Nancy H. Vest, Writer

Sharing Stories and Wisdom from Generation to Generation

  • Home
  • About Nancy
  • Growing Up Years Journal
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Marking Your Milestones

in Gladys Martin Family

They were celebrities for a day

Share

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

color photo of female senior citizen wearing a pale blue-green dress and a string of pearls. Gray hair and dark rimmed glasses

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.

B&W photo of 5 people - elderly woman, middle aged woman and man, two middle aged men (one a constable and one a hotel clerk). Couple is signing the hotel register. Everyone smiling.

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.

Google map showing a route from Vienna, VA to Fairbanks, AK. The known towns they visited are noted on the map.

A google map I created of their likely route to Fairbanks, Alaska

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright ©  2018 Nancy H. Vest   All Rights Reserved

 

Share
Click here to subscribe to my nearly weekly newsletter and receive a free e-book, Write Your First Life Story Today
« Black Sheep: Boe Heiser
The Musical Martins »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to my nearly weekly newsletter via email and receive a free e-book, Write Your First Life Story Today.

Most Used Tags

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Baltimore Carroll County Chesterfield County Christmas Civil War Columbia Cotton mill farmer Farming Fort Jackson Frederick Frederick County Ft. Jackson grandparents Keeping Grandma Alive Keepsakes Kershaw County Lexington County Marlboro County Maryland Monocacy Cemetery Montgomery County North Carolina Pennsylvania Photos Richland County South Carolina Surname: Burroughs Surname: Davis Surname: Futrell Surname: Grant Surname: Griffin Surname: Heiser Surname: Hillard Surname: Jeffords Surname: Lee Surname: Martin Surname: Price Surname: Pyles Surname: Terry Surname: Thomas Virginia World War 1 World War 2

Archives

Categories

GeneaBloggers

Share:

Share

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Created and maintained by Bakerview Consulting