In this writings I will try to take you back in time to my recollections of a man and his family, I in my youth regarded as big part of my raising.
My father was a long time friend of Ralph Pratt , and I got to know when I started to shine shoes downtown. My first meeting with Ralph was to say the least very scary. I was shining shoes one day in the Hydaway, while I really did not know him personally . I had heard many stories of him and my father as they grew up together. It was even said that Ralph and my dad were having a contest on how many kids they would have. It ended out my Dad had 14 and Ralph had 11, so my Dad won.
Getting back to my story , while I was shining a mans shoes at the bar, he called Ralph over to where he was sitting. The customer looked down at me and pointed , see this kid shining my shoes,he is my son. Suddenly Ralph reached over , grabbed the man by the shirt and punched him. The next thing I knew all hatie's broke loose. The Police and Firemen were suddenly crowding in to the bar. The man was taken out of the Hydaway. I later learned that he was my real mothers last husband , but of no relation to me. I was very scared after the incident and ran out crying. I saw t he Firemen going up the hill where the Fitz Henry Lane House is now. I watched them as they set fire to a car of which I learned belong to the man they took out.
The chief of Police , John J. Coyle , took me aside and told me not to fear, the man would never bother me again. He told me that they had to burn the car, as he was a suspected Tuberculosis carrier. He was put on a train with a one way ticket out of town. It was after that day the Police and Fire sort of adopted me. Ralph Pratt also took me under his wings. I sort of became a addition to his family, more so as I grew older .
Ralph was somewhat of a character. I remember how he used to tap dance around the Hydaway with both hands carrying bottles of beer and glasses, and he would not miss a beat . He would set a bowl of beer for my dog Pudgy to drink, along with a slice of Stewart's pizza. My dog Pudgy was a female, and she had at least as far as I can remember 8 litters of pups in her life time. Ralph would spoil her rotten. Ralph also used to have a challenge going for his customers. He had a roll out awning which had a sort of platform in the middle. The customers would pitch quarters, dimes, nickels, and penny's. If you got in the customer would get a free drink. I will tell you one thing their were more coins on the awning, than the bottle. He used to let me help clean off the awning. I do not believe anybody knew where the money went. I know it went for good causes, but he did not want any thanks for it.
In later years I also worked for Ralph's brother Barley. It was with him I had my first experience of driving a standard shift truck. The Pratt family at that time was much involved with the development of Long Beach property. It was there I learned the true value of working . I used to help mix cement and carry blocks or bricks as they were needed on the job. I would take breaks and get in the Dump truck they had , and attempt to drive around Long Beach. I loved working with Barley, Dana , and especially Blinky Walsh.
At that same time Ralph owned the Marina that was down on the end of Parker St where Pigeon Cove Fish is now located. It was kind of boring , but in the summer it was great. The building would be empty and my buddy Bobby Gross and I would take Ralph's 54 Buick and drive from floor to floor with the top down. It was a ball. In my closing reflection of Ralph . I was learning to do roofing. My first lesson was working on Ralph's house on Myrtle Square. I and Ralph, along with his sons Mike and I believe Jimmy were on top of the roof . Ralph was showing me how to do the work. As I shuffled my legs and knees along , suddenly I found myself over the edge, but not to fear Ralph caught me as I fell . He said it was lucky he caught my arm , otherwise he would had to have pulled me up by the hair, but as he said with my hair I would not have been hurt. So there you have it a little look back on a man and Family that were heritage and foundation of businesses of today. I refer to Pratty's on Parker St Jimmy Pratt. I refer to Stylin on the Island . Christine Pratt Murphy, I refer to Brown's ,Mall Mary Jo Montiniqno, Joe Pratt, retired City Auditor, Mike Pratt. retired Deputy Fire Chief. and all the others who continue to carry on the Pratt Family heritage. This article I dedicate to the memory of Ralph & Josie Pratt. R.I.P
My father was a long time friend of Ralph Pratt , and I got to know when I started to shine shoes downtown. My first meeting with Ralph was to say the least very scary. I was shining shoes one day in the Hydaway, while I really did not know him personally . I had heard many stories of him and my father as they grew up together. It was even said that Ralph and my dad were having a contest on how many kids they would have. It ended out my Dad had 14 and Ralph had 11, so my Dad won.
Getting back to my story , while I was shining a mans shoes at the bar, he called Ralph over to where he was sitting. The customer looked down at me and pointed , see this kid shining my shoes,he is my son. Suddenly Ralph reached over , grabbed the man by the shirt and punched him. The next thing I knew all hatie's broke loose. The Police and Firemen were suddenly crowding in to the bar. The man was taken out of the Hydaway. I later learned that he was my real mothers last husband , but of no relation to me. I was very scared after the incident and ran out crying. I saw t he Firemen going up the hill where the Fitz Henry Lane House is now. I watched them as they set fire to a car of which I learned belong to the man they took out.
The chief of Police , John J. Coyle , took me aside and told me not to fear, the man would never bother me again. He told me that they had to burn the car, as he was a suspected Tuberculosis carrier. He was put on a train with a one way ticket out of town. It was after that day the Police and Fire sort of adopted me. Ralph Pratt also took me under his wings. I sort of became a addition to his family, more so as I grew older .
Ralph was somewhat of a character. I remember how he used to tap dance around the Hydaway with both hands carrying bottles of beer and glasses, and he would not miss a beat . He would set a bowl of beer for my dog Pudgy to drink, along with a slice of Stewart's pizza. My dog Pudgy was a female, and she had at least as far as I can remember 8 litters of pups in her life time. Ralph would spoil her rotten. Ralph also used to have a challenge going for his customers. He had a roll out awning which had a sort of platform in the middle. The customers would pitch quarters, dimes, nickels, and penny's. If you got in the customer would get a free drink. I will tell you one thing their were more coins on the awning, than the bottle. He used to let me help clean off the awning. I do not believe anybody knew where the money went. I know it went for good causes, but he did not want any thanks for it.
In later years I also worked for Ralph's brother Barley. It was with him I had my first experience of driving a standard shift truck. The Pratt family at that time was much involved with the development of Long Beach property. It was there I learned the true value of working . I used to help mix cement and carry blocks or bricks as they were needed on the job. I would take breaks and get in the Dump truck they had , and attempt to drive around Long Beach. I loved working with Barley, Dana , and especially Blinky Walsh.
At that same time Ralph owned the Marina that was down on the end of Parker St where Pigeon Cove Fish is now located. It was kind of boring , but in the summer it was great. The building would be empty and my buddy Bobby Gross and I would take Ralph's 54 Buick and drive from floor to floor with the top down. It was a ball. In my closing reflection of Ralph . I was learning to do roofing. My first lesson was working on Ralph's house on Myrtle Square. I and Ralph, along with his sons Mike and I believe Jimmy were on top of the roof . Ralph was showing me how to do the work. As I shuffled my legs and knees along , suddenly I found myself over the edge, but not to fear Ralph caught me as I fell . He said it was lucky he caught my arm , otherwise he would had to have pulled me up by the hair, but as he said with my hair I would not have been hurt. So there you have it a little look back on a man and Family that were heritage and foundation of businesses of today. I refer to Pratty's on Parker St Jimmy Pratt. I refer to Stylin on the Island . Christine Pratt Murphy, I refer to Brown's ,Mall Mary Jo Montiniqno, Joe Pratt, retired City Auditor, Mike Pratt. retired Deputy Fire Chief. and all the others who continue to carry on the Pratt Family heritage. This article I dedicate to the memory of Ralph & Josie Pratt. R.I.P
