Source:
Memories from the Late Sixties: Frank Maxwell and Daughter Heather, October 2002.
Frank and Judy Maxwell and offspring Heather, David and Jim, lived in Lachine and attended Summerlea from 1965 to 1970 and again from 1975-1977. During their first stay, Frank was Sunday School Superintendant from 1968 to 1970. Frank offers some memories from his Wolfeville, NS retirement location, with help from Heather, who now lives in Vancouver. My recollections of Summerlea’s Sunday School are very few, which is surprising [at least...to me (o_o) ]. I’ll try to re-activate some with a phone call to Heather this evening. Her memory of our times in Lachine is usually in diary-like detail, so I’m hopeful...
I can remember the Sunday morning assemblies in the large room with the stage (Acadia Hall). Eleanor [Warren] Fletcher was our pianist. Her father was Herb Warren, the former airline pilot, who still retained his bright "pilots’ eyes". Her father-in-law was Pat Fletcher, the last Canadian professional golfer to win the Cdn. Open...sometime in the 1930’s.
Obviously the S.S. pianist made a strong impression on me! However, I do I remember that Huntly Bourne was the superintendent of the Jr. Dept. [and hit a massive home run with one of my pitches in a softball game at a church picnic].
Cec King taught in the S.S., but I remember his being in the church choir when we returned to Summerlea in 1975-77.
I recall a debate that I "moderated" between two or three S.S. teachers and our youth group ? It had a huge turn-out, and was an absolute disaster - at least as far as the adult debaters were concerned. The representatives of the youth group really "beat up" on us! Ed Jamieson was one of the adult debaters, and went home "feeling as if someone had hit him over the head with a baseball bat ". Ed was someone whom I liked and respected a great deal: very distinguished looking, with classy half-glasses. (Ed. Note: Ed Jamieson and Huntly Bourne also started the country store in the bazaar around that time.)
The youth group leader was Bob Bennett, the son of Dick, a really nice guy who died in the late 1970’s. Dick taught in the S.S. as well. Bob was a super guy - very bright and personable, and I still picture them both with high regard.
I do recall the large mesh cross that Ester Anderson mentioned, with the children coming down the church’s centre isle with their flowers for it. Could this have been part of our Easter services...? (Ed. Note: Nancy and Huntly Bourne also recall a large mesh cross. There is some confusion as to whether it was used at Easter, Mother’s Day or Flower Sunday.)
I had a great phone conversation with Tom Miles while we were visiting Heather in November. Tom is the interim minister at Duncan and they enjoy their grandparenting opportunities.
Memories from Heather Maxwell, via Frank
S.S. teachers: Bernice Gowdy [and one of her daughters, Meg]. (By the way, I (Frank) used to see Jim Gowdy in Toronto, where he was the corporate secretary for Sun Life.)
Muriel McWilliams [her son Foster is part of Heather’s Vancouver network],
Dorothy Lowe, Hunt Bourne, Don Black [he also was a scout leader], and Lois Steckley.
Other family names from Summerlea: Mary Moreland [remember her younger brother, Peter : the happy-go-lucky imp ?], bruce Chown, Ann Park, Ron MacKay and his son bruce, Karen Saliewitz, the Trites [Heather continues to stay in touch with Sue], the Kiersteads, and the Edwards.
Our favourite caretaker was Mr. Gillass, and we can remember how pleased he was with the S.S.’s Christmas gift one year. Judy and I once visited with him and his wife, at his home.
Heather also remembers helping me post the S.S. offering for each pupil, in my "big ledger", before turning the proceeds over to Ron MacKay.
Cheers,
Frank
1935 - (89 years)
. Heather Ann MAXWELL, b. Est 1961 (Age 63 years)
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