Dorchester Illustration no. 2379 Vincent J. Hoye
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Vincent J. Hoye
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: VINCENT J. HOYE 1924.0001.117
Vincent Joseph Hoye was born on 2 OCT 1889 to Stephen T. Hoye, a Boston lamplighter and Rose A. Leach of 1016 Washington Street, Dorchester. Both parents were born in Boston. Vincent was the 6th child with older sisters and an older brother, Edward P.
By 1900, he had another brother, Stephen Aloysius, and another sister. By 1910, they are all still living at 1016 Washington Street, except older brother Edward.
On June 5, 1917, when Vincent registered for the draft, he was working at Starrett Fields Co., 809 Massachusetts Avenue, Roxbury. He was 27 years old, of medium height and build, with brown eyes and black hair. His brother Stephen, age 24, also registered. Stephen was listed as tall and slender with gray eyes and black hair; however, he claimed an exemption due to a physical disability. He was a “student at Tech” and there is no evidence that he ever served.
Vincent enlisted in the Army on August 27, 1917 and he later left for training as a flier. It was reported in the Boston Post, Thursday, September 13, 1917, that he left for St. Louis the day before, with eight other men TO BE ARMY BALLOONISTS. They were to qualify as lieutenants in the balloon pilot aeronautical service. They were “men who have passed the examination and have been ordered to take the training course”. They had received their appointments and were all attached to the Reserve Signal Corps. “The course will require five months during which they will be paid $25 a week”. “When they qualify as lieutenants they will receive $2000 and when in foreign service $3000. The men will be obliged to qualify in observation, signaling, marksmanship, ballooning and parachuting.” Vincent was made Balloon Pilot in October 1917, commissioned Lieutenant on January 15, 1918, and appointed Military Ariel Observer in October 1918.
After the war, Vincent lived at home and worked as a lumber salesman. He married Eleanor Z. Walsh, who lived at 92 Blue Hill Avenue. She was a teacher at the Mary Hemingway School, Dorchester. The marriage was reported in the Boston Globe. It took place on July 26, 1919 at St. Patrick’s Church, Dudley Street, Roxbury, by the parish priest, but in the presence of priests from St. Gregory’s Parish. Vincent was listed as a graduate of BC and “during the war was a pilot in the air service of the army”. His brother Stephen was the best man and listed as a graduate of MIT 1918.
In 1920, Vincent and Eleanor were living with Eleanor’s mother and brother at 92 Blue Hill Avenue and Vincent was listed as a salesman for a cement company.
By 1930, Vincent and Eleanor were living at 18 Ruggles Place and they had 4 children, all girls, Eleanor, RoseMary, Agnes and Ann. Vincent was listed as a commercial salesman and a veteran.
By 1940, they had 2 more children, both boys, Vincent and John. Vincent was listed as a lumber salesman. His father, age 90, was still at 1016 Washington Street with 4 of his unmarried siblings.
Vincent registered for the draft in 1942 when he was 52 years old and was working for Bay State Lumber Co., 136 Southampton Street, Boston, a company he founded with his brother Edward in 1929. The yard was closed in 1951 following a fire which almost destroyed it. He retired in 1964.
Vincent died 20 March 1978, age 88, in Framingham at the Bethany Hospital for Chronic Disease after a short illness. His residence was 18 Rugdale Road, Dorchester. Mass was said at St. Gregory’s Church, Dorchester, and he was buried at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury. His death record indicates he entered the military service on 10 Sept 1917 and was released from the Army 4 January 1919 having achieved rank of 2nd Lieutenant, 65thU.S. Army Balloon Corps. His occupation was listed as Vice President, Bay State Lumbar Company. He was survived by his wife, who died the following year at age 87. He was also survived by all six of his children; his younger brother Stephen; his youngest sister Agnes; 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Do you know more about Vincent Joseph Hoye? 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
Census Records, Federal, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, FamilySearch.org
Census Records, Federal, 1940, Ancestry.com
Death notice: The Boston Globe, March 21, 1978
Death notice: Social Security, FamilySearch.org
Death notice: US Dept Veterans Affairs, Ancestry.com
Death record: Vital Records, 1978, 1979, Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester
Dr. Perkins’ notes
Draft Registrations, FamilySearch.org
Marriage Record, FamilySearch.org
Marriage notice, Boston Globe, July 26, 1919
News article, Boston Post, Sept 13, 1917, TO BE ARMY BALLOONISTS
