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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-05-03, Page 7By Debbie Bauer “Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you.” It’s an old song but one that comes to mind when I think of Bernice Anderson. I sat down to a lovely lunch with Bernice and her daughter, Nancy, on Wednesday last week. We discussed her near 90 years and being the oldest living Auburn native. Over a delicious bowl of sweet- potato soup we found no lack of inspiration for conversation. With the dishes cleared and paper and pencil ready, I braced myself for a near century of images and memories of village life. I wasn’t disappointed. The photo albums came out and old newspaper clippings were scanned and talked about. To say the least, I was enthralled. Mrs. Anderson’s family originated in Scotland. The Orkney Islands to be more specific. When her great- grandmother finally reached North America, three weeks late, in 1874, it was to discover their ship had been listed as missing at sea. On a visit to family still living in the Orkney Islands, Bernice was able to sleep in the same bed that her great-grandmother was born in. An experience most of us would never even dream of having, the importance of which, is not lost on Bernice. There is a genuine love for history and family that emanated from this sparkly lady. Anyone wishing a history lesson on the life and times of the Auburn area over the past 90 years, and is fourth generation to- boot, need to find themselves over a cup of tea with Mrs. Anderson. Bernice laid claim to memories of Harvey McGee, a locally talented man who was often compared to the then famous, Harry Lauder. Both Bernice and her daughter remember him playing his trumpet and singing old Scottish songs. “It was like watching Red Skelton perform,” said daughter Nancy. Together, her father and grandfather built the sturdy red brick home she was born in and is living in today. She told me of an arrangement between her father and his dad that for $200 he would live in the house they built, until he passed. He lived 14 years in their home. Mrs. Anderson still feels very blessed to have been brought up with a playful, accessible father, as well as a loving grandfather who in her own words, “saved me from many a spanking.” He was the quintessential grandpa who even bought her a pony. While her mother was most often the disciplinarian, she admitted she could talk her way out of most spankings. She did recall one disciplining that she didn’t feel she particularly deserved. Bernice told of times playing hide- n-seek that her spirited father would close a cupboard door knowing she was inside, hiding next to the slop-pail. On one occasion, in an effort topay him back, she scooped a handfulof talcum powder from her mother’sdresser and ran downstairs. Sheapproached him from behind andpoofed the powder in his face. Mr. Lawson was an extreme asthmatic and suddenly a playful retaliation was a serious health concern. I’m sure both sides felt wronged on that one. Mrs. Anderson remembered the train station and the ease with which people travelled to Goderich and back. Not that people needed to go far as Auburn had three grocery stores, two barbers, a bank, doctor, funeral home, furniture store, blacksmith, fire department and jail. One story relayed to me was of the policeman, Tom Adams, who met up with a gentleman who had over- indulged in spirits at a local celebration. Police officer Adams placed the man in the confines of the Auburn jail only to find said gentleman back at the party when officer Adams returned. Obviously not a high-security facility. When asked about any regrets she said she wished she hadn’t diddled so much when she was suppose to be practising piano lessons. She could put it over her parents, she said, asthey couldn’t tell if she waspractising or diddling. Her instructorwas Winnie Philips at a cost of 25cents a week.A particularly fond memory forMrs. Anderson was of a tea party on the lawn of neighbour Tilly Thompson who called her up and said, “Bring your ‘baby’ over for a visit”. Bernice headed out with her dolly to discover Tilly had called another neighbour and friend, Martha, to also bring her baby. There on the front lawn was a small table and chairs set for them and their ‘babies’, complete with tea cups and finery, enough to embed in a young girl’s mind, a beautiful memory, of a time and a lady, that would last 80- some years. As a student, she remembers the burdensome task of ‘memory work’. She still dislikes the thoughts of having to memorize the spelling of all the Governor General’s names. Her final exam for what she called, senior Grade 4, and what we now call Grade 8, was held in Blyth. She recalls having to, “beginning with the fourth verse, and write six lines”, of Burial of Moses, which I had never heard of, and Mrs. Anderson was still able to recite, at least in part.Bernice became a teacher, as washer mother. While her mother’s wagewas a mere $275 a year when shewas finished teaching, Bernice’sstarting wage, teaching Grade 9 and10 was $500. A few years ago, she attended the 65th anniversary of graduation from teacher’s college in Stratford. There was talk of an evaporator plant and several houses on the riverbank to the west of the Auburn to Clinton road. She also spoke of a time when she was 12 or 13, and meeting with friends the same age in front of the Anglican Church, choosing up sides for a game of hide-n-seek played in teams. They had the run of the village which often gleaned them some trouble as little attention was paid to things like gardens and flower beds. In the winter, skating was a preoccupation for Bernice, and she often skated for hours on the river- ponds and on a rink close to where she still lives. One particular year she felt sure she had a good chance of winning a ribbon at a scheduled race. She had forgotten however that Blyth school kids were also joining them and her plans for glory were foiled. She learned to drive on her father’sknee in a Studebaker. She has fondmemories of backing out thedriveway and pulling back inrepeatedly to practise. When it was time to get herlicence she met Mr. MacEwan at the CN train station in Goderich, who was well known for reaching across and turning off the engine in the middle of a driving test. Of course the driver was on their own for getting the car restarted. When she finished her test, Bernice asked if she would be allowed to drive home to Auburn that same day. He told her yes, she could drive. She had passed the test and now she was just waiting for the government to do the paperwork. Some things haven’t changed. She remembers her father suggesting she and some friends head to Seaforth to an ‘Old Boys Reunion’. She struck out with a carload of six girls and somehow they managed to find herself driving in the parade. Not all the driving she did was strictly appreciated however. Bernice remembered her father writing down the mileage, on the garage wall when she headed to Goderich. Extra laps around the THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007. PAGE 7.Auburn’s oldest life-long resident marks 90th NOW OPEN ON WEEKENDS Three Squirrels Antiques, Collectibles and Appraisals Tim & Tracy Saunders Estates Bought & Sold 430 Queen Street, Blyth across from the Theatre Grand Opening Friday, May 4 ~ 3 pm - 8 pm Saturday, May 5 ~ 10 am - 5 pm Phone 519-523-4797 Cell 519-440-6412 tsaunders@ezlink.on.ca BERNICE ANDERSON Celebrating a life well lived Continued on page 8