When my room was a mess when I was growing up my dad would say, “This place looks like the Foley’s live here!” My dad’s memory of the Foley’s house was that it was a mess with livestock running in and out of it. In 1965 while on vacation in Montana, our family drove by the Foley’s. We were expecting to see a run down house like my dad had described for years. Instead, to our surprise, we found a beautiful home with a white picket fence and a beautiful garden with flowers.

 

Two of the Foley children, Marian and William were about my dad’s age. I do not know if he knew them through school or church. Perhaps ma and pa Foley went dancing with Flossie and Frank Vincent.

 

According to the United States Census of 1930, John, age 50 and his second wife Nellie, age 38 lived with 8 little Foleys. Looks like the last 3 kids were from the second marriage.

 

Elizabeth Foley 19 

Ella Foley 17 

Mildred Foley 15 

Harriett Foley 13 

John Foley 11 

Marian Foley 3 7/12 

William Foley 2 4/12 

Nellie Foley 7/12 

 

In January 2009 I asked my dad if he remembered the Foley’s and he wrote:

 

Hi Bob,

 

Yes, I remember them well...

The kids went to the Grantsdale Grammar School right down the road towards "downtown" Grantsdale.

 

If you go to Hamilton and then take the Hwy 93 south to the Hwy 138 (Skalkaho Rd), which ran by the ranch until, you come to the first left street. Turn left and about a 50 yards down the hill is The Foley Place. The school is just a little further on the right side.

 

Love,

 

Dad

(Herb)

 

The Foley’s House Google Earth Location:

46 115630 Latitude

114 083262 Longitude

 

 

Robert Vincent, January, 2009