| Title: | Mary Smyth, Ontario to Mrs J J Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2984 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/46 |
| Year | 1904 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to her family |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 605065 |
| Date | 13/8/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 2092 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mrs. J. J. Smyth, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. [Stamped] SOUTH WOODSLEE AU 16 04 ONT [Postage stamp] Canada Postage Two Cents 2 2 [Back of envelope] [Stamped] LONDONDERRY AM 1 15 AU 25 04 [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] [--?] [--?] [Page 1] Sth [South?] Woodslee Aug 13th 1904 Dear People:- Once more I write to finish the story of my journey I think last I wrote was before I went out to Blytheswood. I went to Blytheswood (just here I may say that I want to let you know where all I have been during a week) Wednesday Annie [&?] Leslie left me out there Stayed for dinner at Joe Baileys about 4 0'clock George & his mother came & I went with them to their place so they persuaded me to stay out until Friday & to go to a picnic with them next day (Thursday) At last I decided to do this so next morning we had to get up pretty early & we got away by eight drove 14 mls there George & his two children & his father & mother-in-law & another boy & girl & myself were all in [Page 2] one rig Mrs Bailey did not go as she thought the [drive?] would be too far for her- She is keeping house for George since his wife died last year, I think I told you all about it, Well, we had a great day out then I didn't expect to have as good a time as I didn't know any of them they were all strangers to me but I had a fine time the boys hired a row [rowing?] boat (we were along the lake St. Clair) so I had [two?] rides & all the [others?] had only one so I was the favoured one I was the whole thing among them because I was from Ireland & especially because I was going away. There was also three boys came in with a [big?] sail boat & [invited?] all the party (27 altogether) to go for a ride so we all piled in & we got along alright so we were nearing the shore coming back when the boat tipped and before we got to land there was about a foot and a half water in the inside. It was too [Page 3] heavily loaded. I was the only one [yelled?] when it tipped I thought we were going in but it wasn’t deep anyway we could wade to shore, however, we got safe with the exception of wet feet & our skirts drabbled, we got home by eight o'clock so I intended to go to Leamington next morning to see Frank Bailey & the Mrs so his mother said that I wouldn't see Frank then as he doesn't get home for his dinner so George he proposed to drive me in that night so we started by nine o'clock & got to Franks at 10.30 and they were in bed but both got up & we sat talking until pretty near 12: I stayed there until the next afternoon & I came out on the train as far as Joe Baileys & had tea there and George drove me out here that night he didn’t want to have me pay my way on the train out [Page 4] here, I have got Frank & his wife & his little boys' picture also Joe’s two children so you will see them when I go home. On Saturday morning I started for Windsor as Bell [Belle?] had gone up Friday & I was to go also on Friday but couldn't so Jim he went Saturday also & as we got off the train Paddon's had sent their little boy down for [sic] to tell me to hurry down as Lillie was going as far as [Pontiac?] with her & that Bell [Belle?] would go if I would, so [we?] hurried down & we had all decided to go & was just starting when who came up but Sarah so then Bell [Belle?] couldn’t go but [Jim?] & I & [Gertie?] & Lillie & Mrs Brooks & Mrs [Lottin?] started we had a fine ride on the Street car left Detroit at 10.30 & got back by 3.30 it was [Page 5] fine scenery we saw a number of lakes together like they are in [Gortin? [Glenns?]. When we got back we met Sara [Sarah?] & Bell [Belle?] so Sarah & Bell [Belle?] & I went up on top of a 14 storey building in Detroit and we could see all over (I will show you the picture later on.) we also went to the art museum I couldn’t describe what all we saw there Statues of every description and everything that was used in olden days. then we went in to a Catholic church as it was open we thought we would go in & see what it looked like while [we?] sat there we heard a band so Sarah she said it was a funeral march we huddled out & they were coming [near?] [it?] was a mason we sat down on the steps to watch them it was the first I ever saw with a band the masons walked in front & then the band & after that the carriages It was pretty sad to see it especially [to hear?] [Page 6] Well I forget what else we did but at eight o'clock we left Sarah on the train [again?] for [Cwasso?]. There was an excursion that day so she knew that Bell [Belle?] was in Windsor & so [came?]. after that we started for Reddon [Reddit?] & stayed there all night next morning Gertie Bell [Belle?] [& I?] & Mr [Totten?] (Gertie’s? beau) & Mr Paddon started to Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit my I wish you could [see?] it is a beautiful place nice [flowers?] & walks we saw about 100 soldiers graves all together. I wont take time [to?] [say?] [any further?] about it as I cant describe as I would like to we got to Paddon’s by 2'o clock they had been waiting dinner for us for an hour We had been asked down to Arthur [Paddon’s?] that evg [evening.?] but called in coming home & said we were too tired so we spent the afternoon fooling around [Gertie?]& Bell [Belle?] went [to bed?] & the rest of us sat out on the verandah & [Archie?] & his wife came along & [stopped?], [for?] [tea?] after tea Bell [Belle?] [Page 7] [Gertie?] Mr [Totten?] & I went to the 1st Prestbyterian Church in Detroit it was another thing worth seeing we got home & went to bed tired as usual after an uncommon Sunday. Monday Bell [Belle?] & I [started?] out again about 10''oclock expecting it to be our last day of such [running?] Jim had promised to meet us so we waited for him & we went to Belle Isle same place as we were 1st July only I didn't have time to see it all. We went to see the animals, [bears?], deers, ostriches, and all other kinds, of animals they are all penned in so that they can't get out but it is nice to watch them walk around we saw seals & if you would [hear?] them roar. We were also through the hot houses. We got back by Detroit at two o'clock We came back by the [third?] car and went up on [the?] [boat?] so we had a variety. so after dinner Jim wanted to know if I [wouldn’t want to go to Bois Blanc (pronounced [Boblo?]) [Page 8] another island but belonging to Canada so the boat started at four it is quite a big boat I expect there were 2,000 people on and every day is the same they had an orchestra on there Jim & I didnt' know anyone when we got down there there was a baseball game going on so we watched that & when that was over we came to the dancing hall where they were so many on the floor that there wasn't any room and it was bigger than our barn. They danced there until the boat started & then danced all the way on the boat to Detroit I was wishing I could get a partner but I had to be satisfied by looking on We got back by 9.30 so Jim left me down to Mrs. [Vitiors?]. Bell [Belle?] she had to go home as Annie was leaving next day for a 10 day trip up the lakes, so I [had?] promised to go to [Viteors] [before?] I stayed there all night [&?] Jim came to Essex on the midnight train [Page 9] next day Mrs [Viteors?] & I went to Detroit & did some shopping & got our fortune told, mine was very good but she told me I was going on a journey somewhere but that I wouldn’t like it & that I wouldn’t be contented to stay so you may guess where it is I thought she was pretty good where she could tell me that they all tell me there that I won’t stay when I go home but I tell them I will, Time will tell, I suppose. Well I have drifted from my story. I came home Tuesday night got to [Woodslee?] [&?] was thankful to get to a quiet place, I don’t suppose you can imagine what Detroit is like as there is no city like it at home when you are crossing the street it takes you to keep your eyes open between automobiles & rigs & street cars it is not very safe I almost got knocked down Saturday with a horse & rig I was going with the rest to get on the street car & I never noticed the rig coming. They all expected that I would be knocked down but I escaped. I forgot to say that Bell [Belle?] bought me [Page 10] me (sic) a nice suit case in Detroit as a present she said it was for what I did when Aunt died it was $4.25 (17 s,) It is a pretty nice one & just what I wanted. Wednesday I was here all day did some little washing & got a lunch ready for the next day as we were going on an excursion to Port Huron 120 mls. above Detroit, it being Essex [over?]holiday. We took the [train?] to Detroit and then took the boat the rest of the way [we?] left here at 8 o'clock & got home here at 12 o'clock at night none of uncles' folks went. We were 12 hrs on the boat altogether [had?] about an hour at Port Huron I got a souvenir, there, I was with Jim & the Essex people all day. It was a lovely trip and a great crowd on the boat they had an orchestra but no dancing allowed on that boat. Glenn met me at the station here so it was pretty good of him. Annie & Charlie & four others left ' for a 10 dys [days?] trip up the lakes on Tuesday, so the boys are here. I suppose it is time I should say something about going home well I didn't intend to tell you exactly when [Page 11] I was going home but Jim thought I had beter , I sail from Montreal the 26th.. & expect to land on sept 3rd.. that is I will be home three weeks from tonight. I will have to leave here the 24th” in order to get there as I have to be on the boat the night of the [25?] as it leaves Montreal at 4'o' clock the morning of the 26th.. so that I've only got a week from Wednesday to spend here. Monday Evg. [evening?] just nearly supper time and as I am going down to the village afterwards thought I had better take this & post it. I am going up to Essex tomorrow my final trip On Thursday we are going to a picnic at Kingsville it is an annual one so that you may remember all about it [Page 12] Uncle is cutting his oats and he is finishing tonight and his binder broke down in the last piece so that we are waiting supper on them quite a while. He has a man nearly everyday now. I have written a long letter this time thought I would give you a list of all my [outings?] and I will have it for future reference. I forgot to say that I had been out for a drive a few evenings. Had a letter from Maggie McClelland they are all well. I’m expecting a letter soon but as usual I suppose I’ll get one when I have this one posted. Goodbye for the Present I will write in a few more days Mary Transcribed by Mohamed Souissy |
