Sad Mother, Sad Son, Sad Story: the Coys of Newton, Mass. 1910

Nantucket. 1908. Flo and May.

Flora Nicholson and May Watters visited Newton Massachusetts in 1908, before my story Threshold Girl begins.  I do mention the visit, though. I mention that they travelled to Wellesley College in Henry’s Stanley Steamer! All true as I have a letter from Mrs. Coy in Framingham, where she describes how they dropped in on her unexpectedly and how she was doing housekeeping so a bit embarrassed.

 Marion and Edith visit Mrs. Coy in 1912, and she tries to pawn her son Chester off on Marion. Alas, Marion is not impressed.  Chester visits the girls in their new flat  in 1913, in Montreal, but they still aren’t impressed. (Mrs. Coy sort of implies he is not that keen on marrying, anyway. Hmmm.) Then, in later letters, I see that he has gone mad.  Insane.  (Mr. Coy writes this upon Mrs. Coy’s death in 1922. He says he visited Chester who was not able to grasp the extent of the tragedy.)  I wonder if he went mad after fighting in the war.  I’m thinking that’s the  most likely thing. 

Mrs. Coy mentions “the Prince.” Well, Margaret and Norman visit Quebec for the tercentenary celebrations. They were huge! And the Prince of Wales, soon to be king, arrived on a glistening battleship. I mention this in Threshold Girl. www.tighsolas.ca/page10.pdf.pdf   Marion goes to see the films of the Coronation and Margaret says she doesn’t need to, as she has seen the KING  already, IN PERSON.

Flo also writes in her letter home that she went to Nantucket with some nurses from the Newton Hospital. And to Norumbega Park.

August 4, 1908
148 Hollis Street,Boston.

My Dear Marion,

Yesterday AM, when I arose I put on an old kimono as it was cool to do a wash in – did a large wash as Chester was gone. I got every extra thing I could into the wash, about 11:am I was just putting things to rights after I had finished washing, and I was about to put a clean table cloth on the dining table as I had taken the other off to wash – when the bell rang. I answered and what was my surprise to find Flora, her cousin Miss Watters and Dr. Watters. I was glad to see them but felt ashamed of my appearance (just my luck). Flora has changed I scarcely think I would have known her had I met her elsewhere. They must be having a good time. They came up in a “Stanley.” I did not get time to ask half I wanted to: I should like to have had the girls come up for a day, but I did not insist as I know there is a lot to see and even half a day with me would not be interesting for young folks.

Dr. Watters appears like a fine young man. Flora said Marion is to teach in Montreal this next year. Herbert might like that. I do not know, but you might go there to live? I supposed Mr. Nicholson can’t go home often, he is so far away. Does Edith return to Three Rivers? I want you to sit down and write me: you owe me a letter. Last summer, you know, Old Orchard had a big fire and one of the cottages burned, I think, belonged to Mr. Norman Nicholson, formerly of Lawrence. I thought you might be a relative of Mr. Norman’s.

Mr. Coy is well this summer. Chester has gone to Maine and New Hampshire. I wish I could have known we were to be alone. I would have asked Ross down. You see, our quarters are limited and I have no help, not so fortunate as you with your three girls. How is your mother. Please remember me to her and your sister, Mrs. Hill. I suppose you had a great time at Quebec and saw ‘The Prince” which to your loyal heart would be reward enough for going.

Love,
Marion (Coy) (cousin)

Finally, A Photo that is dated.

Finally, a photo that is dated. 1904. The Quartet. Whoever they are. Girls the same age as Edith and Marion, or a little younger. The Peplers? Possibly.

Here I post a complete letter from Marion to Flora, 1905, when she was in Montreal, at McGill Normal School. It is the only time she wrote long letters home. As as teacher, she didn’t have the time, I guess. This letter reflects how important CONNECTIONS were in the city, and also shows how she counted on Herb to escort her about, and not always successfully. This letter has a comment about a Minister’s performance, which is something I mentioned in an earlier blog. Marion also mentions that Herb telephones her. Well, there’s not much telephoning going on in these letters, for reasons to be explained later. Clearly Herb had access to one and Marion had one at the Y.

Dear Flora,

It is now your time to get a letter so here it is. How is school and all the rest of Rd? Why don’t you write me some more jokes? Have just finished laughing over the last.

Last Sunday I went up to called at Stewarts’s, could not get Herb so went alone. They were fine and asked both Herb and I up to tea next Sunday. Herb says he won’t go but perhaps I can persuade him. On my way back I called on Clare and she asked me to tell Edith that she was overpowered with getting so many letters from her – and by the way so am I. Especially the long ones. She is studying hard for her exams begin next week and ours are only 5 weeks off so I see where I must study like Fury from now on. Last Sunday Ms. Parker asked Ruth and I over to take tea with Birdie but I was out had not got home from Clare’s so did not go. Sunday night Miss Stien and I went to Crescent Street Church

Mr. MacKay is fine, almost as good as Dr. Johnston. I think I like him better although most people do not. After Church Herb came over then Grace C and Miss Dunton came and we had a nice time. Miss Dunton came to see Miss Stein, though she was not with the rest of us.

Tonight Jim Davis came over and brought one of his boyfriends and stayed quite a while. Other boy’s name is Walker and he is real nice.

Over Sunday night Herb came over and Kerryman and Jim were there He took them all in and the next day telephoned over and asked who that Crazy Davis was, so you see what he thinks of him. He said K was nice which was a good deal from him, don’t you think?

It is about a 5 minute walk from the end of the bridge to the cars. We take the cars at a place called St Etienne and then transfer to the Wellington and that will take us to McGill and then we take the Windsor and St Lawrence west.

Have not got Herb to go to Mrs. Paterson’s yet. I think he wishes that I was at home for I am always at him to go somewhere that he does not want to go. Last Sunday morning 7 of the girls from the house went on the mountain and had a fine time. It was such a fine day. We cut through the cemetery . It was the first time I had been there. Haven’t been up to Herb’s room yet. Don’t know when I will go. Brenda was over last night for a little while. She has got her hair up on top of her head and does not look nearly as nice. Has a lovely diamond. Have no time to go to see the Miss Fisher’s -at least not at Present. Now I must stop… with love as ever Marion Annie Nicholson and the Old Nick as I am usually called these days.