The Coughlin China Cabinet

During the period of COVID-19 in 2020 when all of the archives and museums around the world were forced to close, many museums and individuals started posting photos with the hashtag #MyMuseum on twitter .

In particular, I was inspired by the tweets being posted by @farmersfriend who shared a photo and story of an item from his personal museum every day on twitter. He wrote, 

"As we grow older 

many of us create

our own museum of things.

The idea of sharing photos from our personal museums inspired me to create this new genealogy series entitled  #OurMuseum. Here are some of the treasures and trinkets in #OurMuseum that have meaning for members of our large extended family. 

This is the story about Daniel J. Coughlin's China Cabinet pictured below (on the right) in June 1946 beside the Shea-Coughlin-Pucino family dinner table (Manchester, Connecticut)

This photo was colorized at My Heritage https://myhr.tg/1pxyyjWC

Oh the conversations that China Cabinet must have witnessed!
 

The china cabinet shown above was originally purchased by Daniel J Coughlin (1874-1948) at Mitchell's furniture in Poughkeepsie, New York according to the tag on the back.

 

Great-Granduncle Daniel John Coughlin (1874-1948)

Daniel J. Coughlin, who was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, was the brother of our great grandfather William Henry Coughlin (1872-1952)

 

Mitchell's Furniture Store, Poughkeepsie - Clipped from Poughkeepsie Journal Poughkeepsie, New York 29 Jul 1951, Sun  •  Page 14

 

 

The China Cabinet moved to Connecticut with Daniel's daughter Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino (1899-1964)  

 

In the picture below, Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino (1899-1964) is standing in the rear with her children, daughter Evelyn (Pucino) Shea (1925-2016) and sons John (Jack) Pucino (1920-1983) and Daniel (1923 - 1960) Pucino, Jack being the eldest and tallest. Her mother, Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin (1882-1965) is seated on the left and Lillian's mother Rachel (MCnamee) Griffin is seated on the far right.

 

It was during this period of Margaret's stewardship of the china cabinet that the incredible black and white photo of the cabinet in Manchester, Connecticut was taken. Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino is pictured in the left corner ("Mother" in the text) and her husband ("Dad" in the text) is pictured seated at the table (left) beside Antony.

View the black and white and colorized versions of this picture here: https://myhr.tg/1pxyyjWC

 

The china cabinet then fell into the possession of Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino's daughter Evelyn (Pucino) Shea (1925-2016). 

 

From Evelyn's 2016 obituary: "Evelyn was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on March 20, 1925, the daughter of John C. Pucino and Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino. She grew up in New Paltz, New York, and moved with her family to Connecticut, living most of her life in Coventry. Evelyn had a strong faith in God and was an active parishioner of St. Mary Church in Coventry where, at every event, she could be found in the kitchen cooking and making fried dough. She lived her faith through service including as a Eucharistic minister. She was proud of her Italian heritage. Long after she prepared the family recipe for meatballs for the last time, she continued to share the stories and music of her childhood. She will always be remembered by those whose lives she so lovingly touched."

 

Evelyn (Pucino) Shea (1925-2016)

 

Evelyn, James Edward and Margie Shea

 

The China Cabinet was passed on again and is now lovingly cared for in our Connecticut cousin's  home and she has kindly provided the photograph so that its story could be shared with her Coughlin kin in "Our Museum". 

Oh, if only this china cabinet could talk!  

The "Coughlin China Cabinet" today

 

Below is a photo of the five generations who have lovingly enjoyed, cherished, and passed on this Coughlin china cabinet over the years ...  

• Great-great grandmother Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin (1882-1965)
  
• Great-grandmother Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino Lajoie (1899-1964)
  
• Grandfather John (Jack) Pucino (1920-1983)
  
• The current owner and her infant son (names withheld for privacy reasons)
  

The Coughlin-Pucino Family

Many thanks to our Connecticut cousin for generously sharing her photos and stories of her "Coughlin" family heirlooms to be a part of the "Our Museum" section of the blog.