Happy Birthday Grandma

by Laurel | August 3rd, 2009

Alice Houston McGarvie Smith

Alice Houston McGarvie Smith

Alice Houston McGarvie Smith

1898 – 1981

In this photo, taken somewhere in Holyoke and dated from the early 1920’s, are my grandparents, shortly before their marriage. My grandmother would be 111 years old today had she been still living. Born in Scotland on 03 August 1898, Alice traveled to American on the S. S. Pretorian (of the Allan Line), arriving in Boston on January 11, 1913. As did many immigrants, she worked both in the mills and in domestic service until her marriage in the mid1920’s. She was a life-long member of Grace Church and spent most of her younger years as a resident of Churchill (a Holyoke neighborbood, if you are unfamiliar with the name). She had been a member of the Eastern Star and Clan McLaren. Alice died in 1981 and, like most of my family, is buried in Forestdale Cemetery. Alice was a sweet, generous woman and we all still miss her very much.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Sponsors

Suggested Holyoke Books


Mountain Park -- The Holyoke destination we all loved.

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Holyoke College, Postcard History by Donna Albino. Many Holyoke women have attended Mount Holyoke. Author also maintains an amazing MHC website based upon her personal collection.


Holyoke - Chicopee, A Perspective

Holyoke-Chicopee: A Perspective, by Ella Merkel DiCarlo. DiCarlo, a former Transcript columnist offers a fascinating compilation of her essays. Published in 1982, this out-of-print book is worth looking for in the aftermarket.


Holyoke

Holyoke, by Craig Della Penna. The first Holyoke book in the Arcadia series, published in 1997.


Belle Skinner Collection

Belle Skinner Collection, by Ruth Isabel Skinner. Published in 1933, this book is long out of print but copies are still available in the aftermarket.

Mitch Epstein: Family Business

Mitch Epstein: Family Business Published in 2003, available in the aftermarket. Epstein's furniture.

Pages

Meta

Visitors