Meadows

(submitted by Joyce Runnalls)

Andrew (1852–1932) and Sarah (1873–1959) Meadows lived in a log cabin in Arkona, Ont. and had nine children. This story follows the life of one of their sons, Howard (1906–1991).

Howard (1906–1991) married Camilla Vaughan (–1987) in 1927. Camilla had worked as a maid/housekeeper for Dr. Robinson in Arkona before they were married. They had five children: John, June, Joan, Joyce, and Janet. The family farm was located on Lot 25, Con. 5 NER, Warwick Twp. The farm kept all of the children busy — milking cows, gathering eggs, stoking grain and drawing in hay — except for Janet. School for all of them was at SS#8, a half mile away.

In May, 1953 a tornado destroyed the school. The oldest two children went to Forest High School and the younger three were bussed to SS#5, located on the corner of Brickyard Line and Arkona Rd., for part of a year. Once a new school, the “White School House” was built, Joyce and Janet attended this school. Janet was in Grade eight when this school closed and Warwick Central School opened.

Joyce remembered skating on the farm pond, walking to town on Saturday nights, walking to town on Sunday mornings for church, then back again to visit friends Sunday afternoon.

The farm house burnt down in March of 1960. With two and a half feet of snow in the laneway, the fire truck had difficulty getting in, but they saved most of the contents. A new house was built by summer. After the parents were gone the family farm was sold.

Joyce married Ian Runnalls in 1960 and they live on Lot 15, Con. 1 SER. They have two girls: Jill who married John Van Loon, and Bridget who married Jim Hart. Both families live in Warwick Twp.

Camilla (Vaughan) with husband Howard Meadows and his mother Sarah, 1928. Courtesy J Runnalls.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Meadows Family

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