MARY'S MEMOIRS

This is a very full week for Mary and Blanche. Sam drove them to Vancouver, British Columbia, to catch a train to Toronto.

Sunday, July 31, 1949

Today was a busy day. Arose early and did the balance of the mangling and put away the clothes. Then started breakfast. At 10 the Kurths came so we ate a farm breakfast with ham, pancakes and eggs. Just sat and talked. In the afternoon the Oaklands, the Bledsoes (who fish on the Columbia River) and another couple. Then Billy Hyde came in to ask to use the grove. Later Glenn Schotts and his girl came to swim. Bill Hyde’s mother-in-law, her husband and daughter and baby were here. Started dinner after a good swim with Hydes. It was lovely. The dinner of fried chicken, biscuits, (Blanche made them) green beans were wonderful. Just as we finished in came Ruby, Earl, Van and Vina so they ate with us. We had a good time all of us. We went swimming later and sat by the fire where we saw a most wonderful sunset we’ve had in months. Then ate watermelon, dessert and coffee. To bed late. Very tired. Very hot out today.

Monday, Aug. 1, 1949

Arose at 7:15 a.m. and over to the cabin. Got breakfast over with early and all the work done. Then a good swim before I had to go to the beauty parlor. The Kurths stayed until after I had gone and then went to Bremerton to see Jessie Jones. To Gorst where Blanche is good when we came out. At Belfair we stopped at the Post Office and at Annie’s. Did a little shopping. Home and got a good swim in. Very warm and oh how good it felt. Then put all my clothes in the suitcase and am all ready to travel. Sam mowed part of the lawn and we watered good. A good wind has come up so it might get cooler as the barometer is going down. Ate corn on the cob for dinner. Sam took the dog to Emmett’s, and I’ll take the cat to Skene’s. To bed early as we catch 8:15 boat Tuesday a.m. at Manchester.

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1949

Today we got up at 6:30 a.m. We changed all the beds and took a last look at the phlox which were so lovely. Sam even watered them. Caught the 8:15 Harper ferry and ate breakfast at the Imperial Hotel in Everett. Very good. Not too warm out so it was pleasant driving. Did not get warm until we got to Vancouver, B.C. We got our money at the bank, then checked Blanche’s trunk and bag to Bennington. Got our traveler’s checks and then went driving around the park. Saw the most lovely phlox and remembered the name of some, so I hope to get some in the fall. Then we drove around some more and to the depot. Got a red cap to take our trunks etc. to the train. As soon as that was done Sam left for home as he was tired. We got on our train at 9:20 and found a nice compartment for us there. Put all our things away and ate a few grapes we bought us there. We bought fruit and candy to eat on the train and Blanche bought some cookies. The train is about ready to start so I’ll quit for tonight.

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 1949

Awoke early after a restless night in which the train seemed to go so very slow or start with a grab just as I’d go to sleep. We ate a fine breakfast and then went out on the observation car. The scenery is grand. Every corner we passed was more beautiful than the one before. We saw a prairie dog on the side of the track, and he turned this way and that as we watched him. Oh, he was cute! Then we got out at Banff and Lake Louise Station and walked up and down on the platform. It was fun. We rode quite a long time out on the open car in back and it was fun. Talked to some very interesting people who told us of a good scenic route to return by. Ate a light dinner and enjoyed it, Chicken a la king. We saw Mount Eisenhower and The Three Sisters Peaks. Also passed through a long tunnel. Eight miles long! There was so much beauty all day long we were breathless. Now at 7:40 we are coming into the prairie on our way to Calgary which we reached about 9. We saw Cathedral Mountain and Kicking Horse Pass and the Great Divide.

Thursday, Aug. 4, 1949

Today we ate a late breakfast and then went to the observation car where we sat quite a while and read. We passed through prairie country all day and it was lovely. Such fields of grain and horses here and there. Many lovely gardens in and near the town. In the afternoon we tried to sleep with poor success, but we had a good rest. Then at 6:30 we ate dinner and finished just before we got to Winnipeg. One of our friends on the trip got off here. We walked around and got some fresh air, then back to the observation car. Now at 9 we are getting our gear ready for the night. Blanche was washing out. Quite a few Eastern Stars on the train. We think they are going to Toronto also. Blanche thinks they are all P.W.G. as they all have the Grand Spread. Our car is called the “Crows Nest.” We are getting a kick our of that. Had roast beef for dinner. Very tasty.

Friday, Aug. 5, 1949

Today we ate a little later than usual and found we had the best service yet. We decided today to go on to Quebec from Toronto as the steward said it was only three hours from Toronto. We went into the observation car where we sat next to a Mrs. Taliesin whose husband was on the Finance Committee for General Grand Chapter. She told us about her early training as a nurse in England before World War I and her war experience and it was all very interesting. She has four children, one a son who went to Pullman last year. Then we went to our room for a rest and ate some fruit. Very lovely country today, just like the Yukon Territory with firewood all along the way, small firs and quaking aspen. We skirted the shore of Lake Superior for miles, and it was very rocky. Many small lakes here and there and huge pulp mills is about all the industries we could see. Thousands of feet of pulp wood lay in all the lakes along the tracks. The folks gave me a Grand Chapter program, so I copied it.

Saturday, Aug. 6, 1949

The porter woke us up early so we were all ready to get off when the train pulled into Toronto at 6:40. Took a taxi to the Barclay Hotel and got a room. We are to be changed to one with twin beds later, I hope. Then we walked uptown and ate our breakfast. Blanche could not sleep last night as the loader rattled so she is tired. The big stores are all closed today so all we can do is take a bus ride to some places. Very warm out and the air is full of soot. We made reservation space to Quebec from here also for our hotel so will know how we came out. In the evening Blanche and I ate in the India Room. It was very cool and nice there and we had a lovely dinner. There was a program and the entertainer, Al Stevens stood and talked to Blanche to her great embarrassment. What an expression she had when she realized he was kidding her. Entertainment was clever and we had a nice time. The comedian says Toronto is full of banks, but no one goes in, and no one goes out. To bed late.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now lives on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].