Pascoag: Wilson Reservoir

Paschoag: Wilson's Reservoir, originally uploaded by shersteve.

shore view of the lake

Paschoag: The current cabin

Paschoag: The current cabin, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The current cabin on the spot at Wilson's Reservoir where the Joyal place was.

Merry Christmas

To recognize our countrymen and women serving in the military:



Merry Christmas to one and all!

Paschoag - Rainy vacation, plus

Jerry talks with Bob and Steve about one vacation where it rained 16 of the 17 days we were at the cabin. Also about juggling the cars when everyone came on the weekend so we could still play horseshoes without hitting the cars.

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HmLbfDy4 Time: 5 minutes, 3 seconds

Paschoag - Building the Cabin

Jerry talks with Steve and Bob about the Joyal cabin at Wilson's Reservoir in Paschoag, a village in Burrillville, RI.

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HYnHwkd4 6 minutes, 52 seconds

Sherlock's Pose

Sherlock's Pose, originally uploaded by shersteve.

From the left, Bob, myself, Jerry, Mike, and his son, Mark pose in front of the Iwo Jima statue, more formally called the Marine Corp Monument located next to Arlington National Cemetery.

Three generations of Sherlock men.

If someone did say, "Hey, Mr Sherlock!", we would all turn to respond.

Kilroy was here

Yes, one of the most famous soldiers of World War II was not to be kept out of the monument in Washington, DC. It was not listed on the architectural drawing but some how, it appeared.

More to come but Jerry had a wonderful couple of days visiting the World War II Memorial, the Marine Corp Memorial (The Iwo Jima Statue) and then



It was both an honor and a pleasure for his three sons and one grandson to accompany him on this weekend. We also were treated to a windshield tour of the Marine Corp Base at Quantico by Dan Stanton (US Air Force Colonel Ret.)

Stay tuned for some stories and more pictures.

Wilson's Reservoir - former Joyal place at the lake

Wilson's Reservoir - former Joyal place at the lake, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Dad, Bob and I managed to explore Paschoag and see if we could find our way to the old Joyal water front site at Wilson's Reservoir one weekend in October.

We managed to do so.

The Joyal's did not have a dock when they were here had a dock that they took out for each winter. But the water and the view hasn't changed too much.

Added: There was also a 'boathouse' to cover the motor boat in season. Quonset hut shaped on stilts. It also was part of the seasonal work to put into the water in May and take out in September/October.

Jerry's Story: Early Days at Washburn Wire

Jerry talks about working at Washburn Wire, as a utility supervisor and then in the cost department.

Time: 7 minutes, 2 seconds



MP3 File

Jerry's Story: Working for McGarrahan Roofing

Jerry talks about working for McGarrahan Roofing. Doing roofing jobs in the middle of a tough winter during 1948.

Time: 8 minutes, 33 seconds



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Jerry's Story: Job History Part 1

Jerry recaps his job history starting post war with applying to FRAM Corp, then getting work at American Insulated Wire as a floor man. Providing the bundles of appliance cords, cloth covered, to the women who tied them off and then capped them with the plugs.

Time: 6 minutes, 23 seconds



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Jerry's Story: Filling in some gaps

Jerry talks about the parish schools, recaps his grade school to high school, to war, then one year at PC. With additional info on the replacement manager job he had with Finast before leaving for World War II

Time: 3 minutes, 6 seconds



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Jerry's Story: Drug stores and St Rays

Jerry talks about the drug stores in the neighborhood and then about the neighborhood around St Ray's as some houses got moved for Rt 95 to go through Broadway and Summit

Time: 5 minutes, 43 seconds



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Jerry's Story: Working in the Neighborhood

Jerry talks about working for the paper merchant, loading stock from the 3rd floor, riding the truck to deliver in Providence.

Time: 4 minutes, 18 seconds



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NORMAND JOSEPH (Red) ROBICHAUD

ROBICHAUD, NORMAND JOSEPH, also known as 'Norm', 'Red', 71, a lifelong resident of Pawtucket, was born into eternal life Friday evening surrounded by his loving family holding him. Normand passed away after a courageous battle of pancreatic cancer. He was the husband of Colette (Joyal) Robichaud. Born in Pawtucket, he was the son of the late Emery and Lea (Laporte) Robichaud. Mr. Robichaud was a life-long communicant and Eucharistic Minister of the St. John the Baptist Church, Pawtucket.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He attended St. John the Baptist School, Sacred Heart, West High, and RI School of Design. He was a lifetime member of the Lefoyer Club and a member of the Les Gais Chanteur for over 40 years. Normand served on the school board at Woodlawn Catholic Regional School in Pawtucket for 33 years. In his spare time he enjoyed playing golf, painting, drawing, and spending time at the barn with the family horses, George, Heaven and Dog Becca.

Mr. Robichaud was a model cutter for 27 years for Jostens in Attleboro, and then Balfour for 7 years. After his retirement in 2001, he became a dedicated volunteer as a Eucharistic minister at the Miriam Hospital in Providence where he carried on his services of comfort and prayers, love and laughter to those in need. This was a job which he especially enjoyed. Normand always loved to make others laugh and always succeeded at brightening the love of others.

Normand's spirit will live on in the legacy of his family. He was the adoring father to his five children who will miss him dearly: Charles E. Robichaud, Brigette A. Robichaud, Aimee D. Robichaud, Denis A. Robichaud, and Elise M. Robichaud. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends, all of whom cherished his love. He was the brother of the late George Robichaud, Cecile Hamel, and Yvette Clement.

His funeral will be held Tuesday at 9 AM from the J.J. Duffy Funeral Home, 757 Mendon Road, Rt. 122, Cumberland. Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in the St. John the Baptist Church, 69 Quincy Avenue, Pawtucket. Burial will follow in the Notre Dame Cemetery, Pawtucket. Relatives and Friends are kindly invited. Calling Hours will be held Monday, 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. John the Baptist Food Bank, 69 Quincy Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Directions and Guestbook

reprinted from the Providence (RI) Journal edition of 11/11/07.

Colette was one of my mother's sisters, Norm was one of Jerry's brother-in-laws

Jerry's Story: Neighborhood Stores

Jerry talks of the neighborhood stores, the meat market one block one way or five blocks the other way. The ice man, the milk man. Cumberland Farms. Cream on the top of the milk bottle.

Time: 5 minutes, 56 seconds



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Jerry's Neighborhood

Jerry's childhood neighborhood in Pawtucket as seen in Google Maps today:


View Larger Map

Sherlock Clan

Sherlock Clan, originally uploaded by shersteve.

front row: Martina, Angela, Jack
back row: Henry, Helene, Jerry

If the picture does not show completely in your browser window, click on the picture to view the original in Flickr.

The photo was taken during the reception at Rhode Island College following the funeral for their sister M Francis Campbell. RIC President John Nazarian stopped in to the reception to extend his condolences to the family and friends gathered there. He said that he will miss Fran. No matter what he said, she always had something else to add. She is probably looking down upon us all now and commenting.

Fran Campbell

M. Frances Campbell

CAMPBELL, M. FRANCES 'FRAN', 93, of Walcott Street, died Saturday at Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Vincent J. Campbell, Sr.

Born in Pawtucket, she was a daughter of the late John F. Sr. and Mary Agnes (King) Sherlock and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar and High Schools in Pawtucket and graduated from Rhode Island College of Education in 1935. She began her 40 year teaching career at Oakland Beach School in Warwick followed by periods at Samuel Slater Jr. High School, Pawtucket, John W. Horton School, and later at Parkview Jr. High School both in Cranston. She was a critic teacher for many years guiding numerous student teachers toward academic excellence. She was a Past President of the RI Retired Teachers and the Blackstone Valley Teachers, Past Secretary & Treasurer of the RI Social Studies Association, a member of the Central Retired Teachers, A.F. of T. Retired Teachers, American Association of Teacher Educators, Delegate to the Annual Teacher Educators Convention for RI, a member of the Legislative Committee of the RI Teachers Association and the AARP Community Participation Person of the RI Teachers Association.

She was a Lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Church, Pawtucket as well as Past President of its Senior Citizens Club and Past Vice President of its Woman's Club. She was Past President of Mercy Mount Mothers Club, Past President of Sacred Heart High School Alumni. She was Treasurer of Catholic Woman's Club of RI and former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Raphael Academy and Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Mrs. Campbell was a Charter member of Providence College Veridames, and member of the RI College Alumni Association. She was a Regent of the Pawtucket Circle of the Daughters of Isabella and Recording Secretary of the State Circle.

On the Community level, she began her service with the American Red Cross Motor Service from 1941-1945 as a driver. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Guild, the Pawtucket Women's Club, the Pawtucket Public Library, Deborah Cook-Sayles since 1983 and served as a Chairperson and later a Vice Chairperson there, and was a member of the Visiting Nurses of Blackstone Valley. She was a 2003 inductee of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.

She was great advocate for Elderly issues and rights and testified at the RI State House Hearing and Committees. She was appointed a Delegate to the US Representative Fernand St. Germain White House Conference in 1981. She was Past President of Pawtucket Senior Citizen's Council, a Board Member of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, and an Advisory Board Member of the Home and Community Care Board of the Department of Elderly Affairs. She was Elected State Democratic Woman for District 62.

She is survived by two sons, Vincent J. Jr. and his wife Patricia Campbell of Rehoboth, MA, Kevin P. Campbell of Pawtucket; three sisters, Martina Higgins of Bristol, Angela Brousseau of South Kingstown, Helene A. Mainor of North Kingstown; three brothers, John F. Sherlock, Sr. of Pawtucket, Gerald F. Sherlock of Smithfield, Henry J. Sherlock of Providence; four grandchildren, Shawn C. and his wife Holly Campbell of Rumford, Todd R. Campbell of Pawtucket, Honey H. Campbell of Pawtucket, Roseanna C. and her husband Brian Cavanaugh of Franklin, MA, and one great-grandson, Connor J. Campbell of Rumford. She was the sister of the late Rep. Paul Sherlock and Edward 'Ted' Sherlock. She was the former mother-in-law of Jann Campbell of Arlington, VA.

A funeral will be held on Friday at 8:30 a.m. from the CHEETHAM MORTUARY INC., 1012 Newport Ave., Pawtucket with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 193 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Burial will be in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Donations may be made to RI College Foundation, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Prov., RI 02980, in 'Fran's' memory.

Published in The Providence Journal on 10/30/2007.

Jerry's Story: Revisiting the neighborhood stores

Jerry talks about the neighborhood stores, the corner stores, the days before the big supermarkets came.

Time: 6 minutes, 29 seconds



MP3 File

Coming home

Yes, the release is scheduled to occur this morning so Jerry will be home later today.

The story telling will continue.
Stay tuned for more episodes to be posted.

Health update

Dad is recovering from a bout with an infection that created some complications and resulted in a hospital stay for a few days. He is now in a nursing home for some additional recovery/rehab before returning home.

Visiting time has taken priority over additional editing to post more episodes of Jerry's Story. The hospital was not an environment to attempt to do any recording. We'll see if this new location provides an opportunity.

In the meantime, you can review the archives and wait patiently for new episodes.

the scorecard

It's my father's fault.
answers to math questions in an instant
Cost accountant, meticulous rows of figures

kept score for the family card games
columns of names and numbers
tallied for the winners and players

diabetic diary, daily food intake
peanut butter toast, mashed potatoes
dog eared book, calories for each

so I'm at the festival
scribbling who spoke in order
what poem was read

can go back to 2004, 2002 even
words, images, scenes called forth
and the festivals come alive

early morning Rumi, Bly on the mound,
Barks at bat, Paul Winter on deck,
the pitch, and it' s a home run!


Technorati Tags : Dodge+Poetry, scorecard, capture+the+moment

originally posted on Steve's 2 Cents

audio version available here

Riding the wave

It appears that we are riding the wave. Ken Burns has the new PBS program on WWII coming out next week.

US News & World Report has the cover story on "Voices of World War II".

Susan Kitchens, from whom I find some guidance on family oral history, writes here. She was quoted and reference in the magazine article.

Jerry's Story: Tinian and Hawaii (audio)

Jerry talks about Tinian and then recovery and training on Hawaii before going into Iwo Jima.

Audio file ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e508659f-bfc5-42fd-9e36-5c59b369a440

Jerry's Story: Tinian and Hawaii (audio)

The music for the intro and exit comes from “Through Golden Fields” by Dee Yan-Key licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

Jerry's Story: Joint Assault Signal Company

Jerry talks about his work on Saipan and Tinian as part of the Joint Assault Signal Company, a group also made famous in the movie "The Whisperers".

Time: approx. 6 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-002-jerry-recalls-the-joint-assault-signal-company

Jerry's Story: Foxhole clarifications

Jerry provides some background clarifications on the foxholes and vegetation found on the islands.

Time: approx. 2 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-003-jerry-recalls-some-foxhole-clarifications

Jerry's Story: US Marine Health Records

Jerry talks about his health records and how he grew during his time in the US Marines.

Time: about 6 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-007-jerry-recalls-trying-to-get-his-marine-health-records

Jerry's Story: Market Forecast

Jerry talks about the market forecast he made in 1999 that became reality during 2000 and now when re-reading these school projects he realizes he acurrately made.

Time: 1 minute, 3 seconds



MP3 File

Jerry's Story: Meghan's School Report - Part 2

the second part of Meghan's school report written during 1999 and read aloud by Jerry with some commentary and minor corrections along the way. (originally 2 parts, now parts 1 & 2 are combined)

Time: about 32 minutes

Audio file ->  https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-004-meghans-school-report

Jerry's Story: Meghan's School Report - Part 1

Jerry reads the school report that his granddaughter Meghan did during high school. The report was written during 1999. This is the full recording. (Previously parts 1 & 2 were published separately)

Time: about 32 minutes

Audio file ->  https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-004-meghans-school-report

Jerry's Story: William's School Report

Jerry reads a report that his grandson William had prepared for a US History project while Will was in high school.

The report focuses on WW II and what Jerry experienced during his participation in Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.

Time: about 7 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-005-williams-school-report

Jerry's Story: School Project

Jerry's Story: School Project, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Jerry Sherlock with his granddaughter Avery (sitting at his left) and two other students at Avery's school working on their history project.

Jerry's Story: Avery's School Report

Jerry reads, and edits along the way, a report he helped his granddaughter Avery prepare for school a few years ago.

The report summarizes Jerry's Story; his early days through WWII.

Time: about 7 minutes

Audio file -> https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-006-averys-school-report

Jerry and Fran

Jerry and Fran, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Jerry's older sister, Fran, stopped by to help celebrate his birthday this past weekend.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I skipped fourth grade

Jerry talks about grade school and the nuns. He says he practically skipped fourth grade as he had no clue what she was saying. She had a heavy Irish brogue.

Time: 2 minutes, 39 seconds



MP3 File

Trackless Trolleys and Streetcars

Jerry talks about the street cars and trackless trolleys and traveling between Pawtucket and Providence. He also mentions the Outlet Store and its cartons of suits.

Time: 5 minutes, 50 seconds



MP3 File

The drug store cowboys on Broadway

Jerry talks of the family walk on Broadway on a Sunday to his grandfather's house. As the family walked by, his sisters drew comments from the "drug store cowboys". No wonder they did not like to go to Grandpa's.

Time: 5 minutes, 7 seconds



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Catholic Churches in Pawtucket, RI

Jerry talks about the many Catholic Churches in Pawtucket and how when they tried to take a short cut and go to the French church for confession, the pastor told them to go to their own church.

Time: 3 minutes, 13 seconds



MP3 File

Selling Christmas trees from the front yard

Jerry talks of Ted selling Christmas trees from the front yard; corner of Coyle Ave and Broadway in Pawtucket. Ragman, iceman, and peddlers. Jerry also wants to check with his older siblings on some of these details.

Time: 4 minutes, 5 seconds



MP3 File

Truckers, free bananas, paper route

Jerry talks of action by some truckers during the Teamsters recruiting days. They spilled a truck with bananas over the bridge onto the RR tracks and the kids got free bananas. He also talks of the family paper route.

Time: 4 minutes, 19 seconds



MP3 File

Passing lunch buckets during the sit down strike

Jerry talks about when he and other kids in the neighborhood would pass lunch buckets through the windows to the workers involved in the sit down strike. Of his father's trip on the first bus to Providence. Of the man "at the end of his blood".

Time: 5 minutes, 48 seconds



MP3 File

Working at Finast

Jerry talks of working at Finast, the First National Stores, a grocery store in the early 1940's. Talks about the hours and wages at that time.

Time: 8 minutes, 56 seconds



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Working after WWII

Jerry talks about getting work just after World War II. The veterans had umeployment insurance they called the 52/20 club. He talks of his father paying taxes before payroll deductions.

Time: 4 minutes, 52 seconds



MP3 File

Roofing work

Jerry talks of his work on the roofs of a couple of familar buildings; Pawtucket City Hall and McCarthy's Dept Store, Woonsocket.

Time: 5 minutes, 27 seconds



MP3 File

Note: the photo was added on a raw overcast day (40's) in March. The tower would have been much more forbidding in the middle of winter when Jerry was up there.

More Field Stories

More stories about the playing fields in Pawtucket while growing up in the 1930's and early 1940's. Women's softball. King and his Court. Hammond Pond. McCoy Stadium. Hank Soar.

Time: 6 minutes, 57 seconds



MP3 File

Washtub lights, Ted

Jerry talks about games under the lights at the high school field (Tolman, St Raphael's), the washtubs used as reflectors, and his brother Ted, a great softball pitcher.

Time: 1 minute, 42 seconds



MP3 File

Mayor of Broadway

Jerry talks about his grandfather, Henry King, who was called the "Mayor of Broadway".

Time: 3 minutes, 36 seconds



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More Boy's Club baseball, lighted field

Jerry tells more about Boy's Club baseball, about Rufus Gallagher, then about the lights at the old high school field on Armistice Blvd in Pawtucket

Time: 6 minutes, 2 seconds



MP3 File

Boy's Club Baseball

Jerry talks about playing Boy's Club baseball, all morning for any team that would have them play, sharing gloves if you did not have one of your own

Time: 1 minute, 52 seconds



MP3 File

CYO Blackstone Valley Champions

Jerry talks about how when he was 13 or 14, he was on the CYO baseball team that won the Blackstone Valley Championship

Time: 2 minutes, 57 seconds



MP3 File

The French Church wouldn't marry us

Jerry starts to talk about the local churches and how he and mother got married in his parish because the French church wouldn't marry them.

Time: 54 seconds

The Soda Case

Jerry talks about cases of soda used for the family parties.

1 minute, 35 seconds

Why Pepsi was my favorite

Jerry tells us why Pepsi was his favorite drink

Time: 40 seconds

Ice Box Duty

Jerry tells of ice box duty, cowboys and indians, country versus city living

Time: 3 minutes, 25 seconds

The Potato Story

Continuing with the house at Coyle Ave, Jerry tells the potato story and how the neighborhood was affected

Time: 5 minutes, 54 seconds



MP3 File

Paul Babysat

Jerry's brother Paul came to baby sit the boys while he and Rita went to a wake.

Time: 2 minutes, 0 seconds



MP3 File

The House at Coyle Ave

Jerry talks about the house at Coyle Ave, falling through the grate one night, and daily chores.

Time: 4 minutes, 7 seconds



MP3 File

My Earliest Memory

Jerry recalls his earliest memory, how there were two "Henrys".

Time: 4 minutes, 8 seconds



MP3 File

Grandma Grandpa King

Jerry talks of Grandma and Grandpa King with some discussion on their dates of birth and death

Time: 1 minute, 20 seconds



MP3 File

You can't call him Jack

Jerry tells the story of his grandmother objecting to the family calling John Francis Edward Patrick Sherlock the second "Jack".

Time: 53 seconds



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Sherlock's

Me, Dad, Bob, Will
Originally uploaded by shersteve

Dad, my brother Bob, his son Will, and I pose at Harvard.

Happy Father's Day

On this Father's Day, the first recording of my father's oral history has been posted. My daughter Allison and I spent about an hour with Dad recording and taking notes as he talked. The first of many story's is now available.

We hope you enjoy!

Happy Father's Day

for Gerald Sherlock
who is also known as Papa, Dad, Jerry, Mr. Sherlock
and perhaps a few others that I may not have heard yet.

Counting Cousins

Jerry's Story: counting cousins.

Eileen was reported by one of her teachers to have a tendency to exagerate. Dad counters with the fact that she actually has more cousins than she revealed.

Time: 1 minute, 50 seconds



MP3 File