1911 Courtship: Mar 12, Dear Noah

Unknown occupants riding in a cutter sleigh, Regina, Saskatchewan, c1907. Courtesy of the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta

In this week's letter, Ethel says, "There are about as many buggies on the road as cutters".  Above is a photo of the fast sleigh called a cutter.

Our last 1911 Courtship letter was Mar 6, Dear Ethel.  If you've missed some of the courtship letters, use the drop-down menu under Blogs and then slide to the right of Author Memories, or click here.

Author of Letter: Ethel Isabell Nelson, age 21
Dated:  March 12th, 1911
Addressed to: Mr. N. C Draper, Grand Coulee, Sask.
Mailed from:  Belhaven, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession:  Farmer's Daughter
Writing  instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink,
Written on: Slightly thick, textured linen-like paper, 9 inches x 6.5 inches. Ethel has written page 1 and 4 as covers, but inside, pages 2 and 3 are written together as one long page.

People mentioned in this letter:
- *Manuel - Ethel's 5 yr old brother, Emanuel Henry Nelson
- *Cecil Prosser - see Mar 6: Dear Ethel
- *Pa - James Henry Nelson
- *Noah's mother - Sarah Sophia Deverell
- Mr. *Mahoney
- Mr. Sheppard - from a previous letter

The following people are mysteries at this time:
- Mary Smith
- Mr. Woodword
- Hattie
- Stella
- Mr McCarthy, Evangelist 


Places/Things/Cliches etc:

- **Keswick Christian Church - see Genealogy Notes below



- last week Noah ended his letter with, "Your little Boy Brown", and this time, Ethel ends hers with, "Your blue bird". Anyone have an idea what these names mean?



Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing. If you don't see a label, use the search box at the top of page.
** see Genealogy Notes below

Belhaven, Mar. 12th, 1911.

Mr N.C. Draper,
     Grand Coulee,
                      Sask.
Dear Noah, --
                      Well here I am all alone
by myself. Just nine o'clock and
everyone is in bed but me. I was
up to Sunday School and home
with Mary Smith for tea. Who
do you think spent the evening
there? You remember Mr Woodword
the man that put the phones in
he's the one. They came down
home with me.
            We had quite a heavy
thunder storm last night about
ten o'clock, & just poured down rain       

Our sleighing is not very good. There are
about as many buggies on the road
as cutters. Mr Mahoney's had buggy to
S. School. Hattie is down visiting with
Stella.
   There are special meetings being held
in the Christian Church, Keswick by an
Evangelist, Mr McCarthy. I have been up
three times and say he is a fine speaker.
Friday night his topic was Impure
Amusements. He spoke of Theatre, Dances
and card tables. His topic to-night was
"He blamed his wife for it". Wish you were
here to hear him.
    I asked Manuel who that was on the
post card. He said Noah, so I guess
he has'nt forgotten you I am glad you sent
it. 
    Cecil Prosser I think has gone back
to the States again.
    Well we hav'nt got to move after
all. (thank goodness) Pa backed out and
so Mr Sheppard did not get the place after
all.
      I have heard in the last few weeks
about a dozen times that I was
going West, I don't know what puts
such Ideas in there heads. (Time isnt
passing one bit too fast for me, seems long)

Why it seems a long time
since you went away. Has your
Mother decided yet when she is
coming down?
   My it is so nice to be home
again, after being down to Aunt
Maud's, I tell you there is no
place like home. Matters not how
humble it may be. I guess you
know how it is, dont you?
 Well Noah I guess it is time I
was closing my letter, for tis
my bed time. You know how
early I went to bed when you
were here, I try to be a good
little girl. Hope you are
writing a big letter to come
this way. anxiously waiting
for it. Bye-bye from, Your blue bird Ethel
   Ethel Nelson                      xxxx xxxx     X

Genealogy Notes

Genealogy Note 1 - Mary Smith and Mr. Wodward

I searched for the Mary Smith and Mr. Woodword Ethel mentions in this letter. I tried the names alone, but Mary Smith is very common and I didn't have any years to help in the search. Likewise, I don't know Mr. Woodword's first name or any relevant dates so nothing pertinent showed up for him either. My final guess was to search for Mary Smith and a spouse with the surname of Woodward. Because Ethel seems to imply the two were courting, I added 1911 as a marriage date for the two. But still nothing.
 

Genealogy Note 2 - Christian Church in Keswick

In 1821, a 43 member congregation formed the the first “Christian” church in Ontario on the shore of Lake Simcoe.  They called themselves Christian because Christ is their head and they reject all other form of identification. Keswick Christian Church is still going strong today.

The Draper Family Tree shows a Wealthy Huntley around the same time Brother Allen Huntley was ordained, became the first pastor and baptized 10 people at the Christian Church in Keswick.  However, I can't find a record that Allen is part of Wealthy Huntley's family. 

I'll keep searching for answers to these questions as well as ones mentioned above as well as an early photo of the Keswick Christian Church.

UPDATE! - Thanks going out to Melissa from the Georgina Pioneer Village and Archives who left a comment on this post on Jan 3, 2014 with a link to information on the Keswick Christian Church as follows:

Doors Open Georgina Sites 2013

Allegro Dance Academy (formerly Christian Church) - 180 Church Street

This brick church, constructed in 1879, replaced an 1856 wooden church on the site. The congregation worshiped here until its new church was built elsewhere, in 1989.

The building retains many original features, such as the stained-glass windows and the nave, and is now the home of Allegro Dance Academy. 

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Keswick Christian Church c1980's

This 1980's photo of the Keswick Christian Church is from the Norma Draper Family Photo Collection which I had the opportunity to digitize during August and September 2013. 

More info about the Norma Draper Family Photo Collection can be found in the post 1911 Courtship: July 30 Dear Ethel. 


Google Earth provides a view of the Keswick Christian Church  in its natural setting taken only a few months ago. You can see both sides of the church and nave and surrounding area. Just type the address, "180 Church St, Keswick, Ontario, Canada" into the search box and you'll see something like this next map but without my yellow and blue text and drawings. You may have to zoom in on the red balloon bring it to this level. 

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Google Earth view of area around 180 Church St, Keswick, Ontario, Canada.

The next step is to drag the little yellow 'man' or figure  in the top right corner and circled in yellow in the above view, to the street in front of the church and you'll be shown the street view. Here's what you'll see...

Google Earth Street View of 180 Church St, Keswick, Ontario, Canada.

Once again, thanks for the updated information, Melissa.