| Notes |
- As Herbie was only five when his mother died, his formative years became the responsibility of his 10- and 12-year old sisters. As they were just children themselves and trying to go to school while maintaining a household, it was no wonder that little Herbie sometimes got away with a more than he should. The mischievous imp often walked along the Hogg's Bay Trestle, jumping in rain barrels to avoid oncoming trains. He regularly stole the eggs from the chicken coup, egging others on as he showed them how to drill holes in the shell and suck out the raw egg. He often told the story of jumping out of the window in the lunchroom at school to avoid being vaccinated. He also got slivers in his feet from the boardwalks because he did not like wearing his shoes. Herbie even tried to avoid the priest, who constantly reminded him that he missed him at mass and that he had not been to confession.
Herbie also had fond memories of the year he and his best friend and cousin Phil LARMAND both received sleds for Christmas. The wonderful times they had sliding down the large snow-covered hills nearhis home! These are what shined in the life of the little boy who had to work to helpsupport his family. He and his brother Lawrence would stack wood for his favorite aunt and godmother, Aunt Deli. And the blueberry pies she baked in payment for a job well-done made it all worthwhile.
At age 13, Herbie and his younger sister Adeline were moved to a boarding house in Hamilton, as their father had secured work in the Niagara Falls area. Shortly after moving there, Herbie crossed thepicket line atMacDonald's Printing to apply for ajob and was retained as a printer's apprentice. It was during this juncture that he changed his name to the more adult-sounding Bert.
One day in 1926, while visiting his older sister Hilda, Bert met a young English Protestant woman who would change his life forever. Jessie NAYLOR was the daughter of a friend of Hilda's. Bert married Jessie just a few months later. Bert andJessie had two daughters, whom they raised in their mother's Anglican faith.
While living in Hamilton, Bert was often visited by his best friend Phil LARMAND. Phil was working on the boats and would stop in to visit whenever they were docked in Hamilton.
Every year, Bert returned to Victoria Harbour to search the local cemeteries to find the grave of his mother Philomene. Her burial site has never been located and this weighed very heavily on Bert.
Herbie ARBOUR and Phil LARMAND were the best of friends growing up. They constantly dared and challenged each other. One of their past-times was racing along the wooden boardwalk barefoot in the Harbour, then pulling the slivers out of each other'sfeet. Another involved the rolling of a metal wheel, propelled by a stick to see who could make it go the fastest. Likely their parents would have been horrified if they knew where some of their adventures took them. In the summer they walked acrossthe train trestle that spanned Hogg's Bay. This was extremely dangerous as they had to jump in rain barrels along side the track whenever a train came. The two were also known to be truant from school, especiallyif the nurse was there to vaccinate. Their parents must have known they were "two peas in a pod" as one year for Christmas they both got the same present, a sleigh to ride down the hills near Victoria Harbour.
At the age of 13 or 14, Bert and his sister Adeline were moved to a boarding house in Hamilton, but returned to the Village for visits. As soon as Bert had said his polite hellos he was off and running down the street to find Phil.
In the early part of their marriage, Bert and Jessie had a home on Bay Street, near the Hamilton Harbour. They often walked down to the docks to see if Phil's ship had come in. If so, they would invite him back totheir house where the two would talk till all hours of the night starting off in English and ending up in French. Jessie left the two at the kitchen table and went to bed, but she said you could hear the two laughing at each other's stories till the wee hours. Jessie referred to Phil as being a wonderful man and Bert's best buddy. She was never aware the two were first cousins. She also remembered on one occasion, Phil invited them aboard his ship for a tour and dinner. Like many friendships, contact dwindled to yearly visits, until they completely lost touch. Jessie never even met Phil's wife Alma.
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1905 - 1963 (58 ans)