Mildred Tillotson, August 14, 2013

File

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection contains recorded interviews with Boise citizens. Notable topics include Boise Bench history, Greenbelt history, Foothills Levy history, Boise Fire Department history, Boise Police Department history, and personal and political histories of former mayors and councilmembers.

Dates

August 14, 2013

Creator

Tillotson, Mildred (September 14, 1929-) (Narrator, Person)

Extent

780.77 Megabytes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Mildred Murphy was born in 1929, her husband Tom Tillotson was born in 1919. Mildred grew up near Franklin and Orchard, Tom grew up near Roosevelt and Albion. Mildred went to Franklin School until her brother lost vision in one eye and her mother moved all her children to St. Teresa’s in downtown Boise. Mildred enjoyed downtown, but also spent some time up on the Bench. She married Tom sometime after WWII and they moved to the Tillotson acreage on Albion. As a young family Mildred and Tom built several homes in the area as extra income. Mildred’s youngest son Paul Tillotson learned to play piano with help from lessons from local musicians. Mildred discusses raising children in a Catholic home, some local grocery stores and some other topics relating to development of the Central Bench.

Time Index

TIME TOPIC
00:00 Sy Tillotson’s family homestead at the foot of the Bench at Vista.
02:20 Sy meets his wife, marries and moves to Roosevelt and Albion.
04:00 Tom Tillotson and his siblings
05:00 Mildred’s parents bought house on Orchard near Franklin.
07:00 1940s Murphy children working as young adults.
09:00 Mildred and Tom growing up – riding horses and hunting, franklin school.
10:30 Mildred’s siblings move downtown Bellgrave Apartments to go to St. Teresas for 1 yr.
13:00 Sister works at Gowen Field – visiting the base.
14:00 Taking the bus downtown, dating as a high school student.
15:30 Franklin School description – Ms. Doolittle, plays, costumes in the basement. Sports, demographics.
20:00 Social makeup of the community with Wright Community Church and the School Board.
22:05 Other Catholic families in this area. Raising children with Catholic schools and churches.
24:00 Mildred’s youngest son Paul Tillotson’s career as a jazz musician.
28:00 Mildred’s childhood: swimming in canals, Shoshone and Rose Hill: twin bridges
31:00 Games for children.
35:00 Dating and early married life with Tom Tillotson.
38:30 Not going to restaurants, but her favorite place was the Mechanafe. Fongs.
40:00 Grocery stores, corner stores, Albertsons on 16th. Farming.
43:30 Hunting in the transition from rural to suburban areas.
45:00 Moving the old house from Orchard to Fry street.
46:00 Changes to the other houses on Orchard by the tracks and the Franklin shopping center.
50:00 Houses her and her husband lived on Albion. The story of the Tillotson’s builing houses in the Albion and Roosevelt neighborhood.
56:30 visiting A&W on vista with her children and other resturants.
59:10 Roller Rinks on Curtis and Overland. Winco (Waremart)
1:00:00 Iconic places (in Boise)
1:01:00 The differences between Downtown and the Bench. Cultural differences and minority groups.