Stewarttown, Ontario,

Keith decides he wants to be closer to his sister Marion in Norval. His wife Ethel is from Ballinafad on the west side of Toronto as well. He takes a job in Stewarttown just west of Georgetown, Ontario. He will look after the prize ayrshire dairy cattle at Glendronach Farms owned by G.D.H.Wright. As well as the prize cattle there are also prize horses in a large concrete barn. The farm, orignally an Eaton’s farm, is beautifully situated. Willow trees shade this west branch of the Credit River as it meanders it way through the ravine. The Webb family will live in a home on the farm.

Glendronach Farm – on the edge of Georgetown – the Webbs live in the dark house to the left of the barn

The girls will start Grade Three at the Stewarttown School. It is over a mile and a half uphill hike up the 15 side road.

Along the way they call on their friend Barb who lives alone with her parents on the farm just at the crest of the hill. Barb Cromar becomes a friend for life. As seen below, in her teen age years Barb often comes with Ina and Louise to PEI for summer vacations. She and her Mother are serious Anne fans. Just before this session starts Ina calls Barb in Scarborough, Ontario to help jog her memory. The two talk like friends who just saw each other yesterday.

Ina Webb Reed recording of – the Stewarttown Years – and “a friend for life”
Barb , Louise, Ina – and dolls- Cromar House

Louise recollections:

We didn’t miss too many Saturdays when Barb, Ina and I would walk to Georgetown to a matinee. I guess Dad must have given us the money for it. We never got an allowance.

Gregory Theatre – Mill Street Georgetown

 We used to spend time at the river(brook) that ran behind the house there  too.

I think Dad drove his first tractor there and we always laughed about the first time he came to the end of a field and hollered ‘Whoa’ and drove through the fence! 

He bought his first car when we lived there. Very shortly after getting it he was driving us to Elaine’s birthday party and turned his head to look at something and drove into the ditch.

Ina, Barb, Louise – maybe Keith’s first car?
Ina – recollects the drive to Elaine’s birthday party