A True Love Story. Harold Dougherty and Marjorie
Howard
By Eleanor McLaughlin
Back in the thirties, it was inevitable to find romance
within your own close-knit community. My parents, Harold Dougherty and Marjorie
Howard lived about two miles from each other. They met at the square dance at
the local Orange Hall in Beachburg. Every Friday night Billy Davidson organized
a dance and the hall overflowed with happy dancers enjoying the good music.
Walter Barr, the Smith boys and George Condie often played the violin. They
danced many squares together. During their courtship, they skated on the
outdoor rink that Irvin Brown operated. At Fair time, square dances were held
in the big round hall in the Fairgrounds before it burned while the Orange Hall
hosted the round dancers. They formed a foursome with her brother Melville and
his girl, Edna Dougherty. Harold and Marjorie were attendants at their wedding
and after that they became a pair
Harold worked as a regular hired hand for Marjories dad when he needed
help. Keyworth owned a hay press, which made the rounds to the neighbors each
summer. One day, her dad asked Harold to sell him five little pigs. When they
arrived, there were six. Harold said The extra one was for
Marjorie. She enjoyed working outdoors helping her dad. One fall day, she
got a turkey hen from Harolds neighbor, Mrs. Conley and a gobbler from
Mrs. Bob Farnel. The next spring Marjorie had thirty-five little turkeys. She
sold her 225-pound pig for $8 in the spring; the proceeds going toward one
hundred chicks. Now wasnt that some dowry for the future!
On October 19, 1932, Marjorie and Harold married and she
took all her possessions with her up the road to the Dougherty homestead. Rev.
H.J Latimer married them in the Greenwood Parsonage with attendants Allan
Crozier and Jean Black. Their wedding supper was held at her parents home
with the reception at Harolds home. Very fittingly, one of her turkeys
was served for the meal. Marjories wedding outfit cost $17. Of course she
took with her the turkeys, fifty hens and a cow, a gift from her dad.
Many responsibilities faced the young couple in their new
home together. Harolds mother had died when he was six years old but his
aging father was becoming a care. That fall she sold her turkeys and bought a
churn and a washing machine. She sold some butter for ten cents a pound and
eggs for eleven cents to buy some essentials. Harold and Marjorie worked hard
together milking cows by hand and doing the general farm work. She claimed the
income from the hens, selling eggs to regular customers although the feed was
never considered an expense. Winters were hard with so much snow, no running
water and all the conveniences taken for granted these days. In winter with no
car, they had to walk, skate or go by sleigh. Their friends skated over the icy
fields to meet for get-togethers. Marjorie did not learn to drive so buggy and
cutter became her mode of transportation to Beachburg and to visit her parents.
Soon the family began to grow in leaps and bounds. Within
the next eighteen years, from 1933 1951, nine children, seven girls and
two boys, joined the fold. Sadly one little girl lived only five months in
1937, and the eldest lost her life during childbirth in 1956.
In
1935, reluctantly they agreed to move the ailing father to his daughters
in Beachburg as maternal obligations demanded time with young children. Through
thick and thin, during good times and hardships, Harold, a plausible man and
Marjorie, so complacent showed their unconditional love and demure
responsibilities toward their large family. Spiritual and firm values were
instilled. The children learned money does not grow on trees but
felt euphoric in every way. Living on a farm, provisions were plentiful with
garden produce, meat, and eggs, but everyone played their part to help. Bulk
buying of flour, brown and white sugar sufficed for baking necessities.
Raspberries picked by the milk pail and wild plums preserved filled basement
shelves. In the fall fifty pounds of honey and a barrel of apples purchased
were enjoyed over the winter. Even as Harold suffered with severe asthma,
illness kept them constantly caring for each other. Can you imagine the hungry
mouths to be fed? After school, every day, the counter displayed fresh
biscuits, a white cake with brown sugar icing, rolls and rolls of bread and
much more. Naturally, the children quibbled over the chores but in the end,
wood was brought in, water carried from the well, clothes taken in from the
fence, lamp chimneys cleaned and so on. A family that works together
stays together. There is no doubt these parents were a paragon to their
family.
In
those days, the children could entertain themselves. After Sunday School, on
Sunday afternoons the toboggans skimmed down the hill outside the yard until
Harold had homemade ice-cream treat ready made from their own cream and ice
from the ice-house.. The family enjoyed an idyllic supper of hot staples and
then sat quietly listening to the stories on radio; Our Miss Brooks, The
Squeaking Door etc. In summer many country drives with picnic lunches
entertained the whole family piled into the car without seatbelts.
On Saturday nights, Harold walked to Beachburg with the two older girls to
skate unless Mac and Betty Fynn happened along. Education was an important
requirement in the family. All were given the opportunity to complete high
school and further if possible. They were so proud of all the accomplishments
each one made whether 4-H, music or where they excelled even as each one left
for marriage or a chosen profession.
Marjorie had
more than her share of care giving. With the support of her husband, she took
her ailing father into their home until his passing. Her mother spent several
years living with the family until her death. In 1974 with the family all gone,
Harold and Marjorie decided to sell the farm and take life easy in their home
in Beachburg. Finally, they took time to travel together. Unfortunately, Harold
became ill and Marjorie looked after him in their home with the help of health
care workers and family. He passed away in 1980 but they had celebrated
forty-eight happy loving years together. Marjorie continued to be an
independent person knowing Harolds guidance and companionship followed
her with treasured memories. In 2000 Marjorie joined Harold after a brief
illness. Their love story ended too soon! |