The night before, March 28, 1942- Park surprised me with a phone call wanting me to stay overnight at his folks. I hadn't been able to get to work (overtime time day if I had) because of the blizzard on Friday, March 27, 1942 so I hadn't even thought he'd be home from Wyandotte. Our evening was spent discussing what to do and when because it looked doubtful if Park could get off in April when we had planned to be married. I wanted to have my two year college debt paid off and get my dress for the wedding purchased. I still had one payment on the debt to pay which wouldn't leave much from my paycheck still coming. Dawns March 29, 1942 with a hint of pink in the eastern sky. By tonight I will be able to use my new name and title 'Mrs. Park E. Gregory/ Edna Mae B. Gregory/ Edna Mae Gregory etc. That's a strange new way of thinking of my identity after 22 years, 3 months and 8 days of being Edna Mae Bradley. Often during the past three years of our engagement I have felt very fortunate to be loved by one so wonderful (and that feeling has lasted over forty-eight years... may it for many more). The above was written just as I did record it before the busy Wedding Day started.
Superstition for centuries has always foretold all kinds of who knows what happening if the bride and groom see each before the wedding on the wedding day.... but what if we eloped we reasoned. We had to get the golden wedding ring and license out of Dad Gregory's safe. And for once he had a pair of beige shoes that would match my suit that fit! We then made arrangements for Rev. Albert W. Kauffman to perform the ceremony at 4:00pm that Palm Sunday at the old family homestead. Georgia Lamb and Brother Jerry were the maid of honor and best man...no other attendants. Mother had decorated the house with simple but very pretty arrangements of yellow snapdragons placed around the house in many places. We were married in front of the window garden composed of pussy willows (forced), ferns, pink ever blooming begonia and ivy. Across the room a big rose-pink Agalia was in bloom.
My wedding outfit was a beige suit, with a lace trimmed sheer white blouse (the something old), matching shoes, nylon hose ($2.50) expensive and brand new on the market and rare to get so as you can tell probably better to have than a new dress as the something new in '42. My something borrowed and something blue were a blue trimmed peach hankie from Aunt Clara Fellabaum. The hankie went well with my talisman rose corsage tied with gold ribbon. Georgia Lamb as my maid of honor wore a pearl gray suit with a lace trimmed white blouse, and black shoes. Her corsage was made up of yellow snapdragons interspersed with pastel sweet peas and yellow ribbon. Both Park and Jerry wore dark blue business suits with white shirts and blue ties.
 |
| Edna Mae and Park's Wedding Picture |
The honored guests were my Grandparents, Edna Mae and Charles H. Bradley, and Park's Grandma Ella Susan Park. Other guests were my parents Chloe and Gerald Bradley Sr. and sister Elizabeth Anne (4 1/2 years old); Park's parents- Velma and Ernest Gregory, my aunt and Uncle Clara E. and Edward B Fellabaum and cousins Cletis James and Mary Ellen Fellabaum; Violet Easter Call, assistant paster at the church and Mrs. Albert W. Kauffman.
There had not been time to arrange for a wedding cake, so that came later. Between Mom and Jerry fancy cookies were provided for a tea reception following the ceremony. This was served on a lace covered table centered with yellow snapdragons and greenery and featured the brides new yellow tea set. Aunt Clara Fellabaum poured. Then at about 5:30 we were duly showered with rice, loaded into the back seat of Dad Gregory's Dodge and driven over to the grayhound bus stop at Somerset Hotel on US 112 about 5 miles north where Waldron Road ends. The lady at the bus stop showered us with rice too as she handed us the tickets to the main bus terminal in down town Detroit. The car was a dead give away with streamers, old tin cans and the JUST MARRIED sign so everyone on that crowded bus knew we were newly weds as we got on. Jerry and Georgia had followed us to the bus honking every place we passed. In Detroit we caught the Jefferson Ave. bus to Wyandotte there were many stops after we reached Ecorse, the first of the suburbs, then Wyandotte where we got off the bust at the corner of Biddle and Poplar Street and walked the remaining four blocks to 354 where we had a room at Scott's family home until we found an apartment. Park's boss and wife were there, Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Graziani wanted to get a bottle of wine and celebrate, so Mr. Graziani gave Park Monday off instead.
Mrs. Scott gave us a wedding breakfast on that Monday morning after our Wedding. She served sausages, pancakes and maple syrup. Her twin daughters, about 8 years old, had decorated the table with colored Easter eggs, chicks and an egg shell bride and groom. We lived at Scott's house for two weeks until we found a small basement apartment at 80 Chestnut street right near the corner of that street and Biddle. Not long afterward I got work in the office of Wyandotte General Hospital as an assistant Accountant to Glenn E. Miller, accountant. Earning $95.00 a month, not bad with no training as an accountant or in book keeping and learning on the job.
 |
| 80 Chestnut Street Apartment-Edna Mae at the door |
No comments:
Post a Comment