Airing out the Mothballs

Over the years, with every move, I pull out these old letters and other "stuff' that came to me when I turned 21. They were mostly either from my mother or to my mother along with diaries and other memorabilia. Each time I read them I can imagine mom either writing or reading them. This Christmas my youngest suggested that perhaps their content would be worth blogging. I had my doubts... Still do. But, it's one way of sharing a life that should have been longer.

Near as I know, my mother, Ellen (called Ellie) Stewart was born April 4, 1913 in Belfast, Ireland. Her parents were James and Ann Jane Keenan Stewart. She was the oldest of her many siblings, so came to this Ellis Island in the early part of 1929 or 1930. I've not quite got a handle on the actual month or year, but it was 1929 or '30 for sure. Sadly, mom went home three times after coming the the U.S. ~ 1938 to get permission to marry my father; 1946 to introduce my brother to his extended family and just before her death in 1968. My dad went with her only the last time, as we flew. I remember the trip well and how hard it was for her to come back here. I think part of mom's other problems were brought on from being homesick for her siblings. She attended neither of her parents funerals, which I cannot imagine. Mom's existence revolved around her husband's family and her children. Their early demise left me to do the same.

She came to live with her Aunt Martha Groves who lived in Philadelphia. Uncle Alex delivered milk for Wawa Dairy in Wawa, PA near Media. Mom worked for the CEO of the dairy there where she met my father, William Henry Wayland. Daddy and his family were living in PA because of the depression. Apparently the Waylands were quick to come up to PA from Virginia during difficult times, as that is where my grandfather, Clarence met his wife, Anna Kearney and married in 1905. (This was even though my grandfather and all his children were born in Culpeper County, VA.) As early as 1930 Mom was in sewing circles with my grandmother Wayland, as her name shows up in the register Mom kept. Mom and Dad were married in November of 1938. My brother (Bill, Jr) was born in Pennsylvania in 1942. However, shortly after they "migrated" back south to "the farm" in, what was then, Winston, Culpeper County, VA. The area is now known as Reva.

The letters I will be sharing on this blog are mostly sent or received in Pennsylvania, though there are a few that came to the home in Virginia.

Our farm was part of a larger tract that my grandfather and his brothers had. Great-Uncle Waverly sold the farm to Great-Uncle Jett and Uncle Jett gave it to Dad and Mom as long as he and Aunt Molly had a room when he came home from Miami in the summer. The other side of Rt. 29 belonged to my grandfather. All 350 acres, on which now sits "Reva Park", one of the first developments on this that end of the county.

Our old home place still stands. As I type this, it's owned by Ronnie Peters, who's father bought it in 1969 the summer after my mother died. My brother still lives on part of the place, just north of the farm house, on acreage given to him and his wife before Mom and Dad died. My father died in 1970.

This one thing I will say about my parents ~ in spite of all their "issues" they loved one another. I remember my father as being so enamored with Mom that I still smile when I think of it. Dad was kind hearted and her death left him an empty shell. He died, literally, of a broken heart.

So, readers, I hope you enjoy these letters. When spring comes, I might dig out some other old family correspondence of interest. But, it's too cold in the attic to do so now.

Janet Stewart Wayland Elsea
February 2011