Here is a photo of the old Oyster Pond United Church in Oyster Pond, Nova Scotia. I don’t recall ever having been inside it, but there are at least two significant family events that happened in this church.
My parents were married here in 1971. And, my Grandad’s (Alan Mills) funeral was held here January 24, 1995. Most of his ashes are buried with his mother Arabella in the church cemetery.
And now, let’s see what’s happening down in East Jeddore in January 1947. It’s a new year and it looks like my great-grandmother is sure busy making mats.
Wednesday January 1, 1947:
New Year’s Day
Lord guide and keep us
forgive our many sins
May we all love and serve thee more
Thursday January 2, 1947:
Alan, Rose, and family
were down with Otis
yesterday New Year’s
Friday January 3, 1947:
Ralph + Elsie here for dinner
We were down there
tonight (snowing)
Saturday January 4, 1947:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest
tossed and you’re discouraged thinking
all is lost, count your many blessings
Sunday January 5, 1947:
Mr. Jim Chase brought
Olive home today.
Alan + Ralph here for dinner.
Monday January 6, 1947:
I finished my first mat
this winter Fred here
for dinner about 2 inches of snow
Tuesday January 7, 1947:
Earl & Bud started
to chop our fire wood
down on Ralph’s land
Wednesday January 8, 1947:
Oh what peace we often forfeit
oh what needles pain we
bear.
Thursday January 9, 1947:
Olive and I hooking
some on my second
mat this winter
Friday January 10, 1947:
I am safe when by
thy side. I would in thy
love abide
Saturday January 11, 1947:
Coldest night
roads awfull icy and
snowed some today
Ralph up tonight
Sunday January 12, 1947:
Olive + Robbie down
to Elsies. came
home for supper
Monday January 13, 1947:
I washed and got
clothes dry
a nice cold fine day
Tuesday January 14, 1947:
Ralph walked out to
the channel on ice
Earl got 2 rabbits
Wednesday January 15, 1947:
I finished my second mat.
raining tonight
Thursday January 16, 1947:
Saviour like a shepherd
lead us. Much we need thy tender care
Friday January 17, 1947:
Olive washed
this morning. gone up to Annas afternoon
Saturday January 18, 1947:
Olive + Robbie up to
Ednas this after
noon
Sunday January 19, 1947:
Mr Jim Chase came
after Olive + Robbie
they went back 2 oclock
Monday January 20, 1947:
I have a bad cold
in my throat and
chest.
Tuesday January 21, 1947:
When we walk with
the Lord what a
light he shows on the way
Wednesday January 22, 1947:
Anna + Edna here
hooking I got some
tablets from the doctor
Thursday January 23, 1947:
There’s peace and
contentment in
serving the Lord
Friday January 24, 1947:
I had a letter
from Hon today.
Saturday January 25, 1947:
Earl + Bud cutting
fire wood down
on Ralphs land.
Sunday January 26, 1947:
Lord you know my
heart is weary I am
tired of living wrong
Monday January 27, 1947:
I washed and
ironed a fine day.
Tuesday January 28, 1947:
I started my third
mat. a nice fine warm day
Wednesday January 29, 1947:
Anna, Edna, + Elsie here hooking for me
Ralph + Uncle Rob here
Thursday January 30, 1947:
Earl + I up to Ednas
tonight. awfull
cold out no snow
Friday January 31, 1947:
Bless me oh my Saviour
bless me. As I bow
low at thy feet
Below is a piece that originally appeared in the Brantford Expositor on December 1, 1992. It was written by my Grandma Hazel (Vansickle) Finch. She shares her Christmas memories as a child, a mother, and grandmother. Click the photo to view the original size. Enjoy.
In honour of my Grandma Hazel Aileen (Vansickle) Finch, who died 30 years ago, I am posting a familiar picture of my paternal grandparents. The photo- taken to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary – is easily the photo I most often associate with Grandma and Grandpa Finch.
As a child, I remember this photo being prominently displayed in the dining room at their house in Harrisburg (in Brant County) along with pictures of each of their children’s families – my aunts and uncles and cousins…and me too, of course. I used to always like looking at everyone in those pictures whenever we would visit.
Grandma died unexpectedly on December 20, 1993. It made for a rather sad Christmas, and I recall the somewhat sombre sound of the odd Christmas song being played at the funeral home in Brantford during her public viewing. I still have the present I bought for my grandmother for Christmas that year (oven mitts and a pot holder); I’ve kept them all these years.
RIP.
Finding your ancestors in the newspaper is exciting. It can give you a glimpse into their lives and adds to their story. I came across this piece originally published in the Hamilton Spectator on December 10, 1857 (Source: The Hamilton Spectator, December 10, 1857, page 7.)
Here, my third great grandfather James C. Finch is listed amongst other men of Haldimand County as supporters of Ranald McKinnon, requesting him to run in the upcoming provincial election. The Haldimand riding was ultimately won by William Lyon Mackenzie of rebel fame.
Ranald McKinnon is considered the “founder” of Caledonia and his name is still prominent in the area. By seeing James C. Finch’s name on the list supporting McKinnon, who was a conservative, I can now make the reasonable assumption that my third great grandfather had conservative political leanings, as well.
Here are three generations: My great-grandfather Earl Power in the centre with his daughter Rose (my Nan) on his left and his granddaughter Gladys (my aunt) on his right.
It looks to me that the picture was taken at my grandparents’ home in Oyster Pond. The photo is dated January 1969, which was one year after my great-grandmother Alice (Baker) Power died.
This is one of only a handful of photos I’ve seen of Earl Power. It’s certainly the best one quality-wise. And, I’m amazed at how much my Nan looks like my Mom in this photo.
As a child my family travelled to Nova Scotia each summer to visit my Grandad Alan Mills. One of the highlights of our trips was always a visit with Manny Baker.
Manny was my Mom’s first cousin. His mother Edna (Power) Baker (I always knew her as Aunt Poode) and my Nan Rose (Power) Mills were sisters. He lived in what can only be described as a parklike setting on Baker’s Point in East Jeddore.
I was absolutely in awe at Manny’s property. There were ducks, geese, chickens, flowers, and fruit trees galore. Manny was also a genealogist and was a bit of an inspiration to me to get into this hobby.
So, this week I want to share pictures I came across in one of Nan’s photo albums of Manny and his wonderful “park.”
As we approach Remembrance Day , I thought I’d share a picture of my great grandfather Thomas Edward Mills (left) and an unknown man.
Grandfather Mills, as he was known by the family, was born in Liverpool, England and came to Canada in the 1890s.
He was a member of the 40th Batallion (Nova Scotia) of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during the First World War. He died in battle as a member of the 13th Batallion Canadian Infantry and is buried at the Courcelette British Cemetery in France.
Back l-r: George, Hazel. Dorothy, and Jean Vansickle
Front: Ella (Young) Vansickle and Allan Vansickle
In recognition of my great grandparents’ 100th wedding anniversary, this week’s Photo of the Week is of them and their children taken on the occassion of their 50th anniversary in 1963.
In honour of my great-grandparents Allan Vansickle and Ella May Young’s 110th wedding anniversary this week, I asked my aunts to share some of their memories of their grandparents with me. Here goes. I’d be happy to add more to this memory post.
From my Aunt Anna Mae:
I have such wonderful memories of Pa and Grannie.
Before I went to school and my Dad worked nights at the Coach and Body plant in Brantford, Grannie and Pa lived in Harrisburg. After Dad had breakfast, Mom got us kids ready and off we went to Grannie and Pa’s house so Dad could get some sleep. John would be at school. I am not just sure but your Dad may have been in the buggy and trailing along was Ella Marie, Bill, and myself. Of course we had a honey pail to get it filled with milk. Later in years Grannie and Pa moved to a farm on German School Road and on Pa’s Sunday off in the nice weather Mom and Dad allowed us three older ones to start walking to meet them coming down. That was an exciting time for us. Now remember John, at that time lived with them.
Now about Pa: He had asthma real bad and at times I remember him crawling on hands and knees trying to make it from barn to house. Uncle George and Aunt Elva lived in part of that house on German School Road as they shared farming until Pa retired. Every morning and I mean every morning Pa had cream of wheat or oatmeal porridge, a cup of tea (which he drank out of a saucer) but also used that cup of tea to keep his toast warm. Now remember Grannie had to toast that bread over the wooden stove. Of course he had homemade jam on the toast. The best time for us kids was to go to the farm to help when it was thrashing and corn picking time – all done manually by hand. Hard work but we also had our fun. Dad and Mom both went as well.
The thing that sticks out in my mind the most about Pa was one day he was going to drive into Paris for something ….. myself, Shirley, and Norma were visiting so he asked if wanted to go and of course the answer was “yes”. Well the road heater had just gone by and Pa got too close to the side of the road and the loose gravel started to pull over into a rather deep busy ditch. Pa started hollering “Whoah” but the car kept going but the bushes kept the car from turning over – just on its side. Norma and Shirley were frantic as they had a few scratches and Pa pulled us out the windows. As we were only a bit from the house, Uncle George brought the tractor down and pulled the car out.
Now about Grannie: I loved my grandmother. To me she was the most wonderful person in the world and taught me many things. I loved it when I could go for a visit. When Pa and Uncle George went out in the mornings to do the milking, Grannie and I, whenever I was there, would quilt. Grannie cut the pieces of cotton out with the scissors and placed them in a “Laura Secord” chocolate box. We sewed the pieces together by hand to make a double “Wedding Ring” which I gave to Jessica. After Pa came in for breakfast, Grannie and I went to the barn to wash the milking machines. There was no running water in the house. We carried the drinking water from a pipe that ran from a pump across the road to the barn and then carried it to the house. Not easy. Also no inside washroom … had an out house which Grannie washed every Saturday… life was not easy but I never heard Grannie complain. She was a real worker and she was not in the best of health. She baked every Friday and the house got cleaned every Saturday.
Christmas was the time I loved to visit as Grannie made each grandchild a Christmas basket out of Bristol board and filled it with homemade candy including chocolates which she showed me how to make. She weighed each basket so everyone got the same amount and made a name tag for each. She was so proud of us grandkids. She was a wonderful cook and the thrashers loved coming to her place because of her cooking. I remember we had to fill a washtub with water and hang towels on the line for the thrashers to wash before meals. Sometimes there would be anywhere from 6-10 extra men to feed and then hand wash the dishes and start preparing for the next meal as sometimes they would be there for dinner and supper. I never, ever heard Grannie curse …. her favourite saying was “laws” instead of cursing. When they lived in Harrisburg, all the village called them Grannie and Pa… now that should tell you something.
Note: when they retired and moved to Lynden to be near Aunt Jean, Pa would complain about the money she spent on stuff for the goodies she made……… So she decided for every plug of chewing gum (tobacco) he bought , she would put the same amount in a tin and would tell him that is what you spent on tobacco during the year and you have nothing to show for it but I do. Cathay would shut him up.
Pa ended up with dementia and was in a nursing home in Paris. The home in Lynden sold and Grannie spent her remaining days staying a month at a time with either Aunt Dorothy or Mom.
Bobby I forgot to mention that Pa could not read or spell. Grannie always read the newspaper to him. He could only write his name on a cheque. Grannie wore a hearing aid but only when she was going out somewhere. I remember it was was a device that went in the ear (as today) with a cord that fastened to a gold coloured battery box about 3×5” that fastened to her undershirt. The batteries were expensive and the cord turned green from the body moisture being the reason for her not wearing it all the time. Grocery shopping was once a month (after the milk cheque came in) at the then A&P on King George Road in Brantford. They also rented a small cold storage unit at Sunnyhill Dairy in St.George because a cow and pig was slaughtered every year. Grannie made the best head cheese that I have ever tasted!
You can tell Bob that Pa could not read or write, only thing that he could write was his name, Grannie had to read the newspaper to him, and he would sit by the radio every morning when he was retired and listen to CFRB in Toronto. When he was on the farm and he wouldn’t start to milk the cows until 6:00 am and 6:00 pm at night. And when he was ready to start the milking at 5-6 minutes before the 6am or 6 pm he would sit on a stool until it was right on the 6 o’clock time. And every cow had to be in the same stall every morning and night. And he would never allow anyone to mow the hay in the barn. He would be up in the mow and he had a real breathing problem. Same thing at harvest time… he was the only one that could be on the straw stack even when he could hardly breathe. I saw him come out of the mow and get on his knees trying to get his breathing back.
My Uncle Bill
We mostly remember Pa and Grannie living and working the farm on German School Road, but they also lived in Harrisburg for awhile too. Pa had asthma and worked hard getting the chores and field work all done. You would often see him resting on an old tree stump at the end of a hard day’s work heading back to the house. Grannie looked after the inside work and was a terrific cook and baker. She did all her own canning from canned pears, peaches, cherries, raspberries, plums and then the relishes, chilly sauce, all sorts of pickles the sweet ones were like no others the best and she also made her own ketchup and mustard. She made chocolates and all sorts of cookies, tarts, pies and Christmas cake for everyone that came to visit at Christmas time. Grannie also did sewing and needle work. She was a very crafty lady and played the piano.
– My Aunt Ella Marie and Aunt Margie