Mary's Memoirs

Mary has returned home from her lengthy vacation. She gets into cleaning the house and getting her laundry caught up, doesn’t miss a beat and gets her hair done. We cannot forget getting the hair done. Where is Sam?

Sunday, Aug. 21, 1949

Today we all got up early and the folks went to church. I packed my clothes and was all ready to go early. They made a lovely dinner of beef rice just like Alma and I like it. Everything was delicious. We left the house at 12:05 as Mary was late, then came dashing out with a box. Near north Bennington we heard the train whistle and Mary says to Alma, “Is that the train whistling in?” So she stepped on the gas and we made it. I was only on the train about 3 minutes when it pulled out. The box was a lovely lunch Mary had made for me and on a note inside she had handwritten “An old-timer to an old-timer.” Got on the train at 12:20 and did not arrive in Montreal until 7:01. They made 28 stops, so this “Flyer” isn’t so fast. At Montreal, I had to transfer to the other station. Waited 10 minutes and then got on the train. The berth was already made up, so I was in bed when we pulled out at 8 o’clock. Thought I’d get a good night’s rest anyway even if I could not sleep all the time. The trip up from Bennington to Montreal was interesting and it was a lovely day. Took some pictures in the morning of the folks. Hope they turn out good. The stay at Bennington was all too short. I had a wonderful time. I’m so glad Blanche is home again and seems so happy. I’m sure she will enjoy it there if only she can stand the cold weather.

Monday, Aug. 22, 1949

Awoke early and got dressed for I’d been in bed so long my back ached. Met a very nice girl on her way to Saskatoon to visit her fiancé. She was very friendly, and we ended up going to breakfast together. We stopped at Sudbury while we were eating. Around here saw lots of mining and very rocky and bare looking. Now we are out among the trees and the lakes (covered with water lilies) and it is far nicer. The sun is out very bright, so everyone says we are in for a nice trip. The trees are already starting to turn brown, and it is lovely. Much of this country reminds me of Victoria. In the evening we ate together as we passed the shores of Lake Superior. A very lovely sight. At noon I ate the balance of the lunch Mary Sanswell gave me and it was delicious. We sat and talked until late as it seemed too early to go to bed at 8 when we finished dinner.

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1949

Was all dressed by eight o’clock and we set our clocks back one hour. Cloudy out and we are passing wonderful lakes with summer cottages around them. Many quaking aspen trees here and reminded me so much of the scenery along the Alcan Highway, especially some areas I saw yesterday. We see no animals of any kind nor any birds. Ate breakfast with Jean, who has a sore back. Guess she is troubled with a bad back which is very painful at times. We arrived at Winnipeg at 10:10 and left at 11:15 so Gen and I walked for over an hour, and it was good for us. We bought some fruit to eat on the train. Later we ate lunch about 1:15 and had lake trout. Very good and pleasant to have a congenial companion. We are passing many fine fields of grain in all stages of growth. They are wonderful to see. Saw thousands of gulls near some irrigated fields. Then we saw several coveys of quail. There are many fine farms in the area. Quite a lot of stock. This evening we ate our last dinner together. We both ordered fricassee chicken and it was delicious. There at Regina, Gen got off and we walked around until it was time to leave. After we pulled out, I went to bed as the berth was already made up and there was nothing much Left to do. Tomorrow I shall miss Gen’s pleasant chatter. She certainly was a lovely girl.

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 1949

Today I awoke so early the train was jerking back and forth so. But I saw a most wonderful sunrise so awakening early was worth it. This is all prairie country still but not nearly so many trees as yesterday. The ground looks as if there has been a good rain and I can see the ruts already showing on the dirt roads of which they have so many here. I sat out in the open observation car as we entered the Rockies. Near Banff I saw a moose and her calf in a swamp. They are such homely animals. It was a wonderful ride to Revelstoke. Saw so many rivers and falls at several places snow and a huge glacier at another place. It kept us busy going from one side of the car to the other sometimes as the lovely streams came all at once. We saw some deep canyons where rivers were many feet below us. Talked to a lady from Vancouver, she is very nice. Thru Albert Canyon was grand. We wound back and forth along the river at times about touching the rocks.

Thursday, Aug. 25, 1949

I awoke early and got dressed. Went out to the observation car where the lady from Vancouver was waiting. We sat there and enjoyed the scenery until we arrived in Vancouver at 9:20. Then she carried one of my bags upstairs and her husband got me a taxi. Then to the bus depot to find I had a whole hour wait. Ate breakfast. Left at 11:30 and arrived in Seattle in time to catch the 6:15 ferry. I met a very nice lady on the bus going to San Francisco. Eddie Fischler met me at Bremerton and took us home. Evelyn’s folks and some friends were at the house when I arrived, so we all looked at the flowers. Hung up a few clothes and to bed early.

Friday, Aug. 26, 1949

Today I awoke at 6 and could not go back to sleep so ate breakfast with Evelyn and Bill. Then I cleaned house, made the beds and washed a few clothes. Went to Cleaves with some clothes, to post office, store, saw Emmett and Annies. Home and cut out old seeds off also cut all bloomed-out flowers. Tied up a few plants. Watered in my garden. Put away all my clothes etc. and wrote 3 letters. Found out Louie was hurt Aug. 13 but is home now doing well. Called Ruby. They will come to Columbia Friday Sept. 2. A very busy day. Made plum pudding and picked the crab apples. Went swimming. The water is icy cold. Worked on my scrapbook till night.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides 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].