From the Files of the Rochester Historical Society

Mrs. Annie L. Hartley, known as “Grandma Hartley” to many Rochester residents, was born in Rochester and lived here her entire life of 96 years. At the age of 18, she married James Hartley, 23, whose family came to Rochester by way of England and Fall River. Annie moved into 178 Snipatuit Road with her husband and continued to live there for many years after his death. In this home, she gave birth to 15 children, 13 of whom survived.

            In 1939, a local paper reported on the Hartley family Christmas celebration. In that year, there were 79 Hartleys gathered in the old homestead for the family Christmas. Mrs. Hartley was mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, or mother-in-law to all who would be there.

            The family tradition, of which this was the 54th year, was to cut down a tree on their own property. It would be brightly decorated and surrounded by presents. This scene had occurred at this homestead every year since 1889.

            Of course, serving Christmas dinner to so many was a logistical challenge, but it was a challenge met by family cooperation. Each family group brought something to contribute to the spread, and everyone ate at the same time at tables set up in the three downstairs rooms. At the 1939 feast reported on in the paper, there were 38 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, 12 sons and daughters-in-law, and six grandsons and daughters-in-law.

            My mother, born in 1920, would have been one of the grandchildren there. However, the Christmases she talked about were the ones held at the Grange Hall. When the family grew too big to gather at the house, they moved the celebration next door. She remembered that every grandchild received a present from their grandmother. To make that possible, all the grandchildren of the same age got the same gift, so the presents had to be all opened simultaneously. The picture with this article shows Grandma Hartley with some of her family, though not at Christmas.

            Merry Christmas and, hopefully, a better New Year to all from the Rochester Historical Society.

By Connie Eshbach