Newspaper Clippings - Book # 1 - Section 23

Keith Thompson, Clayton, Ontario - 03 April, 2001

A well-known Almonte couple, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Erskine celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Monday, January 9th, 1978. They were married at Clayton in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Erskine were honoured at two receptions on Sunday, at St. Paul's Anglican Church and at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Boal.

A couple, well-known to many in the area, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Erskine, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Monday, January 9th, 1978. They were guests at a surprise reception attended by about 30 of their friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Boal on the evening of Sunday, January 8th. Former business associates of the Erskines, Mr. and Mrs. Boal were assisted at the reception by their daughter, Bonnie and her husband, Cliff Armstrong. Earlier on Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Erskine, long-standing members of St. Paul's Anglican Church, were honoured by the congregation at a coffee party following the 10 o'clock service. John and Essie cut the anniversary cake and thanked the members of the congregation for their friendship and thoughtfulness. They were married January 9th, 1918 in St. George's Church, Clayton, by the Rev. G. A. Brunet. The bride was the former Miss Essie Rath, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Rath and the groom was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Erskine. Groomsman at the wedding was the late Thomas Erskine, brother of the groom and the bridesmaid was Miss Alice Rath, now Mrs. Fraser McMunn, cousin of the bride. Presently visiting on the west coast, Mrs. McMunn sent her best wishes to the couple on this important occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Erskine ran a general store at Clayton for 15 years until opening the store in Almonte in 1947.

Sgt. and Mrs. Wayne McKay and daughter Laura of Oromocto, N.B. spent the Christmas and New Year holidays visiting Mr. and Mrs. Len McKay and other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Essie Erskine enjoying a cup of tea at St Paul's Christmas tea and bazaar. The popular annual event took place Saturday and featured plants, baked goods, and a boutique organized by the Brownies and Girl Guides.

On Saturday, June 23, 1979 at 7:00 o'clock, Helen Marlene Dunlop daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Dunlop of Union Hall and Glen Raymond Johnston son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Johnston of Stittsville, were united in marriage at Guthrie United Church, Clayton. Reverend James Whyte officiated the ceremony with Mrs. James Turcotte as organist and Mr. George James as soloist singing the Wedding Prayer. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a floor length gown of white chiffon, with scallop brocade lace trimming front panel and around the bottom, bishop sleeves, horseshoe neckline trimmed with floral lace. Her matching two tiered veil fell into a train and was trimmed with brocade scallop lace to match the dress. She carried a cascade bouquet of twenty-five red roses and baby's breath. Miss Carol Dunlop, sister of the bride, was maid of honour, with Mrs. Audrey Dunlop, the bride's sister-in-law, and Miss Cathy Johnston, sister of the groom, as bridesmaids. All the girls wore identical blue floral Swiss dotted gowns with matching capes trimmed with white lace. They wore blue picture hats and carried nosegays of blue and white miniature carnations with white streamers. Miss Julie Dunlop, niece of the bride, was flower girl, and carried a basket of blue and white carnations and baby's breath and wore an identical dress to the other attendants. The groom was attended by Mr. Raymond Scott as best man, and the ushers were Mr. Howard Dunlop, brother of the bride, and Mr. Gerald Johnston, brother of the groom. Master Glenn Dunlop, nephew of the bride was ring bearer. All the men wore identical navy blue jackets and trousers with velvet navy piping and frilly shirts. The bride's mother chose a floral pink chiffon floor length gown with a corsage of yellow and peach roses. The groom's mother wore a floor length gown of blue polyester with a corsage of pink roses. Following the wedding, a reception was held at Clayton Community Hall. Later, the young couple left for a honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls. The bride travelled in a pink dress with white accessories. The young couple are residing at the groom's apartment between Carp and Stittsville. Prior to the wedding the bride was honoured at several showers given by Ms. Lorie Grant of Kanata; Mrs. Joyce Johnston of Stittsville; Mrs. Irene Ritchie, Mrs. Marilyn Cavanagh, Mrs. Kathy Ingram of Cedar Hill; and Mrs. Audrey Dunlop of Union Hall.

The marriage of Shirley Marilyn Drynan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Drynan, Almonte, to Dwight Michael Neron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Neron, Carleton Place, was solemnized in St. Mary 's Church, Carleton Place, on Saturday, January 30, 1971. The double-ring ceremony was preformed by Father Murphy. Entering the church on the arm of her father, the young bride wore a floor length gown of white silk chiffon over taffeta with fitted bodice and full bouffant skirt. She wore long white mittens of the same material. Her jewellery was a single strand of pearls. Her headdress a crown of crystal and seed pearls secured her silk tulle illusion fingertip veil and she carried a bouquet of red roses and Shasta Daisies. The bride was attended by Miss Diane Kennedy as maid of honour, gowned in blue Peau de Rose, and the bridesmaids, Mrs. Maurice Killeen, sister of the bride in pink Peau de Rose, and Miss Deborah Drynan, cousin of the bride, In yellow Peau de Rose. Mr. Rick Deschamp was best man and Mr. Carl Drynan and Ralph Neron were ushers. Following the service a wedding dinner was served at the Mississippi Hotel, Carleton Place. In the evening a reception was held in the Almonte Town Hall, which was largely attended. Going away the young bride wore a green crimpelen pant suit. The young couple will reside in Carleton Place.

On June 29th at seven p.m. a double ring ceremony took place in St. Mary's Church, when Father Edward Lunney united in marriage Karen Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Byrne and David Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Giles. The bride chose a floor length gown made by her mother of polyester satin, lace bodice and a flowing train of matching lace. She wore a shoulder length veil and carried a bouquet of red roses. The bride was attended by her sister-in-law Mrs. Elaine Munro, as matron of honour and Miss Janie Byrne, sister of the bride as flower girl. Both wore identical floor length gowns of yellow polyester satin and carried bouquets of white daisies. Mrs. Janet Drynan, friend of the bride and Miss Patricia Byrne, sister of the bride acted as bridesmaids and wore identical dresses of green polyester satin and carried bouquets of white daisies. The groom was attended by a friend Mr. Brian Drynan as best man and Master Neil Giles, brother of the groom as ring bearer. The ushers were Mr. Glen Giles, brother of the groom and Mr. John Byrne, brother of the bride. Miss Cathy Byrne, cousin of the bride was organist, accompanied by Miss Anne Marie White as soloist. The bride's mother chose a floor length gown of polyester sheer in pretty shades of green and yellow, white accessories and wore a corsage of yellow and white carnations. The groom's mother chose a floor length gown of blue satin with flowered bodice, white accessories and a corsage of pink roses. Following the wedding, a reception was held in the Town Hall, music was provided by Lloyd Blackburn's Group. On request of the bride her father, Mr. John Byrne sang the opening waltz. A buffet lunch was served. On return from their honeymoon to the States, Mr. and Mrs. Giles took up residence at R.R. 3, Almonte. Out of town guests were from Toronto, Ottawa, Belleville, Smiths Falls, Kemptville, Carleton Place, Lanark and District.