So far on this journey of looking through Ethel's Historical Treasure Box, I've posted letters, post cards and other papers pertaining to Noah Clement Draper and Ethel Isabell Draper from their childhood to Feb 1911. However, none of the correspondence has been between Noah and Ethel themselves.
From what we've read, no one has mentioned anything romantic happening between Noah and Isabell, yet in the letter I'm presenting today - the first in this series - you can clearly see that Noah considers Ethel 'his girl'.
And so the courtship year of Noah Clement Draper and Ethel Isabell Nelson begins...
Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper b1887
Dated: February 4, 1911
Addressed to: Miss E. Nelson, Bellhaven, Ontario
Mailed from: Orillia, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink,
Written on: 5 1/2" x 9 1/2" thin note paper bearing the leaderhead New Daly House
Mentioned in the letter:
- the Ontario towns of Belhaven, Orillia and Burk's Falls (see map)
- C. Deverell (unsure who he is, but Noah's mother is Sarah Sophia Deverell)
From what we've read, no one has mentioned anything romantic happening between Noah and Isabell, yet in the letter I'm presenting today - the first in this series - you can clearly see that Noah considers Ethel 'his girl'.
And so the courtship year of Noah Clement Draper and Ethel Isabell Nelson begins...
Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper b1887
Dated: February 4, 1911
Addressed to: Miss E. Nelson, Bellhaven, Ontario
Mailed from: Orillia, Ontario
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink,
Written on: 5 1/2" x 9 1/2" thin note paper bearing the leaderhead New Daly House
Mentioned in the letter:
- the Ontario towns of Belhaven, Orillia and Burk's Falls (see map)
- C. Deverell (unsure who he is, but Noah's mother is Sarah Sophia Deverell)
Belhaven Ont. Dear Ethel, Well, I have got this far on my road to Burks Falls and expect to go on at 4.30. Am having a big time in this local option town and will be glad to get out of it. Well, this is the first deacent day we have had this week how is it down there. Dont expect I will stay long up here & will be back at the old stand Friday night for better or for worse. Ha ha. Was at two shoes in Toronto. say they were fine. Met C. Deverell up here. he is having a rest. Well Ethel I dont know anything to write that I cant say better, so I will ring off. So be a good little girl untill I get back. After that I'll make you Good Bye xxx N.C. Draper. |
Red dots signify Belhaven, Orillia, and Burk's Falls, all in the Province of Ontario, Canada.
The town of Burk's Falls has been mentioned once already in Ethel's Treasure Box and that was with Percy's postcard to Noah on Dec 25th, 1908. As a farmer, Noah would've been needed on the farm. Perhaps he spent the off-season logging? That's a long way from Saskatchewan (map on postcard page) to Belhaven, however... unless you had a special girl you could see on weekends.
As for the C. Deverell mentioned in the letter, I've spent too much time searching for him and the closest I've gotten is with a C. as the middle initial. So for now, he will be a piece of the puzle.
Next week, we'll see Ethel's first response to Noah in this courtship year.
As for the C. Deverell mentioned in the letter, I've spent too much time searching for him and the closest I've gotten is with a C. as the middle initial. So for now, he will be a piece of the puzle.
Next week, we'll see Ethel's first response to Noah in this courtship year.
