Avonton Softball Team 1932

Here is a picture of the Avonton Softball Team in 1932. Unlike the other men, Gordon is wearing braces and so his team shirt is neatly tucked into his trousers. Of the 15 people in the picture, Gordon is a blood relative of all but one of the others. Only Helen Struthers, the woman second from the right in the second row, appears to be an outsider in this close knit group. Although Will Smith, the man in the tie, is related to Gordon through the Hemsley's, Will is also an outsider to the group in that his ancestors came from the south of England. The other 13 people can all trace their ancestry directly back to Robert Ballantyne, a shepherd who lived near Peebles Scotland and whose grandson, also called Robert, first emigrated to Perth County and settled land in Downie Township.

The 27th December 1937 .. cont'd

Well, the car didn't disappear into Black Creek, but when Gordon and Lois did emerge from the manse, they found their car at the bottom of the hill securely wired to a second car parked in front of the community hall. (On the right is Avonton Presbyterian church as it looks today with the manse next door. The front window of the manse that can be seen to the left of the porch in this picture is the one through which Lois watched the car roll down the hill toward Black Creek.) Once Gordon as a newly married man, managed to extricate his car, he and Lois drove the 2 1/2 miles up to the 1st and 2nd concession and turned left to go to the McEwan homestead where Gordon's mother and father had lunch waiting. Lois' father Bob, and Laura Turner, in the meantime, returned home. Lunch consisted of salmon sandwiches and a sweet. Then, Gordon and Lois drove into Stratford where they were scheduled to catch the bus to London for the honeymoon. Since the car was needed at home Jack, Gordon's father rode into Stratford with them. As they drove down the Centre Gravel on their way to Stratford they met Earl Boyes, a neighbouring farmer who had previously dated Lois. (Earl had been married the year before to one of Gordon's many relatives in the area: Marie Ballantyne.) When he saw Earl's vehicle approaching, Jack ducked down in the back seat. "Good Lord, I don't want Boyes thinking I'm going on the honeymoon with you!" Gordon and Lois rode the bus to London and walked the three or four blocks to the Iroquois Hotel, then a prominent establishment on the north-west corner of Clarence and King Streets. During their two-day stay, Gordon spent considerable time on the phone to the various arenas asking for information on what sporting events were going on in the city. What he didn't realize was that every time he picked up the phone, he was adding to his hotel bill. For a guy who had a total of $100 for his entire honeymoon trip, and a wife who had absolutely no money, the bill which was presented at the end of their stay was a shocker. Somehow the bill got paid, but I would imagine that it was at this point that Gordon realized that he was a long way from Downie Township.

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