Person Record

Metadata

Name

Kennedy, Hazel

Othernames

Agnes Hazel Kennedy (c. 1891)

Born

May 23, 1885

Birthplace

Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario

Places of residence

522 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario (1921 census)

Father

Robert Pollock Kennedy Sr.

Mother

Susanna Cascella "Cassie" Kennedy (nee M

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Owen Sound

Notes

Hazel Kennedy lived at Owen Sound, Grey County. She was a descendant of Wm. Kennedy Sr. and Agnes Stark Kennedy, who had settled at Owen Sound in the 1850s. She was also descended from Edward Miller and John Miller, the first two gaolers at the Grey Couny Gaol.

When she was born, on May 23, 1885, her father was working as a Cabinetmaker in town. There was a Kennedy Bros. furniture factory. Hazel was delivered by Dr. Charles E. Barnhart. Her birth registration does not have the name Agnes on it, but in 1891, her name was recorded by an enumerator as Agnes. Her father's only sister, Miss Agnes Kennedy, had died as a young woman.

Hazel had a brother, Clarke G. Kennedy. He was usually known as "Gibson Kennedy" and died at the age of twelve and a half years, due to actute Osteo Myelitis disease, at the Red Cross Hospital. Hazel and Gibson are seen together in a photograph (1984.022.026).

In the 1891 census, Hazel was 5 years old and listed as "Agnes", and Gibson Kennedy was 7 years old. Their father was working as a Patternmaker in town at that time (at the family's foundry, where green sand casting work required wooden patterns to be made).

Robert Pollock Kennedy Jr. (Paul Kennedy) was another brother of Hazel's. He served in the First World War, and survived.

Another brother, Edward Miller Kennedy, who was with the 18th Battalion, was killed on April 10, 1916. He was a member of the Scrope Street Methodist Church.

As a young woman, Hazel enjoyed picnics and hikes to the west rocks area of Owen Sound. She also snowshoed, and the Kennedy family yacht, the VENETTA was likely part of the recreation of her youth. The VENETTA had a hinged smokestack so that it could be moved out of the way when the boat went up the Sydenham River under the 10th Street bridge. There are a couple images of the VENETTA in Hazel's photograph albums.

In the 1921 census, Hazel was 36 and lived at home and was Housekeeper for her father, who was then 64.

When she was 41, she was on a trip to Scotland and left the port of Greenock and arrived at Quebec on Nov. 21, 1926 aboard the REGINA.

Hazel Kennedy was very involved with the King's Daughters organization in Owen Sound. This group helped needy families with assistance. The former Congregational Church building at 1st Avenue West (corner of 9th St. West) was purchased by the W.C.T.U. in 1908 and it was used by King's Daughters and Boys' Brigade members as well. The King's Daughters group started about 1___. In 19__, there was an international convention of the group at Owen Sound.

Another King's Daughters convention was held at Owen Sound in 1948.

There are some photographic images of Hazel Kennedy in the Grey County archives. She is also recorded on a 1933 Kennedy Family tree chart.

Hazel Kennedy died on December 29, 1956, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound.

1984.22.025 Photograph of a young girl (Hazel Kennedy) holding a Teddy Bear
1984.22.026 Hazel Kennedy as a girl, posed with her brother Clarke Gibson Kennedy (he died at 12 and a half years of age)
1984.22.030 Hazel Kennedy (young woman) outdoors with a young man
1984.022.032 Photograph of a picnic at the West Rocks near Owen Sound, includes Hazel Kennedy and Mary Miller (local teacher)
1984.022.033 Hazel Kennedy wearing a fur jacket and holding a fur muff
1984.022.034 Hazel Kennedy at the wheel of a boat
1984.022.035 Hazel Kennedy wearing a wide-brimmed hat
1984.022.036 Hazel Kennedy (at left), posed with Amy Kennedy, in 1946

Occupation

Volunteer (King's Daughters) / Social Welfare / Charity
Homemaker / Housekeeper
Snowshoeing / Travelling / Yachting aboard the VENETTA

Relationships

Brother: Clarke Gibson Kennedy (b. Aug. 26, 1883, usually called "Gibson", died at the Red Cross Hospital , March 12, 1896)
Brother: Edward Miller Kennedy (b. 1890-d. 1916 in the First World War)
Brother: Robert Pollock Kennedy Jr. (usually known as Paul Kennedy), b. 1895
Aunt: Mrs. W. C. Miller, who lived in Chicago c.1908. Her name was "Aunt Mamie."
Niece: Rosemary Kennedy