Mary Elizabeth Maud Hutton MacLean
My Grandmother -- today would be your birthday Grandma.. February 2 and your birthstone is
the lovely amythist... a beautiful purple stone. I will always remember that.
Mary Elizabeth MAUD Hutton MacLean was born in the Kingston area to Francis Osborne Hutton and
Mary Donaldson Hutton. She was the youngest of eight children. I was really surprised when she told
me that her eldest brother was 19 years her senior and her eldest sister 17 years older. Quite a spread of years
She was born
on a farm because I can recall her telling me that "You know what hot is when you are standing under the
boiling sun shaving bee racks." She also talked about picking apples and other fruit they had on the farm.
In 1907 she married Francis Orton MacLean and she was married in her parents home wearing a beautiful white
dress that my Mother wore again at her wedding. She had four children Irvina Ernie Etta and Orton... She said she
had secretly hoped her first child would be a girl and she got her wish.
I think my Grandparents came west when my Mother was about 6 or so which would be 1913. At first they settled
in the Redcliff area where my Grandfather had dairy cows and later he worked in a steel rolling mill. Then they
moved to the Lethbridge area and it was there that my memories originate.
I remember my Grandparents living in a white house just off Mayor Magrath Drive. For many years my parents
and I would call round at her house and take her into town for grocery shopping. Sometimes in Safeway we would meet
Mrs. Florence Whitney married to David and we would have a good natter round the bread rack. On the return
journey she would always want us to stay for supper and it would be served using her good dishes... a set
given to her for her wedding in 1907 that same set I still use today on special occasions.
I recall she liked baking. Her fruitcake was delicious and she made a special cake called Feather Weight. It
was so light and airy and so yummy.
Grandma liked Geraniums and we would buy them for her to use as houseplants. She smelled of lavender and whenever I smell it now I think of her. In the bedroom where I slept over she had an old fashioned wash stand and on top a big wash basin, soap dish saving mug and glass all matching and I imagine,.. had I looked, a chamber
pot was hiding somewhere in that room. Wish I had that set today.
My Grandmother knew every nursery rhyme that was ever written and when I was a kid she would
start to recite them if I got aggitated or tired or cranky.
I expect that back east she had liked dancing
because she was always trying to teach me dance steps to the Varsouvianna and The Jersey strange names
to a little kid. I think she missed her brothers especially Jim and Ernie she mentioned them the most.
Grandma had goiter trouble and she had to have surgery and after the operation she had
a deep groove in her neck which she kept covered with white beads and they were large about the size of golf
balls! The groove was not that noticible but she thought it enormous.
She almost never went outside without a hat- a dressy one for good wear and everyday wear " something to
keep the sun off my face because too much sun makes me freckle.When she was getting over her operation she came
out to the farm so my Mother could look after her.
One morning she had a fainting spell and fell to the floor. Luckily she did not break any bones
but the jarring of the fall caused her top denture
to come out and it traveled a bit across the kitchen floor.
I did not know what dentures were and I thought
my grandmother is coming apart right before my eyes. My poor Mother she was in a dither. Here she was trying to
help her Mother up and trying to quiet and reassure a hysterical child!
We took her on several trips at first to Waterton and then down "across the line" into the States. Once we hit
a terrible rain storm on the Logan Pass and the only calm people in the car were my Dad the driver and my Grand
mother.
Not long after she was widowed, she moved in with her youngest daughter Etta and she lived 9 years a 508 26th Street South.
I have to tell about the brandy. Grandma always had a heart problem so at bedtime Etta would give her about 4 tablespoons of
a good brandy in hot water. Well we always celebrated Christmas Eve in town with Etta and Chris and the parcels would be all
around the tree and I was Santa delivering to each person. Grandma would never unwrap her brandy and I
would tease her and say "you got one more there to open" but she would call me close and tell me it was
her brandy and "not to let on to anyone" her own words! as if we all didn't already know... so funny
The last 9 months of her life she was in St Michael's Extended Care as she needed more help than Etta could provide.
She passed away peacefully in May of 1968. What a sweet and tender Grandma.I never heard an unkind word or any temper.
I am so thankful to have had her in my life.
My Grandmother -- today would be your birthday Grandma.. February 2 and your birthstone is
the lovely amythist... a beautiful purple stone. I will always remember that.
Mary Elizabeth MAUD Hutton MacLean was born in the Kingston area to Francis Osborne Hutton and
Mary Donaldson Hutton. She was the youngest of eight children. I was really surprised when she told
me that her eldest brother was 19 years her senior and her eldest sister 17 years older. Quite a spread of years
She was born
on a farm because I can recall her telling me that "You know what hot is when you are standing under the
boiling sun shaving bee racks." She also talked about picking apples and other fruit they had on the farm.
In 1907 she married Francis Orton MacLean and she was married in her parents home wearing a beautiful white
dress that my Mother wore again at her wedding. She had four children Irvina Ernie Etta and Orton... She said she
had secretly hoped her first child would be a girl and she got her wish.
I think my Grandparents came west when my Mother was about 6 or so which would be 1913. At first they settled
in the Redcliff area where my Grandfather had dairy cows and later he worked in a steel rolling mill. Then they
moved to the Lethbridge area and it was there that my memories originate.
I remember my Grandparents living in a white house just off Mayor Magrath Drive. For many years my parents
and I would call round at her house and take her into town for grocery shopping. Sometimes in Safeway we would meet
Mrs. Florence Whitney married to David and we would have a good natter round the bread rack. On the return
journey she would always want us to stay for supper and it would be served using her good dishes... a set
given to her for her wedding in 1907 that same set I still use today on special occasions.
I recall she liked baking. Her fruitcake was delicious and she made a special cake called Feather Weight. It
was so light and airy and so yummy.
Grandma liked Geraniums and we would buy them for her to use as houseplants. She smelled of lavender and whenever I smell it now I think of her. In the bedroom where I slept over she had an old fashioned wash stand and on top a big wash basin, soap dish saving mug and glass all matching and I imagine,.. had I looked, a chamber
pot was hiding somewhere in that room. Wish I had that set today.
My Grandmother knew every nursery rhyme that was ever written and when I was a kid she would
start to recite them if I got aggitated or tired or cranky.
I expect that back east she had liked dancing
because she was always trying to teach me dance steps to the Varsouvianna and The Jersey strange names
to a little kid. I think she missed her brothers especially Jim and Ernie she mentioned them the most.
Grandma had goiter trouble and she had to have surgery and after the operation she had
a deep groove in her neck which she kept covered with white beads and they were large about the size of golf
balls! The groove was not that noticible but she thought it enormous.
She almost never went outside without a hat- a dressy one for good wear and everyday wear " something to
keep the sun off my face because too much sun makes me freckle.When she was getting over her operation she came
out to the farm so my Mother could look after her.
One morning she had a fainting spell and fell to the floor. Luckily she did not break any bones
but the jarring of the fall caused her top denture
to come out and it traveled a bit across the kitchen floor.
I did not know what dentures were and I thought
my grandmother is coming apart right before my eyes. My poor Mother she was in a dither. Here she was trying to
help her Mother up and trying to quiet and reassure a hysterical child!
We took her on several trips at first to Waterton and then down "across the line" into the States. Once we hit
a terrible rain storm on the Logan Pass and the only calm people in the car were my Dad the driver and my Grand
mother.
Not long after she was widowed, she moved in with her youngest daughter Etta and she lived 9 years a 508 26th Street South.
I have to tell about the brandy. Grandma always had a heart problem so at bedtime Etta would give her about 4 tablespoons of
a good brandy in hot water. Well we always celebrated Christmas Eve in town with Etta and Chris and the parcels would be all
around the tree and I was Santa delivering to each person. Grandma would never unwrap her brandy and I
would tease her and say "you got one more there to open" but she would call me close and tell me it was
her brandy and "not to let on to anyone" her own words! as if we all didn't already know... so funny
The last 9 months of her life she was in St Michael's Extended Care as she needed more help than Etta could provide.
She passed away peacefully in May of 1968. What a sweet and tender Grandma.I never heard an unkind word or any temper.
I am so thankful to have had her in my life.
Mary Elizabeth Maud Hutton MacLean
My Grandmother -- today would be your birthday Grandma.. February 2 and your birthstone is
the lovely amythist... a beautiful purple stone. I will always remember that.
Mary Elizabeth MAUD Hutton MacLean was born in the Kingston area to Francis Osborne Hutton and
Mary Donaldson Hutton. She was the youngest of eight children. I was really surprised when she told
me that her eldest brother was 19 years her senior and her eldest sister 17 years older. Quite a spread of years
She was born
on a farm because I can recall her telling me that "You know what hot is when you are standing under the
boiling sun shaving bee racks." She also talked about picking apples and other fruit they had on the farm.
In 1907 she married Francis Orton MacLean and she was married in her parents home wearing a beautiful white
dress that my Mother wore again at her wedding. She had four children Irvina Ernie Etta and Orton... She said she
had secretly hoped her first child would be a girl and she got her wish.
I think my Grandparents came west when my Mother was about 6 or so which would be 1913. At first they settled
in the Redcliff area where my Grandfather had dairy cows and later he worked in a steel rolling mill. Then they
moved to the Lethbridge area and it was there that my memories originate.
I remember my Grandparents living in a white house just off Mayor Magrath Drive. For many years my parents
and I would call round at her house and take her into town for grocery shopping. Sometimes in Safeway we would meet
Mrs. Florence Whitney married to David and we would have a good natter round the bread rack. On the return
journey she would always want us to stay for supper and it would be served using her good dishes... a set
given to her for her wedding in 1907 that same set I still use today on special occasions.
I recall she liked baking. Her fruitcake was delicious and she made a special cake called Feather Weight. It
was so light and airy and so yummy.
Grandma liked Geraniums and we would buy them for her to use as houseplants. She smelled of lavender and whenever I smell it now I think of her. In the bedroom where I slept over she had an old fashioned wash stand and on top a big wash basin, soap dish saving mug and glass all matching and I imagine,.. had I looked, a chamber
pot was hiding somewhere in that room. Wish I had that set today.
My Grandmother knew every nursery rhyme that was ever written and when I was a kid she would
start to recite them if I got aggitated or tired or cranky.
I expect that back east she had liked dancing
because she was always trying to teach me dance steps to the Varsouvianna and The Jersey strange names
to a little kid. I think she missed her brothers especially Jim and Ernie she mentioned them the most.
Grandma had goiter trouble and she had to have surgery and after the operation she had
a deep groove in her neck which she kept covered with white beads and they were large about the size of golf
balls! The groove was not that noticible but she thought it enormous.
She almost never went outside without a hat- a dressy one for good wear and everyday wear " something to
keep the sun off my face because too much sun makes me freckle.When she was getting over her operation she came
out to the farm so my Mother could look after her.
One morning she had a fainting spell and fell to the floor. Luckily she did not break any bones
but the jarring of the fall caused her top denture
to come out and it traveled a bit across the kitchen floor.
I did not know what dentures were and I thought
my grandmother is coming apart right before my eyes. My poor Mother she was in a dither. Here she was trying to
help her Mother up and trying to quiet and reassure a hysterical child!
We took her on several trips at first to Waterton and then down "across the line" into the States. Once we hit
a terrible rain storm on the Logan Pass and the only calm people in the car were my Dad the driver and my Grand
mother.
Not long after she was widowed, she moved in with her youngest daughter Etta and she lived 9 years a 508 26th Street South.
I have to tell about the brandy. Grandma always had a heart problem so at bedtime Etta would give her about 4 tablespoons of
a good brandy in hot water. Well we always celebrated Christmas Eve in town with Etta and Chris and the parcels would be all
around the tree and I was Santa delivering to each person. Grandma would never unwrap her brandy and I
would tease her and say "you got one more there to open" but she would call me close and tell me it was
her brandy and "not to let on to anyone" her own words! as if we all didn't already know... so funny
The last 9 months of her life she was in St Michael's Extended Care as she needed more help than Etta could provide.
She passed away peacefully in May of 1968. What a sweet and tender Grandma.I never heard an unkind word or any temper.
I am so thankful to have had her in my life.
My Grandmother -- today would be your birthday Grandma.. February 2 and your birthstone is
the lovely amythist... a beautiful purple stone. I will always remember that.
Mary Elizabeth MAUD Hutton MacLean was born in the Kingston area to Francis Osborne Hutton and
Mary Donaldson Hutton. She was the youngest of eight children. I was really surprised when she told
me that her eldest brother was 19 years her senior and her eldest sister 17 years older. Quite a spread of years
She was born
on a farm because I can recall her telling me that "You know what hot is when you are standing under the
boiling sun shaving bee racks." She also talked about picking apples and other fruit they had on the farm.
In 1907 she married Francis Orton MacLean and she was married in her parents home wearing a beautiful white
dress that my Mother wore again at her wedding. She had four children Irvina Ernie Etta and Orton... She said she
had secretly hoped her first child would be a girl and she got her wish.
I think my Grandparents came west when my Mother was about 6 or so which would be 1913. At first they settled
in the Redcliff area where my Grandfather had dairy cows and later he worked in a steel rolling mill. Then they
moved to the Lethbridge area and it was there that my memories originate.
I remember my Grandparents living in a white house just off Mayor Magrath Drive. For many years my parents
and I would call round at her house and take her into town for grocery shopping. Sometimes in Safeway we would meet
Mrs. Florence Whitney married to David and we would have a good natter round the bread rack. On the return
journey she would always want us to stay for supper and it would be served using her good dishes... a set
given to her for her wedding in 1907 that same set I still use today on special occasions.
I recall she liked baking. Her fruitcake was delicious and she made a special cake called Feather Weight. It
was so light and airy and so yummy.
Grandma liked Geraniums and we would buy them for her to use as houseplants. She smelled of lavender and whenever I smell it now I think of her. In the bedroom where I slept over she had an old fashioned wash stand and on top a big wash basin, soap dish saving mug and glass all matching and I imagine,.. had I looked, a chamber
pot was hiding somewhere in that room. Wish I had that set today.
My Grandmother knew every nursery rhyme that was ever written and when I was a kid she would
start to recite them if I got aggitated or tired or cranky.
I expect that back east she had liked dancing
because she was always trying to teach me dance steps to the Varsouvianna and The Jersey strange names
to a little kid. I think she missed her brothers especially Jim and Ernie she mentioned them the most.
Grandma had goiter trouble and she had to have surgery and after the operation she had
a deep groove in her neck which she kept covered with white beads and they were large about the size of golf
balls! The groove was not that noticible but she thought it enormous.
She almost never went outside without a hat- a dressy one for good wear and everyday wear " something to
keep the sun off my face because too much sun makes me freckle.When she was getting over her operation she came
out to the farm so my Mother could look after her.
One morning she had a fainting spell and fell to the floor. Luckily she did not break any bones
but the jarring of the fall caused her top denture
to come out and it traveled a bit across the kitchen floor.
I did not know what dentures were and I thought
my grandmother is coming apart right before my eyes. My poor Mother she was in a dither. Here she was trying to
help her Mother up and trying to quiet and reassure a hysterical child!
We took her on several trips at first to Waterton and then down "across the line" into the States. Once we hit
a terrible rain storm on the Logan Pass and the only calm people in the car were my Dad the driver and my Grand
mother.
Not long after she was widowed, she moved in with her youngest daughter Etta and she lived 9 years a 508 26th Street South.
I have to tell about the brandy. Grandma always had a heart problem so at bedtime Etta would give her about 4 tablespoons of
a good brandy in hot water. Well we always celebrated Christmas Eve in town with Etta and Chris and the parcels would be all
around the tree and I was Santa delivering to each person. Grandma would never unwrap her brandy and I
would tease her and say "you got one more there to open" but she would call me close and tell me it was
her brandy and "not to let on to anyone" her own words! as if we all didn't already know... so funny
The last 9 months of her life she was in St Michael's Extended Care as she needed more help than Etta could provide.
She passed away peacefully in May of 1968. What a sweet and tender Grandma.I never heard an unkind word or any temper.
I am so thankful to have had her in my life.
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