Fenlon Cats
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| Prince (spring 1969 -- February 1988) in 1987.
This post about the Fenlon cats comes from my Uncle Brian, Emmett & Anne's youngest child.
Dating back into her youth, Anne was always very fond of gray cats. There were many Fenlon cats over the years, including the black and white Domino and Specks with the white rings around his eyes. But the most beloved were the grey Russian Blues. Velvet, the first of these, was actually a Treacy cat, who was well known for sleeping just off the kitchen in the back hall at Woodland, the Treacy home; here, she was well positioned to notice any interesting activity relating to food while still having a peaceful resting spot. Then, in Copenhagen, came Misty followed by her daughter Shadow; they were well known in the neighborhood for their hunting prowess and always managed to bring home the results for expected praise.
Emmett John, Anne, Janet, and Velvet
Starting in the early 1960s, Anne and Emmett taught in Syracuse for about a decade before returning to Copenhagen Central School for their final teaching years. Anne was teaching English at T. Aaron Levy Junior High near the University Section of Syracuse. One morning, a student of hers asked permission to go down to the Office to use the phone so that she could place an ad in the paper indicating she had “free kittens” to give away. Gray cat-less at the moment, Anne asked if by any chance one of these kittens happened to be gray. “Yes,” came the answer. Arrangements were then made and Prince came into the Fenlon household on Seeley Road. Two things the family always remembers about young Prince. He liked to perch himself on the newel post on the staircase to survey his domain. At about this time, Anne and Emmett (and Prince) moved back to Copenhagen. A while later, they had to return to Syracuse for an extended time and so they brought Prince back to 422 Seeley Road with them.
422 Seeley Road in Syracuse in 2016
As Anne loved to tell it: Prince—not realizing he had grown quite a bit in the meantime—was amazed that he no longer “fit” on the newel post despite the number of circles he made on it; in fact, he was quite disgruntled about it and the look of bewilderment on his face was truly memorable! Anne also loved to describe Prince’s habit of squirrel chasing; the home had so many windows overlooking the corner lot that he could chase squirrels without end by running from window to window. Unfortunately, he forgot one day that the French door to the enclosed front porch was closed. As he chased after one hapless squirrel, picking up speed with each passing window, he ran full-speed into the glass panes of the door. Anne said the thump of Prince’s head hitting that door was window-rattling. Meanwhile, the squirrel went on its merry way.
Brian with Prince in Copenhagen
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