BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to a column titled 'THEN AND NOW: 'Revered' teacher Emma King left lasting historical impact,' published Oct. 8.
Thanks to your paper for publishing Deb Exel's excellent article on my great aunt, Emma King.
I have fond memories of Aunt Emma reading bedtime stories to me in the home — 13 Poyntz St. — that my father inherited from her in 1957. She died at age 98, when I was six years old, and was a good substitute for the grandmothers I never knew.
While bedridden in her late 90s, she was always warm, cheerful and kind.
I am fortunate to have inherited many reminders of Emma's accomplishments, including two large oil canvases that she painted, beautiful furniture from her years at 13 Poyntz St., and a silver tray presented to her on the occasion of her 50th anniversary as a Sunday School teacher at Collier Street United Church.
While Emma never had children of her own, she was a natural with children.
Thanks again for sharing the stories of Barrie's pioneers. Yet another reason to improve funding for Canadian newspapers.
Rich Partridge
Toronto
