Letters from Margaret: March- April 2001

I was touched to read Virginia (Duform) Atherton’s letter in a previous issue of The Walkerville Times. My dad was a friend of her dad Art.

In his later years, Art and his son Len ran a butcher shop at Pillette and Tecumseh Roads. I was a customer and was known to them by my married name, Mrs. Stokes.

When my dad died so suddenly, I asked Art if he could possibly get me a ham for the guests after the funeral. Meat was rationed at that time so this was a tricky request. Art asked who my dad was and when I said Harry Myers, he was really shocked. They had been great pals as young men and he remembered me as a little girl. I got the ham!

My dad started a Master Barbers Association a year or so before he died. There were about ten members. He was made president and the group planned to raise prices. Back then, (1942 or 1943), haircuts were 40 cents and for 25 cents you could get a shave!

When my dad died, they draped his chair in black at a meeting and prayed. I remember that one of the members was William Muxworthy’s dad and Jo Egan.

My mother had twelve aunts and uncles on each of her mother and father’s sides. They were prolific Scots people and almost Canadian pioneers.

Your readers might be interested to know that the Hickson farm on Howard Avenue was bought by my mother’s family in 1855 and her people also farmed near Belleville.

I have enclosed a snapshot of my brother Cameron taken in 1924. His war story was in your November 1999 issue. I was so pleased and touched when I saw it and when I read about the other gallant people who served (and died). Cameron logged 550 hours during his short R.C.A.F. flying career. I am so sad that all my friends and family were no longer with me to share his story.

I have sent a snapshot of Cameron standing in front of the house at the corner of Windermere and Cataraqui. We lived in a flat across the street. Cameron is pushing a carriage that contains a doll popular at the time – it had a face on the back of its head too!

Until next time…

Margaret (Myers) Stokes