Notes |
- North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 12/7/1974
Witness: In the Grapes
family, a first-born son of a firstborn
son of a first-born son of a
first-born son of a first-born son
recently came into the world.
And ali of those boys are hale
and hearty in the Tonawandas.
On Nov. 21. Michael James
was born to Gary and Norine
Winters Grapes in DeGraff Memorial
Hospital. He is their first
son. Gary is the first son of
Norman R. Grapes Jr.. who has
such an immaculate service
station on Delaware Avenue
just south of the Tonawanda city
line.
Norman Sr. is retired, a
robust 71 and an ardent fisherman.
(We encountered him and
Mrs. Grapes at Black Lake last
summer.) Norman Sr. was the
first-born son of Frederick
Grapes, who is 93 and lives with
James Grapes (Norman Jr.'s
uncle - but we don't want to get
too deeply involved in the uncles
and nephews in this big family, i
Frederick also was a first-born
son.
Another unusual feature of
the Grapes family, related to us
by Norman Jr.. is that all of
these first born sons have worn
the same baby dress and it has
been passed on to Gary for
young Mike's use. All the boys
have been photographed in it.
too.
Mrs. Richard Grapes of North
Tonawanda is the official
historian for the family. She
provided more interesting
details:'
The Grapes clan includes 105
members, most of whom live in
this area. (Norm mentioned
that the family has become too
large for reunions.)
Frederick, the patriarch of
the family, and his wife had nine
children, all of whom married.
They have had 25 grandchildren.
20 of whom married:
there are 41 great-grandchildren,
two of whom are married.
And then there is the first greatgreat-
grandchild. Mike.
Our congratulations to Mr.
and Mrs. Gary Grapes and all
the rest of the first born and
their kith and kin.
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