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| Alex Fraser, 1939 |
When asked to describe meeting her husband,
Gertrude's eyes lit up. She said, "The first time I met Alex?
I think it may have been set up. I was out for a walk with my good
friend and co-worker Olive
Elsey, who was dating Dan Lunn. Olive and I took a walk to the drug
store that was in the Hudson's Bay building, which is now Cariboo
Keepsakes. Dan Lunn and Alex Fraser drove by and stopped for a chat.
After that, Alex and I started dating occasionally. In those days,
Alex and George Wood had a truck line from Vancouver to Prince George,
and he was sometimes only in town for one evening of the week."
"While Alex and I were still getting
to know each other, I was set up on a blind date with a young
man from Wells. We went to a dance
with some other friends. At that time, dances were just about the
only thing that we could do for fun on weekends, besides go to
the
show, and the dances were more fun."
"Alex got back to town the evening
of the dance, and asked for me at the nurses' residence. The
others told him where I was.
He went to the dance, and challenged my date to a foot race, saying
whoever won the race would get to drive me home. Alex won the
race,
and probably my heart, with that bold move."
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| Alex and Gertrude, 1942 |
Gertrude remembers being attracted to
Alex because she thought Alex was nice, he had a pleasant manner,he
was good looking, and
had an easy, casual style. She said, "Alex also had a nice
car, a Buick Club Coupe, which he let me keep at the hospital while
he was out of town during the week, so his brothers couldn't drive
it and wreck it."
The wedding
In those days, the front page of the Cariboo Observer often
mentioned social events, births and deaths, and details about the
daily life of townspeople such as the new Mercury car that F. Whitmore
bought from Beath and Sharpe that was noted in the Saturday, July
13, 1940 edition. In the next column, under the headline "Brides
Elect Honored," was this notice:
A shower was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Lunn Wednesday
afternoon in honor of Miss Gertrude Watt, matron of the Quesnel
Hospital, whose marriage to Mr. Alex Fraser will take place here
on Wednesday, August 7.
Some thirty friends gathered to wish the bride-elect happiness
in her wedded life, and she was the recipient of many beautiful
gifts. Hostesses were Mrs. E.C. Lunn, Mrs. D.D. Fraser, Mrs. E.L.
Hilborn, Mrs. L.B. Rolph, Mrs. S.L. Hilborn Jr., Mrs. Dan Lunn
and Mrs. M.L. Lunn.
A report about Miss Marjorie Winder's bridal shower before her
wedding to Mr. Jack D. Anderson was also recorded in the article.
After Gertrude and Alex's wedding, the August 10 Cariboo Observer announced, "Popular Local Couple Wed Here Wednesday" above
a full report of the festivities. It read,
Against a floral background of peach toned gladioli, sweet peas
and blue delphinium in St. Andrew's United Church on Wednesday
afternoon, August 7, Gertrude Marjorie, daughter of A.E. Watt,
of Winnipeg, became the bride of Alexander Vaughan Fraser, eldest
son of John A. Fraser, pioneer Quesnel merchant, and Mrs. Fraser.
Rev. R.J. Love officiated.
The bride, who was given in marriage by Dr. G.R. Baker, was lovely
in a gown of pale blue net, trimmed with satin lovers knots, over
matching satin. Her shoulder-length veil was the same shade, and
she carried a bouquet of American beauty roses.
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| Dinty and Chris Johnston,
Gertrude and Alex Fraser, honeymooning, Fisherman's Lodge,
Vancouver Island, August 1940 |
Mrs. Dan Lunn, matron of honor, wore pale pink lace with matching
jacket and flower headdress. Her bouquet was of pink gladioli
and mauve asters. Miss Lillian Fraser, sister of the bridegroom,
as bridesmaid, was attired in a frock of pale pink net over silk,
with trimming of blue grosgrain ribbon. Her picture hat was of
pale blue and she carried a bouquet of pink veronica and sweet
peas.
Mr. Dan Lunn was best man, and ushers were Messrs. Leonard Archibald
and Jack Fraser.
At the reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Fraser,
Mrs. Fraser received the many guests wearing a frock of rose print
with white accessories. The three-tiered wedding cake was cut
by the bride, the toast to the bride being proposed by Mr. E.
C. Lunn.
For her wedding trip to the coast cities the bride wore a tailored
suit of olive green with rust accessories and fox fur.
On their return Mr. and Mrs. Fraser will make their home in Quesnel.
Gertrude thinks that she and Alex didn't send out invitations to
their wedding, because "we were afraid we would have to invite
the whole town. I think we may have put an ad in the paper."
More details about Gertrude and Alex's relationship are in the
articles Political Life and Nursing on this site.
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| Louise, Alex, Bonnie, Dallas,
and Gertrude, at home after an election win |
Losing her husband
When asked how she dealt with Alex's death, Gertrude said, "I
must have had some sort of breakdown. Many of the things that happened
around that time, I don't remember. I know how the funeral was.
It was at Quesnel Secondary School. There were so many people here,
a number of planes from Victoria. Most of the Members came, and
Bill Bennett came. I think it was the biggest funeral in Quesnel.
I also remember that I drove back to Victoria by myself to close
up the house."
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