Tenth Generation (Continued)
Family of Bertha Lillian “Bird” McDONALD (1017) & Artemas Bruce* CLARK
1697. Melissa Hamilton “Lisa” CLARK (Bertha Lillian “Bird” McDONALD9, Dorcas Ann BOUNDY8, Maria CORNISH7, Samuel6, Philip5, Samuel4, Gideon3, Phillip2, John1). Born on 27 Apr 1908 in LInkletter, Lot 17, PEI, Canada. Christened on 4 Aug 1918 in Trinity United, Summerside, Prince, PEI, Canada. Melissa Hamilton “Lisa” died in USA on 1 Sep 1983; she was 75.
- 1911 Canada Census, Prince Edward Island / Prince / 42 Lot 17 / page 3/ Linkletter:
33 24 Clark Bruce M Head M Aug 1881 29 PEI
34 24 Clark Bertha F Wife M Dec 1879 31 PEI
35 24 Clark Lisa F Daughter S Apr 1908 3 PEI
36 24 Clark Barbara F Mother M Aug 1841 69 PEI
37 24 Clark John W. M Father M Nov 1839 71 PEI
- 1918 Baptismal Record
Child's Full Name Melissa Hamilton Clark
Birth Date 27 April 1908
Place of Birth Residence, Linkletter
Baptismal Date 4 August 1918
Officiating Clergy H. C Rice
Father's Name Bruce Clark
Mother's Name Mrs Clark
Church Name Trinity United
Church Location Summerside
Record Book Number 1
- 1921 Canada census, living in St Eleanors, Prince, PEI
Name Age - all born PEI, all Methodist
Bruce Clark 38 - head, owns double wood 8?room house, M M 38, parents b PEI, farmer, OA, Av?? farm
Bertha Clark 40 - wife, F M 40, father b Scotland, mother born England
Artemas Clark 1 - son M S 1, parents b PEI,
Lina [Lisa] Clark 15 - daughter, F S 13?, parents b PEI, at school
Fern Clark 4 - daughter, F S 4, parents b PEI,
John Clark 80 - father, parents b England,
Barbara Clark 78 - mother,parents b England
- Lived in Summerside in poor economic conditions. Husband Ernest* Warburton Best disappeared eventually and it is believed went to Florida. Nothing has been heard from them for years.
- DEATH: Reported to have died in NS or USA
- 1911 Canada Census, Prince Edward Island / Prince / 42 Lot 17 / page 3/ Linkletter:
33 24 Clark Bruce M Head M Aug 1881 29 PEI
34 24 Clark Bertha F Wife M Dec 1879 31 PEI
35 24 Clark Lisa F Daughter S Apr 1908 3 PEI
36 24 Clark Barbara F Mother M Aug 1841 69 PEI
37 24 Clark John W. M Father M Nov 1839 71 PEI
- 1918 Baptismal Record
Child's Full Name Melissa Hamilton Clark
Birth Date 27 April 1908
Place of Birth Residence, Linkletter
Baptismal Date 4 August 1918
Officiating Clergy H. C Rice
Father's Name Bruce Clark
Mother's Name Mrs Clark
Church Name Trinity United
Church Location Summerside
Record Book Number 1
- 1921 Canada census, living in St Eleanors, Prince, PEI
Name Age - all born PEI, all Methodist
Bruce Clark 38 - head, owns double wood 8?room house, M M 38, parents b PEI, farmer, OA, Av?? farm
Bertha Clark 40 - wife, F M 40, father b Scotland, mother born England
Artemas Clark 1 - son M S 1, parents b PEI,
Lina [Lisa] Clark 15 - daughter, F S 13?, parents b PEI, at school
Fern Clark 4 - daughter, F S 4, parents b PEI,
John Clark 80 - father, parents b England,
Barbara Clark 78 - mother,parents b England
- Lived in Summerside in poor economic conditions. Husband Ernest* Warburton Best disappeared eventually and it is believed went to Florida. Nothing has been heard from them for years.
- DEATH: Reported to have died in NS or USA
Melissa Hamilton “Lisa” married (Living).
They had the following children:
i.
(Living)
ii.
(Living)
iii.
(Living)
iv.
(Living)
v.
(Living)
1698. Dorcas Fern* CLARK (Bertha Lillian “Bird” McDONALD9, Dorcas Ann BOUNDY8, Maria CORNISH7, Samuel6, Philip5, Samuel4, Gideon3, Phillip2, John1) 
. Born on 12 Aug 1917 in Linkletter, Lot 17, Prince, PEI, Canada. Christened on 4 Aug 1918 in Trinity United, Summerside, Prince, PEI, Canada. Dorcas Fern* died in Clinton View Lodge, Clinton, PEI, Canada, on 14 Oct 2014; she was 97. Buried in 2014 in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley, PEI, Canada.
- 1918 PEI PARO Baptismal Record
Child's Full Name Dorcas Fern Clark
Birth Date 12 August 1917
Place of Birth Residence, Linkletter
Baptismal Date 4 August 1918
Officiating Clergy H. C Rice
Father's Name Bruce Clark
Mother's Name Mrs Clark
Church Name Trinity United
Church Location Summerside
Record Book Number 1
- 1921 Canada census, living in St Eleanors, Prince, PEI
Name Age - all born PEI, all Methodist
Bruce Clark 38 - head, owns double wood 8?room house, M M 38, parents b PEI, farmer, OA, Av?? farm
Bertha Clark 40 - wife, F M 40, father b Scotland, mother born England
Artemas Clark 1 - son M S 1, parents b PEI,
Lina [Lisa] Clark 15 - daughter, F S 13?, parents b PEI, at school
Fern Clark 4 - daughter, F S 4, parents b PEI,
John Clark 80 - father, parents b England,
Barbara Clark 78 - mother,parents b England
- 1938 Married Samuel Leaman* Caseley, a farmer on Blue Shank Road. Lived at Kelvin, near Kensington, PEI.
- Visited by relative Laing MacDowell on several occasions.
- 1991 Visited relatives BC in Aug/Sept, 1991, and traveled with brother Charlie and Harriet Clark up through Barkerville and up to Mackenzie to visit Mary and Murray Braithwaite. (cf. Charlie and Harriet Clark)
- June 2008, listed as living in Kensington [PEI] at the time of her grandson Michael’s death
- 2014 obit summary from islandregister.com
“CASELEY, D. FERN (nee Clark) at Clinton View Lodge, formerly of Kelvin Grove & Kensington, on October 24, 2014 age 97 years. Born in Linkletter on august 12, 1917 to the late Bruce and Bertha (MacDonald) Clark. Wife of the late S. Leaman Caseley. Six children and 12 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Predeceased by grandson, Michael Caseley; sister, Melissa Fraser; sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law, Harriet Clark, Lilly (Ellis) Profitt, Marion (Heath) Mayhew, Katherine (Stanley) Thompson, Morris (Lorraine) Caseley; and Doris Caseley. Interment at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley. www.davisonfh.com”
From http://www.davisonfh.com/obituaries/92416
‘D. Fern Caseley
1917-2014
The death occurred at Clinton View Lodge, on Friday October 24, 2014 of D. Fern (Clark) Caseley, formerly of Kelvin Grove and Kensington, aged 97 years. Fern was born in Linkletter on August 12, 1917, the daughter of the late Bruce and Bertha (MacDonald) Clark. She was the wife of the late S. Leaman Caseley.
Mother of Joan (Keith) Sudsbury, Spring Valley; Garth (Lucille), Fredericton, N.B.; Rowan (Melissa), Kensington; Roger (Elaine), Kelvin Grove; Wendall (Lynn), Bedford, N.S. and Stuart (Patsy), Summerside. Cherished Nanny/ Gram of twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Also survived by brother Charles Clark of Duncan, B.C., and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by grandson Michael Caseley, sister Melissa Fraser, sisters-in-law and brothers-in law Harriet Clark, Lilly (Ellis) Profitt, Marion (Heath) Mayhew, Katherine (Stanley) Thompson, Morris (Lorraine) Caseley and Doris Caseley.
Resting at the Davison Funeral Home Kensington where members of Regent Chapter # 52 Order of Eastern Star will hold a memorial service on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., followed by visitation from 6-9 p.m. Funeral Wednesday in the Kensington United Church at 11 a.m. Interment in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley.
If so desired contributions may be made to Shriners’ Childrens Hospital.”
. Born on 12 Aug 1917 in Linkletter, Lot 17, Prince, PEI, Canada. Christened on 4 Aug 1918 in Trinity United, Summerside, Prince, PEI, Canada. Dorcas Fern* died in Clinton View Lodge, Clinton, PEI, Canada, on 14 Oct 2014; she was 97. Buried in 2014 in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley, PEI, Canada.- 1918 PEI PARO Baptismal Record
Child's Full Name Dorcas Fern Clark
Birth Date 12 August 1917
Place of Birth Residence, Linkletter
Baptismal Date 4 August 1918
Officiating Clergy H. C Rice
Father's Name Bruce Clark
Mother's Name Mrs Clark
Church Name Trinity United
Church Location Summerside
Record Book Number 1
- 1921 Canada census, living in St Eleanors, Prince, PEI
Name Age - all born PEI, all Methodist
Bruce Clark 38 - head, owns double wood 8?room house, M M 38, parents b PEI, farmer, OA, Av?? farm
Bertha Clark 40 - wife, F M 40, father b Scotland, mother born England
Artemas Clark 1 - son M S 1, parents b PEI,
Lina [Lisa] Clark 15 - daughter, F S 13?, parents b PEI, at school
Fern Clark 4 - daughter, F S 4, parents b PEI,
John Clark 80 - father, parents b England,
Barbara Clark 78 - mother,parents b England
- 1938 Married Samuel Leaman* Caseley, a farmer on Blue Shank Road. Lived at Kelvin, near Kensington, PEI.
- Visited by relative Laing MacDowell on several occasions.
- 1991 Visited relatives BC in Aug/Sept, 1991, and traveled with brother Charlie and Harriet Clark up through Barkerville and up to Mackenzie to visit Mary and Murray Braithwaite. (cf. Charlie and Harriet Clark)
- June 2008, listed as living in Kensington [PEI] at the time of her grandson Michael’s death
- 2014 obit summary from islandregister.com
“CASELEY, D. FERN (nee Clark) at Clinton View Lodge, formerly of Kelvin Grove & Kensington, on October 24, 2014 age 97 years. Born in Linkletter on august 12, 1917 to the late Bruce and Bertha (MacDonald) Clark. Wife of the late S. Leaman Caseley. Six children and 12 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Predeceased by grandson, Michael Caseley; sister, Melissa Fraser; sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law, Harriet Clark, Lilly (Ellis) Profitt, Marion (Heath) Mayhew, Katherine (Stanley) Thompson, Morris (Lorraine) Caseley; and Doris Caseley. Interment at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley. www.davisonfh.com”
From http://www.davisonfh.com/obituaries/92416
‘D. Fern Caseley
1917-2014
The death occurred at Clinton View Lodge, on Friday October 24, 2014 of D. Fern (Clark) Caseley, formerly of Kelvin Grove and Kensington, aged 97 years. Fern was born in Linkletter on August 12, 1917, the daughter of the late Bruce and Bertha (MacDonald) Clark. She was the wife of the late S. Leaman Caseley.
Mother of Joan (Keith) Sudsbury, Spring Valley; Garth (Lucille), Fredericton, N.B.; Rowan (Melissa), Kensington; Roger (Elaine), Kelvin Grove; Wendall (Lynn), Bedford, N.S. and Stuart (Patsy), Summerside. Cherished Nanny/ Gram of twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Also survived by brother Charles Clark of Duncan, B.C., and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by grandson Michael Caseley, sister Melissa Fraser, sisters-in-law and brothers-in law Harriet Clark, Lilly (Ellis) Profitt, Marion (Heath) Mayhew, Katherine (Stanley) Thompson, Morris (Lorraine) Caseley and Doris Caseley.
Resting at the Davison Funeral Home Kensington where members of Regent Chapter # 52 Order of Eastern Star will hold a memorial service on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., followed by visitation from 6-9 p.m. Funeral Wednesday in the Kensington United Church at 11 a.m. Interment in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Valley.
If so desired contributions may be made to Shriners’ Childrens Hospital.”
On 16 Nov 1938 when Dorcas Fern* was 21, she married Samuel Leaman* CASELEY in Linkletter, PEI, Canada. Born on 4 Mar 1911 in Kelvin, PEI, Canada. Samuel Leaman* died in Kelvin, PEI, Canada, on 5 Mar 2000; he was 89. Buried on 9 Mar 2000.
Notes from Laing MacDowell:
> Son of William Henry Caseley (1872- ) and Margaret Elizabeth Hogg
> Farmer on the Blue Shank Road.
> Long service in second world war in Canada & in Europe.
> Owned a nice farm and grew potatoes in large quantities. Live at Kelvin, near Kensington,. P.E.I.
> The death Of P.G.M. Leaman Casley . Masonic funeral at 9pm Mar. 7, 2000. Davison funeral home
Funeral - Kensington United Church-11am, on Mar 8 2000
> Grand Master-1969-1970
Notes from Laing MacDowell:
> Son of William Henry Caseley (1872- ) and Margaret Elizabeth Hogg
> Farmer on the Blue Shank Road.
> Long service in second world war in Canada & in Europe.
> Owned a nice farm and grew potatoes in large quantities. Live at Kelvin, near Kensington,. P.E.I.
> The death Of P.G.M. Leaman Casley . Masonic funeral at 9pm Mar. 7, 2000. Davison funeral home
Funeral - Kensington United Church-11am, on Mar 8 2000
> Grand Master-1969-1970
They had the following children:
i.
(Living)
ii.
(Living)
iii.
(Living)
iv.
(Living)
v.
(Living)
vi.
(Living)
1699. (Living) (Bertha Lillian “Bird” McDONALD9, Dorcas Ann BOUNDY8, Maria CORNISH7, Samuel6, Philip5, Samuel4, Gideon3, Phillip2, John1).
(Living) married Harriet Compton ANDREW , daughter of Harry Charles ANDREW (1460) (1889-1985) & Eleanor Louise “Nell” RICHARDSON (1894-1992). Born on 17 May 1922 in N St Eleanors, Prince Co, PEI, Canada. Christened on 10 Sep 1922 in PEI, Canada. Harriet Compton died in At Home, 105-231 McKinstry Road, Duncan, BC, Canada, on 2 Jun 2009; she was 87. Buried on 5 Jun 2009 in St Peters Anglican Church, Duncan BC Canada. Occupation: Homemaker. Religion: Anglican.
- NAME: Named after both paternal & maternal grandmothers " Harriet Compton “
- CHRISTENING: T.H. Hunt
- RELATIONS: “my father's mother was Harriet Washbourne Compton - both my grandmothers were first cousins, and they used to say that everyone on PEI was related. When Chas took me home to meet his parents, his mother Bertha (Bird) Lillian MacDonald Clark greeted me with ‘You’re Cheesy Ricardson’s granddaughter, and you and Charlie are related through the Boundys.’”
- PERSONALITY: outgoing, friendly, great sense of humour. Harriet describes herself in 2006: Harriet Andrew was called “bold and brazen” by her older sister Mabel. Harriet admits she’s a hopeless case. Uncle Fred May used to say that she could be nasty in the nicest way! It has come in quite useful in their business. When she was young she like to pinch her cousin Arthur “Pictou”, because she liked him!
- 1942 MARRIAGE: G.R. Harrison. Witnesses Wendall Rogers, Mabel Andrew
- 1946 on 4th wedding anniversary, celebrated with a cake and a gathering, including mother Nell and sister Mabel (see photo). The rest of the Andrew family including Harry had already moved to BC - hard to be left behind.
- HEALTH: surgery for gall stones July 23, 1977. Arthritis in hands. Surgery to remove colon cancer; recovered. 2009, developed agressive and terminal terminal lung, liver and stomach cancer.
- RESIDENCES: Married in PEI. Moved to Duncan BC in July 1953. Made many moves in the Duncan BC area as family was growing up. Lived on Trunk Road for a time in the 50s. Lived at “Timbercrest”, 2333 Trillium Terrace (1976-1980). Moved to Garden Street (only a few doors down from Harry and Nell Andrew) on July 30, 1980. Moved to Crofton, BC in early 1990s. Address (current as of Dec 2002):105-231 McKinstry Road, Duncan, BC Canada V9L 3L3, 250-748-3114
- HOBBIES: cooking, sewing, some oil painting Did a fair bit of camping (and Motor home-5th wheel) making trips to PEI in 1965,1981 and 1989. 77th birthday was spent on the road from Mckenzie to Hope on May 17th.
- TRAVELS included:
> 1953: move across Canada, from PEI to Duncan BC (July 2-21) - see diary below
> 1995: Visited PEI with motorhome. (Phoned on way through Toronto).
> 1996 Easter: They visited with Louise Reh in Bremerton.
> 2004: travelled with Mary and Murray to Bill and Elaine’s cabin on Okanagan Lake, then to Quesnel to Mary and Murray’s new ‘retirement’ home, flying home from Prince George.
- VISITORS:
> Feb 2004: visited by Ruby Andrew and new husband Rod
> May 2004: visited by Charlie’s cousin Laing MacDowell from Toronto
> Oct 2004: visited by cousin Newman Compton from Pensacola Fl, his daughter Sarah from Seattle and Alaska, three other cousins came with them.
- DEATH and OBITUARY:
HARRIET COMPTON CLARK (nee Andrew) May 17, 1922 - June 2, 2009
God granted Mom's wish to stay at home until the end where she remained in comfort and died in peace, surrounded by love so well deserved.
Predeceased by her eldest son, Arnold in 1994; brothers George (June) and Dean; sister Mabel Taylor; and brothers-in-law Vern Jones and Leaman Caseley. Harriet is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Charles. Mom shall truly be missed by sons Gerry (Bev), and Bruce; daughters Elaine (Bill Paull), and Mary (Murray Braithwaite).
A legacy of loving grandchildren and great grandchildren will remember those special cookies for ever: Richard (Sonja) Clark (A.J. and Dexter); Adrienne (Chris) Clark (Mary and Randy); Angela (Tony) Lees (Garret and Amy); Lisa Paull (Cody); Laura Nixon (Abby and Treavor); and Brandon. Harriet is also survived by sister Eleanor Jones; brothers Alan and Syd (Barb) Andrew; sister-in-law Fern Caseley.
Harriet was born in North St. Eleanors, Summerside, P.E.I. to Harry and Nell Andrew. Together as a family with three children, Harriet and Charles traversed across Canada, to settle in Duncan in 1953. The birth of two more children completed their family. After years of devotion to 'good old-fashioned family values', Harriet ventured into the work force, working along side Charlie in their family business (Clark's Locksmith Ltd.) for 17 years, eventually becoming a licensed Locksmith.
Throughout her long and healthy life, Harriet found greatest joy in baking for her family, friends, and church bazaars. She enjoyed artistic dabbling in paints, and tending to her gardens. So busy within her retirement, Harriet still managed to devote much of herself to her church and community.
Additional families and friends stretching from coast to coast, are part of the many who will remember this loving and caring spirit who touched us all with her good natured attitude, easy smile, and dynamic energy.
A funeral service will be held Friday, June 5 ... 3:00 pm at St. Peter's Church off Maple Bay Road, with tea following.
For their kind and caring support, our thanks are extended to Dr. Nadine Robertson, Rev. Deborah Rivet, all the nurses through the Community Home Care Nursing Services, the Red Cross Society, and Community Home Support.
Those wishing to, may make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, #100-394 Duncan Street, Duncan BC, V9L3W4. - see also funeral flyer, and newspaper obit, published Jun 3, 2009 in the Cowichan Valley Citizen, page 31
Posted online In Memoriam.ca:
Harriet Compton Clark
Peacefully at home in Duncan, B.C., on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, of Harriet Compton Clark. Born in North St. Eleanors May 17, 1922, daughter of Harry and Nell Andrew. Survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Charles, sons, Gerry (Bev) and Bruce, daughters, Elaine (Bill Paull) and Mary (Murray Braithwaite), sister, Eleanor Jones, brothers, Alan and Syd (Barb) Andrew, sister-in-law, Fern Caseley. Predeceased by her eldest son, Arnold in 1994, brothers, George (June) and Dean, sister Mabel Taylor, and brothers-in-law, Vern Jones and Leaman Caseley. A funeral service will be held Friday, June 5, at 3 p.m. in St. Peter’s Church Duncan, B.C.
Written by Charlie based on Harriet’s 1953 Diary:
“The Move from P.E.I . to B. C.
Of
The C. B . Clark Family
July 2nd 1953
The decision to finally go to B. C. was made by Charlie in February of 1953 after I ( Harriet ) ended up in Prince County Hospital Summerside P. E. I. With double pneumonia and pleurisy, we had moved from our house on Liinletter Rd. after my ( Richardson ) grand parents died. Heath Strong lawyer for the family, told us that if some of the family moved into grandfather’s house it could be saved for their daughter ( Eleanor Louise Richardson) (Andrew)(my Mother), as my grandfather had received the Old Age Pension, for the last few years of his life, the Gov’t could put a lean on the property, or simply just take it!!.
So we rented our little house in Linkletter to an R. C. A. F. couple and moved to St. Eleanors, the house was old, single glazed windows, small panes etc. water supply outside pump, we wired the house “we” meaning Stan Linkletter & Charlie so eventually we had lights, and we papered and painted, put lovely “Battleship Linoleum” canvas backed in the kitchen, did some carpenter work to, open up the wall between kitchen and dining room, “much brighter”.
Put on new kitchen door with Lester Linkletter’s help, and we were quite comfortable until “winter” came, we put a stove in the front room, our oil range in the kitchen, a couple of oil heater’s up stairs, but it was still a big old ”cold house”. – Anyway if it hadn’t been for me getting sick we might have never moved to B. C. !! But have never been sorry that we did.
Getting ready to move West could fill a lot of pages in this Diary. – But my grandmother had been a bit if a “collector of every thing”, the “Back Kitchen” a huge room at the back of the house was a “nightmare” and took a long time to clean out, and through out, !!!.
Eventually we managed to sell of the furniture ours and some of grandmother’s. that she hadn’t given away, none of it brought very much in the way of necessary funds for our trip west, because it all went very cheaply, people just bought it to help us out. We attended many farewell parties, but were so tired we couldn’t really enjoy them,
Charlie had been working on our transportation for some time, in between working at the Service Station in St. Eleanors and driving his own Taxi, but eventually our “Covered Wagon” was packed and ready to roll: It was a 1948 “International Metro” ¾ ton “ Cab over Engine Van” we packed dishes, bedding, clothing, etc. etc; under the bunks that were made of good B. C. Fir plywood, with 6” Sponge Rubber for mattresses for sleeping on, at this time we had 3 chilsren Arnold, 9 years in October, Gerald 6 years in February, and Elaine 3 years in May, and on July 2nd 1953 we set out for the West Coast.
{In the back of my mind I wished we could just hop aboard a train, and relax all the way to B. C.} I hadn’t really totally recovered from my bout of sickness in February, I just weighed 105 lbs. And Charlie not much more !! But Here we Go.
Thursday July 2nd 1953
Left Linkletter Road and Charlie’s parents at 5 am Nice sunny day, We crossed to New Brubswick on the car ferry “ Abegweit” we had problems early on with a overheating radiator, we drove through Chatham, took a free ferry across, then through Bathurst, to Dalhousie, then to within 4 miles of Campbellton, N. B. parked for the night beside “ North Shore Pavillion” “Dance Hall” driving rain all night. Slept very well “considering everything” Kids Good.
Friday July 3rd 1953
Still raining ,up at 6am had our breakfast inside the “truck/camper” left there at 7am , and stoped at Campbellton to get Radiator flushed out, left there at 9.30am sent off post cards to Andrews, Clarks, George & June, drove 236 miles today, Great scenery stopped for the night between ? & ? “ Gaspe Panincula”. Cold as Blazes parked by a Diner & Cabins slept a bit better than the first night. In the morning we drove down the other side of the Gaspe Mountain, very steep going used “Low Gear all the way”, but warmer we were able to shed warm clothing.
Saturday July 4th 1953.
Fine & Warm to-day, got underway about 7am. Stopped at noon for dinner outside of Quebec ate in camper/van as usual,--- No picnic grounds to be seen. People Strictly French Speaking, ever since second day of trip, stopped for supper about 40 miles from Montreal in a nice shady spot, after supper drove to Montreal and through it “ Sherbrook St”. got kids settled for the night at 9pm. Then drove to within 7 miles of the Ontario border, paid $2.00 to park by cabins, didn’t do much sleeping that night too many “Mosquitoes & Black Flies” OUCH !! Almost eaten alive, “ at least they had very good taste” Ha! Ha!.
Sunday July 5th 1953
Got up in am to find a flat tire, Charlie changed it to the spare, and we drove to the only Service Station open on Sunday morning, not much traffic, Service Station in Cornwall Ontario, got tire repaired new tube $8.50 patched tire $1.00 total bill $9.50, left there at 10.15 am. 375 miles to Toronto and brother’s Georges on McPherson Ave. We drove through Brockville, Kingston, Bellville, before supper, then started for George & June’s & 4 daughter’s, Sunday evening July 5th 1953 Verry Hot weather, drove miles & miles coming into Toronto on Danforth Ave. thought we’d never get there, But we finally arriver at 56 Mc Pherson Ave. at 11.30pm. they were all in bed at Georges, but woke up enough to get us bedded down for the night, and we Clarks at least had a lovely sleep, despite the humidity and heat. Stayed In Toronto from July 5th till the 15th. We decided we would have to change out transportation == sell the Van and get something else, to see us to the west coast.
The only deal we could make to get a few dollars out of the Van was to trade it in on a 1953 “ Volkswagon Beetle” Car “Brand New” “out of the box so to speak” , Charlie was fed coffee & doughnuts while our “BUG” was assembled, painted, and upholstered from scratch !!!! But to make this drastic change it meant undoing all the interior of the Van, the bunks and all clothing ,bedding Dishes, etc. we bought large steamer trunks and packed & repacked, left the plywood & sponge rubber ,fragile dishes with George & June and started out for the second leg of our journey west.
Wednesday July 15th 1953
Left Georges and Toronto at 6am. Sydney ( My youngest brother) who was apprenticing for a mechanic ( auto ) and living at Georges, drove us out of Toronto, and returned to work on a Bus. We then drove till10.45am. Had lunch on the road our very first picnic table too!! Drove to Port Huron and into the U.S. about 2.pm. drove on through Flint Michigan and Big City about 25 miles past there we found a nice cabin, 2 double beds, for $6.00 so we stopped driving at 4pm. And relaxed till supper time, Awfully Hot weather and very tired.
Expenses for the day were.
Cabin $6.00 Coffee .14cents cigarettes .36 cents Ice cream .42 cents total of $6.42.
Thursday July 16th 1953
Another fine day. Started driving at 5am. U. S. time stopped for breakfast at 6.30 at a restaurant, “dinner or Lunch” . Went across the Strat of Macinac in Michigan about 10am. Hot Darn ferry, we nearly cooked !! Drove 419 miles to-day a total of 742 miles in two days.
Real Hot weather, stopped driving at 5pm. Got a cabin had supper in cabin. I wrote cards and letters in evening. Then to bed for all, the 3 kids have really good the small “Thunder mug” that we have on board came in very handy as there is no way you can pull over for a pee on the freeway. In the State of “Michigan” all day.
Expenses
Breakfast $1.85, Dinner $ 2.01, cigs.25 c, ferry crossing $2.35 cabin $6.00, Gas for V.W. $3.30, bars .25c, groceries $9.55, total $ 19.01
Friday July 17th 1953
Nice sunny day, really hot afternoon we were up at 5.15am. cooked bacon etc, for breakfast on hot plate in cabin, 2 double beds in cabin nice and roomy good sleep last night, started driving at 6.30am. Car really good even if it was slightly crowded, -- miles and miles of Boring prairie, not too interesting !! After lunch on the road again it was about 1.30pm. we were traveling at around 100 mph when suddenly there was a loud BANG and our windshield literally crumbled in on us like very course salt, glass was everywhere it gave us all an awful scare!!!!!
Charlie cleaned out the glass & I quieted the kids, we had scratches on our arms, Charlie and I had sun glasses that clipped on over our glasses and there was tiny chips of glass imbedded in them, it was the shock more than anything. As the kids were sleeping – it was a rude awakening, Cleaned up and on the road again we drove slower till we reached a little town called Atkin Minnesota, about 10 miles of driving without a windshield, we found a glass cutting & ( Body ) and auto wrecker’s, run by a man by the name of “ Wright” he cut us a windshield out of a 36 Chev. one ton truck windshield, just a bit of trimming to make it fit, an hour an a half later we were on the road again. Suddenly it pores rain and thunder what a relief from the extreme Heat!! We drove till 5pm. Stopped at Detroit Lakes, pulled into a motel No Vacancy sign up?? Guess we were a sorry looking bunch because the owner took pity on us and let us have a lovely” Stone Cottage” that he had just bought next door to the motel. What a great Night beds enough for all, Bathroom with tub we all had baths, kitchen with all the necessary equipment so were able to buy groceries and cook our supper It was really great after such a hectic day, we drove 421 miles to-day
Expenses for to-day Stone Cottage for the night $10.00 Windshield installed $19.00, groceries for supper $2.80 total $31.80.
Saturday July 18th 1953
Fine day, Hot !! up early had breakfast and left at 6.30am. drove 416 miles, stopped outside of Bismark for dinner Southern Fried Chicken supposed to be a” treat” greasy hot restaurant, greasy hot meal !!! We were not impressed!! Very tiresome scenery, desert & Hills in Nth. Dekota most of the day car working really well, we’ve finally getting all the splinters of glass out of the car and our hides, we got a lot of scratches from flying glass. Got a small cottage for the night, two double beds, fridge and stove too.
Expenses Dinner $3.50, cigs..25c, groceries $2.00, cabin $7.00, gas $1.93, 2 sun suits ( Elaine) $2.00, slip(1/2) ( H.C.) $1.98, dress $5.90, tax 16c. orange drink .26c, Total $24.98.
Sunday July 19th 1953
Fine day, Hot as Blazes, over 100f. in some places, we got up at 4.45am. had breakfast started driving at 6am. Drove as far as “Billings” before dinner we ate at Greyhound Bus Stop Restaurant good food !! Terribly hot in afternoon, stopped for ice cream and again for ice water for thermos drove till 5pm. Stopped for night at Glen Motel “Bozeman” Montana nice cabin too, nice kitchen electric stove & hot water, 2double beds etc. caught up on my writing and then to bed.
Expenses Motel $8.00, Dinner $4.50, ice cream for ( five ) .25c. groceries $3.62, gas $1.00, Total $17.17,
Monday July 20th 1953
Fine sunny and Hot !! we got up at 5.15am . had breakfast and got away driving at 6.30am we drove through Rocky Mountains all day, VW very good passed lots of boiling radiators, struck about 12 miles of road construction, dusty gravel slowed us down considerably, but we reached “Spokane” Washington State at roughly 6pm. We stopped on the side of a mountain and ate our dinner, Got a nice cabin for the night, had supper got the kids clothes out for an early morning start and went to bed.
Expenses gas$1.50, Ice cream & candy .75c, groceries .98c, cabin for night $8.00+tax.24c Total $11.47.
Tuesday July 21st 1953
Got up at 3.30am had breakfast & started driving , drove till 7am. And had a second breakfast at a Restaurant at Moses Lake, drove again more road construction, slower travel, we reached Seattle at 12 noon. Looked for the ferry dock for a half hour finally found the right ferry ,right pier etc. ferry due to leave at 1.20pm, went up to snack bar and had sandwiches and orange drink, took ferry to” Winslow” at 2pm. Drove to Lofall got on a ferry at 5 minutes to 3pm. Landed at South Port at 3.10pm.( a lot of small ferries to a lot of small islands), finally drove like the duce to Port Angles, thinking that the ferry to Victoria B.C. left at 4.30pm. arrived at Port Angles ferry dock at 4.20pm. and no ferry till 7.50pm. So went up to Café had supper soup, tea, crackers, no one very hungry, so didn’t eat much too tired too !!
The ferry Princess Elizabeth C. P. R . came into Port Angles at 8.30pm couldn’t dock too windy had to go out about a mile and try again, success and we finally got on board, it finally left P.A. what a “ Tub” we missed the deluxe ABEGWEUT ferry with it’s Comfortable Lounges, no home comforts on this “Boat” !!
Arnold and I were Seasick No Joke, we all locked very be-draggled as we neared our destination,. There were German Officers on the ferry, and when we docked, and were to go through Customs they were there ahead of us, and had the Customs Officials more interested in the “German Volkswagon” than our declaration slips showing what we had purchased in “Bellingham”, we finally answered all their questions about the little car and started our drive over the Malahat to Duncan, a distance of 38 miles, of “Horrible Road”, as the Victoria natives warned us when we stopped for gas. We drove north as far as” Langford” when a car pulled up in front of us and “Tooted” It was my (Harriet’s) sister Eleanor & Hubby Vern Jones, with their two kids Kerry & Daryl with Mother along to escort us up to Duncan, we traveled at about 50 mph most of the way up. Had no idea of the “Very scary Malahat”, Arriver in Duncan at 1.30am. “Totally Bushed”. But Very Happy to have reached our Destination.
Our little V.W. Beetle was a funny looking sight, we had a roof carrier loaded on top with a lot of stuff, so the wheels looked a bit pigeon –toed, Vern had trouble recognizing us never having seen that kind of car before, he would have missed us if it hadn’t been for Ontario Plates, our Volkswagon (pronounced Folksvagon) by the German Officers was the very first one in B. C.
Wednesday July 22nd 1953
And the following few weeks. Winding down from all those long miles in a very small space took several weeks, spent at my Parents home on Garden St, in Duncan, the house was small, and my brother Dean was living at home at the time, ( he was single) so five extra people in the house was a bit much, !! Charlie got a job at Morrison Motors a G.M car dealer ship, later owned by Gary Hawe and now Peter Beljet. Chas. Was asking a customer if he new of any houses for rent, and we got lucky; The customer “ Mr Les Colborne ”had a house on Alderlea St. that he had bought that morning, and he sold it to us that evening for $50.00 down and a mortgage of $50.00 per month with 4% straight interest..
We were really pleased and wasted very little time getting ready to move in. Our Steamer trunks had arrived from Toronto so we had bedding and dishes, and clothing but no furniture, !! we bought table chairs & buffet, also beds and other necessities from a Mr. Lequesne from his second hand store in Duncan.
The house was small but very comfortable and it was “OURS” Charlie learned to be quite handy at making an extra nursery for Mary who arrived on February 24th 1954 ( out of part of a large the combo dining living room.
We lived next door to the “Kinsman Park” and “Swimming Pool” very handy for the kids, they made lots of friends very quickly. In the Kitchen for cooking and heat in winter ,we had a Sawdust Burning Range a bit tricky if you had never seen or used one before.
So that’s it for the move to B.C. I will stop mow this is the Diary that Harriet did on our way from PEI to BC I have finally got it in the computer 52 years and 10 houses later.
Charlie”
, daughter of Harry Charles ANDREW (1460) (1889-1985) & Eleanor Louise “Nell” RICHARDSON (1894-1992). Born on 17 May 1922 in N St Eleanors, Prince Co, PEI, Canada. Christened on 10 Sep 1922 in PEI, Canada. Harriet Compton died in At Home, 105-231 McKinstry Road, Duncan, BC, Canada, on 2 Jun 2009; she was 87. Buried on 5 Jun 2009 in St Peters Anglican Church, Duncan BC Canada. Occupation: Homemaker. Religion: Anglican.- NAME: Named after both paternal & maternal grandmothers " Harriet Compton “
- CHRISTENING: T.H. Hunt
- RELATIONS: “my father's mother was Harriet Washbourne Compton - both my grandmothers were first cousins, and they used to say that everyone on PEI was related. When Chas took me home to meet his parents, his mother Bertha (Bird) Lillian MacDonald Clark greeted me with ‘You’re Cheesy Ricardson’s granddaughter, and you and Charlie are related through the Boundys.’”
- PERSONALITY: outgoing, friendly, great sense of humour. Harriet describes herself in 2006: Harriet Andrew was called “bold and brazen” by her older sister Mabel. Harriet admits she’s a hopeless case. Uncle Fred May used to say that she could be nasty in the nicest way! It has come in quite useful in their business. When she was young she like to pinch her cousin Arthur “Pictou”, because she liked him!
- 1942 MARRIAGE: G.R. Harrison. Witnesses Wendall Rogers, Mabel Andrew
- 1946 on 4th wedding anniversary, celebrated with a cake and a gathering, including mother Nell and sister Mabel (see photo). The rest of the Andrew family including Harry had already moved to BC - hard to be left behind.
- HEALTH: surgery for gall stones July 23, 1977. Arthritis in hands. Surgery to remove colon cancer; recovered. 2009, developed agressive and terminal terminal lung, liver and stomach cancer.
- RESIDENCES: Married in PEI. Moved to Duncan BC in July 1953. Made many moves in the Duncan BC area as family was growing up. Lived on Trunk Road for a time in the 50s. Lived at “Timbercrest”, 2333 Trillium Terrace (1976-1980). Moved to Garden Street (only a few doors down from Harry and Nell Andrew) on July 30, 1980. Moved to Crofton, BC in early 1990s. Address (current as of Dec 2002):105-231 McKinstry Road, Duncan, BC Canada V9L 3L3, 250-748-3114
- HOBBIES: cooking, sewing, some oil painting Did a fair bit of camping (and Motor home-5th wheel) making trips to PEI in 1965,1981 and 1989. 77th birthday was spent on the road from Mckenzie to Hope on May 17th.
- TRAVELS included:
> 1953: move across Canada, from PEI to Duncan BC (July 2-21) - see diary below
> 1995: Visited PEI with motorhome. (Phoned on way through Toronto).
> 1996 Easter: They visited with Louise Reh in Bremerton.
> 2004: travelled with Mary and Murray to Bill and Elaine’s cabin on Okanagan Lake, then to Quesnel to Mary and Murray’s new ‘retirement’ home, flying home from Prince George.
- VISITORS:
> Feb 2004: visited by Ruby Andrew and new husband Rod
> May 2004: visited by Charlie’s cousin Laing MacDowell from Toronto
> Oct 2004: visited by cousin Newman Compton from Pensacola Fl, his daughter Sarah from Seattle and Alaska, three other cousins came with them.
- DEATH and OBITUARY:
HARRIET COMPTON CLARK (nee Andrew) May 17, 1922 - June 2, 2009
God granted Mom's wish to stay at home until the end where she remained in comfort and died in peace, surrounded by love so well deserved.
Predeceased by her eldest son, Arnold in 1994; brothers George (June) and Dean; sister Mabel Taylor; and brothers-in-law Vern Jones and Leaman Caseley. Harriet is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Charles. Mom shall truly be missed by sons Gerry (Bev), and Bruce; daughters Elaine (Bill Paull), and Mary (Murray Braithwaite).
A legacy of loving grandchildren and great grandchildren will remember those special cookies for ever: Richard (Sonja) Clark (A.J. and Dexter); Adrienne (Chris) Clark (Mary and Randy); Angela (Tony) Lees (Garret and Amy); Lisa Paull (Cody); Laura Nixon (Abby and Treavor); and Brandon. Harriet is also survived by sister Eleanor Jones; brothers Alan and Syd (Barb) Andrew; sister-in-law Fern Caseley.
Harriet was born in North St. Eleanors, Summerside, P.E.I. to Harry and Nell Andrew. Together as a family with three children, Harriet and Charles traversed across Canada, to settle in Duncan in 1953. The birth of two more children completed their family. After years of devotion to 'good old-fashioned family values', Harriet ventured into the work force, working along side Charlie in their family business (Clark's Locksmith Ltd.) for 17 years, eventually becoming a licensed Locksmith.
Throughout her long and healthy life, Harriet found greatest joy in baking for her family, friends, and church bazaars. She enjoyed artistic dabbling in paints, and tending to her gardens. So busy within her retirement, Harriet still managed to devote much of herself to her church and community.
Additional families and friends stretching from coast to coast, are part of the many who will remember this loving and caring spirit who touched us all with her good natured attitude, easy smile, and dynamic energy.
A funeral service will be held Friday, June 5 ... 3:00 pm at St. Peter's Church off Maple Bay Road, with tea following.
For their kind and caring support, our thanks are extended to Dr. Nadine Robertson, Rev. Deborah Rivet, all the nurses through the Community Home Care Nursing Services, the Red Cross Society, and Community Home Support.
Those wishing to, may make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, #100-394 Duncan Street, Duncan BC, V9L3W4. - see also funeral flyer, and newspaper obit, published Jun 3, 2009 in the Cowichan Valley Citizen, page 31
Posted online In Memoriam.ca:
Harriet Compton Clark
Peacefully at home in Duncan, B.C., on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, of Harriet Compton Clark. Born in North St. Eleanors May 17, 1922, daughter of Harry and Nell Andrew. Survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Charles, sons, Gerry (Bev) and Bruce, daughters, Elaine (Bill Paull) and Mary (Murray Braithwaite), sister, Eleanor Jones, brothers, Alan and Syd (Barb) Andrew, sister-in-law, Fern Caseley. Predeceased by her eldest son, Arnold in 1994, brothers, George (June) and Dean, sister Mabel Taylor, and brothers-in-law, Vern Jones and Leaman Caseley. A funeral service will be held Friday, June 5, at 3 p.m. in St. Peter’s Church Duncan, B.C.
Written by Charlie based on Harriet’s 1953 Diary:
“The Move from P.E.I . to B. C.
Of
The C. B . Clark Family
July 2nd 1953
The decision to finally go to B. C. was made by Charlie in February of 1953 after I ( Harriet ) ended up in Prince County Hospital Summerside P. E. I. With double pneumonia and pleurisy, we had moved from our house on Liinletter Rd. after my ( Richardson ) grand parents died. Heath Strong lawyer for the family, told us that if some of the family moved into grandfather’s house it could be saved for their daughter ( Eleanor Louise Richardson) (Andrew)(my Mother), as my grandfather had received the Old Age Pension, for the last few years of his life, the Gov’t could put a lean on the property, or simply just take it!!.
So we rented our little house in Linkletter to an R. C. A. F. couple and moved to St. Eleanors, the house was old, single glazed windows, small panes etc. water supply outside pump, we wired the house “we” meaning Stan Linkletter & Charlie so eventually we had lights, and we papered and painted, put lovely “Battleship Linoleum” canvas backed in the kitchen, did some carpenter work to, open up the wall between kitchen and dining room, “much brighter”.
Put on new kitchen door with Lester Linkletter’s help, and we were quite comfortable until “winter” came, we put a stove in the front room, our oil range in the kitchen, a couple of oil heater’s up stairs, but it was still a big old ”cold house”. – Anyway if it hadn’t been for me getting sick we might have never moved to B. C. !! But have never been sorry that we did.
Getting ready to move West could fill a lot of pages in this Diary. – But my grandmother had been a bit if a “collector of every thing”, the “Back Kitchen” a huge room at the back of the house was a “nightmare” and took a long time to clean out, and through out, !!!.
Eventually we managed to sell of the furniture ours and some of grandmother’s. that she hadn’t given away, none of it brought very much in the way of necessary funds for our trip west, because it all went very cheaply, people just bought it to help us out. We attended many farewell parties, but were so tired we couldn’t really enjoy them,
Charlie had been working on our transportation for some time, in between working at the Service Station in St. Eleanors and driving his own Taxi, but eventually our “Covered Wagon” was packed and ready to roll: It was a 1948 “International Metro” ¾ ton “ Cab over Engine Van” we packed dishes, bedding, clothing, etc. etc; under the bunks that were made of good B. C. Fir plywood, with 6” Sponge Rubber for mattresses for sleeping on, at this time we had 3 chilsren Arnold, 9 years in October, Gerald 6 years in February, and Elaine 3 years in May, and on July 2nd 1953 we set out for the West Coast.
{In the back of my mind I wished we could just hop aboard a train, and relax all the way to B. C.} I hadn’t really totally recovered from my bout of sickness in February, I just weighed 105 lbs. And Charlie not much more !! But Here we Go.
Thursday July 2nd 1953
Left Linkletter Road and Charlie’s parents at 5 am Nice sunny day, We crossed to New Brubswick on the car ferry “ Abegweit” we had problems early on with a overheating radiator, we drove through Chatham, took a free ferry across, then through Bathurst, to Dalhousie, then to within 4 miles of Campbellton, N. B. parked for the night beside “ North Shore Pavillion” “Dance Hall” driving rain all night. Slept very well “considering everything” Kids Good.
Friday July 3rd 1953
Still raining ,up at 6am had our breakfast inside the “truck/camper” left there at 7am , and stoped at Campbellton to get Radiator flushed out, left there at 9.30am sent off post cards to Andrews, Clarks, George & June, drove 236 miles today, Great scenery stopped for the night between ? & ? “ Gaspe Panincula”. Cold as Blazes parked by a Diner & Cabins slept a bit better than the first night. In the morning we drove down the other side of the Gaspe Mountain, very steep going used “Low Gear all the way”, but warmer we were able to shed warm clothing.
Saturday July 4th 1953.
Fine & Warm to-day, got underway about 7am. Stopped at noon for dinner outside of Quebec ate in camper/van as usual,--- No picnic grounds to be seen. People Strictly French Speaking, ever since second day of trip, stopped for supper about 40 miles from Montreal in a nice shady spot, after supper drove to Montreal and through it “ Sherbrook St”. got kids settled for the night at 9pm. Then drove to within 7 miles of the Ontario border, paid $2.00 to park by cabins, didn’t do much sleeping that night too many “Mosquitoes & Black Flies” OUCH !! Almost eaten alive, “ at least they had very good taste” Ha! Ha!.
Sunday July 5th 1953
Got up in am to find a flat tire, Charlie changed it to the spare, and we drove to the only Service Station open on Sunday morning, not much traffic, Service Station in Cornwall Ontario, got tire repaired new tube $8.50 patched tire $1.00 total bill $9.50, left there at 10.15 am. 375 miles to Toronto and brother’s Georges on McPherson Ave. We drove through Brockville, Kingston, Bellville, before supper, then started for George & June’s & 4 daughter’s, Sunday evening July 5th 1953 Verry Hot weather, drove miles & miles coming into Toronto on Danforth Ave. thought we’d never get there, But we finally arriver at 56 Mc Pherson Ave. at 11.30pm. they were all in bed at Georges, but woke up enough to get us bedded down for the night, and we Clarks at least had a lovely sleep, despite the humidity and heat. Stayed In Toronto from July 5th till the 15th. We decided we would have to change out transportation == sell the Van and get something else, to see us to the west coast.
The only deal we could make to get a few dollars out of the Van was to trade it in on a 1953 “ Volkswagon Beetle” Car “Brand New” “out of the box so to speak” , Charlie was fed coffee & doughnuts while our “BUG” was assembled, painted, and upholstered from scratch !!!! But to make this drastic change it meant undoing all the interior of the Van, the bunks and all clothing ,bedding Dishes, etc. we bought large steamer trunks and packed & repacked, left the plywood & sponge rubber ,fragile dishes with George & June and started out for the second leg of our journey west.
Wednesday July 15th 1953
Left Georges and Toronto at 6am. Sydney ( My youngest brother) who was apprenticing for a mechanic ( auto ) and living at Georges, drove us out of Toronto, and returned to work on a Bus. We then drove till10.45am. Had lunch on the road our very first picnic table too!! Drove to Port Huron and into the U.S. about 2.pm. drove on through Flint Michigan and Big City about 25 miles past there we found a nice cabin, 2 double beds, for $6.00 so we stopped driving at 4pm. And relaxed till supper time, Awfully Hot weather and very tired.
Expenses for the day were.
Cabin $6.00 Coffee .14cents cigarettes .36 cents Ice cream .42 cents total of $6.42.
Thursday July 16th 1953
Another fine day. Started driving at 5am. U. S. time stopped for breakfast at 6.30 at a restaurant, “dinner or Lunch” . Went across the Strat of Macinac in Michigan about 10am. Hot Darn ferry, we nearly cooked !! Drove 419 miles to-day a total of 742 miles in two days.
Real Hot weather, stopped driving at 5pm. Got a cabin had supper in cabin. I wrote cards and letters in evening. Then to bed for all, the 3 kids have really good the small “Thunder mug” that we have on board came in very handy as there is no way you can pull over for a pee on the freeway. In the State of “Michigan” all day.
Expenses
Breakfast $1.85, Dinner $ 2.01, cigs.25 c, ferry crossing $2.35 cabin $6.00, Gas for V.W. $3.30, bars .25c, groceries $9.55, total $ 19.01
Friday July 17th 1953
Nice sunny day, really hot afternoon we were up at 5.15am. cooked bacon etc, for breakfast on hot plate in cabin, 2 double beds in cabin nice and roomy good sleep last night, started driving at 6.30am. Car really good even if it was slightly crowded, -- miles and miles of Boring prairie, not too interesting !! After lunch on the road again it was about 1.30pm. we were traveling at around 100 mph when suddenly there was a loud BANG and our windshield literally crumbled in on us like very course salt, glass was everywhere it gave us all an awful scare!!!!!
Charlie cleaned out the glass & I quieted the kids, we had scratches on our arms, Charlie and I had sun glasses that clipped on over our glasses and there was tiny chips of glass imbedded in them, it was the shock more than anything. As the kids were sleeping – it was a rude awakening, Cleaned up and on the road again we drove slower till we reached a little town called Atkin Minnesota, about 10 miles of driving without a windshield, we found a glass cutting & ( Body ) and auto wrecker’s, run by a man by the name of “ Wright” he cut us a windshield out of a 36 Chev. one ton truck windshield, just a bit of trimming to make it fit, an hour an a half later we were on the road again. Suddenly it pores rain and thunder what a relief from the extreme Heat!! We drove till 5pm. Stopped at Detroit Lakes, pulled into a motel No Vacancy sign up?? Guess we were a sorry looking bunch because the owner took pity on us and let us have a lovely” Stone Cottage” that he had just bought next door to the motel. What a great Night beds enough for all, Bathroom with tub we all had baths, kitchen with all the necessary equipment so were able to buy groceries and cook our supper It was really great after such a hectic day, we drove 421 miles to-day
Expenses for to-day Stone Cottage for the night $10.00 Windshield installed $19.00, groceries for supper $2.80 total $31.80.
Saturday July 18th 1953
Fine day, Hot !! up early had breakfast and left at 6.30am. drove 416 miles, stopped outside of Bismark for dinner Southern Fried Chicken supposed to be a” treat” greasy hot restaurant, greasy hot meal !!! We were not impressed!! Very tiresome scenery, desert & Hills in Nth. Dekota most of the day car working really well, we’ve finally getting all the splinters of glass out of the car and our hides, we got a lot of scratches from flying glass. Got a small cottage for the night, two double beds, fridge and stove too.
Expenses Dinner $3.50, cigs..25c, groceries $2.00, cabin $7.00, gas $1.93, 2 sun suits ( Elaine) $2.00, slip(1/2) ( H.C.) $1.98, dress $5.90, tax 16c. orange drink .26c, Total $24.98.
Sunday July 19th 1953
Fine day, Hot as Blazes, over 100f. in some places, we got up at 4.45am. had breakfast started driving at 6am. Drove as far as “Billings” before dinner we ate at Greyhound Bus Stop Restaurant good food !! Terribly hot in afternoon, stopped for ice cream and again for ice water for thermos drove till 5pm. Stopped for night at Glen Motel “Bozeman” Montana nice cabin too, nice kitchen electric stove & hot water, 2double beds etc. caught up on my writing and then to bed.
Expenses Motel $8.00, Dinner $4.50, ice cream for ( five ) .25c. groceries $3.62, gas $1.00, Total $17.17,
Monday July 20th 1953
Fine sunny and Hot !! we got up at 5.15am . had breakfast and got away driving at 6.30am we drove through Rocky Mountains all day, VW very good passed lots of boiling radiators, struck about 12 miles of road construction, dusty gravel slowed us down considerably, but we reached “Spokane” Washington State at roughly 6pm. We stopped on the side of a mountain and ate our dinner, Got a nice cabin for the night, had supper got the kids clothes out for an early morning start and went to bed.
Expenses gas$1.50, Ice cream & candy .75c, groceries .98c, cabin for night $8.00+tax.24c Total $11.47.
Tuesday July 21st 1953
Got up at 3.30am had breakfast & started driving , drove till 7am. And had a second breakfast at a Restaurant at Moses Lake, drove again more road construction, slower travel, we reached Seattle at 12 noon. Looked for the ferry dock for a half hour finally found the right ferry ,right pier etc. ferry due to leave at 1.20pm, went up to snack bar and had sandwiches and orange drink, took ferry to” Winslow” at 2pm. Drove to Lofall got on a ferry at 5 minutes to 3pm. Landed at South Port at 3.10pm.( a lot of small ferries to a lot of small islands), finally drove like the duce to Port Angles, thinking that the ferry to Victoria B.C. left at 4.30pm. arrived at Port Angles ferry dock at 4.20pm. and no ferry till 7.50pm. So went up to Café had supper soup, tea, crackers, no one very hungry, so didn’t eat much too tired too !!
The ferry Princess Elizabeth C. P. R . came into Port Angles at 8.30pm couldn’t dock too windy had to go out about a mile and try again, success and we finally got on board, it finally left P.A. what a “ Tub” we missed the deluxe ABEGWEUT ferry with it’s Comfortable Lounges, no home comforts on this “Boat” !!
Arnold and I were Seasick No Joke, we all locked very be-draggled as we neared our destination,. There were German Officers on the ferry, and when we docked, and were to go through Customs they were there ahead of us, and had the Customs Officials more interested in the “German Volkswagon” than our declaration slips showing what we had purchased in “Bellingham”, we finally answered all their questions about the little car and started our drive over the Malahat to Duncan, a distance of 38 miles, of “Horrible Road”, as the Victoria natives warned us when we stopped for gas. We drove north as far as” Langford” when a car pulled up in front of us and “Tooted” It was my (Harriet’s) sister Eleanor & Hubby Vern Jones, with their two kids Kerry & Daryl with Mother along to escort us up to Duncan, we traveled at about 50 mph most of the way up. Had no idea of the “Very scary Malahat”, Arriver in Duncan at 1.30am. “Totally Bushed”. But Very Happy to have reached our Destination.
Our little V.W. Beetle was a funny looking sight, we had a roof carrier loaded on top with a lot of stuff, so the wheels looked a bit pigeon –toed, Vern had trouble recognizing us never having seen that kind of car before, he would have missed us if it hadn’t been for Ontario Plates, our Volkswagon (pronounced Folksvagon) by the German Officers was the very first one in B. C.
Wednesday July 22nd 1953
And the following few weeks. Winding down from all those long miles in a very small space took several weeks, spent at my Parents home on Garden St, in Duncan, the house was small, and my brother Dean was living at home at the time, ( he was single) so five extra people in the house was a bit much, !! Charlie got a job at Morrison Motors a G.M car dealer ship, later owned by Gary Hawe and now Peter Beljet. Chas. Was asking a customer if he new of any houses for rent, and we got lucky; The customer “ Mr Les Colborne ”had a house on Alderlea St. that he had bought that morning, and he sold it to us that evening for $50.00 down and a mortgage of $50.00 per month with 4% straight interest..
We were really pleased and wasted very little time getting ready to move in. Our Steamer trunks had arrived from Toronto so we had bedding and dishes, and clothing but no furniture, !! we bought table chairs & buffet, also beds and other necessities from a Mr. Lequesne from his second hand store in Duncan.
The house was small but very comfortable and it was “OURS” Charlie learned to be quite handy at making an extra nursery for Mary who arrived on February 24th 1954 ( out of part of a large the combo dining living room.
We lived next door to the “Kinsman Park” and “Swimming Pool” very handy for the kids, they made lots of friends very quickly. In the Kitchen for cooking and heat in winter ,we had a Sawdust Burning Range a bit tricky if you had never seen or used one before.
So that’s it for the move to B.C. I will stop mow this is the Diary that Harriet did on our way from PEI to BC I have finally got it in the computer 52 years and 10 houses later.
Charlie”
They had the following children:
i.
Arnold Wendell CLARK (1944-1994)
ii.
(Living)
iii.
(Living)
iv.
(Living)
v.
(Living)