In an era of government old-age pensions, health insurance
and other societal supports for the elderly, it is easy to forget how
vulnerable the elderly poor were a hundred years ago in Canadian society. A case
in point is that of Gordon’s grandparents James and Elizabeth Irvine, both born
in Scotland in 1832 and both of whom emigrated to Canada as young people.
James, who never learned to read or write,
worked with his father William on land they cleared in Fullarton Township west
of Stratford Ontario.
The land was registered in William’s name and when William died he left his property - not to James - but James’ oldest son William. When
the grandson William died prematurely in 1910 his parents both of whom were in
their late 70’s had to leave the farm. They moved, along with their
granddaughter Viola into Mitchell where they lived in the white frame house pictured above.
Three years later Viola married Ferg Levy a young businessman in the town.
Ferg and Viola moved into Ferg’s large brick house on the main street. Viola’s
grandparents continued to live in the frame house but it soon became obvious
that they were unable to cope on their own. Grandmother Elizabeth went to live
with Viola (see attached photo of Grandma and granddaughter) while Grandpa James stayed behind in the frame house. I imagine that
Grandfather James had few cooking and housekeeping skills. Moreover, he was lonely,
old and ill. In a letter to her youngest daughter Rubina written in 1918,
Grandmother Elizabeth who was living with Viola expresses concern that her
husband might have to go to the “poor house” a fact that would shame them all.
Here is a portion of that letter.
I don’t
know how Grandfather James got through the winter of 1918-19. He died the next
summer. He is buried along with his wife and his youngest son in the Presbyterian
Cemetery in Mitchell, Ontario.
In an era of government old-age pensions, health insurance
and other societal supports for the elderly, it is easy to forget how
vulnerable the elderly poor were a hundred years ago in Canadian society. A case
in point is that of Gordon’s grandparents James and Elizabeth Irvine, both born
in Scotland in 1832 and both of whom emigrated to Canada as young people. James, who never learned to read or write,
worked with his father William on land they cleared in Fullarton Township west
of Stratford Ontario.
The land was registered in William’s name and when William died he left his property - not to James - but James’ oldest son William. When
the grandson William died prematurely in 1910 his parents both of whom were in
their late 70’s had to leave the farm. They moved, along with their
granddaughter Viola into Mitchell where they lived in the white frame house pictured above.
Three years later Viola married Ferg Levy a young businessman in the town.
Ferg and Viola moved into Ferg’s large brick house on the main street. Viola’s
grandparents continued to live in the frame house but it soon became obvious
that they were unable to cope on their own. Grandmother Elizabeth went to live
with Viola (see attached photo of Grandma and granddaughter) while Grandpa James stayed behind in the frame house. I imagine that
Grandfather James had few cooking and housekeeping skills. Moreover, he was lonely,
old and ill. In a letter to her youngest daughter Rubina written in 1918,
Grandmother Elizabeth who was living with Viola expresses concern that her
husband might have to go to the “poor house” a fact that would shame them all.
Here is a portion of that letter. I don’t
know how Grandfather James got through the winter of 1918-19. He died the next
summer. He is buried along with his wife and his youngest son in the Presbyterian
Cemetery in Mitchell, Ontario.
