BRITISHHOMECHILDREN-L Archives

From: "Stephanie Duke" <>
Subject: [bhc] Hazel Brae (Cox Home)Minnedosa
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 21:22:18 -0400

Greetings!

I thought I'd share aletter written 81 years ago by my aunt, Annie Emily
Gevaux, when she wasstaying at Hazel Brae in Peterborough, the Barnardo's
home for girls. Several girls' names are mentioned in it and somebody on the
list make recognize a name.

This letter is from a bundle of letters included in the package I received
from After
Care last week. It's evidently written to "the Governor" at Girls'
Village. I've seen a postcard view of "The Governor's House, but I don't
know the name of the official.

I've already formed some impressions from this early letter of Annie's.
There was a camaraderie at Hazelbrae which seems very nice. She was an
intelligent girl who had received a pretty good education from
Barnardo's--she'd been with them since she was 9 months old, boarded out
until 14, and then returned to Barkingside for training as a parlourmaid).
Also, writing appears to be in her genes--all the women in our family wrote
letters to each other all our lives--hundreds of them--and we have preserved
most of them.

Annnie actually volunteered for emigration. She said she wasn't going to
stay in England and be somebody's servant. Eventually, she became a nurse
and had a long and eventful life. Sailed home in style on the Queen Mary in
1937 for the Coronation of Geo VI and Elizabeth.

If anything here is useful to anyone writing a history that includes
emigration, Hazelbrae or the Minnedosa, please feel free to use it. But
just mention the source. Anyway, here's the letter below and the
Governor's reply. Annie was 15 and had arrived at Quebec on the SS
Minnedosa on September 21, 1921.



Margaret Cox House

Hazel Brae

Peterborough, Ontario

October 7, 1921

Dear Madam:

As I am busy writing letters I thought perhaps you may like to hear
from me. We are still at Hazel Brae because diphtheria has broken out among
us. Ruth Millerick and Alice Chappel are in a hospital nearby, and Nora
Millerick is in our own infirmary. There are ten other girls whose swabs
are positive and if the rest of the girls' swabs are negative we are going
to our service places. We have not seen much of Mr. and Mrs. Hobday
because, we being isolated, they have kept at Toronto. Mrs. Hobday is
lovely; she is exactly like a mother to us, and I am sure all the girls love
her.
We had two lots of Canadian ice cream, and it is lovely. When
Colonel and Mrs. Carless came to see us, the Colonel told us to line up for
a dose of 'castor oil,' and we pulled awful faces. I should like you to
have been here and seen the difference in our faces when he gave us the
dose, for it was Canadian ice cream. The Colonel also had one and he made
out he didn't like it, but at any rate he soon ate it.
Yesterday we had some races, and I won a prize for high jump; it was
a lovely necklace. We really have a nice time here. When Mr. and Mrs.
Hoday and Mr. and Mrs. Carless came to see us, we had a concert and several
people sent us things such as apples, oranges, chocolates, and cakes. some
of the girls did some dances, which Mrs. Gilling had taught them at school.
The Colonel said they were very good, and we all enjoyed that evening very
much. We are all patiently waiting for Mrs. Hobday to come back, when we
shall be quite happy.
Will you kindly remember me to Miss Macnaughton, and kindest regards
to yourself.
I remain,
Yours Truly,
Annie Gevaux
\==============================================================
4th November, 1921
Dear Annie,
I was very glad to hear from you, but very sorry to hear that
diphtheria has kept you at Hazel Brae and that you have not gone into your
new home yet. However,by now I expect you have gone out. I wonder where
you are, and hope very much that you are happy in your new home.
Of course, Mrs. Hobday will always do anything she can for you. I
am so glad that you like her so much. I shall be very glad to hear how you
get on in your new place. You seem to have had a very gay time on the
voyage, in spite of the fact that it was rough and many of you were
sea-sick.
I am sure you will do your best to get on well in the new country,
and not forget all that you have been taught in the Village here. I shall
watch with great interest to see how you all do in your different homes.
With every good wish,
Yours sincerely,
Governor

Miss Annie Gevaux
Margaret Cox Home
Peterborough
Ontario, Canada
===============================================================
Hope this goes through. I sometimes forget to use Plain Text.
From Steph Duke
Very proud niece of Annie and daughter of her sister Alexandra, who
didn't go to Canada.

This thread:

• [bhc] Hazel Brae (Cox Home)Minnedosa by "Stephanie Duke" <>