My Brother Jesse's memory of his brothers hi-jinks

"One of the really big deals was when mother would buy a live chicken or two and have to ask the kids to kill it for her because she could not stand to do it for herself. Francis usually took control of the hatchet and the rest of us - mainly you and Joe -- would secure the poor bird to the chopping block. Off would go the head and out would spurt the blood. Then -- wonder of wonders - - the headless chicken would run maybe four or five steps -- and keel over. No wonder the people of that time had the saying -- 'you're running like a chicken with his head cut off!'"

My first motorcycle

When I was 14 years old, I saw an ad in the newspaper for a WWI motorcycle for $5. I got $5 together and went around to buy it as it was in the neighborhood. I couldn't believe it. The fellow said he would start it up for me so he could show me that it was running. He started it up with a blowtorch. It was a wonder he didn't kill everybody. I told Kit every time you have gasoline and put fire on top of it, it could blow up. So I walked it home on the side, as I was too young to get a permit. I really just bought it to experiment with it, to take it apart and so forth. I was interested in mechanics at the time. Taking it apart would give me some knowledge of motorcycle repair as I had already done bicycles.

My Grandson Kevin and Kristen

Dear Kevin and Kristen,

It is very enjoyable to write to a tip-top Movie Producer and his special awards Movie Actress girl friend.

Kristen - My friends at the Spring House enjoyed reading and seeing your photo in the news, plus seeing the photos of your nicely packed suitcase for week-end and beach holidays.

You both are on your way. That's important. As you both know the long way to the top.

All my love and prayers,

Granddad
Johnny Mann

John Connor Mann - My 1st Grand Son

His proud parents are Jack and Ellen.

When John was a baby, they would leave him off at our home on Belair Drive while they went to Mass. We made many pleasant stops. We would go to the grocery store where John would proudly read #2 on the can which surprised me. Next, we headed to the Fire Department where the Captain would place John behind the huge steering wheel and chat with him about how powerful the big fire engine was. From there we went to the swim club, where we had a standing view and enjoyed the tennis players giving their best.

Jack and Ellen - we very much enjoyed having you both in our neighborhood.

Love,

Granddad

To my Granddaughter-in-law Carolina

Dear Carolina,

I very much enjoyed meeting your Mother Nora (It was my Mom's name) who met your Mother when you and John were in grade school.

I also met your Dad Miguel as he was the referee at Mike's soccer game. Your Dad stopped the game to examine Mike's eye. Then the game went on.

My Son Jack told me the wonderful story of your expecting on Kitty's birthday - July 31st. That is my joy as Jack will be a grandfather and I a great grandfather.

Welcome to the Mann Family.

Grand Dad
Johnny Mann
Great Grand Dad

To My Granddaughter Melissa

Dear Melissa,

I well remember your staying over at our apartment on Columbia Pike. I would take you to the morning Mass at St. Anthony's Church. You were a very cute little girl. Many of my friends would say "Have you seen John's pretty granddaughter?"

It is great you and Stephen have shared your beautiful home with Austen. He has a great future and he loves it very much.

I will close for now.

Love,

Grand Dad

To My Grand Daughter Kate

Dear Kate (This is a special from your Grand Dad),

Keep that pretty smile.
It got your Grand Father's love many years ago. Grand Mom was waiting all one Sunday to get released from the hospital. All the Mann Family were busy. I was getting an infected foot when you picked up Grand Mom.
I ordered dinner from the dining room at Charter House and we celebrated with a return party for Grand Mom.

You helped us a lot as Charlie and Jack had their families to care for. So you came through for Grand Mom and me.

I love you always.

Grand Dad
XXO

Melissa's wedding in pictures

This was a special day, the wedding of my first grandchild Melissa, to Stephen Burnside, a talented computer engineer, who has made my granddaughter very happy.

Make an on-line slideshow at onetruemedia.com

Christmas 2006 Pictures

Make an on-line slide show at onetruemedia.com

To My Daughter-In-Law Celie

Dear Celie,

Many times I think of visiting you in the Baltimore Hospital for Charlie Jr., Kelly and John Edward.

You came through like a champ, and you presented Charlie with 3 gifted children with good looks and personal charms that they can use all their lives.

Your 3 great kids brings my grand total to 10 grandchildren.

They are well trained with good manners that they will carry through life.

Hang in there
We will all make it.

Much love

Your other Dad and Mom

Johnny Mann

To my Granddaughter Kelly on my 89th birthday

Dear Kelly,

I was happy to bring you flowers that your other grandfather took down to the field as you sang for the Bowie Baseball team.

I am pleased to hear about your horse riding at the different horse shows, plus your great Dad who is happy to drive you and your horse to the different events.

You are doing very well on your singing especially with such a powerful voice to sing at the Bowie Ball Park.

I very much enjoyed seeing you as a bridesmaid for the two weddings of the Burnsides and the Manns, as you looked very nice.

Hang in there.

With all my love,

Great Grand Dad

To My Son-In-Law David on my 89th year

Dear David "King of the Harleys",

Your dream will come true. I can vision you repairing Harleys or selling them, as you have the knowledge.

You made Charlie Jr. and John very happy on our trip to Canada when you took them to the Harley Davidson display plant.

I got my first Harley Motorcycle in 1930 from the Post Newspaper Classifieds. It was a 1918 Harley that cost $5.00.

I never regretted sponsoring you for the Local Plumbers Union as you have reached the grades of Foreman and Superintendent.

Hang in There. I'm with you all the way.

Johnny Mann
(50 year card member from Plumbers Local #5)

To My Grandson Dan on my 89th year

Dear Dan Barnes,

My friends at the Spring House are still talking about that great big Hummer Limo big enough for 20 friends.

You and Marge's son Jimmy know how to throw a party. We drove to the old ball game at the RFK Stadium in a very long limo filled with meals galore and Frank Sinatra records.

We had seats at the stadium, but got better seats by tipping the ushers. The Nationals even won a tough game by 3 points. After the game, the kids were having a ball running the bases.

It was one of the happy times of my 89 years as nothing could top this great family day.

All my appreciation and love,

Johnny Mann on his 89th year.

Letter to my brother Jesse on my 89th birthday

Dear Jesse,

Many times I go down memory lane, I remember you, me, Francis, and Joe (later Billy) helping our Dad build a nice cottage at North Beach.

Few people during the great depression could afford the luxury of a nice cottage on The Chesapeake Bay.

Our Dad had a dream, as one Sunday he took Joe and me on our first train ride to the Chesapeake Beach and put a $5.00 deposit on a beach lot and gave our Mom a shock "that he was going to build a beach cottage for our family".

Dad gave us 100% as he knew how to give us the very best life possible. Mom went all the way with her 2 years of cooking in Irish schools as we had the best of foods.

In closing, I enjoy our Thursday chats.

John

Kitty and Me at Great Falls, Virginia - 1941

This is my wife Kitty and me, before we were married at Great Falls, Virginia. We had spent the day with her sister Gertie and her future husband Paul, a great photographer, who took this picture.

North Beach 2007

I spent the day with my son Jack and my daughter Kit exploring the many homes we lived in over the years.

We ended our journey at North Beach where my father Champy had a beach cottage that my family enjoyed during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

During those years, my family always enjoyed eating at The Rod n Reel on Saturdays. So of course, we stopped at the restaurant for a late lunch.

To my grandson Charlie on my 89th year

My grandson Charlie is very interested in WWII.

I was a soldier in WWII.

JMJ

Dear Charlie Mann Jr. ,

Kit tells me you are interested in WWII. I enlisted when it started, but was turned down since I didn't have enough teeth.

I was working as a Plumbers Union Helper in 1940, then was drafted in December 1943, and discharged in December 1945. I took Infantry training in Camp Croft South Carolina.
2nd training in England as a Rifleman
3rd was the Battle of Normandy. I was transferred to the Artillery company to prepare the D shells to fire against the German Army Soldiers.

In approximately 2 years, I was in 5 battles, 2 in France 2 in Germany and the last and winning Battle of the Bulge where Hitler gave up.

Then General Patton called all the men he could get. I was on an old train for 3 days and nights that was used for cattle and slept on the cold floor in my overcoat. Hitler called for our surrender but our General McCalluf responded "Nuts to you" and the Americans won a tough battle.

My next stop was Schledorf Germany where I started training for the Pacific Battle as China had joined Germany against America.

I think it was June or July 15, 1945 when President Harry Truman ordered the Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It completely destroyed the city.

The 3rd Army was in the Summer home or Castle of King Ludwig.

We can talk about it the next time we meet.

Love,

Grand Pa Johnny Mann

North Beach

This is my father Champy, my youngest brother Billy, my brother Jesse on the left and I am to the right, building the cottage at North Beach.

-------------------------

How it Began...

My father told Joe, Lord of Mercy, and myself "I’ll take you all to Chesapeake Beach." We had never been on a steam train. So we went down on the steam train, the first big train we had been on. Champy had decided he could get a lot to build a cottage

This woman sold him a lot for $5 down. We would help him on the week-ends to build the cottage. We would work all day. On the way back, we would stop at the Dixie Pig BBQ and we would get a sandwich for 15 cents. They just called it a BBQ sandwich and put it on a regular roll and it was very delicious.

My Brother Joe

This is my brother Joe. He died when he was 13 years old. He is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. My mother walked a mile every day to the cemetery to take care of his grave and to pray for him. None of us got over his untimely death.

Two of my three daughters

Here I am with my #1 and #3 daughters Nora and Kit. As you can see, I don't play favorites. I smiled straight at the camera.

My Thank-you Letter for a Wonderful Christmas to my son Jack and my daughter-in-law Ellen

12-31-06

I would like first to thank Jack and Ellen for one of the most enjoyable evenings in my life. I sat in the wheel chair like King George and overlooked all of the workers and I never seen a party so well organized. Also, it was great to see Carolina and John one newly married couple with great news that makes me a great grandfather and makes Jack a grandfather and Ellen a grandmother for the very first time. And I must say that Jack and Ellen are very happy with their new titles, Nana and Granddad

The food was the very best and very tasty, and enjoyed by all.

Also, Stephen and Melissa successfully married, and their adopting Austen who stole the show, especially the way he bit Jack’s leg with the dragon.

It was very nice to see Kristen and Kevin again and that both are doing so well in their careers. I hope someday to see their new home in California. I was able to get the clippings of Kristen’s wardrobe and each garment she picked out that was in the magazine, plus the price and where to get it. It also showed her as a very beautiful model.

I understand Austen got all As on his report card, in addition to learning sign language, and is now a permanent resident of the Burnside family. It was like a television show to watch Jack’s reaction to Austen’s dragon. I never seen Jack jump that much before.

Then all of us went in to the living room and exchanged some wonderful stories of our families and our lives. I found it a most enjoyable evening. In fact, it was one of the best Mann parties I have ever attended.

In closing, I enjoyed the party so much that it touched the very cockles of my heart.

Love to Nana and Grand Dad,

Dad/Johnny

Before the Pentagon, there was a Beach

(I lived at 1115 Street NE - a few houses off of East Capitol Street)

I was 8 years old. The White family was the largest family in the neighborhood. They had 19 children. We were all playing in the street. Someone in the neighborhood said "Let’s walk to the beach." We didn’t know where it was. Myself and Joe went. There must have been 10 to 12 kids all together. We had to walk all the way to the 14th street bridge. The beach was very close after that.

We went in for a swim with the clothes we had on. We had no swim suits. We didn’t think about eating lunch. And about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, we thought we would head for home. And when we did, we all got beatings for not saying anything.

We won’t take a long walk to Arlington Beach anymore. It was quite a lesson for all of us. You think they would have been happy we didn’t get lost. I think they wanted us to know to not walk to the beach again. Because before that, we were always in the neighborhood.

I am the proud father of two sons. I am sitting next to Jack, the retired government executive, and behind me is Charlie, a successful general contractor.

My Great Grandson Austen

To My First Great Grandson

Dear Austen,

I enjoyed having you sit next to me at Carolina and John's home in Silver Spring. Enjoy your new home with Stephen and Melissa. You speak very well and make people around you very happy.

Noma enjoys your visits to her and David's home.

Do your best in school as you will be able to get more education that will help you when you grow up. This education will help on the different jobs that you do.

I'll close for now.

Love,


Great Grand Father

This is my grand daughter Melissa's wedding to Stephen in 2005. They are in the process of adopting a 7 year old boy Austen, my first great grand child.

My Family

This is most of my family. I am in the wheel chair. My brother Jesse is behind me. My daughter Elsie (Blondie) was not in the picture nor was my grandson Dan (the man) Barnes. It was a happy occasion - the wedding of my grandson John to Carolina in May, 2005.

The Launch of The Mann Family blog

2-11-07

Dear Family,

I am pleased to announce the opening statement for the Mann Family blog. We will use this for current history of our family and we’ll include many exciting family stories.

Grand Dad