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Newton Upper Falls
Newton Upper Falls
Upon his arrival in Boston, Daniel Collins moved to Newton Upper Falls. In the 1860s, Daniel built a single story home for his family, which was later converted into a two story multi-family home. In 1870 the home was valued at $1,000. This house has stayed in the family for generations and currently belongs to the Lane family, Daniel and Hannah’s great grandchildren.
What is now a heavily populated area, Newton Upper Falls was once a rural part of Massachusetts. Daniel Collins owned a large area of land on which he built his house and farm. His many children helped work the farm and tend the garden as they grew up.
Collins Home in Newton Upper Falls
1907 Map of Newton Upper Falls
"This was a very happy, unified, loving family. All were taught that they needed to be independent and stick together." - Sally Lane Gould
"This was a very happy, unified, loving family. All were taught that they needed to be independent and stick together." - Sally Lane Gould
1907 Map of Newton Silk Mills, St. Mary's Church, and the Collins property
Newton Upper falls offered an economic advantage to the Collins family. The Charles River housed multiple mills and provided job opportunities for immigrants. Neither Daniel nor Hannah worked in the mills, however Annie, one of their daughters who inherited the Newton Upper Falls home, worked in the Silk Mill.
Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church
Religious Life
Religious Life
The Collins were very devout Irish Catholics. Daniel and Hannah were very religious and raised their children to follow the teachings of the Catholic faith as well. In 1909 the Roman Catholic church, Mary Immaculate of Lourdes, was built down the street from the Collins residence and it became their home parish. Daniel and Hannah raised their children with the belief that "a strong basis for a good family was having a strong faith" (S. Gould). Their faith in God was the family's bedrock; however they questioned everything the church and the priest had to say. Despite their deep faith in the church, none of the Collins ignored the issues that have been prevalent in the church for centuries. The Collins were always told to "be civil but cool" (S. Gould) while around the priests and to keep their distance.
"They loved the church and they loved the teachings of Christ, but they didn't always agree with the priest, and they made that clear to him."
"They loved the church and they loved the teachings of Christ, but they didn't always agree with the priest, and they made that clear to him."
- Sally Lane Gould
- Sally Lane Gould
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