Jessie Isabella Frye (1913-1994)
&
Howard Francis Mason (1910-1994)
Jessie Isabella Frye was born at 12:11 pm on March 8, 1913
in Wilton, NH, the only child of Harvey Wellington Frye and
Elizabeth Priscilla Osborne. Dr. Higgins of Wilton, NH was the attending physician
at her birth. She was named after one of her mother's sisters.
Jessie was christened May 4, 1913 at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Columbus
Ave. and Berkeley St., Boston. She was christened by Rev. Dr. William M. Tufts, pastor.
He formerly preached in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and then was pastor of a church in
Somerville, MA, where Jessie's parents were married.
From what I can tell by
looking at these photos of her as a child,
I would guess she was a rather precocious, outgoing young girl.
Jessie at age 3
Jessie at age 6
Jessie at age 7
Jessie at age 15
Jessie at age 15
It's worth noting that Jessie used several derivations of her name during her life.
In different documents we have seen her use the first name of Jessie, Isabelle, Isabella, and
Isabel. Even her high school report cards use different spellings. But, for the sake
of consistency, we'll use Jessie here.
On August 15, 1930, at the age of 17, Jessie married Howard Francis Mason. Howard was the
son of
Walter Lee Mason and Grace Alice Fogg. Here's a picture of Howard as a baby:
I recently received this picture of Howard from a cousin in Seattle. It was probably taken around 1918 or so. I saw this expression on Howard's face many times over the years. It's a wonderful photo! Thanks Charles!
Howard was 20 when they got married.
This picture of Jessie and Howard appears to
have been taken in one of those photo booths that give you a strip of 4 pictures.
It was taken about the time they got married.
They were obviously a happy young couple.
Howard was a teacher and educator for most of his professional life. As a result, the
couple moved around a lot. His career as a teacher, principal and superintendant spanned
across the following towns:
Woodsville, NH
Amherst, NH
Lincoln, NH
Franklin, NH
Hillsboro, NH
Abbington, MA
Hanover, NH
Ellington, CT
Portland, CT
Wilton, NH
In a rather unique situation in 1944,
both Howard and his father were school superintendants in New Hampshire at the
same time. Howard
was with the Hillsborough School System and his father, Walter Lee Mason, was
superintendant in the Charlestown, NH School system.
Howard recieved his Bachelor's Degree from Dartmouth, a Masters from Columbia, and his
Doctorate from Harvard. Interestingly, while superintendant of the Hanover, NH school,
he also taught a course on school administration at Dartmouth. He did the same thing
later in life at the University of Connecticut while working for the schools in Portland,
CT.
Jessie and Howard had two children:
Harvey Wellington Frye Mason, born October 1, 1931
Howard Lee Mason, born Jun 11, 1936
Jessie was an avid collector of dolls. In fact, she was written up in the local paper in
New Hampshire about her doll collection. She was also very active in the
D.A.R. . In her application
tot he D.A.R., she cites Major Isaac Frye as her
ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. There were certainly others she could have
chosen as well!! Jessie was also interested in family history. Like me, much of what
she had on her side of the family had been passed down to her from her father,
Harvey Wellington Frye. But she also spent time trying to
track down Howard's lineage. From her notes, it appears she had as much trouble as we
are having!! I remember vividly that there used to be a large, framed, needlepointed
family tree hanging on the wall of their house in Portland, CT. I used to love to look
at it. I wish I knew where
it was now! I don't think I was yet a teenager at the time. Had I known then what I
know now!! But I guess most kids are the same way.
Jessie was also very social and loved to host elegant dinner parties. One of things
I remember about their house when I was growing up was that she always kept the house
spotless and she had a very elegant dining room. Just one of those things that sticks
in my head for some reason. She was an excellent cook. Jessie also enjoyed sewing &
knitting and made a great many of her
own clothes. She
enjoyed learning & doing crafts, including such things as stenciling, antique repair
and pottery.
Both Jessie and Howard were very politically active. Howard served in the NH Legislature.
Jessie spent a lot of time campaigning for her favorite candidates, which, judging from the
photo below, included former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu.
&
Howard Francis Mason (1910-1994)
Jessie Isabella Frye was born at 12:11 pm on March 8, 1913 in Wilton, NH, the only child of Harvey Wellington Frye and Elizabeth Priscilla Osborne. Dr. Higgins of Wilton, NH was the attending physician at her birth. She was named after one of her mother's sisters. Jessie was christened May 4, 1913 at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Columbus Ave. and Berkeley St., Boston. She was christened by Rev. Dr. William M. Tufts, pastor. He formerly preached in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and then was pastor of a church in Somerville, MA, where Jessie's parents were married.
From what I can tell by
looking at these photos of her as a child,
I would guess she was a rather precocious, outgoing young girl.
Jessie at age 3
Jessie at age 6
Jessie at age 7
Jessie at age 15
Jessie at age 15
It's worth noting that Jessie used several derivations of her name during her life.
In different documents we have seen her use the first name of Jessie, Isabelle, Isabella, and
Isabel. Even her high school report cards use different spellings. But, for the sake
of consistency, we'll use Jessie here.
On August 15, 1930, at the age of 17, Jessie married Howard Francis Mason. Howard was the son of Walter Lee Mason and Grace Alice Fogg. Here's a picture of Howard as a baby:
I recently received this picture of Howard from a cousin in Seattle. It was probably taken around 1918 or so. I saw this expression on Howard's face many times over the years. It's a wonderful photo! Thanks Charles!
Howard was 20 when they got married.
Howard was a teacher and educator for most of his professional life. As a result, the
couple moved around a lot. His career as a teacher, principal and superintendant spanned
across the following towns:
Woodsville, NH
In a rather unique situation in 1944,
both Howard and his father were school superintendants in New Hampshire at the
same time. Howard
was with the Hillsborough School System and his father, Walter Lee Mason, was
superintendant in the Charlestown, NH School system.
Howard recieved his Bachelor's Degree from Dartmouth, a Masters from Columbia, and his
Doctorate from Harvard. Interestingly, while superintendant of the Hanover, NH school,
he also taught a course on school administration at Dartmouth. He did the same thing
later in life at the University of Connecticut while working for the schools in Portland,
CT.
Jessie and Howard had two children:
Harvey Wellington Frye Mason, born October 1, 1931
Howard Lee Mason, born Jun 11, 1936
Jessie was an avid collector of dolls. In fact, she was written up in the local paper in
New Hampshire about her doll collection. She was also very active in the
D.A.R. . In her application
tot he D.A.R., she cites Major Isaac Frye as her
ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. There were certainly others she could have
chosen as well!! Jessie was also interested in family history. Like me, much of what
she had on her side of the family had been passed down to her from her father,
Harvey Wellington Frye. But she also spent time trying to
track down Howard's lineage. From her notes, it appears she had as much trouble as we
are having!! I remember vividly that there used to be a large, framed, needlepointed
family tree hanging on the wall of their house in Portland, CT. I used to love to look
at it. I wish I knew where
it was now! I don't think I was yet a teenager at the time. Had I known then what I
know now!! But I guess most kids are the same way.
Jessie was also very social and loved to host elegant dinner parties. One of things
I remember about their house when I was growing up was that she always kept the house
spotless and she had a very elegant dining room. Just one of those things that sticks
in my head for some reason. She was an excellent cook. Jessie also enjoyed sewing &
knitting and made a great many of her
own clothes. She
enjoyed learning & doing crafts, including such things as stenciling, antique repair
and pottery.
Both Jessie and Howard were very politically active. Howard served in the NH Legislature.
Jessie spent a lot of time campaigning for her favorite candidates, which, judging from the
photo below, included former New Hampshire Governor John Sununu.
This picture of Jessie and Howard appears to
have been taken in one of those photo booths that give you a strip of 4 pictures.
It was taken about the time they got married.
They were obviously a happy young couple.
Amherst, NH
Lincoln, NH
Franklin, NH
Hillsboro, NH
Abbington, MA
Hanover, NH
Ellington, CT
Portland, CT
Wilton, NH
