Lois' Uncle George and Aunt Minnie (pt 1)

In my recollection, George Hern (the younger brother of Lois' father) was an old man who wore a suit and a tie fastened with a bar clip. He wore a wide brimmed fedora which he parked on his knee when he was sitting. At family gatherings he sat on the sidelines chatting to the others of his generation and watching the activities of the next three generations of Hearns. I don't remember him ever speaking to me directly. In truth, I suspect that I was a bit frightened of his gruffness, and his sense of fun which was to have the little kids wrestle with one another. George's wife Minnie played a more central role in the family. She was an excellent seamstress, and an energetic carpenter and decorator. George and Minnie had no children, and for some years in the middle of their marriage, they lived separately. But, of course they were not always the "old generation" and as can be seen in photographs taken about 1910 George and Minnie were handsome young people. In those years leading up to the first war, the city of Brantford was industrializing quickly, and already several members of the Hern and Fulcher families had moved there. Bart Fulcher, the younger brother of George's mother Elizabeth had made the move some time before. In the postcard above, written by Daisy Fulcher, she encourages George to move to Brantford. At some point George must have taken Daisy's advice because here, in a second card dated May 25 1911 George is writing to Minnie on his return to Brantford from a visit in St. Marys. It is obvious from the tone of the card and from the number of x's decorating the large letter B at the top of the card that George is smitten with the lovely Minnie Moore. (You remember that by double clicking on the postcards you enlarge them so they are easier to read.)