Mary Frothingham Brinley (1909 - 1985)

Born 1 Jun 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 13 May 1985 at age 75 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Mary Frothingham Brinley, born June 1, 1909, in Philadelphia. Mary's family name was Polly. Polly attended the Shady Hill Country Day School prior to attending a boarding school: the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Conn. She died May 13, 1985, of complications after a ballon surgery while at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.^[1] By her will, she was cremated and buried at the backside of St. Pauls Episcopal Church grounds, Chestnut Hill Ave, Chestnut Hill. Prior to her death, she was living with Frances Ruegg (her long-time friend) and then alone at Cathedral Village, Roxbury, Pa. Her life was amazing and adventurous. She never married but had many suiters in the debutant years. She loved to travel the world with friends. She first rented apartments above garages: one at the Whitakers on Moreland Ave and then the Lisingrings on Crefelt (the first house off of Chestnut Hill Ave on left) prior to buying a house at 7808 Roanoke all in Chestnut Hill, a house in the Poconos (owned about 10 years), a summer house called the "Pill Box" in North Haven, Maine. Located above and behind her parent's house. The "Pill Box" was so named since she had bought it from the Islands Doctor in the 1950s. After the two Aunts sold their house at 7808 Roanoke, They moved into an apartment in Cathedral Village,

She opened a book store first in Germantown and then in Chestnut Hill, called the Frigate Book Store In Chestnut Hill, it was located just steps from the center of Chestnut Hill and Germantown Ave. at 16 East Highland Ave. The Frigate Book store motto was "There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away." ^[2] The building was a one-story wood building with a small parking lot in front. Every year, there was held for the benefit of the community and local artists, a "Clothes Line Art Show" in their parking lot. After the store was sold in 1971, the new owner, Tom Emmons removed it for a more substantial and bigger building.

Foot Notes & Sources

1. ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer, Phila., Pennsylvania. Mary Frothingham Brinley died at 75. May 15, 1985. page. 64. Obituary provided to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "BRINLEY May 13, 1985, Mary Frothingham Brinley, (Polly) of Cathedral Village, sister of William W.F. Brinley, aunt of Dorothy B. Manou, Helen B. Abraham, Charles E. Brinley, and William F. Brinley. Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Miss Brinley will be held at St. Paul's Church, Chestnut Hill on Sat., May 18, at 2 pm., will be in the Columbarium of St. Paul's Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be sent to The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, 21 S. 5th St., room 680, Philadelphia, Pa., 19106 (JACOB F. RUTH)." and May 17, 1985. page 34.
2. ↑ "Dear Customers and Friends, Good News for Chestnut Hill from The Frigate Book Shop in its 48th year... The present owners: Mary F. Brinley, Mary Steward Hatfield, and Francis Ruegg announce with pleasure that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Emmons have bought the Frigate Book Shop..." The letter is the original. There is a second letter noting that March 1, 1971, would be the Sale Date.

• Personal recollection of events witnessed by Frazier Brinley as remembered starting on 7 Jun 2020.
• Philadelphia Inquirer, Phila., Pennsylvania. Mary Frothingham Brinley died at 75. May 15, 1985. page. 64.