Sunday, April 06, 2008
Obituary
MANCHESTER EVENING HERALD, MANCHESTER CONN, WEDNESDAY JULY 15, 1936
JOHN MAHONEY DIES: MASON CONTRACTOR
Passes Away After Four Months Illness – Was Well Read and Known for Good Nature
John Mahoney, 60 Maple street, a native of Manchester, having been born here April 12, 1871, died at the Manchester Memorial hospital last night shortly after 9 o’clock. He had been in poor health for the past four months and spent about two months at a Hartford hospital. Returning to Manchester he was home but a short time when he entered the Manchester Memorial hospital. His death last night was sudden.
Local Contractor
Mr Mahoney as a boy entered the employ of Cheney Brothers in their silk mills, but worked but a short time. He then secured work as a mason’s apprentice. He first worked with C.O. Treat, who was one of the leading mason contractors in those days, but later engaged with Jerome Hills of Hillstown, who was doing considerable mason work on homes that were being built. In this way he was able to learn the setting of the stone for the cellar, the mixing and preparation of the mortar for the walls, the actual application and the building of the chimney. It was a good training and he proved a good student. For three years he engaged in this work with Mr. Hills and for a year later worked with Frank Dutton, another local contractor who had come to Manchester from Glastonbury.
When Charles O. Treat was given the contract to erect the power station for the Hartford, Manchester & Rockville Tramway company Mr. Mahoney went to work on that building and it was he who built the chimney.
On the completion of the work for C.O. Treat he became the head of the plasterers and bricklayers for Patrick O’Gorman and six years later, or in 1903 he went into business for himself.
One of the first important contracts he had when he started in business for himself was the plastering of the interior of St. Bridget’s church. It was while working on this contract that he met with an accident. He was working well up towards the center top of the church when he fell. He was taken to his home and when friends were allowed to call on him within a day or two, he had several callers. One of his friends asked “Were you hurt much when you fell?” to which he responded with the ready wit for which he was known: “No, it was not the fall that hurt me, it was the sudden stop.” Though it may not have been original with him it was typical of his exuberant good nature.
Mr. Mahoney worked hard during the summer months and his spare time in the evenings was given up mostly to reading. He became well-informed on many matters outside of his business and had a remarkable memory for names and dates. He was especially good on history and took much interest in reading of every battle that was fought in the Civil War as he had an uncle, who was killed in service and who was the only private mentioned in the history of the Tenth Regiment Conn. Vol., because of his bravery in battle and described as “fearless to a fault.”
He was a charter member of Court Manchester F. of A., and for several years was a member of the board of trustees. He was also a charter member of Campbell Council K. of C., and the first chancellor of the council. The part of the chancellor in the first degree work of the Knights of Columbus is the most important office in the degree and soon after he was elected and served in the office he became recognized throughout the state as an exceptionally good officer and he was called upon to assist in degree work in many of the other councils in Connecticut.
Mr. Mahoney was married in 1905 to Miss Annie McVeigh, who survives him as do nine children, John, Helen, Bessie, Anna, Doris, Marion, James, Frederick and Margaret Mahoney, all of this place and one brother, Dennis Mahoney of Hampton Beach, N.H.
Funeral
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 8:30 at the W.P.Quish funeral home and at St. James’s church at 9 o’clock with burial in St. James’s Cemetery.
The body may be viewed by friends at the Quish funeral home after 4 o’clock this afternoon until the time of the funeral.
JOHN MAHONEY DIES: MASON CONTRACTOR
Passes Away After Four Months Illness – Was Well Read and Known for Good Nature
John Mahoney, 60 Maple street, a native of Manchester, having been born here April 12, 1871, died at the Manchester Memorial hospital last night shortly after 9 o’clock. He had been in poor health for the past four months and spent about two months at a Hartford hospital. Returning to Manchester he was home but a short time when he entered the Manchester Memorial hospital. His death last night was sudden.
Local Contractor
Mr Mahoney as a boy entered the employ of Cheney Brothers in their silk mills, but worked but a short time. He then secured work as a mason’s apprentice. He first worked with C.O. Treat, who was one of the leading mason contractors in those days, but later engaged with Jerome Hills of Hillstown, who was doing considerable mason work on homes that were being built. In this way he was able to learn the setting of the stone for the cellar, the mixing and preparation of the mortar for the walls, the actual application and the building of the chimney. It was a good training and he proved a good student. For three years he engaged in this work with Mr. Hills and for a year later worked with Frank Dutton, another local contractor who had come to Manchester from Glastonbury.
When Charles O. Treat was given the contract to erect the power station for the Hartford, Manchester & Rockville Tramway company Mr. Mahoney went to work on that building and it was he who built the chimney.
On the completion of the work for C.O. Treat he became the head of the plasterers and bricklayers for Patrick O’Gorman and six years later, or in 1903 he went into business for himself.
One of the first important contracts he had when he started in business for himself was the plastering of the interior of St. Bridget’s church. It was while working on this contract that he met with an accident. He was working well up towards the center top of the church when he fell. He was taken to his home and when friends were allowed to call on him within a day or two, he had several callers. One of his friends asked “Were you hurt much when you fell?” to which he responded with the ready wit for which he was known: “No, it was not the fall that hurt me, it was the sudden stop.” Though it may not have been original with him it was typical of his exuberant good nature.
Mr. Mahoney worked hard during the summer months and his spare time in the evenings was given up mostly to reading. He became well-informed on many matters outside of his business and had a remarkable memory for names and dates. He was especially good on history and took much interest in reading of every battle that was fought in the Civil War as he had an uncle, who was killed in service and who was the only private mentioned in the history of the Tenth Regiment Conn. Vol., because of his bravery in battle and described as “fearless to a fault.”
He was a charter member of Court Manchester F. of A., and for several years was a member of the board of trustees. He was also a charter member of Campbell Council K. of C., and the first chancellor of the council. The part of the chancellor in the first degree work of the Knights of Columbus is the most important office in the degree and soon after he was elected and served in the office he became recognized throughout the state as an exceptionally good officer and he was called upon to assist in degree work in many of the other councils in Connecticut.
Mr. Mahoney was married in 1905 to Miss Annie McVeigh, who survives him as do nine children, John, Helen, Bessie, Anna, Doris, Marion, James, Frederick and Margaret Mahoney, all of this place and one brother, Dennis Mahoney of Hampton Beach, N.H.
Funeral
The funeral will be held Friday morning at 8:30 at the W.P.Quish funeral home and at St. James’s church at 9 o’clock with burial in St. James’s Cemetery.
The body may be viewed by friends at the Quish funeral home after 4 o’clock this afternoon until the time of the funeral.
