Ethel Law was born in March of 1906. Her parents were William and Ellen Ewing, and they farmed south of Rosemont.

Mrs. Ewing was of the Arthur family before marrying her husband, William. They had three boys and three girls and Ethel was the youngest. She was strong and healthy like so many of the young folk who grew up on the farms so recently been cleared by the pioneers.

Young folk had plenty of things to keep them occupied in those days. Everyone was expected to pitch in and share the workload both in the field and in the barn.

Of course the sisters were glad to have three brothers to help their father in the field but young ladies often learned to split wood for the old cookstove and take care of the poultry and gardening.

Girls normally helped to milk the cows both morning and night and then separate the cream from the skim milk. Butter was usually made at home from the cream. If there was any extra, it could be taken to the local store in Rosemont to exchange for other necessities.

Fowl could also be cleaned and dressed for sale once a week on market day. Everything was loaded into the buggy or the larger democrat by the ladies while one of the girls harnessed old Dobbin, the one-horsepower motor.

The horse was better for the environment than a car but even he emitted some exhaust. Down the gravel road, they went trotting and rattling for an exciting time of trading and catching up on the Rosemont gossip.

Farmers did lots of physical work in those days and they usually came to table hungry. Girls learned early to bake lots of bread and pies.

Before breakfast, men had already done an hour or two of work. They came in ready for oatmeal porridge and a couple of fried eggs with a portion of salt pork and a big slice of homemade bread with some jam made from berries that grew in abundance along the rail fences. All this was washed down with tea made from loose tea leaves in the big teapot.

Such was life in the country in the beginning of the 1900s and young Ethel loved every minute of it. She loved to pick raspberries and blackberries (which were known as black caps) and even the tiny wild strawberries which seemed to be so common then before the days of herbicides. Returning to the house, young Ethel would choose just the right firewood to bring the old cook stove to the right temperature for the perfect berry pies. Baking was a very special art then but the pastries seemed better than any available today. How young Miss Ethel Ewing did love that country life.

School work was never neglected in spite of all the farm work. Even with all eight grades in the little country school house, the children seemed to be well educated. The older ones helped teach the younger ones, and perhaps that is when Ethel first awoke to the dream of becoming a school teacher.

Some things have changed a lot in schools since those days. Christian morals were extremely important to pioneer parents. They made sure that every school day started off with the Lord’s Prayer and singing the national anthem. Also, every reader book had stories straight from the Bible. Generally, discipline (which might have been enforced by the strap) was not needed. It was shameful to misbehave and seldom was there a problem.

For some reason, there was no vandalism and the adults grew to be fine, law-abiding citizens. Things have changed a lot.

Well, young Ethel must have done lots of homework by the yellow light of the old coal-oil lamp because she was a good student. Public school passed all too quickly, and she went on to high school where Mr. Davidson was the principal.

She graduated early, at the age of 15 and wanted to go to teaching school (normal school) but had to wait until she was 18 to be eligible. She spent the next three years helping at home until she finally enrolled and became a teacher. One of her brothers became a dentist and another became a garage man. Another became a farmer. Her sister, Grace, died at age 14 from diabetes.

Miss Ewing’s first teaching job was in the little school where she grew up on the 7th Line of Mono Township. She was only 19 years old. She was courted by William Law, the son of the family that owned Rosemont’s Globe Hotel. Soon, they married, and as was common practise in those days, she gave up her career.

She and her husband ran a little general store in the village, and it seemed that life had great things in store for the young couple. What a shock when young William Law died only two years later from a heart attack.

The well-known young shopkeeper was mourned by all.

The young widow was given a position teaching in the little village school and for a while kept the store too and continued to live in the back of the building. Her sister-in-law, Izena, helped out but she finally sold it and went to live with her sister Florence.

Widow Law bought a model T Ford and continued for many years teaching in schools as far away as Elmgrove in Essa Township.

“I remember some winter days when I couldn’t get over the snowy hills, and I had to block the wheels and get out and put the tire chains on the tires before I could make it to the top,” she says.

There were lots of trials and experiences but she always kept a positive attitude and a sense of humour. As new cars were built, she kept up with the times.

Eventually, this good woman taught in Alliston Union School and then at Base Borden.

I can still picture her standing straight and tall and slim by the classroom door waiting for her pupils to return from lunch.

She remembers her co-teachers well. They were Miss Ollie Evans, Miss Annie Sanford, Miss Hayes, Bruce Edgar and several others.

I was not in her classroom but my sister Annabell was, as were some of my friends. They loved her and never forgot her, and they visit her regularly at the Riverwood Retirement Home in Alliston.

It was exciting to visit this dear lady whom I had not seen in more than 60 years. She is alert and walking well and still has a sharp memory and sense of humour. She is content, having passed her 102nd birthday.

She is a faithful Christian and quoted her favourite Bible verse for me, “Let not your hearts be troubled, Trust in God. Trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (Words of Jesus from John 14).

For more about the yesteryears of old Alliston, see next
Wednesday’s edition of the Alliston Herald.