Monday, April 27, 2026
An Art Journey Into Family History Part 10
Wilfred Jasper Burnett 1915-2007 (Top Left)
When Wilf finished high school in Fort Frances, he returned to New Brunswick and worked on his Aunt Stella’s dairy farm while learning to fly. He joined the New Brunswick Dragoons. In 1937 he worked his passage to England and joined the RAF (Royal Air Force).
Wilf went on to have a distinguished military career in the RAF. During the war he flew many clandestine sorties into France and Germany. After the war, he flew flying boats with BOAC to the Far East and on one occasion he was forced to divert to Hainan Island, then in Communist hands, where he found a supply of abandoned American fuel. He then spent three days transferring fuel into the aircraft using a felt hat as a filter and a saucepan. In 1956 he led his squadron into action during the Suez Canal crisis against targets in Egypt.
Retiring in 1968 with the rank of Air Commodore, during the course of his career he was awarded the DSO. OBE, DFC, AFC 7 CdeG(P) (Distinguished Service Order, Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross, Croix de Guerre with Palm(The French Flying Cross).
Wilf married his wife Elona (Joy) in 1939 and they had two children, David and Ilona.
Willis Gordon Burnett 1918 - 1984 (Bottom right) My Dad
Willis joined the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) during the second world war. A born pilot, his love of flying led him to become a well known and respected pioneer in Canadian north bush flying after the war and until his retirement in 1980.
A “country boy” at heart, in another era, my dad might have been a cowboy riding the range on a horse he loved with a guitar strapped to the saddle! But he was born to ride a horse of a different type! His love affair with planes started in the RCAF and he lived and breathed to fly any time, anywhere, to any place. It earned him the nickname “Spike”!
The people he met, the places he went and the “roughness” of the north from Baffin Island to Yellowknife in the North West Territories lured him back again and again. In the course of his career, he flew close to 30,000 miles accident free over some of the roughest, wildest and desolate northern terrain this planet has to offer. It didn’t matter whether the plane was on skis, wheels or floats.. he flew it with a grin on his face and a smile in his heart.
My Dad loved cold weather. He is the only person I know who would willingly spend a summer on an iceberg near Greenland... which he did... and his "excuse"... "too darn hot in the summer south of 60" ... meaning the 60th parallel on the map! The U.S./Canadian border is on the 49th parallel, so that gives you an idea of just how high up into northern Canada he meant!
My Dad became quite ill in 1980. I didn't know how ill he was until I stepped off the plane from Germany. I was shocked. He had lost so much weight, he had literally shrunk. If my mother and sister had not been with him, I would have barely recognized him.
He battled courageously with his health over the next few years. Diabetes and heart problems plagued him but he hung on against all odds. The loss of one of his legs ended any hope of ever flying again. We thought at the time it would kill him. But he stayed around because he had a purpose to fulfil.
In August 1983, my sister's husband David died unexpectedly of a cerebral hemmorage at age 34. My two nieces were mere babes at the time. Our family was devastated by the loss and especially my dad who was very fond of David (they were like two peas in a pod).
After Dave's death, my dad's health improved a great deal. The following spring, just before Easter, he and my Mom went to Hawaii on vacation... something they had always wanted to do.
That year, my sister had Easter dinner at her house. My Dad played with his grandkids as my mom, sister and I bustled about the kitchen getting dinner ready. I don't remember exactly what was said but whatever it was, it was funny! My sister laughed and it was the first laugh that rang true since David had died. I am sure that Dad heard it.
During dinner, I noticed my Dad watching her but didn't think anything of it at the time. He really needed to know that she was going to be okay. Dad was very protective of his kids, especially us girls. Today, I know that her laugh gave him the reassurance he wanted. It was going to take time, but she'd make it.
A few days later, my Dad and brother showed up at my house unexpectedly. It was a beautiful spring day and we sat outside chatting and enjoying the weather. It was a wonderful visit. As my dad and brother left, the thought crossed my mind that it was the last time I would see my dad. It scared me silly. I quickly erased it from my mind!
Two days later, my dad had a heart attack. I rushed to my Mom's when I heard the news just as the paramedics were working on him. My dad swore that he would never go into the hosptial again. I went down to my parent's bedroom to tell the paramedics not to say anything about transporting him to the hospital. As I poked my head into the room, I saw that the heart monitor was still registering a heartbeat. I was about to give the paramedics the message when one of them said "We'll have to transport him over to the hospital... we can't do much more here." In that moment, my Dad died. The heart monitor went flat. He kept his word. A value he treasured and had instilled in all of us kids from the time we were knee high to grasshoppers.
Guy Millard Burnett 1917 – 1999
Following high school, Guy decided to take up the trade of welding. A master craftsman, my Uncle Guy could build anything he set his mind to! He left for the U.S. in the latter part of the 1930’s and worked in Minnesota and Virginia before taking a job with Westinghouse Electric in Pennsylvania. He worked with Westinghouse for nearly forty years before retiring in 1980. After his retirement he moved to Harbeson, Delaware to be much nearer to the coast.
A warm, generous and quiet man with a wry, delightful sense of humour, Guy, like his brothers, loved the outdoors. A “farmer” at heart, his lush garden attested to his love of gardening. His green thumb produced tomatoes the size of softballs. He took great pleasure in creating and fixing “stuff”. He had every tool and gadget in his workshop you can imagine. Guy loved to go fishing. Many an early morning would find him tossing his rods and tackle in his “fishin’ jalopy’ heading for one of his favourite fishing spots!
I didn’t meet my uncle Guy until I lived in North Carolina. But I am so glad I did! I just loved him to bits… he reminded me of my Dad who died a few short years after I returned from Germany. It was amazing to me just how similar they were in so many ways… from the expressions they used to the way they threw their heads when they laughed.
One of my fondest memories of my uncle was a visit, with my aunt, to North Carolina for Christmas. As a special treat, I made him one of my famous B-52 cakes and told him the story about how it came to be named “B-52”.
One night, during the 60’s, my Dad had come to visit me while I was working for the summer in Labrador City, Newfoundland. We went out for a drink at the local bar to have a bite to eat and get caught up.
It didn’t take long before the conversation revolved around flying and talking airplanes (my father’s favourite subject). Somehow we got on the subject of B-52 bombers and laughed that there was even a “shooter” named a B-52.
Now, my Dad had a sweet tooth. He loved chocolate and dessert! I laughingly said that putting the liquor in a B-52 shooter into a cake would make one heck of a tasty dessert. Oh my daddy loved that idea as we talked about it and the Burnett B-52 cake recipe was born!
So how do you make a B-52 cake? It’s pretty easy. You make three layers… one chocolate, one orange and one vanilla. Once it is baked, you soak the chocolate layer with Kailua, the orange layer with Grand Marnier and the vanilla layer with Bailey’s Irish Cream. You let it sit for a day and then you put it all together with Whipped Cream. Totally sinful… yummy and delicious. When my Mom and Dad came for a visit while I was living in Germany, I made one for them. My Dad thought it was the best darn cake he had ever tasted.
Uncle Guy loved the story and could hardly wait to have a piece after dinner on Christmas Eve. His eyes rolled in delight as he bit into the first piece and he smacked his lips in true appreciation at the last bite.
Christmas morning arrived. I had prepared a wonderful Christmas morning breakfast (enough for an army) with all sorts of wonderful goodies… Christmas fruit bread, strawberry waffles with whipped cream, scones with Devonshire Crème to name just a few. I asked Uncle Guy what he would like for breakfast.
He looked at all the goodies on the table. “Honey that all looks so delicious,” he began. “But you know what I want most? More of that B-52 cake!”
My aunt rolled her eyes in amusement. My husband laughed and said “Told ya so!” and I served him cake!
He talked about that cake for years after.
Unfortunately he was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1998.On our last visit to see him just before he died, I sat down next to his bed for a chat with him. He tired easily and it was an effort for him to have a conversation.
We talked for a few moments and then he took my hand and said: “Honey, I was so touched when you made that B-52 cake for me. I felt so special that you would do that for me. When we (meaning his siblings) were growing up, we missed out on a lot of things. We didn’t have a mom who baked us birthday cakes or made us something special for Christmas. Baking that cake just for me made me feel really special. It was one of the kindest and most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. I love you sweetie.” Needless to say, it was a very touching moment for me and a lovely memory of my uncle's last words to me.
A few weeks ago, hubby and I had seats at a week long curling tournament. Sitting in front of us was a man who reminded me of my uncle. Even hubby noticed it.
Over the next couple of days we got to know him. He and his wife were visiting in Victoria from Prince Edward Island to cheer on their team during the tournament.
Having a conversation with him was downright déjà vu! He looked, dressed, talked and had the same mannerisms as my uncle Guy. It was a fun couple of days chatting back and forth with this lovely couple. My aunt Flo would have loved hearing that story! She missed her brothers so much after they all died.
Guy and his wife Lucille had three children, Carole, Linda and Darlene.
Florence Commela Burnett (Clendinneng, Fries) 1921 - 2008
Bright, attractive and personable, Florence worked for Northern Electric, first in Saint John, N.B. and later in Moncton, N.B. and Montreal, Quebec. In 1949, Florence married Stephen Henry Clendinneng, ten years her senior. They had two children, Debbie and Joni. In the 50’s they moved to Montreal, Quebec. Their two girls were still quite young when tragedy struck. Steve was diagnosed with a brain tumour and for much of their marriage was in a coma and on life support. Steve died in 1970.
Florence re-married and moved to the U.S.. She and her husband Jan lived in Walnut, Creek, California for over 30 years. After Jan’s unexpected death a few years ago, Florence decided to remain in Walnut Creek. All her friends were there, she was now in her 80’s and it was warmer there in the winter than eastern Canada where her girls now live!
“The thought of snow and those cold eastern winters just makes me cringe!” she said. “I’m staying put right here. So there!” Being fond of the warmer winter weather on the Pacific west coast, she wasn’t about to get any argument from me. I understood completely.
James Henry Burnett 1922 – 1990
Spike and Jim, both fond of the outdoors, often hired on as “fishing and hunting guides” at their Uncle Charlie’s fishing resort in Spring Lake before and after the war.
Jim, like his two elder brothers, joined the RCAF during world war two and served as an air gunner in Europe.
When he returned to Fort Frances after the war, he lived with his brother Spike and his wife Erma and began building towards what was to become a highly successful masonry business. He married his first wife, Olive and had two children, Jay and Kathy.
I was quite little when my uncle Jim married but I remember it to this day. I trailed around behind my uncle like a puppy dog when I was small. Wherever he went, I was right behind him. I adored him. He probably secretly thought I was a little pest (although he vehemently denied it when I was older and asked him!)
I was very upset the day he got married at my parent’s home. I clearly remember them leaving the house after their wedding. I was so upset. How could he possibly leave me for THAT woman! How dare she take my uncle away from me! According to my mother, I cried myself to sleep that night. Once I got to know my new aunt though, I liked her. Eventually I forgave her. LOL
When Jim retired in 1982, he passed his business on to his son Jay. Blessed with the Burnett charm, Jim was a well liked, community minded man who loved sports. Fond of golf, fishing, houseboating and curling, he died suddenly in 1990… a few hours after competing in a curling match.
Ina Bertha Burnett (Williams, Britton)
Ina adored “adventures”. One of Flo’s delightful memories of their adventures together occurred when they were still teenagers.
“Now you girls be home on time tonight”, said Aunt Belle as Ina and Flo left for “town’. Ina just laughed. She had no intention of coming home so early. Off they went for an evening “adventure” in town. It was after midnight when they arrived home. The door was locked! After a few minutes of wondering what to do, they went to the back of the house. Hiking up their dresses, they took off their high heels and climbed through the wood shed window into the kitchen. Stifling giggles, they crept up the stairs, past Aunt Belle’s bedroom. Her door was cracked open… just enough to see them when they came in! When they peeked through the opening, there was Aunt Belle sound asleep in her chair! When asked the next morning when they got home, Ina told a big fib. Aunt Belle… well she never did figure out how they got in the house that night.
Ina married Reginald Harry Williams in 1947 and had three children, Laurie, Greg and Ritchie. She and Reg eventually divorced and Ina remarried Douglas Britton in 1962.
Ina was naturally artistic and creative all of her life. She was a born interior decorator and loved to cook and sew. Many a day would find her huddled over her sewing machine creating some of her latest clothing designs.
Ina died prematurely and unexpectedly in April 1981, I remember it well… I was visiting with my Aunt Flo in Walnut Creek when the call came. Flo was just devastated by the loss of her sister. Much later, she would remark just how grateful she was that I was there at the time. The Universe, in its imminent wisdom, had ensured that she had “family” by her side to soothe and comfort her in her loss.
Next week, will mark the last story in this series. Be sure to drop by and hear the "rest of the story" as I travel to Walnut Creek to deliver my aunt's copy of our "hot off the press" family book.
Have a wonderful week…
Sharon
An Art Journey Into Family History Part 9
My cousin Kathy came to visit a few weeks ago and we had a wonderful time! What fun it was to discover how much we have in common. It was interesting talking about our families and experiences growing up. It was fun discovering our mutual interest in “artsy fartsy” stuff and finding out that we have the same type of quirky humour that tickles our funny bones!
Kathy put on a clever disguise to arrive in at the Victoria airport. A long black wig with reddish highlights, sunglasses, lace tights under a rather short dress and the piece de resistance… a nose ring! Of course I didn’t recognize her.
When hubby saw “this woman” come through the security gate door, he laughed and said: “Get a load of that! You’d think that middle aged women would know they are rather past the nose ring stage…damn she looks like a hooker ten years past her prime!”
What a hoot it was when this same woman sauntered over close behind us and just stood there. Hubby just raised his eyebrows and gave me this rather comical sideways look.
Well, guess what? She was listening to us! Kathy thought it was me… but she needed to hear my voice to be sure. We hadn’t seen each other since we were little kids but have talked on the phone a number of times. She waited and waited. Finally I said something to hubby about I wasn’t sure whether I would recognize her or not.
This woman tapped me on the shoulder, leaned over towards me and said: “Are you waiting for someone named Kathy?”
A little taken aback, I said: “Well as a matter of fact, yes, I am.”
She took off her sunglasses and I got it! She has the “Burnett” eyes. I would have recognized her immediately had she not hidden behind the dark glasses.
We all roared with laughter… made even funnier when hubby told her what he had said when he first spotted her!
It turns out this was something she had always wanted to do for a good laugh but never had had the opportunity. She told her brother (whom I know quite well) about what she wanted to do and he told her I had a great sense of humour and would get a big kick out of it. He was right… I did.
It was a great start to a wonderful couple of days together getting to know each other as adults. For two people who are not “chatty Cathy’s”, we talked up a storm the whole time she was here. We have promised each other that we’ll get together again soon!
She had brought her copy of my book, “Scraps of Memories, Slices of Life” and wanted me to autograph it! I was quite touched. Just before she left I wrote this dedication “To Kathy, Family by blood, Cousins by birth, Friends by choice, Love Sharon”
That’s exactly how I felt as I watched her turn and wave goodbye at the airport on the day she left. Not only had I got to know my cousin but I had found a friend as well. It doesn’t get any better than that…!
On to this week’s “installment“ from “Scraps of Memories, Slices of Life…
When my great-grandmother arrived back in New Brunswick in the fall of 1929 with my aunt Flo who was now 7 and my aunt Ina, now 4, she was at a loss. Who could she talk to about finding these young girls a good home where they would be loved and cared for?
The details are rather sketchy as to whom she talked to or approached at first. Aunt Flo was too young to remember what transpired during this time. She remembered meeting some of her aunts from the Burnett side of the family. She was especially fond of her Aunt Ruth who was married to her father’s brother Frank.
Most of Frank and Ruth’s children were much older than Florence and Ina. But Flo felt happy being around all these “new” relatives. Being surrounded by people always gave her a sense of comfort and security. She hated being alone when she was a child and hated it even more as an adult!
Aunt Flo recalled how the memory that stuck the most in her mind was feeling very overwhelmed by shyness when meeting all of these cousins, aunts, uncles and other relatives for the first time. She had a very high need to feel accepted and be part of the group.
As personable as my aunt Flo was, she often worried whether people would like her. Most people just adored her. She was a fun, kind person to be around, When her girls were teenagers, Flo’s house was filled with all the neighbourhood kids. They loved to come her house to chat and get one of her famous hugs. She gave the best hugs in the whole wide world!
She recalled meeting her Aunt Belle and Uncle Goldie for the first time. Shortly after returning from Ontario, Commela and the two girls went by train to St. John’s for a visit to meet her mother’s brother Goldie and his wife Belle.
Belle and Goldie
Belle Nugent was a Kansas gal with a wonderful sense of fun! The daughter of John Green McKaughan and Emma Reid, she was born in Edgerton Kansas on August 16, 1894.
Belle came from a large family of ten children; six sisters Chloe, Freda, Liddie, Dora, Mildred and Henrietta and three brothers, Albert, Roy and Robert.
She first met Goldie when he was studing for his medical degree at the Unviersity of Kansas. Goldie received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1914 and opened a practice in Kansas.
Belle married Goldie Nugent, Ina Burnett’s only surviving family member, in August of 1916 when she was 22. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Fredericton where Goldie opened up a medical practice. Although I found no indication that Goldie took over his father’s medical practice (Dr. John had died in January of 1916), in all likelihood he probably inherited some of Dr. John’s patients when he returned to Fredericton.
Goldie soon had a thriving medical practice. A few years later, in addition to his practice, he became the coroner for Queen’s County and began teaching at the school of nursing.
After fourteen years of marriage, Belle and Goldie still had no children. Whether this was by choice or not is unknown. Belle was a strongwilled, ambitious woman, very active in the community. Goldie, although active in the community, was a quiet, reflective and shy man who would rather go fishing than spend time gladhanding his way around town. He needn’t have worried… he had Belle who was good at doing that for him in her own gracious way.
At the time of Commela and the girls visit, Belle was 35 and Goldie was ten years her senior. Quickly grasping the gravity of Commela’s concerns for the future welfare of the girls, they immediately offered to give both of the girls a home. They were most willing to adopt both girls as their own and make a warm, loving home for them. They would make the necessary arrangements. But first, they needed to do some re-arranging and renovations in their home to accommodate their new, small family. Belle was just thrilled that she would now have some daughters to fuss over!
Belle on a broncing horse whopping it up! When I was a kid, I thought this horse was alive! But alas, it is not. The horse is stuffed and attached to the railing. What a hoot! Yep, Rodeo Queen indeed...
Commela returned to Fredericton with a sense of real relief and gratefulness in her heart. She had found a good home for “her girls”. Belle was a kind, outgoing woman with a wonderful sense of humour and a streak of the “dare devil” who would be good to her granddaughters. She was young and vibrant. She would be able to offer the girls many things as they grew older that Commela could not. Stability, education, a young person’s point of view and a good home being among the most important.
Once Belle and Goldie had all the arrangements made, they sent for the girls. Commela would accompany them to St. John, stay for a few days and then return to Fredericton.
Young Ina was excited. She really liked her aunt Belle and this would be a wonderful adventure. She could hardly wait and chatted incessantly about going to live with her aunt Belle in the big city.
Florence, on the other hand, was very quiet. The thought of leaving her grandmother filled her with terror. She had already lost her mother and now her grandmother? She remembered feeling so helpless. Her grandmother was going to give her away. Didn’t she love her anymore? She had tried to be so good ever since grandpa had died. She felt confused and hurt. She recalled how her grandmother had asked if she wasn’t feeling well on that trip to St. John’s. Upon reflection, she later remarked that she must have been unusually quiet for her grandmother to wonder if she was ill.
Aunt Flo couldn’t remember how long they were there before the day came when her grandmother was to go back to Fredericton. She did recall telling Ina she didn’t want to stay with aunt Belle and Ina pleading that she change her mind and stay with her there.
“Of course, gramma didn’t know this is how I felt. I hadn’t said anything and Ina, for once, didn’t snitch on me. It might have been easier if she had.” Aunt Flo recalled. “But as the day neared when gramma was to go back to Fredericton, I remember feeling very panicked I must have put up a pretty good fuss of some sort. All I remember is Gramma with tears in her eyes and in the end, she took me back with her to Fredericton. Since my mother had died, Gramma had become my mother and I remember feeling terrified to lose my mother again.”
Over the next few years, Florence and Ina visited each other often. Florence really looked forward to going to St. John’s and getting together with her sister and aunt Belle.
They had fun together and it created a bond between the three of them that lasted though their lifetimes.
When both of the girls married, Belle became a “gramma” to their children. She loved every minute of it! She enjoyed her “grandchildren” and enjoyed having them around.
Both girls moved away from St. John’s with their husbands. But the girls would often “go home” for a couple of weeks each summer. My cousin Laurie recently recalled, “They would shoo us kids outside to play in the backyard of gramma’s house and the three of them would sit at the kitchen table drinking coffee and talk, talk, talk! They never seemed to talk themselves out”, she said with a smile in her voice.
When Florence was 12, her beloved grandmother, Commela Grant Burnett died. Florence was devastated. Where would she go now?
For the next couple of years, she lived with her aunt Ruth and uncle Frank. “They were always nice and very kind to me.” she said. “But I never got over the feeling that I was being “taken in”. It certainly wasn’t anything that they ever said or did. I just missed my grandmother so much. I felt like I had been abandoned by everyone who loved me and I was the third wheel at the dinner table.”
When Florence finished school, she went to live with her Aunt Belle, Uncle Goldie and sister. She decided to attend secretarial school so she could get out on her own as soon as she could.
The next couple of years were good years for both of the girls. They had many fun times together and managed to get into all sorts of “mischief”. Aunt Belle was always “game” for anything fun and they enjoyed each other’s company immensely.
Flo recalled. “Aunt Belle was somewhat old fashioned. But then again, most teenagers think their parents are old fuddy duds. Ina and I did a lot of crazy, fun things together that aunt Belle didn't approve of. See honey, some things don’t change over the years after all.” she said with a chuckle in her voice "Kids still think their parents are fuddy duds!"
See you next week,
Cheers,
Sharon
An Art Journey Into Family History - Part 8
Sometime in the early 1920’s, James Willis, Jasper’s brother and my great-grandparent’s youngest son decided to strike it out on his own. He left the family farm in New Hampshire and headed “west” to Fort Frances, Ontario. There he found work as a hotel clerk in one of his Uncle Charlie’s (my great grandfather’s youngest brother) hotels.
Not much is known about young Willis today. I remember my Dad talking about his uncle Willis when I was a child. He remembered him quite vividly. Being his uncle’s namesake appeared to make a big impression on my dad as a young boy. He adored his uncle and trailed after him wherever he went.
The family ring, given to my Dad when he was in his teens, originated with his Uncle Willis. When my Dad died, the ring passed to my brother Bob (another Robert in the family!). When Bob was tragically killed in an industrial accident in 1992, the ring was eventually given to my cousin Jay (another James in the family!)
Once again, I didn’t pay as close attention to the family stories that my Dad told when I was young as I would have later on in life.
As the tragic event that was to enfold in the spring of 1926 would show, it is a high probability that once on his own, Willis took a cue from his brother Jasper’s behaviour as a young, unattached male. A good looking young man, he enjoyed his new found freedom, was sought after by all the young ladies in town and did his share of partying with the “boys”!
In April of 1926, news reached Commela and Henry that their youngest son was dead. He died of a gunshot wound. Family lore has it that Willis was shot by an irate husband while lying in the arms of his wife (and Willis' mistress).
Even though I was able to confirm his death from a gunshot wound (I found his death certificate that noted his cause of death in one of my searches), I did not find any newspaper accounts (they are not available to the public) to confirm the shooting. Being a small town then (and now), it would have created quite a stir.
I do remember my maternal grandmother and one of my aunts talking about it when I was quite young. That long ago memory was triggered when I found Willis' death certificate! It is a very vague memory but yet distinct... both at the same time.
This shooting "affair" was likely a sensational story when it occured. I can just imagine that it had the tongues of the town's finest matrons wagging furiously for weeks!
Leaving New Hampshire…
In the late spring of 1926 when school let out for the summer, the Burnett family left New Hampshire. Looking for a “fresh start”, they headed “west” to Ontario.
Charles Medford Burnett was my great grandfather’s youngest brother. Uncle Charlie (as he was known to my aunt and her siblings) was sixteen years younger than my great grandfather. Charlie had done very well for himself financially over the years. In addition to the hotels and resort lodge that he owned at Spring Lake, Ontario, he also owned a diary farm just outside Fort Frances, Ontario.
Aunt Flo remembered the trip “west” vividly.
“Gramma and Grandpa took us little ones on the train to Fort Frances. Ina was just a toddler at the time and I remember how much attention she received from the passengers on the train. She was so cute and I must admit I was rather jealous that people paid so much attention to her!
Jimmy and I amused ourselves as best we could on the long trip. But I sure missed my big brothers. I wasn’t used to them not being around and of course, as a little girl, I tagged after them like a puppy dog wherever they went. They were my big brothers and I adored them.
My dad drove with the boys (Wilfred, Guy and Willis) across the country. It must have taken at least a week or more for them to get there. The cars in those days didn’t go very fast and the roads weren’t like they are today.
I think I had just turned five when we left so I don’t really remember arriving in Fort Frances. I just remember how happy I was to see my brothers again.”
School Days … Moving to Town
“I don’t remember much about that first summer in Fort Frances”, she continued, “I think we all stayed on the farm. I do remember that Gramma was so sad and I didn’t know why. I just remember trying really hard to be good so she wouldn’t be sad anymore.”
As the new school year approached, the eldest boys moved “into town” to go to school.
“They lived with Uncle Charlie and Aunt Maude.” Flo said. “They didn’t have any children of their own. They had adopted their daughter Gertrude, but I don’t know when. “
I was curious. “Where was your Dad?” I asked.
“I don’t really know.” she said. “I know he was in the Fort but I don’t think he lived with the boys. I just remember him coming out to the farm to see us little ones and how upset Gramma would get.”
“I think he must have been up to all his old tricks.” she continued, “because I remember Gramma telling him he couldn’t come to see us if he had been drinking or was with a woman.”
Once he showed up with some woman and she actually brought me a dress. It was covered all over in red cherries. It was a beautiful dress and I can still see it in my mind today. But we never saw her again after that… at least not that I can recall.”
“After my mother died, I think my dad just gave up.” she said sadly. “At first, Gramma and he seemed to get along but as time wore on, they would get into some pretty wicked arguments with each other. If I remember correctly he worked in one of uncle Charlie’s hotels but was pretty unreliable. After awhile, when Gramma saw him coming, she would shoo us off outside or send us to our bedroom.”
“The highlight of our week was always those days when my brothers came to visit us on the farm. I would get so excited when I saw them coming and I would be so sad when they went back to town. I just wanted to go back to town with them.”
“I remember the day that Gramma told me that soon I would be big enough to go to school after the summer and could move into town. I was so excited. I thought I was going to be able to be with the boys all the time. Little did I know that I was going to have to stay someplace else.”
“When it was time for me to start school, Gramma found a lady in town who would take me in during the week. I remember being so scared. I didn’t know this lady and when your Dad came to get me to bring me there, I just cried and cried. I didn’t want to leave Gramma and go live with a stranger. Your Dad tried so hard to get me to stop crying. He told me that this was a nice lady and I would get to see my brothers all the time now. But I was so miserable. After he left me there, I just cried myself to sleep that night.”
The following summer, in July of 1929, my great grandfather Henry dropped dead of a heart attack while working on the farm one day. He was 70 years old.
My great grandmother was devastated. Whatever would she do now?
Following her husband’s burial, she made the heart wrenching decision to leave my youngest uncle, Jimmy, with Uncle Charlie, Aunt Maude and the boys and return to New Brunswick. There she could live with her daughter Stella while she tried to find someone to take care of the two girls.
She was all worn out. She did not want to die suddenly, leaving these young children to fend for themselves. She had to find a good home for them even if it was the last thing she did on this earth. She would not leave them motherless again!
With a heavy, grieving heart, she gathered the children's belongings together, said goodbye to the boys and boarded the train for "down east" with the two young girls, Florence and Ina in tow.
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Just two or three posts to go now.... however...
There will be no post next week. My cousin Kathy, my uncle Jimmy’s daughter, whom I have not seen since we were very little, is coming to visit me in Victoria. I am so excited! We lost touch with each other over the years but doing the book for my aunt brought us back together. It has been amazing to me to find out over the past year or so just how much the two of us have in common… we’ll have a great time together!
See you in two weeks,
Sharon
An Art Journey Into Family History Part 7
In August 1920, Jasper and Ina moved with their three boys to New Hampshire. Young Georgia remained behind in Fredericton with her Aunt Ida, her deceased father’s sister.
Lured by the prospect of greater prosperity and nearing retirement age, my great grandfather Henry decided to sell the farm in Fredericton and along with my great grandmother Commela and their youngest son Willis accompany Ina and Jasper to New Hampshire.
But the 1920’s in New Hampshire turned out not to be good years to be in farming.
During World War I, the government had encouraged farmers to up their food production but after the war was over and life returned to normal, the demand for farmer’s goods decreased. With it went the profits they had enjoyed.
Perhaps my grandfather and great grandfather thought it would be different south of the border. It was, at first. However, it didn’t take long before farmers on both sides of the border were feeling the financial pinch.
Life on a New Hampshire farm during the 1920’s was hard.. Not only did the men work from dawn to dusk but the women did not enjoy the conveniences of modern life as we know today. They all went to bed with the chickens, thoroughly exhausted and got up with the rooster’s crow to start all over again.
More Children
During the 1920’s, three new additions were added to Ina and Jasper’s quickly growing family.
Shortly after arriving in New Hampshire, Ina discovered that she was pregnant with her fifth child. Florence Commela was born the following May.