A group of people are standing on the platform at the Grand Trunk Railway Depot. The inscription erroneously gives the location as Richmond Street, but it was situated on the south side of York Street between Richmond and Clarence Streets.
Ivey Family London Room, London Public Library, London, Ontario.
“If you get lost just ask anyone directions to the Grand Trunk. You’ll find folks around here pretty friendly.” She explained all this without seeming to ever stop for a breath of air.
Mary nodded, never indicating that she’d already familiarized herself with the main streets. She felt that it was wise not to share all her business or appear too knowledgeable. The woman went on to explain that it was about a three-hour trip and someone would be there to greet her. Mary was growing accustomed to taking the train. This trip wouldn’t seem nearly as intimidating as the last one.
Two
Summer in Goderich
“‘Goderich, the prettiest town in Canada,’ its city fathers apparently taking as true, a compliment paid by visiting royalty in the 19th century.”[1]
August 1900
Mary looked out the train window with anticipation. The town of Goderich was perched on a bluff looking west over Lake Huron, not unlike a robin’s nest high up in a tree branch close to water. She could see some houses, big beautiful houses, and suspected that she’d be living in one of them.
She was met by Emil, the young boy the McEwen’s had hired to run errands. It was a short buggy ride to the lakefront cottage on Essex Street. A peaked, cedar-shingle roof extending over the main veranda and the bevel-edged, wooden horizontal exterior siding added to its character. Mary thought it was pretty enough to be in a magazine. She was introduced to Sadie, the kitchen girl, and given a cot in the servant’s quarters. There were a few awkward moments at first so she busied herself unpacking what little she owned. Sadie showed her a cupboard designated for the “general servant.”
She was given her instructions on Saturday morning. Mary followed closely at Mrs. McEwen’s heels as she walked down the hallway, pointing out the small bedrooms. “The first thing you’ll do every morning is empty the chamber pots.” She couldn’t help but cringe. She was then shown the proper way to make beds and told to change the sheets every Monday. “I’d like the bedrooms swept every other day, the others can be done the day in between.” Mary quickly realized she’d be sweeping six days a week.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“If you have any questions ask Sadie. She did your job last year. For now, let’s concentrate on the washing since that’s your main job and it will probably take the best part of your day. Follow me.”
Mary walked silently behind her. The woman’s long grey cotton skirt made a swishing noise as it moved from side to side, brushing the walls as she headed into the kitchen. Sadie looked up and smiled, then continued rolling pastry on the dough board for a raspberry braid she was preparing for lunch. The kitchen was full of good smells that brought back a wave of memories for Mary, memories that weren’t all that pleasant.
“Fill the copper boiler with well water every night and put it on the stove. That way it’s ready for morning when you light the fire and bring it up to boil. Put the clothes in while it’s heating and grate some Sunlight soap. It’s over here.” She held up a small cornflower-blue granite bowl with a stub of a soap bar in it. “I never have the girls use anything but Sunlight, it’s guaranteed to be a good cleaner.” Mary watched in silence, her eyes occasionally glancing over at Sadie.
“Once the water is good and hot, you must podge it. You do know what that is, don’t you?” Mary shook her head. Mrs. McEwen reached over and picked up what looked to be an upside-down funnel with holes in it and pushed it up and down in the pot. “This is a podger and what it does is cycle and circulate the water through the clothes.[2] Be careful not to touch the water, you might get burned.” Mary looked down at the scar on her right arm.
It had been a cold winter’s night that December, just a few days after the Christmas concert. The wind howled like wild dogs and the drafts through the clapboards made the house cold, damp, and uncomfortable. More heat was needed.
“Where’s that girl? Get some wood in the stove,” Mrs. Jacques demanded from across the room. Mary never answered. She was sitting on her milk stool by the end of the stove with her head down. “What are you doing there, Girl?” Mrs. Jacques continued to prod. The oldest boy, Thomas, gave her a kick, which toppled her off the stool causing her right arm to fall against the hot stove. At first no one realized that Mary had fainted. With sudden realization, young Daniel screamed for help as he pulled her inert body away.
“Thomas, run and get the cream quickly,” Mrs. Jacques ordered as she wheeled across the room toward Mary. All Mary could remember when she came to was lying on the floor and Annie putting cream on her right arm, which had blistered from the extreme heat. It was the only time she thought Mrs. Jacques looked frightened. She was a great believer in herbal remedies like poultices, tonics, and hop tea, but even she began to panic when she saw the extent of the burn on Mary’s arm. “Put lots of cream on her, Annie. We don’t want her scarred.”[3]
Mary covered the scar with her other hand. “Then you put them through this wringer,” Mrs. McEwen said, pointing to an antiquated hand wringer that was screwed to a nearby table top, with a laundry tub full of water sitting on the floor underneath it. “One rinse isn’t near enough, so you should podge the soap out of them again or put them through two rinses. Any questions so far, Mary?”
Mary was surprised that she called her by name. “No ma’am, I think I understand.”
“Good, let’s move on then. After the rinses, put them in one of these wicker baskets and hang them outside. Always start with bed sheets since they take the longest to dry, even on a sunny day.”
Mary had hoped her job would be more than sweeping, washing, and making beds, but she soon realized there was a distinct pecking order among servants. Just before Mrs. McEwen left the kitchen, she handed Mary a blue-and-white stripe dress and cotton pinafore.
Sadie could tell that the “new” girl was overwhelmed and felt sorry for her. She got a little closer and whispered, “I was scared too when I first started. Maybe you can have my job next summer. I’ve already given my notice ’cause I’m leaving at the end of the month.” She paused and grinned, “I’m getting married this fall. Working in here isn’t so bad and the pay is better.” She smiled and went back to her pastry board. Mary didn’t need to be reminded that her job was paying $5 less.
The next day, the Sabbath, meant little or no work was permitted. Mrs. McEwen told the girls that they were welcome to go to church provided they sat at the back. Sadie had already offered to take her into town to show her around and Mary thought it sounded like a lot more fun than listening to a minister’s sermon.
“Let’s go into town first and save the best for last,” Sadie said, tossing her apron over the back of a chair. She couldn’t wait to get out of the kitchen.
“What’s the best?” asked Mary.
“You’ll see,” she grinned and grabbed her by the arm. The two girls headed in the direction of Goderich’s famous octagon-in-the-square known as the Court House Square, which was actually round. A rumour had spread that the town had accidentally been given the plans for the city of Guelph — an interesting theory but not true.[4]
They walked through the park, past the post office, a green grocer advertising a dozen apples or oranges for fifteen cents, and a second-hand shop, all with “closed” signs in their windows. At the west end of the square, Mary saw an impressive sign on top of a building that read “G.N. Davis.” He was a dealer in hardware, stoves, tinware, and general house-furnishing goods and his store was referred to as the Stove Depot. As they continued round the square, she could see several