NANA DOROTHY
I just have to share these two notes ,I already sent the one on about Alec's Grampy,now this is what he wrote on me.I sat and read it and I cried like a baby.What a wonderful feeling I had reading this.I am so proud and yes, Grandchildren are the greatest,I feel so blessed,they are what helps me get through my days lately.These were school assignments .
NANA(DOROTHY VANDERBECK)
Who I admire most is my Nana,Dorothy Vanderbeck.
My Nana is a retired nurse from Golden Gate Lodge.My Nana also raised three children and has seven grandchildren.
I admire my Nana because she is helpful.My Nana is helpful because sometimes she will help me with my homework when I am struggling or don't understand something.My Nana also helps my Dad,because she will cut grass with the riding lawn mower,and she takes care of the flower gardens.
My Nana is dedicated and shows that with her love towards her family.Because no mater what happens in our family my Nana is always there for everyone,a few examples are,she will babysit when needed,if someone is sick she will take care of them.My Nana is also dedicated to her church.She will cook and serve dinners for the church.
My Nana is a very generous in many ways.Here are some ways she is generous.My Nana gives time to other people,and is generous with her love.
I love my Nana and she loves me back,and everyone who knows my Nana ,knows what a wonderful person she is.
Wrote by Alec Joncas Age 10(04-10-04)He was 10 not 9 .
Don't you think this could brighten up anyones day.I was having a bad day yesterday till I read this.All you need is a few grandchildren and a whole lot of love.
Dorothy.
Some interesting family history from Sharon, as told by her Mother-in-law
Sharon came across this story that her mother-in-law, Emma Irma Graf had told her some 25 or more years ago, and she wanted to share it with all of us
Here is her story:
"My father (Gustav Louis Larsson) immigrated to Nebraska from Struvelstrop, Sweden in 1905. (My father was born April 13th, 1881 and he passed away in 1942) . Upon arriving in the US the surname was changed to Lund because his four brothers, all of whom came to the US before Gustav, went by Lund because there were so many Larssons.
He came to the US because his brother, Charlie, had a planing mill in Columbus Nebraska. When he arrived in the US he heard about the homesteading opportunities in Canada where if you lived on the land for three years; clear title was presented to you and so he moved to Canada. My father’s homestead was 12 miles east of Carmangay, Alberta and they had to haul their grain 40 miles to Clarashome.
While on a visit to his brothers in Nebraska he met my mother, Alma Jeppsson, who had come to visit her sister, Emma, in 1911. (My mother was born September 1st, 1889 in Malmo, Sweden and she passed away at the age of 78 in May 1968.)
My Aunt Emma operated a widely known and respected bakery in Columbus Nebraska. My mother worked for Dr. Evans doing housework. My mother and father married in August, 1912 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That fall, they left for the homestead in Canada.
I can still remember the stories my mother used to tell about arriving in this country. She did not know a word of English. She did not know anyone except for my father. She was a real pioneer. My dad had bought new underwear in the US before coming to Canada and some other new clothing and when he crossed the line they had to pay duty. The border officials wouldn’t return the articles until a later date and in November my parents (my mother pregnant with me – I was born May, 1913) borrowed a team of horses and a democrat (buggy) and left for Lethbridge to get their belongings. The days were short and the nights were cold. It started snowing with near blizzard conditions on their journey back through the hills. It got dark and they got lost so they decided they would tie up the horses at the fence and stay the night in the open. They gathered up their blankets and slept under the buggy until daylight. My mother said she wished she had never seen Canada or America.
That winter was a cold, cold winter. In the morning the water was frozen in the bucket. Life was awful. The only thing that she was lucky about was that they had settled in a Swedish settlement and there were neighbours she eventually met that she would see periodically and be able to visit with.
My mother did not have a sewing machine. She sewed everything by hand. My diapers were hand made. A wheelbarrow was my baby buggy.
Swedish was the language spoken in our home. I remember I was five years old and my parents built a brand new home on the farm. This, I remember, was the year that I could swear in English.
I was seven years old when I started school. The school was in the Carmangay district, about 2 ½ miles from home. I had to walk. In addition, when I started school (other than the swearing I picked up), I could not speak one word of English. I told my children I would never wish my children to go through what I went through. Kids are cruel.
My mother helped outside on the farm and I took over the domestic duties of the home from an early age. I learned to bake bread at 11 years of age.
I had 3 sisters and 1 brother.
My sister, Anna, was born in November, 1916, then a brother, John, was born in June, 1921 (he passed away in February, 1924 from Pneumonia), twin sisters (Grace & Gladys) born Easter Sunday morning, April 12th, 1925. When my dad announced to me that we had twin sisters I told him that one would have been enough. Sorry to say the Gladys passed away January 1926. My mother lost two children in two years. This was a very difficult time for her.
There was a family that had three children and they had a horse and buggy. If they ever did pick me up they would take me a mile past the school, fill my cap with dirt, steal my lunch, etc. etc. I could not tell my mother for fear of reprisal from these kids. One day I had to tell her and she went to the teacher and things got somewhat better for me.
I always wanted to be a teacher but financial circumstances prevent this and I left school in June, 1927.
I married in September 22nd, 1932 to Gustaf Theodore Greene who was also from Carmangay.
Some background on the history of the Greenes……In 1906, Mr. And Mrs. Gjermund Greene (of Norwegian ancestry) came from Bergen, North Dakota to homestead at Carmangay, Alberta. Previous to this they had taken a homestead in Minnesota in the year 1902. His father Norman took over the land in Canada when Gjermund and Thuri decided to go back to North Dakota. Gjermund and Thuri had four sons (Marvin, Norman, George and Gustaf) and 1 daughter (Hilda - born March 10th; 1892 in Pomme de Terre, Minnesota.
All of Gjermund and Thuri’s children ended up in Alberta Canada and they all lived within a radius of 3 or 4 miles all their farming days. Marvin and Norman had adjoining land, then a mile east of Norman, George had land; Hilda lived about 2 miles away.
Gustaf was born in Elbow Lake, Minnesota February 19th, 1889. As a small child he moved with his parents to North Dakota. He came to Alberta in 1911 but did not live there continuously until 1916 when he bought the home place (located 12 miles east of Carmangay) from his brother George who had purchased it from Clarence De Groff who had homesteaded it. Gustaf had homesteaded in Chester, Montana from 1911 to 1916 but he left this when he purchased the ¼ Section of land in Canada.
So they really all lived within a circle for many years.
Gusfaf married Dena Stutrud who was teaching school in Bowville. Her and her mother came up to Canada from Williston, North Dakota. They had three sons, Glen, Laverne and Lloyd. In 1931 Dena passed away.
Gust and I had four children by our marriage, two boys and two girls, Earl, Evelyn, Deanna and Kenneth.
In 1948 Gustaf and I moved to Calgary and Lloyd took over the farm. Gust passed away in March 1960 at the age of 71.
I remember a humourous incident we can now laugh at but at the time was not so funny; it was the time of the army worm invasion in 1933. Our neighbour Halvor Hovde had a rented farm. Ole Wolds, just south of the Bowville school and up in the loft he had a big 20 gallon crock which he was using to make some homemade wine. He had asked several of the Greenes on a wine tasting party; needless to say they all got loaded on wine with army worms in it. When they did sober up and realized what they had drunk there were wishing they could heave it all up but alas; too late.
The name Greene never will die; it won’t have a chance; at present there are around 18 Mrs. Greenes and that many more young Greene boys that are growing up and not married yet. I remember one teacher remarking, "It sure is a greene country!".
I remarried in May, 1961 to Ernie Graf."
Footnote: this is where the story left off, Sharon hopes to find more of this wonderful tale! Her mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s now and is in a facility in Nanaimo but she is the lady who taught Sharon to cook, sew, crochet, etc. etc. Obviously she has plenty of reason to love this wonderful woman.
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this beautiful story with us.
Emma Irma Graf passed away peacefully in her sleep on th 29th January 2005,at the grand age of 87, with Ken and Sharon sharing her last moments. So to both of you,"May the warm memories of your dear one soothe you in this difficult time, and may you be at peace" (quote)
OTHER MOTHER
You are the other mother
I received the day I wed your son;
and I just wanted to thank you Mom,
for the loving things you've done.
You've given me a gracious man
with whom to share my life;
you are his loving Mother,
I am his loving wife.
You used to pat his little head;
and now I hold his hand;
You raised in love a little boy,
and then gave me a man.>
Poem attached to a candle and given to Pat by her daughter-in-law
Marie Linder’s story of her adoption
I guess I'll finish the story I started about being adopted. Most of
my life I was looking for a brother since we were adopted. But I had no
name. The only thing I knew was he was a year younger and they begged my
step mother to take us together , but didn't. My life and his is nothing
to brag about.
One of my step aunts knew my real aunt and when I went to visit her. She told me she wished she had known . and would talk to her friend when she got home. When she got back to Canada her friend had died. So there went my chance to meet him.
In 1986 Christmas eve I received a letter with 2 obituaries saying I
think this is the brother your looking for. Finding out later the
obituaries were my real mother and a brother. I started telephoning the
number I got from information about 10pm. At about 2 am I got through
and when I asked him if he knew who he was speaking to he said noooo. I asked
if Marie rang a bell. All I could hear was a lot of screaming and Garnet saying "
OH MY GOD NOT MY SISTER MARIE" I said I think so.
Then came the surprise as my parents were married twice . My mother
had 4 boys and my dad had 4 girls, then they married and had bad advice
from a lawyer. My mother’s 1st husband disappeared for more then 7 yr.
didn't know what happen to him. and they married because the lawyer said
it was ok.
My mother’s ex- brother in law came to visit and saw the marriage license on
the wall and left straight from there to the police.
The 1st husband was in jail and my mother had not been advised " Now
this is back in 1933.'
Police came out and took them to jail. One of my mother’s sisters took
Garnet and when dad got out was before our mother as she was the one that
had committed bigamy. The day my mother was to get out her sister called
the orphanage to come and get us as she couldn't keep us any more
As my mother was driving in and the child service had us and driving
away. Said they had custody of us ,she couldn't get us back. .
I was adopted to a family in Chatham
and Garnet stayed longer and eventually taken to work on a farm 15
mile away .
It took till 1987 to finally meet my Bro. He couldn't wait to see if
I really was his sister. I couldn't afford to go back to Canada so Feb.
of 1987 about 6pm I finally met my brother . And for Valentine Day I
got a rose from my brother.
That Fall we went to visit them and there was finally a family
reunion. I had only wished my mother had been there as I blamed her all
my life for giving us away.
I finally ended up with ended up with 16 Brothers and
Sisters . 8 1/2 brothers and sisters and 8 real .
Marie Linder
THE OPENING STORY
The Primrose Display
By Winnie Ratcliffe ( Mother-inlaw of Hazel)
Mother’s Granny & Grandfather were Auntie & Uncle to the Bride.
Introduction - This is an account of a fashionable wedding – daughter of Mr. Howarth of the Wallsuches Bleachworks by Hazel’s husband’s grandmother. This person often loved to reminisce about old times. This wedding took place when she was 17 years old, when Horwich was still a small village, it was certainly a hey day for the people of Horwich. The Wallsuches Bleachworks had been for years the main industry in Horwich.
The workhands were all given a days holiday, that was indeed something special in those days.
The Wedding of Miss. Mary Howarth to Mr. James Paul McGeogh M.D. of Liverpool at the
Horwich Parish Church, April 19th 1888 at 1 p.m.
The day was bright and sunny, preparations started at dawn. A brightly coloured awning was erected from the Church Gates to the door. An arch was erected from the gates composed mainly of leaves and primroses, it was a lovely sight.
Flags were flying on the Church, Public Hall and other main buildings and Church Street. The streets around were decorated with flags and buntings.
Mother was told to hurry as the Church was getting crowded. Along with her friend, Mother went to the Church at around 10 a.m. and it was full, however they managed to get a seat at the side of the organ loft. It was a very long wait, but was worth waiting for 3 hours to see a beautiful wedding. The Church too was decorated with spring flowers.
The guests assembled at the Wallsuches House at 12 o’clock to be driven down in carriages to the Church gates. The guests looking so very distinguished, the ladies were beautifully gowned with hats to match, the gentlemen looking smart and elegant.
The Bride was in white, as were her 5 bridesmaids who had primrose coloured silk sashes, straw hats with yellow feathers.
The “at home” reception was at the Wallsuches House and was a very elaborate affair with all the relatives and elite from neighbouring big houses.
Arrangements were made for every one of the workhands and their families to partake of a substantial meal. Mr. Howarth, the bride’s father said that no expense should be spared. A difficulty arose from the fact no building in Horwich then, could accommodate so large a number of people. This was promptly solved by a resolution that women and children, along with teetotallers should dine at the Public Hall, whilst the male adults were provisioned at The Black Bull, The Brown Cow and The Bridge Inn.
The provisions were liberal, roast beef, boiled mutton, plum pudding, and a host of other good things and FREE BEER all day, didn’t some of those old topers have the time of their lives?
4 p.m. was the time arranged for the feast, the meal was kept up to an hour, during which time Mr. Howarth Jnr. visited all the 4 places to make sure people were amply provided for, and his reception everywhere was uproarious. Festivities were kept up to a late hour, every taste catered for.
Entertainers from Bolton were engaged, a Ball at the Public Hall. Mr. Tabbot composed a Scottish Jig and it was first danced at the Public Hall, he named it McGeogh Scottish.
It was a marvellous day and one always to be remembered by everyone – as one old man said,
“IT WERE A REET GRADELY TREAT”.
True story presented by Hazel Ratcliffe – England
I don’t know why this letter was still in her things. I’m sure she put it away for later (it was really unfinished) and forgot about. She probably wrote another to send. It was very emotional for me reading this letter. It gave me some insight as to who my Mother was, and the sacrifices she made to be with my Father. My Mom had been extremely shy as a young person, so for her to make this giant adjustment to her life must have take a great amount of courage. As I was the oldest, and the only girl, my Mom and I had a very special bond, particularly as my Dad was way for a good part of the early years of my life.
So, while this letter is very chatty, and there are references to people who mean nothing to any of you, I think you can get essence of what it was like for a young bride and Mother in those days. The other thing I got, and I think you might as well, is that homes in the UK are generally quite small, and do not have many of the modern conveniences that we know here in North America (sorry I can’t speak for Argentina or Australia, or any Europeans country here). So, while it was probably a little frightening, I think it must have been very exciting as well. So, please read on and enjoy the letter which I have titled :
6½ Welland Ave
St. Catharines
Tues July 17th 45
Dear May & Son,
I guess your thinking it’s about time too. Jim’s been on at me to write while he was home but you know I can’t do a thing when he’s around. Anyway’s, he went back last night instead of waiting till Wed because he stands a better chance of getting his discharge early. He hopes to have it by Fri. There’s a lot I have to tell you, hence this surface letter instead of airmail. I guess I’d better start from the beginning & let you know about the trip.
Well here goes. After I left you at the station I started to bawl, Marg wanted to but wouldn’t because of the kids so I packed up. When we arrived at Hobson, the two R.T.O men met us & carried our luggage. I had to drop my bag, with all my money in it on the lines, but one of the soldiers rescued it. From there we were taken to a Red Cross hostel at St. Johns wood, by car with a lady Red Cross Driver. I tell you that bit because all the others went by ambulance, but as there were only two of us we were allowed luxury. We were given hot tea & biscuits & even fags. It was, while we were having this that Cliff came to see Marg & I was hoping & praying to see Jim. Then I wrote to you.
Afterwards the kids had another medical. There was a talk by Maj. McGill, & a cold dinner. After that we had to sit around till a little over 10:00 P.M. Then we were taken by coach to the station…We left there at 12:00 P.M. & had a night ride to Liverpool. We had to sit up all night. They brought us round a mug of hot soup & some biscuits. We arrived the other end about 8:00 the next morning & it was raining like hell. We had …breakfast on the train. One sausage about 2 ins long some dry bread & something to drink. Then we were lined up & went through about 5 or 6 men to answer questions get our passports etc. We finally got on board to find Marg & I had separate cabins.
It wasn’t bad in mine there was three others girls & one little boy 18 months old. Marg & I sat together at meal times. We had breakfast 7:00 A.M. lunch 12 noon & dinner at 6:0 P.M. They served tea free in the lounge at 4:00 in the afternoon. W could buy 20 Players a day for 8? They had a canteen there that opened from 12 till 8 P.M. it was really just a cubby hole, there we got 4 bars of choc a day & anything from face tissue to needles and cotton. There was a hairdresser too, but I never went. We did our washing either in the bathroom or our cabins. They had a drying room & ironing room. We didn’t use the first because of pilfering & we couldn’t get near the second until the last day because it was booked up before we found out about it.
We had good meals & as much sugar and butter as we wanted. We also had three or four cups of tea a day and coffee at dinner. The last few nights they put on a show. For the passengers by the passengers, but every evening they played cards or read or gossiped in the lounge or played ping pong or Bingo in the Recreation rooms. I didn’t do any because Pat went to bed about 7:00 & I didn’t leave her in case she woke up and wondered. We used to just walk around the deck. We had life boat drill every morning & they inspected our cabins while this was going on. We didn’t sail until Sat at noon that was just after I wrote a short letter to you & one to Minnie. We reached Halifax the 10th April.
That was Tues, 10 days sailing. Marg went sea sick the first day. The third day she stayed in bed & I fetched the M.O. for her because she was bringing up blood that was because she wouldn’t eat. Anyways, he gave her tow sleeping tablets so I had to have Shiela. She was alright during the day, but boy was she a devil at night. She would scream her head off for her mother. I tried all sorts of persuasion without success so she cried herself to sleep. The next morning she started again. I took her down to breakfast & she made so much noise that I left Pat in the care of the soldiers waiting on our table & took her to Marg’s cabin. Marg was still out & I got the steward to keep an eye on the cabin.
I had to do that every mealtime till Marg got up. When Marg came to she asked me to go back to the M.O. because she was still retching, so when I got there he gave mean old fashioned look as though I was another seasick case. (This was another guy) so I told him that I was ok & he said “Well shake hands pal”. Pat was sick about 3 times the first night we sailed & I was sick the 4th day but mine was trough eating too much chocolate & it only lasted a couple of hours. After Marg got better Shiela caught a cold & had to stay in the hospital for 2 days.
The weather was lousy on the trip. The first three days on the boat while we were still in dock it was lovely, but after that it was rainy or misty or foggy or else the sea was rough. We had one fine day at sea just before we got into Halifax. It was foggy as hell but after we exited found it was lovely and sunny. It felt lovely to see land, any land after 10 days at sea. All the while at sea I kept saying if only I could see a tree. I saw nothing but trees on the trip from there to Toronto. After we docked we got rid of our small change by throwing it to the workers on dock (& fags) because they kept asking for souvenirs. Excuse me while I make some tea. My arm aches.
Here I am again. Well we docked at 4:00 P.M. & that night they changed our money into dollars. They told us over the loudspeaker that we should be ready to disembark at 10:00 A.M.A the next morning, & that meal would be served one hour early. That meant we had to have breakfast at six A.M. So we packed all our belongings & got ready. The next morning we had breakfast & put our cases on the C. Deck which is where we get on & off the boat. (We were on the next Deck, B. & there was A Deck above us, and then the next was the lounges & the deck we used to walk around to get our airing.) We were already I put a clean dress on Pat but not her best one (Blue silk) I saved that for when we got off the train.
They didn’t even do that in Liverpool. Then we had about six tags tied on the luggage & one to wear. Incidentally Pat went around on board with her name, my name and cabin NO. tied on her reins. We were finally on the train & left Halifax about 11:00 P.M. Mothers with children had lower berths & wives had the upper berths. Marg had the one next to me. They were nice & clean and comfortable. The meals were good too. We had French waiters & Dark porters. Pat loved going to bed on the puffer train. The Red Cross nurses came around with biscuits once & gave the kids a book & us a packett of cigs. At one station we stopped a woman got on with a big tray of ice cream cones. I had 2. They told us we could send a cable to our in-laws so I sent one to say we’d arrive in Toronto Fri morning at 8:00 A.M.A & St. Catharines at 10:00 A.M. We got to Toronto at 10 past 8 so missed the train & had to wait till 1:35 P.M. They made us welcome at the station & gave us tea & toast & biscuits. They had a nice lounge and a nursery where mothers with very young children could put them to sleep or change their nappies... 1:35 came around & we were on the train for St. Catharines there were 13 coming here & we got in about 10 past 4 P.M. Friday 13.
Pat, her Mother,(The author of this piece of history), her father and Grandmother
A woman came up to me & asked if I was Mrs. Scott, I told her yes & she said “Your Mother –in-law is over there” & pointed. I saw Mom & waved but she didn’t recognize me so I called her, then she saw us & started to run she kissed me & gave me a squeeze & I thought she was never going to let go. I think she wanted to cry, but didn’t. She said hello to Pat & kissed her, but Pat wasn’t having anything to do with her. She had her friend with her, Mrs. Wade, the one who sent me the spoons, Dad’s brother’s wife Aunt Nell, Thelma & her sister. A Red Cross worker drove us all home. When we opened the door in first, because in the sitting room was a child’s green wicker rocking chair & sitting in it was a great big pink rabbit. It’s really a lovely thing & cost over $4.00 which is about £1. But, Pat looked at it, - picked it up & sat in the chair, then all in a few seconds she shoved it out of the way & made for the piano & started to play.
Pat with her new toys
They all laughed. Anyways that was too noisy so they brought out a big doll’s cot with a big doll in it. Then a rag doll that had a long skirt on it & you lift the skirt over its head & there’s another doll. One’s a black mammy & the other end is a white one. Thelma’s mother made it. Mom showed me my room & then we had tea (which is supper out here). It looked very nice; there was salad, bread & butter, ham & dessert of Bananas ice cream & cake. And I didn’t eat anything. For one thing I wasn’t hungry & for another I don’t like salad. By the way, it was a lovely hot day when we arrived. Now I’ll have to stop again to get Pat to bed as it’s 7:50
Well, this is Wed July 18th. I go Pat to bed last night & then took a bath & played cards with Mom, so I didn’t get this finished. To continue where I left off. Bud came in from work just before supper & we were introduced & Pat took a fancy to him. The about 8:30 Uncle Bob came around to meet us. (That’s Dad’s brother). Well, that was the first day.
There are 2 windows with lace curtains & cream blinds opposite the windows there is another opening that leads to the dining room. And instead of the walls either side of this reaching the ceiling, they only come about half way, because the sides facing the dining room are made into two cupboards. On the top of one of these is a picture of Doris & one of Thelma & a tobacco jar that we sent Dad from England (like the one you have on your mantle). On the other side is a picture of Bud & Thelma on their Wedding Day, one of Mom & Dad & Jim when Jim was a baby. & a jar of pussy willow. On the floor of this opening & in the ceiling in the sitting room & the dining room there is a register and that lets the heat in. In the dining room is a big polished table 5 dining chairs & one carver, a big side board & tall china cabinet, a studio couch that Mom sleeps on? (That is like a settee without the arms, they use them for single beds or you can open them for a double bed.) The furniture is dark brown, the couch green & green & brown lino squares on the floor with two wine rugs. On the table is a lace center with a vase of flowers (artificial). On the sideboard are three lace doilies, 2 brass lamps with pleated cream shades, a flower bowl & 2 brass ash trays. On the top of the cabinet is an old fashioned chiming clock & some other junk. There’s also a door leading from the passage to the dining room.
Opposite the sitting room there is a swing door leading to the kitchen in here, (where I am writing this) is two deep white sinks. One deeper than the other, a big refrigerator & nice white enamel gas stove with 4 round burners on top & the oven. Then there is a kitchen table & 4 kitchen chairs & a big cabinet; like a dresser only the top consists of 4 small cupboards & 4 small drawers instead of shelves. The bottom part of this has a cupboard, one deep drawer three small ones & and a small shelf that you pull out. The furniture is painted cream with red knobs on the cupboards and drawers & on the table & the top of the cabinet is a red & cream American cloth & there is cream patterned lino on the floor. The back door leads on to a small veranda & a tiny piece of garden that Jim fenced off to keep Pat from running out.
Well that’s downstairs, now for the upstairs. When you get to the top of the stairs you bare right a little there is three doors. The one on the right is the bathroom, with bath, lavatory & wash basin & medicine cabinet. This is all in cream & white. There’s two towel racks over the bath. Out here they don’t have the lavatory cistern high up with a chain; it’s a small box at the back of the lavatory with a handle you push down. The door facing is our bedroom. In there is a dressing table & dressing chest, both with large mirrors, a full sized bed, & a small cardboard wardrobe. Out here the bedroom suites consist of dressing table, dressing chest, chest of drawers & bed, because most of the houses have clothes closets & you can buy wardrobes separate.
My bedroom is a bit crowded now because I bought a full size cot for Pat it’s cream & had a nice blue mattress & has a couple of pictures on it. Then there’s Pat’s doll’s cot & an extra wardrobe for Jim’s things. The door on the right is Thelma’s bedroom & on the landing is the chest of drawers belonging to our bedroom (There isn’t room for it in there). The there is one more room a big one at the front that Thelma & Bud have as a sitting come dining room. Oh, leading off the dining room is a door that leads to the cellar. Down there is the furnace, the washing machine & 2 laundry tubs a gas water heater 2 water taps a place for the coal & a lot of unused stuff some of it mine, including Pat’s pram, because now that Jim is home & he has Dad’s car we don’t need to walk as much.
So I told you in the beginning of the letter Jim went back Monday night to wait for his discharge. Well I had a letter yesterday morning from him & another this morning & he says he has seen a lot of doctors & has finished his medical & hopes to be home tomorrow or Friday.
Well now for the financial end of it. When I came here Mom told me she was working, (I couldn’t say anything before because Jim wasn’t to know until he came home.) so she said it would be better for me to be my own housekeeper as I was already used to being so. The reason for this is that Mom works six days a week & has her meals there all she has at home is cups of tea & a little something in the mornings & night & her meals Sun. I supply that & I do the work, washing & ironing, but I don’t pay her a penny. I wanted to but she said Jim was already doing that (He allowed her some money each month. Jim allows her 8 dollars a month & the government makes it up to $33 & she earns $11 a week. Well she pays the rent, $38 dollars a month, (which is about £8.10.0) the gas once a month which is about $5.00 (£1) Bud & Thelma pay $25.00 a month for their two rooms. But they don’t pay any gas or light. (Neither do I) sp she’s not awfully well off. She has some money in the bank but she’s keeping it for such a time when she can’t go out to work.
For a change of subject I’ll tell you a bit about Marg. Cliff has a father & a sister, a step mother step brother 7 step sister & a half sister. The step mother & her two kids don’t hit it off with Cliff & his Dad & sister so when Marg came it wasn’t so hot for her. She didn’t hit it off either, so when Cliff came home two weeks before Jim, they got an apartment on their own & bought their furniture. Cliff took his discharge 2 weeks ago yesterday & is now at work. They came out with us several times when Jim was on leave & Mom came as well. We took a few pictures, but the film belonged to Marg so we are waiting for her to get them copied then we can send you some. Incidentally, films are scarce here, but will try and get you some. What size do you want 6-20 Kodak? Potatoes have been very scarce these last few weeks but I think we will get some this week.
Hair grips come & go, elastic I haven’t seen since I came & ladies panties (knickers) are hard to get. So are kid’s vests & panties. I managed to get 8 pr of panties for Pat at different times. Meat is going to be rationed again & we are getting 1 1/3 pounds a week per person. They cut sugar down last month to ¼ lb a week. We still get ½ pound butter but lard 7 domestic shortening isn’t rationed. There is no margarine out here. Ham 7 bacon you get when you see it. We have preserve coupons 2 a month now & with that we buy jam & marmalade honey syrup or sugar or tinned fruit. We can get lots of fruit of, but not apples & the lemons & oranges are green. Bananas get like bacon & ham. Anyways, we manage quite well because we have Mom’s book as she doesn’t need it & anyways it’s like heaven after all the hardships out there. Jim’s still making up that parcel to send you. I got you some stockings, but you may not like the colour. They don’t seem to go for dark colours out here. Let me know if there’s anything you want. I will try and get it for you. If I can’t get what you want I’ll get the next best thing. Don’t be afraid to ask, because even though there is a shortage of many things we can still get lots more than you see over there.
Would you like some Pyrex ware? I have loads of it that I got at the two showers Mom gave me. I don’t think I told you about that. It’s kind of a bachelor party only for women. It’s given for the Bride-to-be & anybody, but the Brides Mother can give it for the bride elect. I had a big clothes basket each time (to hold the gifts). The first time Thelma decorated it in green paper with white bows on each corner & a big white one on the front. The second time Mom did it in white with rows of pink & pink bows. So as the guests arrive they hand the hostess the gift & it is placed in the basket. The when most of them have arrived you play some games until they are all there. You usually give little prizes to the winners. Then the guest of honour which is the bride to be (me in this case) sits on a stool & opens the gifts. As she takes the ribbons off she puts them around her neck & gives the papers to her lady in waiting to fold up. Then she reads out the cards that are enclosed (you buy them like birthday cards) Looks at the gift, thanks the donor then hands it the hostess to take round on show. After that’s over, you have eats & tea. At my first shower we had our tea cups read because one of the guests was a professional fortune teller. I’ve bee to her a couple of times with Mom as she happens to be one of her friends. I can’t remember all the things I got at the shower, because they are packed in my trunk down the cellar but I’ll tell you what I can. Mrs. Wade, (Mom’s friend who sent the spoons) came to one but sent gifts to both. I got a pair of feather pillows & a pink glass fruit set (one big dish & six small ones). Aunt Nell came to both & she gave me a pair of sheets & 2 pink bath towels. Mom was at both naturally & from her I got 2 blue towels & 2 face cloths. 2 gifts from Thelma, a set of 4 green & cream tins & a small blue & white table cloth. A green house dress & some pink floral organdy to make Pat a dress. From a friend of the families. I had 4 double Pyrex & 1 single, 1 meat dish, 1 pie plate, 1 oval & 1 oblong & 1 blue with cover. I had a cut glass (or crystal) oval sweet dish, a fruit set, cream & sugar basin, a glass top tray & a pair of pictures. A blue glass jam dish with silver lid & spoon. A small table cloth, with 4 napkins, and 1 ½ dozen coloured glasses (tumblers). I had three pairs of pillow slips with “His” & “Her & 2 pair with “Mr. & Mrs.” Embroidered on them, and one pair plain. I had another 8 tea towels, 8 dish cloths & 10 pot holders2 more towels & I face cloth. A shoe bag with 12 pockets. A blue measuring cup and aluminum frying pan and 2 pot scourers. (Some of the pot holders & the post scourers were made up like a doll, 1 red & 1 blue). And lastly 1 coaster set. That’s a small wooden stand with 6 small glass trays on, or to stand wine glasses on. It will most likely be ashtrays in my house. I know that’s all there is because I went down to have a look. Quite a nice start from people I didn’t know eh? I’ve collected some more things since then but will tell you about them later as I have to get supper now and then put Pat to bed.
This shows some of the principle "characters" mentioned in Mom's Letter. me and my parents of course, and Cliff (my Dad's best friend), his wife Marg and daughter Sheila (who we sailed with to Canada)
Story shared with us by Pat, of Niagara, Canada
This follow up story from a newspaper,was sent in by Sharon, (of Vancouver Island)whose own mother was also a "war bride"
DEJA VIEW
War Brides Faced Culture Shock
by Laura Neilson Bonikowsky
Southam Newspapers
Mrs. Jones, of Littletown, Canada, thought her heart would stop when she answered the door and saw the telegram delivery boy. It was 1943 and Mrs. Jone's son, Robert, was stationed overseas somewhere. She took the yellow envelope with a shaking hand. Fearing the worst, she blinked back tears and read: “Getting married. Need 60 pounds. Letter follows.” Mrs. Jones sank into a heap on the floor.
Bob Jones was one of nearly 48,000 Canadian servicemen who married overseas during the Second World War. Between 1942 and 1947, the government brought 47,783 “war brides” and their 21,950 children to Canada. Relatively few came before the war's end. They began arriving in earnest when the RMS Mauretania, carrying 943 women and children, docked at Pier 21 in Halifax on Feb. 10, 1946.
Liz Smith, like her war bride sisters, came to Canada for love. The heightened emotions of war, fostered by anxiety and nurtured by fear, made romance especially poignant. Young soldiers, airmen and sailors, many away from home for the first time, were lonely and homesick. The exuberance of youth was not completely dampened by the exigencies of war. It was only natural that the men would find companionship with the war-weary young women who were deprived of basic necessities, whose boyfriends were far away and who hadn't had much fun in a very long time.
Most couple met at dance halls and pubs. It was difficult for any women to conduct her daily business without encountering the foreign servicemen. Bob met Liz on a blind date at one of the dances organized to bolster morale. Mutual attraction grew quickly into love. Knowing their time together would be brief, they, like many couples, married on short acquaintance. The first marriage of a Canadian serviceman to an Englishwoman occurred only 43 days after the first Canadians arrived in England in November 1939.
The war brides travelled to Canada without their husbands, who had already been repatriated or were still on overseas duty. Most of the war brides - 44,886 - were from Great Britain. The rest came from Holland and other European countries, Africa, Russia, India, Australia, and the Caribbean. Transporting the dependents was the responsibility of the Department of National Defence, the immigration branch of the Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and the Canadian Red Cross.
The war brides were taken care of from beginning to end of their voyage. The Canadian Wives Bureau arranged the women's passage, delivered them to their ships and distributed information. Red Cross volunteers tended to their needs in the hostels where they stayed awaiting departure. Once aboard ship, the women and children were under the care of the Army Conducting Staffs, consisting of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, doctors, nurses and Voluntary Aid Detachments, of which the Red Cross was an important component. Red Cross Escorts made the crossing many times accompanying the women.
The escorts and the abundance of food not seen during the war made the two week crossing a luxury cruise for many of the war brides. For others, the nausea of seasickness or pregnancy made the journey torturous. The crying of seasick children grated on the nerves. The first trip made it obvious that troop ships were unsatisfactory transport for seasick women and children. Bathroom facilities were inadequate and the ship reeked of vomit and dirty diapers. Once the ships' facilities were adjusted, the voyages were more pleasant.
Upon arrival in Canada, women travelling beyond Nova Scotia continued by train, still escorted by the Red Cross. It was nerve-wracking, coming to a new country to join husbands whom they barely knew and whose families they had never met. Many feared their arrival would not be well-received. The country turned out in force to welcome the new citizens. In towns and cities across Canada, volunteers met the trains and delivered each bride to her husband's safekeeping or ensured her safe accommodation if he could not meet the train.
Canada was a culture shock for many, especially big-city girls who suddenly found themselves in rustic farmhouses without running water or indoor plumbing. For some, the dashing soldiers they had met in Europe were broken by war, strangers to their families and new wives.
Most, like Liz, found a warm welcome among the families of the men for whom they had left home and kin. As Liz and Bob made a home for their family, she, like most war brides, adjusted and persevered, growing to love her adopted homeland.
Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is a subject editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia . To learn more about war brides and the Second World War, consult The Canadian Encyclopedia
Ruth’s Story:
OBSTACLES
How many time through our life have we faced obstacles? You know ones we thought we could never over come , but did.
I knew someone like that, well in actual fact I have known several people like that but this person was very close to me and I never appreciated or understood the real meaning of obstacles until she was gone from my life.
How she faced obstacles every day of her life and seem to over come even the smallest or largest obstacles, or the easiest one or the hardest one I never knew. I look back and I am amazed how she did it. That at the end of a day she always had a smile for us no matter how hard the day had been she was always there for us kids. What her life must have been like as a child herself. I will never really know but what I know couldn’t have been easy for her. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother had a disease called Huntington. She remembered helping to raise her younger siblings. She gave up schooling at eighth grade to help out at home. What a young life to give up going to school and help raise her brothers and sisters, what an overwhelming obstacle that must have been.
Ruth's Mother at 18
It Would be years before I realized she couldn’t read and barely write. But she over came all these obstacles just like she would all the others that would follow her through her life.
Her first husband was abusive and also an alcoholic, two kids and a divorce. Then two years on her own and then she meet the man who would love her, but not the two kids who come with her. But she would face this obstacle like always putting herself between the man she loved and the kids she loved also, just to keep peace. I can tell you it wasn’t easy for her this obstacle. I was one of those kids!
She lost of twin boys in 1951, then her oldest son died in 1957 of heart failure. I never saw the grief, but the sorrow she must have felt. Another Obstacle to face and conquer. She couldn’t let it get her down she had other children to worry about.
The loss of another son stillborn in 1960 her fourth child to bury. She almost lost her own life at this time. No more babies the doctor said but there would be one more two years later, her last. She survived and another obstacle behind her.
She now has had twelve children all together from her young life of nineteen to thirty-two. In the course of thirteen years she has bore her family to be and lost four to death, leaving her with eight children.
Over time she was to lose her sisters and brothers to early deaths. The younger siblings she helped raise are now dying before her and it is an obstacle she really didn’t want to face. It seemed to be getting harder and harder to over come those obstacles as each year go by.
Her husband lost his job to a back injury and he turned to the bottle - another obstacle, another drunk to deal with. Won’t this ever stop she asked once. She learnt to drive at 50 and get a job. For once she is happy to face this obstacle because she has come in to being her own woman. She meet other women like herself and she understand for the first time she was not the only one with obstacles to deal with.
Now it is 1983 and the doctor has told her and her family that she has cancer and she going to die. To her she’s about to face the biggest obstacle that she has ever faced. She will face this obstacle just like she has all the other ones, head on. No one knows that this obstacle will be her biggest challenge or her undoing. Not even she will admit this obstacle will be the hardest one and this one will beat her at her own game. She will fight this obstacle for three long hard years and she will give it her best, but on August 5, 1985 she will lose her battle to lung cancer. She will have die at fifty-six still by all means a young woman.
I now know that her obstacles that I watch her fight and over come made me the person I am today. That we all have to face big and small obstacles and how they are handled make us what we are as a person. One thing I know is we can sat down and cry about an obstacle or we can get up and fight and do like this wonderful lady did and over come it. If ask if I have a hero I have to say this lady was my hero. I wish I could tell her how proud and how much I admired her, but I think she knew that anyway.
She has gone now, but I now realize she over came all her obstacles the best she could and those obstacles are what make her the woman she was. My Mother!! If I had one wish it would be that I could be half the woman my mother was. I thank her for being my mother and for going all through the obstacles she went through so I could sit here and write this letter.
I dedicated this with love to my mother: Evelyn Jean Lustey August 5, 1997
Ruth's Mother at 56 in 1985
Sent in with love, by Ruth. Thanks Ruth your mother is surely smiling on you now for sharing her story
