This month I had a conversation with Alice Maltais, who raised eight children while working full time as a nurse. Today, her family has grown to 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. As a member of our community, Alice is there to help a sick friend by volunteering at her church or caring for someone that needs a friend.
You have lived in Concord for 63 years. Tell us about your life before Concord:
I was born in Connecticut. When I was four we moved to New York. After high school I wanted to become a missionary but after much soul searching I realized that I would be better serving my fellow man by becoming a nurse.
I remained a New Yorker until I completed nursing school. When I graduated, we were at war. Hence, my nursing career began when I joined the Army Nurse Corps as a second lieutenant. Later the Nurse Corps became part of the regular U. S. Army.
Where were you stationed for your first tour of duty?
It was off to Europe to work as a charge nurse. The hospital was located on the border of England and Wales and was far from the bombing areas. It was surrounded by mountains and valleys. We could view herds of sheep grazing on the land. It was such a treat when someone would enter Wales and obtain fresh eggs for us.
Most of the time I had 120 patients that were being treated for trench foot. Our soldiers had to stay in the trenches for four to five days at a time or were tracking across the European Theater. Our soldiers never had time to take off their boots, which resulted in frozen feet. It was my duty to care for them so that they could either return to their unit or prepare them to be sent back state side. Most of the wounded were between the ages of 18 and 25. They were a proud group of young men and worshipped their boots. As they sat in their beds, day after day, they would polish their boots. When they were done they would ask us to place them beside their bed in a just a certain way and spot.
Did you meet your husband while in the Nurse Corps?
I met Albert while I was stationed in Staten Island. Albert was a medic on one of the hospital ships. After the war we were married and we began our life together here in Concord.
While raising your family did you continue your nursing profession?
Yes, I worked at the Margaret Pillsbury Hospital until it closed. The next place that I worked was at Memorial Hospital. When Memorial Hospital closed and Concord Hospital was built, I continued working in my profession until 1985. When I retired, I had worked in our local hospitals for a career of 40 years. During that time, I was a charge nurse in the maternity ward.
You have a special connection to the Girl Scouts. What part did it play in your life?
For 35 years I was the scout leader for Troop 11 of the Concord council. Later we were changed to Troop 211 when all the councils were consolidated. In the summer I took part in the leadership of the Hannah Dustin day camp.
(Being a) Girl Scout is so good for young girls. Each badge they earn helps them to be proud of their accomplishments and gain self-esteem.
Is it true that your home was the gathering place for all the neighborhood kids?
As my children were growing up we always had kids playing in our yard. This tradition continued as grandkids came along. In the winter, the children would spend hours building snow forts. We froze a small skating rink for them to play hockey and learn how to skate. Most times, the day would end with a good old-fashioned snowball fight.
Summertime was the busiest. On the front steps, there would be two little girls playing in their dress-up clothes and wheeling their dolls up and down the sidewalk. In the meantime, there would be a game of baseball going on in the yard. The neighborhood tomboy was the one to get the home runs, which always agitated the boys. Sometimes, it was a game of kick the can or spraying one another with the garden hose. No one took time to come in for a drink of water. Someone would turn on the garden hose and everyone would line up for a drink. No bottle water back then and yes, they are all alive and well. At the end of the day everyone would say, ‘see you tomorrow’ and they all headed home wearing their well-earned dirt and perhaps a band-aid or two!
What do you do in you free time?
The Walker Lecture Series is great and free, which helps my budget. I enjoy going to the productions by our Community Players. The cost of a ticket is something that I can afford and it is always such an excellent show.
However, my favorite thing is free! Tuesday mornings are a special time for me because that is the day that The Concord Insider arrives at my door. It is so nice to be able to read about people and events in our community. It is full of happy and fun news! Thank you, Concord Insider!
