="Baskerville Old Face">Biographical Information
William
Goodwin Aurelio
William Goodwin Aurelio was born on 1 June 1870 (1) in Falmouth "...in
the family home on East Main Street2..." in Teaticket, the son of William G.
Aurelio (2,3,4) and Priscilla D. Davis (2,5,6). The Davis family owned a large stretch
of property in the area now occupied by Falmouth Plaza7. The adjacent roadway is
now known as "Davis Straits" (7,8). The Aurelio homestead was located on part of
the Davis property at the Heights Corner (7,8,) where Kappy's Liquors is now
present7.
William graduated from Lawrence High School in Falmouth in 1890 (2), and was class
valedictorian. He then attended Boston University and graduated in 1894 (2), again
as valedictorian. He taught Greek and mathematics from 1895 to 1897 at the
Literacy and Biblical Institute in New Hampton, NH2 and then traveled abroad for
two years on the Jacob Sleeper fellowship, studying in Greece, Italy, and
Germany. Professor Aurelio then taught at Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Hampden
County, until his appointment to the faculty of Boston University in 1901 (2). At
Boston University, he taught Greek, Latin, Greek history and art, and Biblical
studies2. He retired from Boston University in 1940, but remained a part-time
instructor until three weeks before his death2. Although residing in Brookline,
Norfolk County, to maintain proximity to the University, he held onto his
Falmouth property until his death, spending summers there (2).
William was an enthusiastic gardener, as well as holding a life-long interest in
cultural matters, spirituality, fine arts, and astronomy. He maintained a small
observatory with a 6½ telescope in the fields near his homestead in Falmouth (2,7)
and spent many nights scanning the skies. After his death, the telescope was
given to Boston University, where it is still in use9. The decrepit remains of
the observatory (7,10) remained until about the 1980s.
William Goodwin Aurelio died "...at midnight last Friday..." (1,2,1) at Palmer
Memorial Hospital in Roxbury, Suffolk County, "...aged 81". He was buried in his
mother's family plot at the Methodist Cemetery, East Main Street, Falmouth,
after committal services on January 3 (12). William was apparently a life-long
bachelor and willed his estate of $125,000 to Boston University upon his death.
By 2000, this bequest was sufficient to establish endowed Chairs of Greek
Language and Literature, Appreciation of Scripture, and Mathematics and
Science (12).
1 Gravestone Record of William G. Aurelio, as
reported by Falmouth Genealogical Society, Cemetery Project, at www.falgen.org/cem/omc/OMCalphanames.htm,
accessed on 20 December 2003.
2 William G. Aurelio obituary, The Falmouth Enterprise, Friday, January
4, 1952, page 5.
3 Despite the 1880 census record (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/Census/,
(which states that William's father was born in PA), this probably is the
William Goodwin Aurelio born 31 January 1839, res. Willimantic, Windham County,
CT, son of Thomas Aurelio and Lucy Lothrop Goodwin, (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/IGI/,
accessed 22 December 2003).
4 William G. Aurelio, the elder, died in Hingham, Plymouth County, on
February 11, 1879, aged 39-0-0. Place of burial is unknown. Annual Report of the
Finances of the Town of Falmouth, by the Committee on Accounts, for the year
ending January 31, 1880. A. Mudge & Sons, Boston, 1880, page 51.
5 Priscilla P. [sic] Davis was born in Falmouth on 18 September 1842,
daughter of Edmond and Mary D. Davis. Brown, O.B. (comp.) 1976. Vital records of
Falmouth, Massachusetts to the year 1850. Society of Mayflower Descendants in
the State of Rhode Island, Warwick, RI, 262pp.
6 Priscilla D. (Davis) Aurelio died in Falmouth on June 30, 1899, aged 57
years, 9 months, 12 days, and is buried in the [Old] Methodist Cemetery,
Falmouth. Annual Report of the Finances of the Town of Falmouth for the year
ending December 30, 1899. Independent Press, Chas. Burgess, Prop., Falmouth,
1900, page 113.
7 Costa, R. 1986. Recollections of Teaticket. Cape Line Instant Printing,
Falmouth, Mass., 146pp.
8 Costa, R. 1986. Teaticket. Pages 382-391 in M.L. Smith (ed.) The Book
of Falmouth. Falmouth Historical Commission, Falmouth, Mass., 582pp.
9 Boston University Astronomy Department history, http://www.bu.edu/astronomy/history.html,
accessed on 20 December 2003.
10 The observatory was in the area of the present Rose Street, between
Davis Straits and Worcester Court. Personal recollections of James E. Cardoza.
11 Although William's gravestone reads "December 29" ,"midnight last
Friday" would be December 28. It is likely that the published obituary is
inexact as to the specific time of death.
12 News Release, Biomathematician named first Aurelio professor of
mathematics and science at B.U., http://www.bu.edu/news/releases/2000/4-7-kopell.htm,
accessed on 20 December 2003.
James E. Cardoza
Herman Oscar Nyberg
 Herman
"Pete" Nyberg
Herman Oscar Gustaf Nyberg was born in Falmouth on July 12,
19081, the son of Peter and Johanna (Swenson) Nyberg, Swedish
immigrants who came to Falmouth in 19001,2.
Herman graduated from Lawrence High School in Falmouth in
19281. He lived on Gifford Street in Falmouth. He served in the U.S.
Army from July 1943 to December 1945, with the 3129th Signal Service Company in
the Philippines and Japan1. He was employed by the Massachusetts
Department of Public Works for 17 years, retiring in 19731.
He married Etta G. Spaulding of Falmouth on September 15,
1939, in Falmouth3. There was no issue. After Herman's death, Etta
moved to Phoenix, AZ, as nanny to the children of Sharlene (Alves) Nacinovich
(daughter of Arlene (Alves) Young, former neighbor of the Nyberg's on Gifford
Street). Etta subsequently died in Phoenix4.
Herman died at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis on June 6,
1976, aged 67-10-24, after a stroke1,5. He was buried on June 8 in
the [Old] Methodist Cemetery on East Main Street, Falmouth6.
1 Annual
Report of the Town Officers of the Town of Falmouth, also the School Committee
and Superintendent of Schools, for the year ending December 31, 1908.
Independent Press, Chas. S. Burgess, Falmouth, Mass., 1909, page 179.
2 Herman O. Nyberg obituary, The Falmouth Enterprise, Tuesday,
June 8, 1976, page 2.
3 Annual Report of the Finances of the Town of Falmouth for the year
ending December 31, 1939. Falmouth Publishing Co., Inc., Falmouth, Mass., 1940,
page 161.
4 Personal communications, Arlene Young to Dorothy Cardoza and James
Cardoza.
5 Annual Report of the Finances of the Town of Falmouth for 1976.
Kendall Printing, Inc., Falmouth, Mass., page 83.
6 Gravestone Record of Herman O. Nyberg, as reported by Falmouth
Genealogical Society, Cemetery Project, at
www.falgen.org/cem/omc/OMCalphanames.htm, accessed on 20 December 2003.
James E. Cardoza
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