Tales from my Grandmother about the 1918 Pandemic
A Memories Project submission by Michael D. Golding
My Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Prendiville and my mother Helen, moved to Nahant from Boston in 1917. Tom had taken a job as a chauffeur for Louis Bacon who was a prominent Boston stock and note broker.
What was the Bacon’s summer house is located at the corner of Nahant Road and Ocean Street. At that time, to the best of my knowledge, the estate occupied all of the land from Nahant Road to Intervale Road and was bounded on the East by what is now the Jesmond. In addition to the main house, the estate contained a carriage house on Ocean Street and a bungalow at 14 Intervale Road. My Grandparents and Mother, who was two years old in 1917, resided in the bungalow.
When I was a child, my Grandmother spoke often of their neighbors, the Badgers, who resided at 7 Intervale. The head of the house was Albert Badger who was a Banker in Lynn. According to my Grandmother, when the 1918 Pandemic struck, Albert Badger was insistent that my Mother was to stay in Nahant no matter what. And, if need be, his family would assist my Grandparents to care for her. At this point, I can only surmise that there may have been some discussion about my Grandmother traveling to Boston. She had left a large family containing younger siblings when she moved to Nahant.
Mr. Badger was concerned about my Mother and wanted her to remain in Nahant for her own safety. That brief story about Mr. Badger’s kindness remained with me throughout the years. It was rekindled when our current pandemic struck.
And, for you “old timers” who are wondering, the Albert Badger who I am speaking about was the Father of Sergeant Al Badger of Nahant PD. Some of us knew him as “The Badge”.
(The family pictures that were taken on Intervale Road.)