The Man from Burnt Island

Dear Frank –

Hope this finds you well. We have left Winnipeg and landed in Detroit. Robbie has found a position as a clerk at the Ford Motor Company, and Andrew has started on the line. We have a lovely home on a boulevard with a large park right across the street. Scots have settled here in Clark Park, and it feels a bit like home – except that the houses here are so big!! Everyone has their own room upstairs! Jimmy Hooks lives next door – you remember Jimmy? He’s also working at Ford.

Maggie is working at a laundry. There are many jobs here for the asking. That part is very different from the old country. And the city is so big! There is a trolley car that runs up and down Woodward Avenue, right to the ferry docks on the river. It is lovely. 

We were wondering if you might come when Jimmy does. We miss having the whole family here. It’s hard getting used to all of the different kinds of people. They speak different languages and eat different foods. Half the time, I can’t understand what anyone is saying. There’s a city right next door called Hamtramck. It is filled with Polish people. They make the most delicious sweets for Lent. I  hear there are lots of Italians around a neighborhood by Lake St. Clair,  but I’ve never been there. And the Irish live in a place called Corktown. 

I mainly stay around Clark Park. I’ve never lived in such a big and busy city, and it’s a bit much at times. There is this huge store downtown called Hudson’s. It sells everything you

    could imagine except groceries. It has mechanical boxes that go

up and down to all of the floors – they are called elevators. The elevators are needed because there are dozens of floors. I have never seen anything like it at all. You must come see.

There are more Scots immigrants in Windsor now than here. I take the trolley down to the ferry and cross over to buy meat pies and shortbread at a Scottish bakery there. I do miss Wellsgreen at times. It was quiet, and everybody knew everybody. There is good and bad here, but life really is easier.

Please think about coming. We miss you, Frank.

Love, Mum