1920 - 1940: The Carrolls
The Fox's sold 318 Metropolitan Ave to Francis and Barbara Carroll (née Blum) in or around 1920.​ We learn from Ruth Carroll's biography (graciously sent to us by Mary Anne Doyle, Ruth's niece), when they moved in to 318 Met Ave, Francis and Barbara were friends with the Editors of the Boston Globe and Boston Post. Is it possible this is how they got to know of 318 Met Ave - through Albert's newspaper connections?
​
Francis Michael Carroll was born in Ware, MA in 1875 (to John & Bridget Carroll from Co. Kerry in Ireland, who had 11 children, Francis being the only one to have children), and Barbara was born in Ludlow, VT in 1884 (to Anthony and Barbara Blum, who were from Germany, and who lived in VT, before moving to Texas and eventually to Danville, NY). They married in Brookline, MA on the 8th Oct 1907. Barbara had attended the exclusive Notre Dame Academy, just as Blanche and Frances Fox had done. Francis was a honor student at Ware Grammar and High School, before entering BU in 1894, with a 'through and sound classical training and a strong, well-equipped mind.'
He completed his liberal arts degree at BU in 3, rather than 4 years, the first student to ever do so. But he wasn't just bookish - he was president of the University Union, secretary of the debating league, and an aspiring actor. After his bachelor's degree he entered the BU school of Law in 1898, and after passing the bar, he practiced criminal law in the City of Boston, and was nominated to various City and other boards and committees, including the Insane Asylum, and the Bath Trustee (by Mayor Fitzgerald, of whom he was a prominent supporter). As many efficient lawyers do, he quickly climbed the Boston social ladder.
​
In 1908 Francis & Barbara bought a house at 12 Athelwold St, Dorchester, which is where they started their family. Francis and Barbara lived in Dorchester with daughter Ruth (b. 31 Oct 1908), son Richard (known as Lantie) (1910), son Francis M Jr.(19 Sept. 1911), and Barbara (1917). This house had an impressive Dutch front door (spilt stable door), which as can be seen in the recent street view has gone. They moved to their next house at 11 Maple St in Braintree, before arriving at 318 Met Avenue sometime after the January 1920 census (Francis is mis-transcribed as Thomas!) where they had their final son, Mark (25 Apr 1924).
​
​
1920 census in Braintree
12 Athewold St
11 Maple St
318 Met Ave
The Carroll's lived at 318 Met Ave until sometime in 1940. This last census showed that only Francis, Barbara and Barbara (26) and Mark (16) now lived in the house. Ruth had moved to Glendale, CA with her husband Larry Doyle, and their two sons. Francis Jr had moved to Milford, CT with his wife, Katherine.
The house was likely too large for a 4 person family, and so sometime in 1940, the remaining family moved to 17 Lakeville Road a few miles north in Jamaica Plain. The apartment had been owned by Howard Gould, who had worked for the WPA, but he had died in late 1939. After only a small stay at Lakeville Road, the smaller Carroll family moved into an apartment at 352 Riverway, Boston.
During the family's time at 318 Met Ave, it seems that the major house change was the improvement of the third floor, due to fire damage. A Boston Water and Sewer house inspection in 1937 (a few years before the Carroll's left) mentioned that the 3rd floor was an attic.We think that the 3rd floor was mostly unfinished during Albert Fox's time (no plans were made), although, I have a hunch that hot water, storage or utilities or such were in this empty third floor attic (some weird piping in the floor of the 3rd floor). But, we have Ruth's first hand account of a ballroom and piano on the 3rd floor, so....
On 19th Oct 1922, a large fire consumed the top floor of 318 Met Ave, destroying the roof and 3rd floor completely. The Globe describes that Barbara found the blaze, and caused several thousands of dollars in damage. Ruth mentioned the fire in her autobiography, saying it displaced the family for 6 months while the repairs took place, and that she lost her piano and a diamond ring.
The rafters in today's attic still show burn marks from the fire (although are now covered in insulating foam). It is possible that, since the fire occurred early in their occupancy, Francis took this 'repair' opportunity to somewhat finish the top floor, so that it could be used as a ballroom (as Ruth described). Francis did apply for a City of Boston permit for repairs to the roof, which would have taken less than the 6 months Ruth says they were out the house - but this would have been enough time to finish the 3rd floor.
Otherwise, the house sounds the same: Ruth remembers that the house had more than 16 rooms. These included: a large basement with a furnace, laundry, and egg-keeping and preserving room, as well as a room for Francis' beer making. These tie in with the original buildings plans. In the music room, she had her own Chikering Ebony baby grand piano, which was near the library and a drawing room, and a plant-filled conservatory. She mentions five fireplaces (3 around the music/hall/parlour and one each in the living room and dining room, presumably she didn't count the kitchen's), as well as the reception hall's oak panelling and Scottish quote inscribed. The 3rd floor was a big ballroom (perhaps just a big open space?), with the maid's quarters.
​
They did, however, install a dormer in the upper floor of the stable/garage, in May 1929, which is most likely in the side of the roof facing Met Ave.
​
The Carroll's left 318 Metropolitan Avenue sometime after the 1940 census, but before 1941. The house was bought by Albin F Brodin - a well know developer who lived in Roslindale, and who had developed the Southbourne area of Forest Hills. More of the details of the house after the Carrolls can be found on the next page.
​
The final picture of the whole house can be seen in an overhead from 1938. The resolution is low, but the outline of the entire house and stable can be seen.
Boston Globe Oct 20, 1922
Sewer Inspection, 1937.
Burnt rafters, 2020.
1929 Stable dormer
Overhead 1938.
1930 census at Met Ave
Francis's Career
Francis became a well recognized attorney in the City of Boston, and in May 1910, he was appointed as the Acting Fire Commissioner for the City of Boston, by Mayor Fitzgerald. Although he only was in this role until September, when a permanent Commissioner (Charles D Daly) was appointed, he made a good impression and was overall liked by the firemen. During his time in the position one of the worst Boston fire's occurred, downtown on Albany St. on August 9th 1910, a fire started in 406-408 Albany St., near Dover St., South End. This fire became known as the ‘Blacker & Shepard Fire’ and the city lost 20 buildings, and even nearly lost Fire Headquarters. It was a six alarm fire which became a 'general fire'. It started in a lumber mill's drying room, destroyed these 20 buildings, for over $500,000 of damage (including some fire department's own). It was fought by 17 engines and over 700 firefighters from Boston and surrounding cities came to help. But, the Mayor and the firefighters appreciated the way Carroll handled the fire: he went to the fire, rolled up his sleeves and worked with the firemen late into the night, and was back the next morning. It speaks well of his decent character.
In 1911, this Commissioner's experience helped him land a position in the Fire Conditions Committee.
During the 1920s, Francis was involved in what was called the Emerson Motor Company, or Pelletier Scandal. This scandal was front page news in the Boston newspapers for several months in 1922, with Francis being the first witness. The Suffolk County District Attorney at the time, Joseph C Pelletier​, was accused of abuse of his office: he and others conspired to extort money from various companies in order to dismiss criminal prosecution. These included the Emerson Motor Company. Francis had been the attorney retained by the Emerson Motor Company, which was targeted by Pelletier over stock irregularities. Ultimately Pelletier was convicted of 10 counts and removed from office.
​
An interesting note is that, in 1921 General Chas M Taylor (remember him? from the Boston newspapers and Albert's direct employer?) died - and Francis contributed to a multi-page obituary in the newspapers. Albert and Francis know Chas Taylor well - another connection to the two owners of the house.
​
Throughout this time, the family continues to live at 318 Met Ave.
The children began to grow up and move out - Ruth and Barbara got married, and moved in with their husbands, although Mark remained at home.​
​
So between the 1940 census and 1941, Barbara, Francis and Mark moved to 17 Lakeville Road in JP. But, soon after the move and just after midnight on 30th March 1941, Francis died of a sudden heart attack at home, he was 67. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Boston, just south of Met Ave.
​
​
The Children
Ruth went to the local schools before she attended Simmons College from 1931-1935, and her 1932 yearbook describes her as "A diminutive figure smartly dressed, the tiniest hands with a sparkling diamond, and a vivacious manner, all make her very sophisticated. But Ruth is just as natural as can be and her witty remarks show a fun-loving person whose interests vary from cooking lessons and department stores to tea dances and hope chests."
​
Ruth married Lawrence (Larry) Doyle, who lived one street away at 36 Doncaster on 5th October 1931, and while she was at Simmons they had their first child, Richard (22 Apr 1933) and then Robert (1935). They moved to California in 1935, and by 1940, they were in Los Angeles and the Glendale area, where they had their final son Edward (1941). Larry, who had been an insurance salesman in Boston, changed career and became a successful cemetery plot salesman for an LA cemetery. He had such great success, that he became a feature for many conferences and talks - giving sales talks around the country. This has left a good newspaper trail for him (and less Ruth, or Mrs Lawrence E Doyle).
​
Ruth and Larry had five sons, Richard, Robert, Edwards, David and Donald. Lawrence died before Ruth who died on Apr 29th 2002, in Issaquah, Washington at 93 years old.
​
​
Ruth (right) in 1955
1940 CA census
Richard, Francis' first son, was also a smart man - having graduated from High School in Roslindale, and from Huntington School in 1927, where he was President, and the paper editor. Richard died in 1928, at home, on Metropolitan Ave. He had fallen ill in December '27, and never fully recovered, before passing away in June '28. We have yet to find out what he died of exactly.
​
Francis' daughter, Barbara, attended Copley Secretarial School and WHeelock College. By the 1940 census she worked as a clerk, and on 26th October 1944 she married another local, Lieutenant Al Major, from Chestnut Hill, but who had attended Georgia Tech., and now was part of the army based in Boston. Al and Barbara moved to Jackson, Mississippi in 1945 (possibly because of Al's military connections). Barbara write a book of poetry "Along the Wary with Barbara". The poes reflect her 'life, live and laughter.' Al and Barbara had 2 daughters, Barbara 'Babs' Horton (of Madison), Martha 'Maj' Perkins (of Jackson) and Alex H Major of California. Al passed way sometime before Barbara died in March 1995.
​
Mark Sullivan Carroll was the only child born at the time of 318 Met - on 25 April in 1924. In 1942 he was drafted into the US Army to fight in WWII (see his draft card), and saw active service in Europe. After the war, Mark went to Harvard University, and was involved in the Harvard Radio Network , before becoming involved with the Yale University Press as promotion manager. Around that time he met Jane Hartenstein (b 1928, Springfield, MA) from Newington, CT, and they married in 1953, living in the area in the 1950s. By the 1990s, they're lived in Bethesda, Maryland, and it was there that Mark died on July 1 2010. He's buried in Arlington, VA.
Yearbook 1931
Ruth obituary 2002
