Dorchester Illustration no. 2363 Richard A. Dana
Richard A. Dana
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. Using a collection of photographs we have of WWI Dorchester residents, we will be featuring servicemen in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit which highlights these men and their service to our country.
Our next biography features: Richard A. Dana.
Richard A. Dana enlisted in Ambulance Co. 1 of the National Guard, Allston, Massachusetts, March 21, 1916, at the age of 18. He later transferred to Headquartesr troop of the 26th Division. He served overseas from September 17, 1917 to April 7, 1919, and was in all the battles with the 26th Division including engagements: Defensive: Champagne-Marne; Offensive: Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive sectors: Chemin de Dames (Ile de France); Toul-Boucq (Lorraine) Pas Fni (Ile de France; Rupt/ (Lorraine); Troyon (Lorraine). He mustered out July 30, 1917 as a Private.
Richard was born in Dorchester, March 13, 1898. His father William was a coachman and later proprietor of a garage, and his mother Sarah was a housewife. They lived at 2260 Dorchester Avenue.
After his discharge in 1917, Richard continued with his parents and siblings, now at 2141 Dorchester Avenue, and worked as a fur salesman. In the early 1920s the family moved to 7 Guild Row, and Richard continued as a salesman. In 1925 Richard married Loretta Donovan, and was soon living at 833 Dorchester Avenue with his new wife and in-laws.
In 1930, Richard’ occupation was listed as Inspector, Moving Pictures. From 1935 to 1944 they lived at 12 Harvest Street. For the next 6 years we don’t know where they lived, but by 1951, he and his wife Loretta and daughters Geraldine, 21, and Dana, 24, were back living at 833 Dorchester Avenue. Richard was a postal clerk, and Loretta was a telephone operator. By 1963 he was retired. Their daughter Elizabeth, aged 35, was living at 833 with her parents at that time. In 1965 Loretta was listed as a housewife, presumably retired from her telephone operator job.
Richard died on January 20, 1965. The undertaker was the John C. Mulry Funeral Home at the corner of King Street and Dorchester Avenue. His Requiem Mass was at St. Margaret’s Church, and he was buried in the Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham.
Resources:
1910, 1920, 1930 Census through Ancestry.com
Boston Directories through Ancestry.com
Boston resident lists for Ward 7 online at the Boston Public Library
Boston Globe Archives