Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Let's return to our summer theme with Mémère and Pépère at the beach! This is the earliest photo I have of them together, taken, perhaps in 1924, before they were married. The little boy in the sailor suit is unidentified, as is the location. I love Mémère's big smile!

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today I thought I would highlight "The Origin Story;" or such as I know it. This is the family of Manuel Faria Soares, Sr. and Anna Rebello Soares in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, around 1898. We do not know the name of the daughter on the left, but she died in childhood. Anna is holding Victor, my pépère, while Manuel is with Anthony. Anna and Manuel were Azoreans who emigrated to Brazil. They met on the ship, married, and bought a cafe in Rio. This establishment may have been a coffee house, but my father thought it was more of a saloon with rooms for hanky-panky upstairs. Manuel was dead of tuberculosis by 1908; leaving Anna a widow with three sons (Manuel, Jr. was born in 1900). They came to Fall River in 1910. Both my father and Uncle Arthur said they believed Anna had been a schoolteacher in Portugal. Although I have no evidence of that, it's plausible; the house on Sherman Road was filled with books, and everyone in the family loved reading and learning.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today we're back home...here is my pépère, Victor Faria Soares, Sr., working in the garden. Given the size of this plot, I'm guessing this is during the war years, when many families grew "Victory Gardens." Note the grapevine supports in the right background. But today I want to focus on the building in the background, which we called "The Little House." According to my Uncle Arthur, the building had been occupied before the Soares bought the property in 1937. But in the 1940s, it was more of a spare room and storage unit. it contained an old couch, a card table and two shabby chairs. A framed photo of Victor's father, Manuel Faria Soares, Sr., sporting a "majestic mustache" hung on the wall. Some of the more interesting items stashed in The Little House included a Brazilian flag (Victor was born in Rio) and a violin. Uncle Art tried to find out more about the instrument, but never learned much. He suspected Victor had played it at one time, however. The Little House looms large in the Soares family lore, and I will write more about it in the future.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

The summer theme continues...Today I am posting two pictures, because they go together. Here are my mémère and pépère, Rose and Victor Soares, and their daughter, Beatrice, at Horseneck Beach circa 1948. Not sure what's going on with those hats.

Mémère has conked out, and pépère is headed in the same direction. Meanwhile, their friend, Mary Perry, is trying to read the newspaper.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Continuing with our summer theme, here is my pépère, Victor Faria Soares, Sr., posing at the entrance of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport. Idawalley Zorada Lewis-Wilson was a legendary 19th lighthouse keeper at the Lime Rock Light in Newport Harbor. She saved at least 13 people from drowning over her years of service; the first when she was only 12 years old (her father was the official keeper at the time). When told it was unladylike to row a boat, she said, "None--but a donkey, would consider it 'unfeminine' to save lives."

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

The Soares Family in 1931. From left, Rose, Raymond, Beatrice, Victor Sr. (with Arthur on his lap) and Victor, Jr. As of the 1930 census, the Soares were living at 218 Covel St. in Fall River. Victor's mother, Anna, is listed as head of household. His brother, Manuel, also lived in the house. Victor had begun work as a salesman for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), a position he would keep for the rest of his working life. Manuel was a loom fixer in one of Fall River's many cotton mills. Rose and Anna were "at home." This particular census noted whether people had a "radio set;" the Soares did not. Neither did most of their neighbors. Victor and Manuel were naturalized citizens by this point. An interesting note on the census instructs takers to "Distinguish Canada-French from Canada-English and Irish Free State from Northern Ireland." And, indeed, one of their neighbors traced his origins to the Irish Free State.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today we have a quiz! Which guy was born in Rio, and which was born in Holyoke, Mass.? This is my pépère, Victor Faria Soares (right), and his future brother-in-law, Edmé "Eddy" Banville. This photo dates from circa 1923. I am trying to figure out what beach this might be; other photos show a small boardwalk and a restaurant serving shore dinners.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Another great shot from the Portuguese-American Civic League convention on Martha's Vineyard in 1948. My pépère, Victor Faria Soares, Sr., wasn't a politician (though he was a leader in the Somerset PACL and served on the town's finance board)--but when I look at this photo, all I can think of is a 21st century congressman with two constituents! — at Martha's Vineyard.

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today we return to that enthusastic group that journeyed to Martha's Vineyard in 1948 for a Portuguese-American Civic League gathering. Here they are on the ferry. On the left, front, is Mary Perry, a friend of the Soares family. I believe my parents and I lived in an apartment in her house when I was one-two years old. My Aunt Beatrice is next to her. My grandfather, Victor Faria Soares is next to the standing man in a hat. I know the man next to Pépère is "Mr. Ramos," but only because he is identified in other photos. Bon voyage, happy travelers!

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

The Soares men and friends following the Hurricane of 1938. On Sept. 21, this Category 3 storm roared through the northeast; 600 people were killed in New England. Forecasts underestimated the strength of the storm, which was occurred during the autumnal equinox and a full moon. My grandfather, Victor F. Soares, Sr. is in the back row on the left. His sons, Raymond (my dad), Arthur and Victor Jr. are left to right in front. Not sure who the neighbors are, but one is named Sweeney!

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today we go back in time to the wedding of Victor Faria Soares and Rose Anna Raymond, my mémère and pépère. They were married on April 27, 1925, at St. Roch's Catholic Church, Pine St., Fall River, Mass. Rose was 18; Victor was 25. Victor's brother Anthony is standing behind him. Rose's father, Damase, is standing behind her. He was born in 1862 in St. Pierre de Sorel, Richelieu, Québec. The bridesmaids are identified as "The Foster Sisters."

Those were the days: The Soares clan, with friends & neighbors

Vintage photographs from the 1930s and beyond from the family of Victor Faria Soares, Sr. and Rose Raymond Soares of Somerset, Mass., my grandparents. These were digitized by my uncle, Arthur Faria Soares, who also provided me with many stories about my family and his experiences growing up. The children of Rose and Victor Sr. were: Victor Jr., Beatrice, Raymond (my father), and Arthur.

Today's vintage photo and the reason I'll be cheering on Brazil later today...my grandfather, Victor Faria Soares, born in Rio de Janeiro, 1897.