It’s been a little while since I’ve posted but I’m hoping to get back to trying to post at least twice a month.

This month, instead of the normal “Who Shares Your Birthday” post (and, yes, I know I missed last month!), I thought we’d try a little something different as there is an important anniversary to celebrate during the month of March – one that is important to our family.

Let’s start with acknowledging the birthdays we missed from February – happy birthdays to my Dad (Grant) who celebrated his 82^nd, and to Bradley. In March, we have several birthdays. Firstly, my son, Dale, then we have Blake, Amber, Lynda and last, but certainly not least, my Aunt Ev!

Now onto the celebration of the month – the anniversary of my grandparents’ wedding – Stanley and Irene Briggs, married March 19, 1938. Today would have been their 84^th wedding anniversary. I’d thought we could look at that little journey – it leads us to the base of our large family tree.

No one can know when or how they met those many years’ ago – one can only speculate. However, if someone in our family has a story to tell, we would certainly love to hear it!

The one thing that I have learned from the couple of courses I have taken in genealogy is that knowing a date or having a story does not clearly mark that day in history – having the documentation to prove it, can make a clearer picture, especially if you have pictures!

This leads me to my first piece of evidence – the engagement announcement. This announcement was in The Province newspaper dated 15 Mar 1938 (found on Newspapers.com):

Wow! I was so excited when I found this little gem as it had so much information in it – Stan & Irene’s story was starting to form. Even though we know their life together started well before that announcement, we at least have this to know their life story was beginning.

Well, little did I know that this story was going to become even better with the next item I found – the wedding announcement which was in The Vancouver Sun dated 31 Mar 1938 (found in Newspapers.com):

There is so much detail in this article that I was giddy and nearly fell off my chair! As I’m typing this, I’m a little teary thinking of how they must have felt on their wedding day. The reporter was very explicit in the details especially so with Irene’s wedding dress. Just trying to picture it was wonderful – what is even more wonderful is seeing the actual picture – sigh…..

The details are wonderful and I’m so happy to have found this! Let’s go over some of the information:

• A.H.P. Matthew’s home is at 1313 Seventh Avenue, New Westminster.
• Married in the evening
• It shows Grandma’s full name of Irene Stella Hartford.
• Grandpa’s father was T.A. Briggs (Thomas Albert)
• Rev. Sharkey performed the ceremony
• Miss Lillian Lueken – daughter of Charlotte (“Lottie”) Matthew (Grandma’s sister) and Henry Lueken, therefore Grandma’s niece.
• W. H. Matthew is William Henry (“Harry”) Matthew – Grandma’s brother could sing!
• A gorgeous description of Grandma’s wedding dress!
• Best Man and Maid of Honour are husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Fletcher. Their full names we will learn of later.
• Mrs. L.D. Craig is Francis (“Frankie”) Matthew (married to Lockart Dolson Craig), Grandma’s sister.
• Miss Aileen Matthew is Beatrice or “Aunt Lena”, another sister of Grandma.
• A description of the dress Mrs. Briggs wore – wife of T.A. Briggs – Effie.
• Hostess aides were:
  • Mrs. W.H. Matthew – Daisy (Grandma’s sister-in-law)
  • Mrs. H.G. Champion – Laura (Grandma’s sister)
  • Miss Beatrice Beagle – Grandma’s niece, daughter of Fred & Alberta (“May”) (Grandmas’ sister).
  • Bernice Matthew – Grandma’s niece, daughter of William & Daisy Matthew.
• Description of the wedding cake.
• Description of what Grandma changed into when leaving for the honeymoon.
• Their residence/home upon returning from the honeymoon – 1716 London Street, New Westminster.

Well, with this article, I feel like I was at the wedding! You can certainly see it was a family affair. Knowing Grandpa was an only child, I’m sure there was family there other than his parents – some aunts and uncles. It would sure be nice to know the guest list!

Well, the next best thing is a picture of the wedding couple! I thought I might try a little something that I have found through an ancestry program, My Heritage. They have tools where you can clean up the picture and even add some colour to see what it may have looked like on that day. They also have an animation feature which I found a little freaky. Anyways, here are the results side by side for you:

Whew, I tell you, what a beautiful couple. Grandpa looks so proud and Grandma – well, what can I say, she’s just so beautiful! The article certainly described her wedding dress to perfection. I am so grateful to have found it.

We’re not finished, I have one more piece to this story – the Certificate of Registration of Marriage:

There is so much information in this one document to the genealogist’s eye that I was…..well there are no words. Let’s go over some further items we have gleaned from this document:

1. Grandpa’s occupation – Tin Smith
2. Shows Grandma as divorced – something that I knew of but have now confirmed.
3. Both of their home addresses at the time of the marriage.
4. Full names and birth places of both of their parents.
5. Grandma and Grandpa’s signatures.
6. The full names of the best man and maid of honour – Robert Leonard and Florence Allen Fletcher of 4224 Bond St., Burnaby. Not sure who these people are but seem to be good friends of Grandma and Grandpa as I haven’t found evidence that they were family.
7. Name and address of the Reverend.

I think that about sums up the story of my grandparents wedding day. I certainly felt like I could have been there having the wonderful article of their wedding day.

To finish off our story, I have one final picture of the wedding party: Stanley & Irene Briggs, Robert & Florence Fletcher.

I hope I have given you a glimpse into the day my grandparents were married. If you have any other stories from this day, I would love for you to share them.

Happy anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa!

Take care, everyone!