Mary Submit Norton was the youngest of the nine children of Joseph Drances Norton and Anna Elwell (Bridgman) Norton. She was born in 1860 and in later life was fond of saying, "War broke out that year and there has been war ever since." She received her middle name in honor of her mother's aunt, Submit Bridgman.
Like her brother Leonard, Mary never married but was devoted to her parents and lived with them until their deaths. As the only daughter at home, the burden of responsibility in cleaning and cooking fell to Mary, especially as her elderly mother grew feeble. Preparing the food was no easy task as the Nortons always had two or three hired men living with them. During what spare time she could find, Mary earned a little money by making brushes out of her home for the Brush Company in Florence. In her thirties she was appointed postmistress of the tiny post office in Loudville and served in that capacity for eight years.
Like Leonard, Mary had a love of beauty and nature. She kept a diary for some years in the 1880s and in it we catch glimpses of her personality in such phrases as "a beautiful moonlight evening," "pleasant, a fire on the hearth," "the white lilacs are in bloom," and "we have pretty supply of May baskets." She always noted when the arbutus was in bloom, or when the trees were covered with snow, or when the robins hatched in their window nest. She had a love of her simple life and was quite satisfied with her place in the world. In 1886, on her birthday, she wrote, "I am 26 years old today, quite a settled old maid." In 1960, when she turned 100, she said, "it is not so bad being an old maid, if you get used to it young enough."
In 1902, after the deaths of their parents, Mary and Leonard moved to Northampton, where they lived the rest of their lives. Mary found work doing practical nursing for elderly or dying women in town. After Leonard died in 1928, Mary moved into the Lathrop Home on South Street in Northampton, where she lived until 1948, when she fell and broke her hip. At recovering, she moved in with her cousin Federal Burt Bridgman and his wife Lois, who lived at 126 North Maple Street in Florence.
Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in November 1960. She died six months later.
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
Like her brother Leonard, Mary never married but was devoted to her parents and lived with them until their deaths. As the only daughter at home, the burden of responsibility in cleaning and cooking fell to Mary, especially as her elderly mother grew feeble. Preparing the food was no easy task as the Nortons always had two or three hired men living with them. During what spare time she could find, Mary earned a little money by making brushes out of her home for the Brush Company in Florence. In her thirties she was appointed postmistress of the tiny post office in Loudville and served in that capacity for eight years.
Like Leonard, Mary had a love of beauty and nature. She kept a diary for some years in the 1880s and in it we catch glimpses of her personality in such phrases as "a beautiful moonlight evening," "pleasant, a fire on the hearth," "the white lilacs are in bloom," and "we have pretty supply of May baskets." She always noted when the arbutus was in bloom, or when the trees were covered with snow, or when the robins hatched in their window nest. She had a love of her simple life and was quite satisfied with her place in the world. In 1886, on her birthday, she wrote, "I am 26 years old today, quite a settled old maid." In 1960, when she turned 100, she said, "it is not so bad being an old maid, if you get used to it young enough."
In 1902, after the deaths of their parents, Mary and Leonard moved to Northampton, where they lived the rest of their lives. Mary found work doing practical nursing for elderly or dying women in town. After Leonard died in 1928, Mary moved into the Lathrop Home on South Street in Northampton, where she lived until 1948, when she fell and broke her hip. At recovering, she moved in with her cousin Federal Burt Bridgman and his wife Lois, who lived at 126 North Maple Street in Florence.
Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in November 1960. She died six months later.
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
Mary Submit Norton was the youngest of the nine children of Joseph Drances Norton and Anna Elwell (Bridgman) Norton. She was born in 1860 and in later life was fond of saying, "War broke out that year and there has been war ever since." She received her middle name in honor of her mother's aunt, Submit Bridgman.
Like her brother Leonard, Mary never married but was devoted to her parents and lived with them until their deaths. As the only daughter at home, the burden of responsibility in cleaning and cooking fell to Mary, especially as her elderly mother grew feeble. Preparing the food was no easy task as the Nortons always had two or three hired men living with them. During what spare time she could find, Mary earned a little money by making brushes out of her home for the Brush Company in Florence. In her thirties she was appointed postmistress of the tiny post office in Loudville and served in that capacity for eight years.
Like Leonard, Mary had a love of beauty and nature. She kept a diary for some years in the 1880s and in it we catch glimpses of her personality in such phrases as "a beautiful moonlight evening," "pleasant, a fire on the hearth," "the white lilacs are in bloom," and "we have pretty supply of May baskets." She always noted when the arbutus was in bloom, or when the trees were covered with snow, or when the robins hatched in their window nest. She had a love of her simple life and was quite satisfied with her place in the world. In 1886, on her birthday, she wrote, "I am 26 years old today, quite a settled old maid." In 1960, when she turned 100, she said, "it is not so bad being an old maid, if you get used to it young enough."
In 1902, after the deaths of their parents, Mary and Leonard moved to Northampton, where they lived the rest of their lives. Mary found work doing practical nursing for elderly or dying women in town. After Leonard died in 1928, Mary moved into the Lathrop Home on South Street in Northampton, where she lived until 1948, when she fell and broke her hip. At recovering, she moved in with her cousin Federal Burt Bridgman and his wife Lois, who lived at 126 North Maple Street in Florence.
Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in November 1960. She died six months later.
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
Like her brother Leonard, Mary never married but was devoted to her parents and lived with them until their deaths. As the only daughter at home, the burden of responsibility in cleaning and cooking fell to Mary, especially as her elderly mother grew feeble. Preparing the food was no easy task as the Nortons always had two or three hired men living with them. During what spare time she could find, Mary earned a little money by making brushes out of her home for the Brush Company in Florence. In her thirties she was appointed postmistress of the tiny post office in Loudville and served in that capacity for eight years.
Like Leonard, Mary had a love of beauty and nature. She kept a diary for some years in the 1880s and in it we catch glimpses of her personality in such phrases as "a beautiful moonlight evening," "pleasant, a fire on the hearth," "the white lilacs are in bloom," and "we have pretty supply of May baskets." She always noted when the arbutus was in bloom, or when the trees were covered with snow, or when the robins hatched in their window nest. She had a love of her simple life and was quite satisfied with her place in the world. In 1886, on her birthday, she wrote, "I am 26 years old today, quite a settled old maid." In 1960, when she turned 100, she said, "it is not so bad being an old maid, if you get used to it young enough."
In 1902, after the deaths of their parents, Mary and Leonard moved to Northampton, where they lived the rest of their lives. Mary found work doing practical nursing for elderly or dying women in town. After Leonard died in 1928, Mary moved into the Lathrop Home on South Street in Northampton, where she lived until 1948, when she fell and broke her hip. At recovering, she moved in with her cousin Federal Burt Bridgman and his wife Lois, who lived at 126 North Maple Street in Florence.
Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in November 1960. She died six months later.
© 2013 James E. Bridgman
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