27 December 1937

No pictures of the wedding. None were taken. Here is how Lois tells the story: Gordon was teaching at Black Creek School. His Christmas school vacation gave them just enough time for a wedding and a short honeymoon. But, of course, all of this had to happen after the 25th because Lois was responsible for organizing Christmas for her father, and her six siblings. On the 25th, which was a Saturday, Lois cooked a Christmas dinner for the family, and two guests: elderly, unmarried, second cousins - David and Rachael Fulcher -- who always were invited for the Christmas meal. On the next day, the 26th, Gordon came to visit. It was snowing hard and the roads quickly became impassible. Lois' father Bob suggested that Gordon stay the night. The morning of the 27th was clear and Gordon left right after breakfast to drive home by way of Conroy and # 7 Highway where the roads were more likely to be clear. Lois got the breakfast ready and then did up the dishes before she got herself ready, without, of course, the aid of a bathroom or running water. (She also must have packed some type of bag for the wedding trip, but I have never heard what it was or what it contained.) Lois' Aunt Minnie (George's wife) came to stay with the youngest children, Vic being 7 and Roberta 5. Then father Bob drove Lois and Laura Turner (a friend of the family who was to be the second witness) to Avonton where Lois and Gordon had arranged to be married by Rev. Samuel Kerr in the front room of the manse of Avonton Presbyterian Church . The young couple, the two witnesses, and the minister were all that were present. The minister's study in the manse at Avonton Presbyterian Church faces west overlooking the Centre Gravel road which runs north through the village leading to Sebringville. In front of the church, the road follows a gentle decline down to the bridge over Black Creek. Rev. Kerr, performing the wedding ceremony, stood with his back to the window, Bible in hand. Gordon's car was parked outside on the road. As the vows were being said, Lois could see Elizabeth Robertson and several others hurrying up the road. Then, as Lois looked at the minister to repeat her vows, and beyond him to the scene outside, she could see Gordon's car rolling silently down the hill toward Black Creek. Gradually the car rolled out of view and disappeared to the right behind the curtain of the minister's study.
.... to be continued