Tommy Rowles
(AKA Uncle Harry) came to America 3 month after the Kellys settled in the Bronx
and was living in a Rooming house on 86th street. He called the Kellys,
who had moved to Valentine Avenue and Granny said he should come and live with them.
Tommy did, and stayed for a long while- at least 2 years, according to Brendan.
When he lived
in the Bronx he and Brendan and their lads hung out at Good Time Charley's,
Dirty Nellie's on Kingsbridge Road and the Beehive around Kingsbridge Road near
the VA and Jewish Home.
The living arrangement
came to an abrupt end after the “Noxzema incident”.
Noxzema came in a heavy
blue glass jar, and was kept in the medicine cabinet. The heavy jar was knocked
into the cabinet by parties unknown (Martin Kivlehan was Brendan’s guess) and
it knocked a small chunk out of the porcelain bowl.
The
responsible individual picked up the knocked out piece, smeared it with Noxzema
and fit it back in place. Escape was made by the culprit unnoticed.
Pop Kelly
used the toilet, and when he flushed, the piece gave way and the dirty water
flooded the bathroom.
Nobody
fessed up, and poor Tommy was blamed and he was moved out shortly after. It is
my understanding that on moving out, Granny gave him back half the rent he had
been paying over the time living with them- she did that for all those who lived
there. To give them a start.
My first memories
of Tommy have Liz in them, too- and the lovely apartment they had near the reservoir.
I remember how they came every Labor Day to hang out with us at 251. How Dad
called him Harry, or Harold, so often that the name turned up on a bowling
trophy or two. How well he danced- God the man could dance. And he was so, so
kind.
I remember
we needed him to leave the room- I have no idea what for- so Ellen said she was
going to breast feed… he fled, so embarrassed. And not once, but twice, he got
caught in a Dee work lie.
Who can
forget him calling Nuala asking how Brendan was (after Dee told her boss Dad
was near death from a heart attack) and mom responding. “He is the same ^&*%#$
he ever was.”
I will
always miss Uncle Harry- even though he was not my uncle and his name wasn’t
Harry. Rest in Peace, sweet man.
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