The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks prompt for this week is: Travel. When traveling to Alaska my grandmother, uncle, and aunt were ‘celebrities’ for a day. Here’s the story.
Grandma suffers a loss
my grandma, Florrie Thomas Martin
In May 1966, my great-aunt, Aggie THOMAS JEFFORDS (1897-1966), passed away. She was the last of my grandmother’s original family. Grandma (Florrie THOMAS MARTIN 1894-1979) lived with my family, and I remember the sadness that rested over our house at that time, even though I was only six at the time.
In early summer my uncle, Marion Thomas (Tommy) MARTIN (1930-1978) and his wife, Hazel, took Grandma on a long trip through Canada and Alaska, and back home again. Tommy and Hazel may have planned the trip before Aggie even died, but I suspect taking Grandma along was an add-on with the goal of helping Grandma get her mind off losing Aggie.
The trip begins
The trio left Vienna, Virginia and headed to Niagara Falls. After that was Toronto and North Bay. After leaving North Bay, they were pulled over by the police as they came into Sudbury. Below is the newspaper clipping from the local paper. Read the caption to learn more.
Newspaper article about their celebrity status while in Sudbury, Ontario
The trip continues
They traveled on from Sudbury the next day. Eventually they made it to Fairbanks, Alaska and back home again. Below is map of the approximate route the traveled to Fairbanks. Sudbury is between North Bay and Sault St. Marie.
A google map I created of their likely route to Fairbanks, Alaska
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