A Legacy of Kindness and Good Food
Nellie Rose Ragan was born in Half Moon Bay, California, on September 13, 1876, to John Ragan and Mary McDonnell, Irish immigrants who had settled along the California coast. When Nellie was a baby, a lightning strike caused a fire that tragically took her father's life as he saved his family. The story passed down through the years says her mother was later swindled out of her insurance money and brought her three young children back to Massachusetts to be closer to their immigration sponsor. Because she could no longer provide the care they needed, the children were placed into adoption.
In 1883, Nellie was adopted by Mary Evelina Churchill Porter of Whitman, Massachusetts, and became Nellie Rose Porter. In 1899, she married Myron Gould in East Bridgewater. Myron worked as a supervisor at the Commonwealth Shoe Factory in Whitman. Nellie and Myron were married for 30 years until Myron's passing in 1929.
Nellie lived a long life and passed away in 1965 at 89 years old. She is remembered as gentle, sweet, and kind.
Today, Scott Gould and Gabrielle Costa carry on her legacy as owners of the Nellie Rose Restaurants. Scott is Nellie Rose's great-great-grandson.