Dorchester Illustration no. 2380 Charles B. McDonald
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: CHARLES B. MCDONALD 1924.0001.154
Charles Bertram (or Bertrand) McDonald was born July 18, 1897, to Frank Hubert and Clara Edna (Willard) McDonald of 1066 Washington Street, Dorchester. His father was a builder, born in Boston and his mother was a waitress born in Maine. Charles had an older brother, George Willard McDonald.
By 1900, they were a family of 5 as there was now a younger sister Marjorie Thayer McDonald. They lived at 2157 Dorchester Avenue. The father was listed as a carpenter. By 1910, they also had a boarder and a domestic lodger.
On May 29, 1917, at age 19 years and 9 months old, Charles enlisted in the Navy as an apprentice seaman at the Boston Navy Yard. He served on the U.S.S. Virginia, sailing to Hampton Roads on August 27, 1917 and returning to Boston for repairs in February 1918. Shortly after, he sailed overseas and was stationed at Brest, France. He returned to Newport News in December 1918. On July 4, 1919, he again sailed to Boston for external repairs and was transferred to the U.S.S. Idaho which sailed from New York on July 7, 1919 for Rio Janeiro. For several months, he sailed through the Panama Canal for ports on the West Coast, including San Francisco. On October 1, 1919, he was transferred to the East Coast for discharge. He was honorably discharged at Hingham, Mass. as a Fireman 1st Class on October 25, 1919.
In 1920, the family of 5 was reunited at 2157R Dorchester Avenue. Charles wais a fireman for the railroad and his brother George was a millhand at the chocolate mill.
Charles married on September 8, 1921 to Beatrice Hickey, age 22, a waitress, living at 160 Brookline Street. She was born on Prince Edward Island. Their marriage was officiated by A.A. Rideout, at the Blaney Memorial Baptist Church, 69 Richmond Street, Dorchester.
Several years later, on March 15, 1925, Charles’ brother, a candymaker, died of heart disease, but the following year, Charles and Beatrice had a son, Roy. In 1930, they were renting at 44 Sexton Street and they had a radio set. Charles was then listed as an engineer in the electric light industry.
In 1949, Charles’ mother died of heart disease at age 89 and Charles died of heart disease at age 56 on June 22, 1953. Charles was survived by his wife, Beatrice, his sister Marjorie and his son Roy. His occupation was listed as Fireman 1st Class. He was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester, as was his brother and mother.
He is remembered on a bronze plaque in a list of service members from World War 1 that came from the Blaney Memorial Baptist Church and is now at DHS.
Do you know more about Charles B. McDonald? We would love to hear from you! All material has been researched by volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, so please let us know if we got something wrong or you think a piece of the story is missing!
REFERENCES:
Birth Records, FamilySearch.org
Cemetery Records, Cedar Grove, Dorchester
Census Records, Federal, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, FamilySearch.org
Death Records, Vital Statistics, Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester
Death Records, State Archives
Dr. Perkins’ notes
Marriage Records, State Archives
Service Record; The Adjutant General Office, Archives-Museum Branch, Concord, MA