Friday, September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020
Dear Bates people,
My father and mother were Edward C. Joseph and Anne F. Joseph of Whitman, Massachusetts. Harry Bates was a Police Officer in Whitman. Elmer Bates was about 10 years younger than they were. We were raised with cocker spaniels and chickens. My mother also joined a Family Camping Club, bought a tent trailer and had us go camping to the New York World's Fair and New Brunswick, Canada during the summers while we were in elementary school. My mother and the three of us all took piano lessons with Mrs. Mildred Hall, Pleasant Street, Whitman, MA. Kevin played the trumpet in Whitman Public Schools, and Brian played the trumbone in Whitman Public Schools.
My mother was also a teacher like Elmer's wife Barbara. My brother Kevin, worked over at the Brockton VA Hospital with Mr. Friel.They may have known each other. I would go to the Middleboro 4-H Fair and enter my chickens for prizes. My mother and I also belonged to a Bantam Club, located near Middleboro, when we raised Cochen bantam chickens after she had retired from being a Whitman Public School teacher.I continued my father's backyard vegetable garden. The three of us had been in 4-H Gardeing from 1962-1966.. My mother and I would go to the 4-H Middleboro Fair from about 2000-2007. We would eat under the tent for lunch.
Elmer must have been a support after my father died December 7, 1961.
Sincerely,
Cheryl A. Joseph
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, class of 1970
Boston College, B.S., Biology, class of 1974;M.Ed. class of 1980
Experienced Massachusetts Department of Education Certifed Teacher since 1980
