In my last post, I referred to a letter from my aunt, Hetty Outlet, that I had narrowed down to 1954. It’s tantalizing clues made me want to know where they had  lived in Fredericton.

Friends jumped to my aid and swiftly provided the answer, so now I must apologize for the procrastination that kept me from sharing it sooner. My defense—I was side-tracked searching to give faces to the family. I was unable to locate a picture from when they were in Fredericton and had to settle for one that is earlier and one that is later. Oscar had a big grin that lit up his whole face.

I do not recognize the house in the background. It is not their home in St. Stephen, and it is not my parent’s home in Upper Mills.

The second picture was taken several years later as the children are older.

After my previous post, I was amazed how quickly followers came to my rescue with the street where the Outlet family had lived in Fredericton, and then how more pieces fell into place.

I knew Marti-Lou Crawford had been my classmate in St. Stephen, but not that her family had been living in Fredericton in the early 50s.  Her father, A F Crawford, did bookkeeping for Maynard McEwan and she believed the 10 year old girl was their daughter Elaine who now lives in Vancouver. She sent my blog on to a mutual friend and soon knew that the McEwan family had lived on Alexandra St.

Another friend, Jo-Anne, found a Maynard McEwan, listed as a car dealer, on the 1957 voters list. H is address was 16 Alexandra St. and there was a McKnight family at 11 Alexandra St. The Outlet family was not listed. They may not have been eligible to vote, but I believe they had returned to St. Stephen before 1957. Mary and I turned 10 in 1957 and I am certain I would remember if Mary had been away for such a lengthy time, or at least the joy of the family’s return to St. Stephen.

Jo-Anne also confirmed that soccer was being played in Fredericton, so Oscar’s football game was indeed soccer. Many Europeans, like Oscar, had come to Canada after the war, and they brought soccer with them  In fact, she knew from her family’s personal experience that there was a provincial Soccer League in the late 50s.

Two pieces had fallen into place, but there was more. The Crawford family provided friendship and support to the Outlet family in St. Stephen.  Marti-Lou’s mother had enjoyed talking with Oscar, discussing plants and the work he would do in her yard, and Hetty also worked for her on occasion.  Marti-Lou’s grandfather, George Crawford, (Crawford Drugstore) had a close friendship with the Outlets and Marti-Lou remembered going to their house  when something needed to be dropped off. George Crawford would have been interested in Mary’s welfare, and Hetty and Oscar would have appreciated the opportunity to discuss Mary’s cerebral palsy with a knowledgeable person and valued his advice and support.  The Crawfords almost certainly helped them connect with the Shriners for treatment at the Shriners Hospital in Fredericton, and were supportive throughout the years. The Outlets were very appreciative and I add my thanks as well.