employees of Dorchester Savings Bank were to her. I also remember nana speaking about many fights with the McLaughlins. Although it should be noted that we remember son Billy McLaughlin and his sister Rose as very kind people. Dad and Billy were lifelong friends and Billy used to park his car in Nana’s garage for $10 a month.
Conversions, who lived where
Additional Information: Pa also lived with his daughter Mary for a time, but he was hit by a car, then he died, and Ma went with Jessie in Saugus.Additional Information: Miss Ryan’s first name was Ellen and was a nice lady.
[Source: Jeannette MacVarish]
Correction? Nana studied nursing in Sydney (not Toronto).
[Source: Jeannette MacVarish]
I remember Nana telling me she studied in Toronto, but Jeanette may be correct.
Additional Information: The conversion that Father MacPherson speaks of in his letter refers to a person named Thompson who converted by Father Costello to Catholicism at Nana’s house. Jeannette was there and said it had been raining all day, and the sun came out as this woman converted.
[Source: Jeannette MacVarish]
Dad and Nana’s return to Glendale was in August 1958 — my guess was very close. Dad had served as an usher for his cousin Duncan MacVarish’s wedding at Saint Ignatius Church. Afterward, Nana and Dad joined Jeannette’s and her sister Mariah for a return trip to Glendale in Nana’s Ford. This was likely Dad’s only trip to Glendale. The trip takes about 16 hours from the Boston area.
[Source: Jeannette MacVarish]
Goodbye Johnny Dear
Jeannette once visited and an Irish patient, Julie Brackets, was attacking Nana with a hammer! Julia did not like Anne at all and probably had Alzheimers… She called out to Julia to try to make her stop and Julia put down the hammer and broke into song, “Goodbye, Johnny Dear.”[Source: Jeannette MacVarish]
Freeman’s Drugs used to sell beer on Sunday, under the guise of “medicine.”
[Source: Mom]
Listing 10 Trull in 1962
Mom came across this in 2020; apparently Nana considered selling 10 Trull Street in May 1962. The May 1962 date is consistent with the mention that Nana operated the place as a rest home until illness forced her to slow down. $8000 was the original price of the house and in 1962 the asking price was $23,000. I had no idea that Nana actually listed the house; I know she’d considered selling it on occasion, but this is the first we’ve learned she actually listed the place. Of course, the house never sold in 1962 and lived there until 1992.
Bodachan
bodachan“The word in Gaelic is spelled “bodachan” and is pronounced as you have it. It has a number of meanings including “Little old man”. But it’s also used as a term of endearment when referring to a youth, which is how your grandmother used it with you.”
[Source: Bob and Marg Leonard]
The Garage
Nana’s garage, built in 1923, was torn down sometime after the new owner purchased it in 1995.
Nana’s house sold again 11/21/2002
Source: [http://www.redfin.com/MA/Dorchester/10-Trull-St-02125/home/9072819]10 Trull St Dorchester, MA 02125
Source: Public Records
Sold For: $185,000 (11/21/2002)
Beds: 6
Baths: 2
County: Suffolk County
Sqft: 2,933
Style: Multi-Family (2-4 Unit)
Year Built: 1900
APN: W15P02736S000
Nov 21, 2002 Sold $185,000 — Public Records