The Final Chapter 1924 – 1975

Marjorie’s diary entries ended the day Gib died then continued briefly from 1931 to 1932 and during her numerous trips.  Marjorie loved to travel and her life continued to be punctuated with trips.

When Marjorie and Dorothy Jane returned to Powell River in April of 1924 it must have been comforting to be with close family and friends again.  They moved in with Andrew and Edith who also had Edith’s sister Sara Blain living with them.

Andrew Henderson and Dorothy Jane

Stephanie Seagram, Dorothy Jane, Marjorie
& Tom Seagram – 1926

In 1926 Marjorie and Dorothy Jane travelled East to visit with Tom and Dorothy Seagram in Kitchener and then on to Montreal where she stayed with cousin Marjorie (Sutherland) and Ernest Trott.  While there they made a quick visit to Sorel, Quebec to see where Marjorie’s father Andrew was born.

Marjorie and Dorothy Jane at the Henderson’s house, Powell River

The end of the decade was another difficult time for the Henderson’s.  On January 8th, 1929 Edith died of complications from a fall while crossing a street in Vancouver.  She had been recovering from a prior illness.  She was 67 years old.

On March 13th, 1929, Marjorie’s brother Richard “Tobe” died of a heart attack while staying in Vancouver.  He had been treated for a heart condition for the past two years but it wasn’t considered serious.  Richard was 43.  Andrew Henderson was in California recuperating from his wife’s death and returned home immediately.

Fortunately better days were ahead. In the late 1920’s Marjorie became friends with Dalton “Ken” Macken.  Ken asked Marjorie to marry him and she accepted.  They were married September 9th, 1931.  For a honeymoon they took a two week driving tour to Seattle, Portland, Crater Lake, Bend (to visit Tracy Fairchild and family), Yakima, Seattle, Harrison Hot Springs, Chilliwack (where Ken had brother’s living) and home to Powell River.

Ken Macken on the porch of the Henderson’s house

Ken Macken was born in Forest, Ontario in 1893 to Joseph William and Jean Kaye (Miller) Macken and moved with his family, six brothers and three sisters, to Chilliwack, BC in about 1899.  The family then moved to Vancouver where Ken became very interested in sports while attending school.

After graduating from High School in 1910 he headed to Troy, New York to attend Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute because, he claims, McGill University didn’t have a ball team.  He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1914 and returned to Vancouver.

In 1915 he joined the Artillery and was sent overseas with the 60th Battalion, CFA and made the rank of captain.

After the war he tried selling cars in Vancouver but he was, “not so good.  I was starving to death trying to make a living.”  A travelling salesman told him about Powell River and he moved there in 1922.

When he got to Powell River, Ken became a member of the Gopher Club, “a group of happy bachelors boarding together.  We used to live at 300 Maple, although when Bob Scanlon originated the club it was held in an old building.  The name was picked because so many of the boys were from the gopher state, Minnesota.”

In 1922 Ken worked for Emil Gordon for six months, then cut wood and shingle bolts before working for Ernie Liebenschel who owned City Transfer.

In 1928 Ken went into the car business and started City Motors and later partnered with Harry Davies to start a second garage in Westview, just outside of Powell River.

Ken Macken (second from left) and some of the Gopher Club members

For many years Andrew Henderson owned acreage near Grief Point, about 4.6 miles (7.5 km) from Powell River.  He had a small cabin built and would take friends out there for a time of relaxation.  He referred to it as “The Ranch” but it would later be known as “Miramar,” Spanish for “sea view.”  As a wedding present to Ken and Marjorie ,Andrew gave them the property and had a house built for them.

Construction started March 25th, 1931

In 1934, while Ken manned the home front, Marjorie was off travelling again.  This time she took her father Andrew with her and they went to the Chicago World’s Fair.  Andrew had three nephews in Chicago and this was his last opportunity to see them.

Four Hendersons
Alexander Cary, Andrew, Andrew Sutherland & George Dana
Chicago 1934

1934 Chicago World’s Fair
Gertrude (Reed) Henderson, Andrew & Marjorie

On March 12th, 1934 Marjorie’s aunt and Edith’s sister, Sara Isabella Blain died.  She had been living in Powell River for fourteen years and was the last member of the Blain family, four brothers and four sisters, to die.  She was 71 years old.

There was more sadness on September, 19th, 1935 when Andrew Henderson died in Vancouver at the age of 82.

 

In 1936 life started to settle down for Marjorie and Ken.  They were quite involved in the Powell River community.  Ken with sports, particularly lacrosse and Marjorie with church work.  Dorothy Jane was sent to Crofton House School in Vancouver, BC.  The Macken’s worked on their house and gardens and enjoyed entertaining friends and family who would come to visit from all over North America it seems.  Marjorie continued to spend time in Vancouver visiting friends and Dorothy Jane. Ken preferred to stay home.

After graduation in June of 1941 Dorothy Jane was supposed to go to McGill University, however she met John William Chatwin McMillan while vacationing in Port Alberni, BC during the Summer and married him in November of 1941.

Dorothy Jane, Marjorie, John William Chatwin McMillan – 1941

In 1953, not to be denied taking her daughter on a ‘Grand Tour,’ Marjorie waited until Dorothy Jane’s four children were born and then, along with an old friend of Marjorie’s, Hannah Smith and her daughter Margareta, travelled to London to take part in the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.  Following those festivities the group toured the British Isles for about a month.

Marjorie, Stephanie Seagram, Dorothy Seagram & Dorothy Jane aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam – 1956

Marjorie and Dorothy Jane made one more trip in 1956 to see Continental Europe which they had missed on their 1953 trip. This time they went with Dorothy Seagram and her daughter Stephanie.  On their way home they stopped off in Chicago where they attended the Golden Anniversary of Andrew’s nephew, George Dana Henderson and his wife Lillian (Waddell).

Lillian Henderson, Marjorie, Marion (Henderson) Halpin, Dorothy Jane – Chicago 1956

Returning home to Powell River, Marjorie and Ken continued to enjoy doing things together.  Two keen interests they shared were baseball (especially at World Series time) and fishing.

With their salmon, Painter’s Lodge, Campbell River British Columbia

Marjorie took two more major trips in the 1960’s.  One was with Dorothy Jane and her daughter, Jane, back East to attend the wedding of Stephanie (Seagram) Douglas’s daughter, Diana, in Toronto and then on to Ottawa and New York.  The final trip was with Dorothy Jane and her grandson, Ken and granddaughter, Marjorie to Montreal for Expo 1967.  They also went to Ottawa, Quebec City, New York and San Francisco.  Even at the age of 79 and having dealt with a serious bout of cancer, there was no slowing her down.

By 1968 Marjorie was feeling the distance from family in Vancouver and she and Ken sold their house in Powell River and moved to West Vancouver.  About 1970 Marjorie suffered a serious stroke that left her partially paralyzed and her situation didn’t look very promising.  Ken Macken was determined that she would remain in her home and hired 24 hour a day home nursing.  He encouraged her with her exercises and eventually got her to the place that, with the help of a nurse, she could go for a daily drive.  Every day at 4:00 pm they would go to Dorothy Jane’s house in West Vancouver for two hours.  Marjorie gradually regained some of her speech and definitely never lost her sense of humour.

However on July 23, 1975 Marjorie’s body finally wore out and she died in her own home at the age of 87.  A year and a half later on January 23, 1977 Ken Macken died.

*****

Fortunately, because of Marjorie’s diaries and photo journals, we have a wonderful documentation of a time past and for those of us who knew her, an augmentation of our fond memories of a remarkable woman.

*****

Thanks for reading and participating in these posts.  For those who may be interested you can find a slightly expanded version of this blog on our website:  Marjorie Sutherland Henderson  It includes Marjorie’s diary entries and transcripts of letters – also a few more photos.  I must warn you that the “Line A Day” entries can be a bit of a slog and you may have to do some ‘mining’ for the gems.

Ken

Scanlon, Minnesota June 1909 – June 1910

The Brooks-Scanlon Sawmill 1909

 In 1896 The Brooks and Scanlon family start sawmill operations in Minnesota and in 1901 established a large sawmill in Scanlon, close to Cloquet, Minnesota. Dr. Henderson and family arrived around 1908 and the doctor took up his practise at the mill. Scanlon must have been quite a transition for Marjorie after the life she had been accustomed to but as usual, after her return from the South, she managed to fit right in.

Thursday, June 17, 1909

I sure was happy when dad met me in St. Paul.  I didn’t expect him and thought I would go right on up to Harriet’s.  We went to Carlings for breakfast and then I went up to Harriet’s.  Sure was glad to see the sweet old girl.  We went down to Margaret McLaughlin’s for awhile then met dad at Field’s for luncheon.  Paul Magnusson took luncheon with us too.  Papa and I came home on the afternoon train.  Mother met us at Carlton and Tobe here.  I sure was glad to get here and it seemed ages since I had left. I  had had one grand time tho’ from start to finish.  The bunch all came over in the evening.  I was glad to meet the new ones, but it seemed funny without Bob . . .

Monday, June 28, 1909
Marjorie Henderson’s 21st birthday

Hub was here and spent the morning.  Dad, Mother and I went to Duluth.  Came home at 6:18.  Met Sam, Ib, and Peg!  Had birthday party in the evening.  Harry, Sam, Bobbie, Tracy, Mary, Dick, Lee, Tina McMillan and Callie Irwin.

Marjorie Sutherland Henderson and Peg
Scanlon

In mid 1909 the Brooks-Scanlon Company announced that they had run out of trees and the mill would be closing for good the following year. The company had timber rights around the Powell River in British Columbia, Canada and they would be building a town and establishing a pulp mill there.  Many of the present mill workers would relocate to the new mill.  Dr. Henderson was asked to be the doctor at the new town of Powell River and he accepted.

 Wednesday, August 11, 1909

 Sewed all morning.  In the afternoon went down to the mill.  The whole town turned out to see the last log cut.  Mill closed down at 4:30.

Friday, September 24, 1909

Dr. Courtney examined me and found I had appendicitis.  That afternoon Dr. Rexford, Hildegarde and I walked away up the river.  In the evening went over to the nurse’s home and played for them.  Dr. Rexford and I went for a walk later.

Saturday, September 25, 1909

Dear little Miss Marsh took me down to the operating room.  Miss English was there which helped a lot.  They operated at 9 o’clock.  Dr. Rexford gave the anesthetic and Dr. Ide assisted Dr. Courtney.

Sunday, September 26, 1909

Didn’t sleep a wink and would have died if Miss Fraser and Miss Kling hadn’t been with me.  Tobe came and I sure was glad to see him but hated to have him leave.  Dr. Rexford was so nice to me.

Monday, September 27, 1909

Everyone was mighty nice about coming in to see me, all the nurses who I had met at the house and the doctors.  Miss McKugh was so nice and I love Miss Marsh.

Tuesday, September 28, 1909

Mother came up and Mike and Dr. Brown moved me into mother’s room.  Father came home from Rochester and nearly dropped dead when he saw me.

Harry, Margaret and Bobbie Scanlon

 

Peg Scanlon in front of
The Rocky Knoll Club

 

Dick, Mary and Tracy
on logging road Dec. 12, 1909

 

Thursday, March 10, 1910

Father left for British Columbia and we surely did hate to have him go.  Mother went down to St. Paul.  Sam came back and spent the afternoon with us and he and Tracy were here this evening.

In March, Dr. Henderson headed to Powell River to get his bearings in the new town.  As an incentive to get him to accept the position the Brooks-Scanlon Company offered that Dr. Henderson’s house would be the only privately owned house and property in the townsite.  In return, before accepting, Dr. Henderson stipulated that: the company build a proper house with hot and cold water for his wife, Edith, that they build a hospital as soon as possible and that one dollar a month from every wage packet would go towards medical care for the mill workers.  Thus he initiated the first health care plan in British Columbia.

Friday, April 22, 1910

 Finished up at the dentist and went up to Mrs. Nowell’s for luncheon.  Went to the Grand Opera (St. Paul) this afternoon and evening saw “Hansel and Gretel” and Caruso in “Pagliacci” this afternoon and Gadski in “Aida” this evening.  Grand!

Saturday, April 23, 1910

Spent the morning with Mrs. Nowell and Miss A. then went to the Grand Opera.  Saw Geraldine Farrar and Scotti in “Madame Butterfly.” Splendid!  Charles was here this evening.

Wednesday, June 1, 1910

Twenty-five of the ladies in Cloquet gave a luncheon for us at the Northern.  Had a real nice time.  Mary and Dick were here for dinner and Tracy, mother, Tobe and I took the 10:20 and went to the finish of Mrs. Dixon’s party.  Drove home.

 Thursday, June 2, 1910

We left Scanlon!  I surely did hate it.  The boys and Mary gave us our final sendoff and the Carlton folks were there to see us.  Mr. McNair and Wilhelmine came down on the train with us.  Mrs. Nowell met us.  I went to bed early amighty home sick.

In June of 1910 Marjorie and her mother Edith left Scanlon but not to join Dr. Henderson as one would expect, but to set out on a three month Grand Tour of Europe.

After College 1908 – 1909

While Marjorie’s father, Dr. Andrew Henderson was practising medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota he befriended Dr. Dwight F. Brooks, who, in partnership with his brother Anson Brooks and M. J. Scanlon, were principals of Brooks Scanlon Lumber Co. in Scanlon, Minnesota. They asked Dr. Henderson to become the physician and surgeon for the mill. Marjorie’s family moved to Scanlon while she was in college. In the two years following graduation Marjorie spent her time between visiting old school friends is the South and establishing herself in her new home in Scanlon, Minnesota.

In June of 1908 Marjorie returned to Lawrenceburg to stay with the Lillard’s

Ida Moore, Margaret and Jessie May Lillard and Marjorie Henderson Barn Dancing on front walk

On her return from Kentucky, Marjorie set about settling into her new home.  She quickly made new friends and started to get involved in her day to day life.  Activities included sewing, long hikes, sleigh rides, playing cards (mostly Bridge), skiing, music and tea parties.  Shopping was done in nearby Cloquet and social events, dances and concerts took place in Duluth, about 20 miles away.

Bobbie Scanlon and Margaret in front of the house December 1908

On the River

Marjorie didn’t stay put long however.  In March she started a swing through the Southern States visiting old Campbell-Hagerman friends.  The first stop was Fort Worth, Texas where she stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Wellington (parents of Mildred Wellington) from March 5 to March 31 and with Alice Van Zandt from April 1 to May 10, 1909.  Most of the activities seemed to gravitate towards the Van Zandt’s with lots of friends coming and going.

Alice’s father was Major Khleber Van Zandt who was president of the Fort Worth National bank.  He had been an officer in the Confederate Army and had fourteen children, including Alice.

 Some of the visit included staying at Edmund (Ned) Van Vandt’s, country home called “Zandtland.” Edmund was Alice Van Zant’s brother.

Fort Worth Trip
March 5 – May 10, 1909

Friday, March 5, 1909

We had the best time all morning laughing and talking and we met such a nice lady, a Mrs. Donaldson who was going to Dallas.  Dear old Ida gets sweeter every minute and I sure do love her.  We got off the train at McAllister for breakfast and Denisin for dinner.  It was loads of fun hopping on and off the train.  After dinner it began to get warm and I about died.  Between the heat and my excitement I surely had an awful time.  I know everyone on the train thought I was crazy.  We got into Fort Worth at 4:30 and Alice and Mildred were at the train to meet us. My but wasn’t I glad to see them.  I could hardly wait to get thru’ the gate and such a hugging bee as we did have.  They are just the same dear girls and the minute I saw them I about fell to pieces I was so happy.  We drove up to the Van Zandt’s and I met Mrs. Van Zandt, Virgie (Alice’s sister) and Major Van Zandt.  Also saw Sidney who was sick in bed with pneumonia and met Elias.  I liked them all so much and was surprised to find them all so different from the way Alice had described them.  We then drove over to Mildred’s as our trunks were sent there.  Mrs. Wellington was there and she is just as sweet and lovely as she was in Lexington.  Mr. Wellington came home in time for dinner.  After dinner Robert Huffman, one of Mildred’s friends, brought Mr. Collings, Mr. Dan and Mr. Smith to call.  I liked them all very much but was a little too tired to really enjoy myself.  Altho’ I was tired I could hardly go to sleep that night to think that my hopes had been realized and my dreams had come true with Ida next to me, and Alice and Mildred again . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Wellington

Photo Gallery

(Alice Van Zandt, Mildred Wellington, Ida Wise, Sidney Johnson, Marjorie Sutherland, Edna Pendleton, Allie Mallard, Mabel Chilton, George Moore, Dan Jarvis, Ethel Van Zandt, Edmund (Ned) Van Zandt)

 

Alice, Sid, Edna, Marjorie, George, Allie, Ida, Mildred, Mabel – Zandtland

Mildred, Alice, Allie, Ida, Edna, Marjorie, Ethel – Zandtland

George Moore, Mabel Chilton & Sidney Johnson

Sidney Johnson & Alice Van Zandt

Marjorie Henderson &    George Moore

Alice, Edmund (Ned) & Dan

Major and Mrs. Van Zandt & Sidney
On the front lawn

After Marjorie left Forth Worth she travelled with Ida Wise through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, making their way to Lexington, Kentucky where they had been invited to attend a 1909 Graduation Ceremony at Campbell-Hagerman College.  Marjorie visited the Lillard’s once more in Lawrenceburg and then headed home to Scanlon arriving there on June 17, 1909.  Marjorie stayed home in Scanlon for the next year and prepared for her next adventure.

Early Days 1888 – 1905

Marjorie Sutherland Henderson was born on June 28, 1888 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her father Dr. Andrew Henderson, mother Edith and brother Richard Gordon had come to St. Paul from Calgary in 1887. Dr. Henderson had a contract for medical services with the Great Northern Construction Company which was building the western extension of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway. After fulfilling that contract he taught clinical surgery at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Henderson settled his family at 1946 Marshall Avenue in Merriam Park just outside of St. Paul. Merriam Park was started in 1881 by John L. Merriam a business entrepreneur who developed 140 acres into a “suburban residence town” situated between St. Paul and Minneapolis. He envisioned a community for business and professional workers and their families.

The suburb was designed in the popular 19th century mode of a Victorian garden park in which large homes were built to fit the individual taste of the owners. Located midway between St. Paul and Minneapolis commuters could board a train at the Merriam Park Depot for a brief five mile trip to either city’s downtown. The service ran hourly from seven a.m. to seven p.m. with an “after-theatre” train at eleven o’clock each evening.

Marjorie, here with her brother Richard, attended Longfellow Elementary School, named after the American poet. Later she attended St. Paul High School and graduated from there in June of 1905.

In September of 1905 Marjorie travelled from St. Paul to Montreal, Canada to attend a year of college at the Trafalgar Institute (for women). Trafalgar is now an independent day school for girls though originally it was a boarding school. It was founded in 1887 by Donald Ross. Sir Donald Smith (later Lord Strathcona) was one of several prominent Montrealers who gave financial assistance to the School enabling the Trustees to purchase Chalderton Lodge and its grounds. The school is still situated on this officially designated “historic property.”

Marjorie had a number of aunts and uncles living in Montreal and would spend most of her free time with them. Much of her diary deals with her time away from school.

Next Post:  Marjorie’s photographs and school excerpts from her Trafalgar Days.