" I am a little spring chick ".
Thus Marie-Rose has always described, when asked who she was. Daughter of Adelard Houle and Odélie side, she was born and grew up with many brothers and sisters in seventh place Simpson at St. Cyril.
From his early years, it retains only a few memories. She remembers that "the men worked hard to support the family, 'and appointing his father and older brothers. Despite this, the family lived through difficult times: Marie-Rose remembers being already went to school barefoot. Fortunately, the school was located nearby, it is even possible that his grand'soeur, Yvonne, has taught him, "she replies when asked. Indeed, Yvonne was eight years older and, as she has taught at the school number II of St. Cyril before she married Lucien Jutras, it is logical to assume that: Yvonne at age 17, his teacher younger sister was 9, and probably other children of the family.
An incident occurred when she was a pre-teenager: she had been attacked by big dog Blonde Dositheus of his uncle, but was out with some only scratches. If she does not remember kept his younger brothers Hubert and Fridolin still remember it like it was yesterday.
An incident occurred when she was a pre-teenager: she had been attacked by big dog Blonde Dositheus of his uncle, but was out with some only scratches. If she does not remember kept his younger brothers Hubert and Fridolin still remember it like it was yesterday.
After acquiring the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, Marie-Rose remained at home to help his mother. She is very proud to have learned to cook and sew her own clothes when she was not yet fourteen, skills she has used all his life to his benefit and that of others.
1930, when she was 16 or 17 years, she has an encounter that changed her life. A day of St. John the Baptist, she visited the village of Saint-Cyrille, distant four miles, for a "meeting" at the parish hall: they were presenting in the afternoon a show of patriotic nature. As was the custom, the girls sat on one side, while the boys occupied the other. Before the show, boys, a little more resourceful than others, have launched small firecrackers on the floor, beneath rows of girls. Although firecrackers were tiny, imagine the surprise, the cries and then laughs that produced their collapse.
As for boys, there was one who was disappointed: he had just had the idea to make firecrackers for étriver girls. Rummaging in the pocket of his jacket, he finds, however, a small roll round candies, called Life Savers. It takes one and a gesture made to be noticed, he throws it under the chairs of the girls, who raise an outcry of surprise in advance. But, one suspects, the candy does not explode, and when the girls see the subterfuge, this is a new bout of laughter from both sides until the beginning of the meeting.
This little wily Prince named Robert ... is the first time that Marie-Rose saw him, it is the first time Robert saw him: thus they became acquainted. Indeed, Robert remained in fifth place, which was a good five miles away from home for Houle and Prince, an hour and a half walk or even a good horse walker, a path of good Half an hour in good weather.
Robert was descended from an Acadian family, who in 1755 fled the deportation before it happens and took refuge in Quebec. The governor then gave him land in Saint-Grégoire de Nicolet, from whence the grandfather of Robert, Cyril prince, husband of Georgina Jutras, pioneers of St. Cyril. Robert was the youngest of four children, three boys and one girl, Annette, the oldest, Philip and Arthur, sons of Joseph Prince and Mary-Louise Masse said Bouvillier, all living in 1930.
So Robert took up with Mary-Rose "for good reason," as they say in time, that is to say, for marriage. Fine in his car, driven by his little mare, Nelle, Robert was going fine on Sundays and sometimes on holidays to visit her. Sometimes he would return at nightfall. One night he dozed off, what are the ups and downs of the car who awakened: Nelle was the entry in the right court farm and went directly to his stable ... harness, car and Robert understood.
In 1932, there was an economic crisis: even if it affected less than urban farmers, it was not doing less havoc in rural areas. For example, Robert, who was very skillful carpenter, had almost no work on construction sites or in the mills, as he did at the Celanese and Dennison in Drummondville and was working at the sawmill Champagne St. Cyril, while staying with her parents and helping with farm chores. In
Houle, the situation became untenable: the purchase of land adjoining led As debt Adélard Houle had to declare bankruptcy in May 1932 and left for St. Hyacinthe in the hope of finding work. Marie-Rose, who was 19 years old, followed her parents, where she, among others, worked in private homes and in a sewing factory. Very sociable, she quickly made a network of friends, especially Madeleine Welcome, with whom she kept in touch for much longer.
As for Robert, about once a month, he took the train at St. Cyril and went to visit Marie-Rose Saint-Hyacinthe, except in winter, he said. So that, after making his grand'demande, he married Sept. 29, 1936, when he had just turned 26 and his wife, 23 and a half.
After a short honeymoon in Sutton visit Robert's parents (the family of Willibald Larose Massé and Florida), the new couple moved in front of the church of St. Cyril, in a house already occupied by Houle Germaine, Sister Mary Rose, and Roland Coderre. This is where born, a beautiful Sunday lunch very hot July 18, 1937, the couple's first child, who was baptized by his cousin Robert, vicar Irenaeus Lavigne, under the names of Joseph Irenaeus -Gerald, whose godparents grandparents Prince.
As the economic crisis raging always, Robert and Marie-Rose decided to move to an abandoned house for nearly 20 years, who was facing the farm of Robert's parents, Lot 223, 5th place , one kilometer from the village. This farm was purchased in 1919 by Mr. Joseph Prince in order to establish his boys one day and it was the cadet who was the first chosen to settle there. But it was not easy: If the buildings were in relatively good condition, it could be said of the house, built circa 1865 piece by piece, uninhabited since the death of its former owner, Sigfroi Comtois.
Thus he began the task of repairing the building with the help of parents and neighbors, which allowed him to move there in 1938, just in time for the birth of Jocelyne, August 8. The steps, taken to obtain a loan from Farm Credit were successful the following year: June 29, 1939, Robert and Marie-Rose bought the small farm of 52 acres, with the buildings thereon erected there, for the sum of $ 4,000 . The loan was repayable over 40 years at $ 100 per year: $ 50 first day of the year and $ 50 the first of July ...
During the early years, repayments were very difficult to do, "said Robert once more, recalling this terrible time. It took a war, that of 1939-45, to revive the economy ... While Robert improved farm with livestock purchases, renovations to the house (tin roof and siding asbestos), casual work in the village, Marie-Rose took care of the little family continued to grow: Gilles in 1940, Réjean in 1942, Jean-Guy and Fran in 1944 in 1949.
One evening in May 1942, Robert took a major decision: instead of wearing each day to the cheese milk his small herd of 10 cows, he would try to sell it to the pint. Thus, after having made a dozen pints and pints in the trunk of the car fine, he left Gerald with Nelle and the great adventure. It is among Zéphirin Lupien he found his first customers, and when he returned home, he sold everything and had a clientele. A few months later, he bought the "crown ~ 'milk of Hilary Despins, who was retiring." Before the crown, I earned $ 30 per month with her $ 30 a week, "he said proudly to illustrate the success of his initiative.
Thus, in the early morning and evening, he distributed the milk in sixty homes in the village, often accompanied by one or other of his son, especially on Saturdays, while it was collecting money from the sale of milk a week. Each day, same scenario: up at 6 o'clock, milking cows, while Marie-Rose bottle the milk of human trafficking from the previous day, breakfast and departure for the village by storm as the weather is fine, by gusty winds and under the storm or blowing snow.
February 8, 1948, the "shack milk" was completely demolished when it was struck by a drunken truck driver. Fortunately, neither Bob nor Gerald, who were Inside, were not injured, but the horse, Old Pit, "took" terror "and was found completely exhausted ... by a farmer in 9th place Simpson at Notre-Dame du Bon- Council, a good five miles away. The accident marked the end of the "crown" of the evening, especially as some clients were maintaining their "fridge".
As for Marie-Rose, and more help the preparation of milk and care for the growing family, she cooked, made preserves and pickles, kept a garden, sewed clothes for the family and saw to the smooth running of the household. In addition to the education of children, preparation for school and whatnot. For his part, Robert was home on a lift soiling (1950) again after the summer kitchen, while improving the buildings, where there was, in addition to cows and horses, chickens and pigs.
In 1949 Robert bought his first tractor, a licensed vehicle on a truck chassis. By trying it with a mower, he accidentally injured Jean-Guy legs. Two years later, he procured a small brand new Ferguson that he would keep throughout his farming career. Taken shortly after his first car, a Plymouth 1939.
The years have gone by, young people have become teenagers, have studied and gone their separate ways, making their lives in their own way. Jocelyn married in 1960 and Gerald Gaston Gendron in 1962, Jacqueline Allard. In quick succession, two deaths: Réjean in 1966 and Gilles in 1968. In 1971, two other marriages: Jean-Guy Masse and Francine, and Francine and Denis Limoges.
Now, Marie-Rose and Robert are alone and get children and grandchildren visit regularly. But the task became more onerous to carry, Robert decided to divest itself of the "crown" of milk in the early 1970 after thirty years of loyal service. He decides to accept an offer of concierge in an apartment building in Drummondville, Carillon, located rue des Merisiers. While he takes care of repairing locks, paint the walls of the vacant space to briefly see the physical maintenance of the building, Marie-Rose, she deals with tenants.
Gradually, the couple moves away from St. Cyril: first in 1971 by selling the farmland to his neighbor's house and Remi Martel in 1974, Jean-Claude Lemire. On the other hand, he bought a family house at 178 rue de Maisonneuve in Drummondville, close to the Carillon. It in 1980 that Robert puts an end to his active career at the age of 70. This does not mean that nothing will make his day. Until his death March 11, 2001 at the age of 90, he takes care of home maintenance and management of its affairs, while attending the supporting organizations for the elderly.
As for Marie-Rose, she continues to sew and make a mess as she was able, sometimes receiving many children and grandchildren to the holiday season, while leading an active social life in the community and continuing to maintain links with many loved ones since 28 October 2001, She resides in nursing homes Frederick Heriot Drummondville, 75 rue Saint-Georges, where she said she was very well treated by staff and surrounded by many people. She is always so friendly, the presence of visitors is always a great joy.
By Gerald Prince on the occasion of the 90th birthday of his mother Mary Rose.
Note: Marie-Rose died March 10, 2005 at the age of 91 years, 7 months and five days. His funeral was held at the Church of St. Cyril and she was buried in the family plot with Robert, Réjean et Gilles.
Posted by Florian Jutras at 9:22 p.m. 1 comments
Clement Jutras said ...
I enjoyed reading this story, thank you to Gerald to share these moments of life with us.
April 19, 2009 6:56 .
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