Dorchester Illustration no. 2339 Patrick Joseph McLoughlin
Mary McLoughlin Boucher has been following our World War I servicemen blog posts and contacted us about her grandfather, who was a lifelong Dorchester resident and veteran of World War I. We are honored to have another serviceman to feature in our exhibit.
PATRICK JOSEPH MCLOUGHLIN
Patrick Joseph McLoughlin was born in Ardnisbrack, Ballygawley, Sligo, Ireland on September 14, 1892. He was one of nine children of James and Catherine McLoughlin. Patrick immigrated to the United States in 1915. Three years later, Patrick joined the United States Army.
Patrick enlisted in the United States Army in Dorchester on June 25, 1918. He served as a private Company B of the 70th Engineers. He never left the United States during his service; he was stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah where one of his assignments was to guard German prisoners of war who were being held there at Fort Douglas. Patrick was honorably discharged at Camp Devens on December 30, 1918. During his time in the Army, Patrick became a United States citizen; he was naturalized on July 12, 1918.
After his discharge, Patrick stayed in Boston and, in 1920, is living with his sister, Catherine, and her family on Greenwich Street in Dorchester. In 1922, Patrick applied for a United States passport in order to return to Ireland with his sister’s son, his nephew John. However, Patrick returned to the United States and his sister’s home. While on the voyage back to the United States, Patrick met his future wife, another Irish immigrant who had been in the United States since 1915, a young woman named Bridget Gunning. Patrick and Bridget married in Boston in 1926.
The young couple settled in Dorchester where they would remain together until Patrick’s death in 1972. In 1930, Patrick and Bridget are living in Dorchester, renting an apartment at 69 Adams Street with their two year old son, James. Patrick is listed as a railroad inspector and a veteran of World War I. By the 1940 census, the family has grown to a family of 5, with the addition of two sons: John and Thomas. The family is now living at 34 Olney Street and Patrick is listed as the homeowner. Patrick is still working as a railroad inspector and we see from the city directory that he is employed by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Company.
Patrick remained in Dorchester until his death on December 9, 1972. At the time of his death, he was a grandfather to nine grandchildren (later to become twelve!). He was a member of the Brotherhood Railroad Carmen of America Local No. 232 and St. Peter’s Holy Name Society.