The Lansdowne Letters: Family is the Best!

Where would we be without our families?
I can't imagine not having my mine.
For generations we've always been there for each other.
It's true now, and it was true in February, 1961
when we moved to Lansdowne House in Northern Ontario.

The Latest "We Five" Photo

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada   8/7/16

Back:  Barb and Roy

Front:  Bertie, Me (Louise), and Donnie

Photo by Our Cousin Pat Ryan (left)  or Our Brother-in-Law Martin (right)

on God Knows Whose Phone!

My mother faced the daunting prospect

of traveling halfway across Canada

with five children aged ten, eight, five, four, and one

via car, boat, train, and bush plane.

And let's not forget Gretchen, our little dachshund.

But thanks to our extended family, 

in Nova Scotia and Quebec 

she didn't face the trip alone.

On Friday, February 24, 1960 my mother, 

Sara MacBeath, wrote from Lansdowne House:

Hi Everyone:-

We had quite a trip down.

It was made easy because everyone helped me so much.

Aunt Nan spent a couple of days helping me pack.

Mary Lou made our dinner for us and sent it down on the day we left.

Muriel did the housework, and we all went together to the boat.

The boat trip was fine most of the time,

the baby loved to run up and down the corridors.

However just before we docked in St. John, she became very tired.

We got on the train without any trouble,

a Red Cap looked after our baggage,

and we flopped into bed and went off to sleep.

John and Arthur, Dawn's husband, met us at the station,

and John took us shopping for a birthday gift for Donnie.

We had a grand time at John's and Esther's.

They have a lovely new home.

Esther made a birthday cake for Donnie,

and they had all kinds of gifts for her.

The next day we had a lovely turkey before Arthur

took us to the station to see us off, along with the whole family.

Joanie, Faye, and Sandy are such lovely children.

Auntie Esther and Uncle John (Mom's Brother)

Dawn, Baby Joanie, Sandy and Faye, 1958

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Thanks to My Cousin Dawn MacDonald White for This Photo

The night before we left I phoned Barbara, and she met us at the station.

We had only a few minutes, but it was nice to see her.

The trip on the train was nice,

the baby became accustomed to the motion,

and soon I had to keep her from trying to leave the bedroom.

She went to sleep before we reached Nakina.

At Nakina, Austin Airways took over.

They carried the baby for me,

got our baggage and loaded us

plus poor Gretchen on the plane.

Was Gretchen happy to see us!

I guess she had given up hope of ever seeing us again.

I put the coat I made for her on her,

and Louise held her on the plane... (to be continued)

Austin Airways Office

Nakina, Ontario, Canada, 1960

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Reading my mother's letter reminds me of

that amazing time when my sister Bertie was "the baby."

I remember Donnie and Barbie as babies,

but Bertie was my living baby doll.

From the time she was born, I held her,

fed her, changed her, bathed her, dressed her, 

and carried her with me many places I went.

Our First "We Five" Photo

Donnie, Barbie, Bertie with Me, Roy with Gretchen

Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1959

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Some of my strongest memories of the trip north are of Bertie.

She was twenty-three months old and a relatively new walker

(probably because I was always carrying her around,

and if not me, then guaranteed someone else).

Bertie was very sweet and loved to be held,

but once she discovered her feet, she never stopped moving.

When we crossed the Bay of Fundy on the SS Princess Helene,

from Digby, Nova Scotia to St. John, New Brunswick

Bertie was in her glory,

all decked out in a red velvet dress and a red barrette,

and tetter-tottering around in her little white shoes and socks.

On the ferry Bertie would not stop,

and Roy, Donnie, and I chased her all over the place.

I remember Donnie and I on our knees, arms wide open,

in the passenger lounge, maybe fifteen feet apart,

and Bertie staggering back and forth between us

shrieking with laughter, as the ship rolled on the waves.

SS Princess Helene

Ferry Passing through Digby Gut, Nova Scotia, Canada

Wikipedia

What stands out for me on this journey north

was the love of our extended family

and the friendly help we received from neighbors

like Muriel who helped Mom with the housekeeping

and from strangers like the man at Austin Airways

who took Bertie from my very tired mother

and carried her to the bush plane for our flight to Lansdowne House.

I can still see my Great Aunt Nan and Great Uncle Cecil

together with their son Kelsey and his wife Mary Lou

waving good-bye to us as the ferry pulled away from the dock in Digby ...

And Uncle John, Auntie Esther, and their family

waving good-bye to us at the train station in Montreal ...

And "Aunt" Barbara, Dad's first cousin, living in Peterborough, Ontario

and meeting us on a station platform somewhere along the way.

Baby Bertie at My Cousins Dawn and Art's Home

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1961

Thanks to My Cousin Dawn MacDonald White for This Photo

Many of my relatives who helped us in February 1961

are long gone, but the love they gave us will never fade.

Family really is the best!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

Crossing Petite Passage
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
Photo Copy by Roy MacBeath 
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Notes:
1.  Dawn and Arthur (Art):
     Dawn was Uncle John and Auntie Esther's oldest child, and she and Art were relative newlyweds.
     I had the best fun staying with them, but that's for next week's post!

2.  My access to computers will be limited during the next week.
     Thanks for your understanding!


For Map Lovers Like Me:

Digby Gut Through Which the SS Princess Helene Sailed

Map Data:  Google

Imagery:  TerraMetrics

Location of Canada's Yukon, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island   
Wikimedia