Note: Eloise Niday had graduated from Gallia Academy High School in the spring of 1933. In September she went to Columbus to attend a business college. After a few weeks she was homesick and returned to Gallipolis. At that time there was a program called National Youth Administration, which gave low-paying, part-time jobs paid by the Roosevelt government. She worked as the high school secretary to Edwin Higgins, who was then principal. "Harold and I started dating late in the fall of 1933. I had a car, and we went to Schartz's Grill on the corner of Second and State, or to a picture show."
"We were married in July 1936 and went to Point Pleasant (Lowe Hotel) and Pittsburgh (Hotel William Penn) for our honeymoon. Afterwards we lived on Grape Street in an apartment for a few months, then we had half a house on Third Avenue between State and Court." Eloise worked at Wiseman & Wickline Insurance and Murphy's (Ten Cent Store), before she became secretary to superintendent Edwin E. Higgins.
In 1941 Martha was born at Holzer Hospital [or the Gallipolis Clinic] on a Thursday about 5.00 in the morning. Since then Eloise has worked some as a secretary or the Gallia County Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles and sold drivers' licenses and license plates at Doc Smith's Smith Buick Company.
Miss Helen McNealey and Miss Susannah Lupton were joint hostesses Wednesday evening at a linen shower honoring Miss Eloise Niday, a coming bride. After the gifts were presented the evening's diversion was cards, and when scores were tallied Miss Louise Switzer was rewarded with a favor for being high and Miss Marjorie Wallace was consoled. Tempting refreshments were served after play. Miss Niday is to be married next Wednesday, July 29 to Mr. Harold Brown.
At 8:30 Wednesday evening, July 29, Miss Eloise Niday, daughter of Mrs. E.C. Niday of this city, became the bride of Mr. Harold Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Brown of Fairmont, W. Va. Rev. L. W. [Lewis Weber] Gishler of First Presbyterian church of Gallipolis read the single ring ceremony in the Methodist Episcopal church at Mason City, W.Va. The church which was beautifully decorated in Queen Anne's lace and mountain laurel with sort white candl lighting, was the scene this morning at 11 o'clock of the marriage of the bridegroom's cousin, Miss Evelyn Foglesong of Mason City to Ray Proffitt of Pt. Pleasant. Miss Niday and her maid of honor, Miss Helen McNealey of this city, were dressed in summery frocks of chiffon and made pretty pictures as they met the groom and his best man, Donald Foglesong of Mason City, at the altar. Miss Mary Louise Mohr of this city played the nuptial music. Immediately after the ceremony there was an informal reception at the home of Mr. Brown's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Foglesong. After a short wedding trip the couple will reside here. Mrs. Brown is one of the city's fairest and most winsome girls. She graduated from F. A. H. S. in 1933 and has been employed as stenographer with the Wiseman and Wickline Insurance agency. Mr. Brown has made many friends here during his association at the G. A. H. S. as athletic coach. He received his degree at Ohio university and is a member of Delta Tau Delta national social fraternity and of Torch and Blue Key men's honorary fraternities. Those attending from her in addition to the members of the bridal party were the bride's mother and sister, Mrs. E. C. Niday and Mrs. Frank Robinson, Miss Helen Arthur, Miss Louise Switzer and Miss Susanna Lupton.
[Another article with photo of Eloise from the Gallipolis Daily Tribune]
Mrs. Harold Brown Miss Eloise Niday, daughter of Mrs. Goldie Niday, and Mr. Harold Brown, Gallipolis high school athletic coach, were united in marriage last Wednesday. Rev. L. W. Gishler of the Gallipolis Presbyterian church read the service. The bride was honored by many pre-nuptial affairs.
Note: Harold and Eloise spent their wedding night at the Lowe Hotel in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. They went back to Mason the next day for the wedding of Harold's first cousin Evelyn Foglesong to Ray Proffitt.
Next Eloise and Harold headed off for the big city of Pittsburgh. (I suppose that they drove their car.) They stayed at the Hotel William Penn for two nights at a cost of $5.25.
Eloise's "colonial bridal bouquet," which included mixed flowers and lots of Queen Anne's Lace, cost $5.15, almost as much as those two nights at the Hotel William Penn in Pittsburgh.
Note: The bill for the safe delivery of Martha Katharine Brown was as follows:
Nov. 4, 1941 Mrs. Harold Brown #36 Laboratory Work - Wasserman test $ 5.00 Delivery Room Fee 7 Anaesthetic 12.50 Hospital Care, 5 days 30.00 Special Medicines and Supplies 1.00 Sales Tax on Meals .09 Total: $55.74 Paid in full November 8, 1941
Eloise remembered that a new childbirth anesthetic was used: "Twilight Sleep." I wonder what it was.
Emanon is a meaningless word, simply "no name" spelled backwards. I wonder whose idea that was? It was a group of women who met to socialize, play bridge and have discussions.
In 1986 - 1987 the membership consisted of the following people: Eloise Brown Vivian Caldwell Rita Frazer Elsie Lusk Fred Martin Eva Mills Mary Mossman Lureva Mullins Pinky Myers Mary Parks Alvera Robinson Sadie Runyan Alice Saunders Joan Stiles and Helma White
Biographical Notes
Note: On 10 July 2002 Eloise left her home unit at 19 William Street, Hawthorn, South Australia to move into a small "hostel unit" at Malvern Resthaven, 43 Marlborough St., Malvern, South Australia. David, Ping Kwan, Dian Hansen and Martha did the moving and arranging of the room. Eloise, although sad at leaving her lovely home in Hawthorn, was positive about the move, saying that it was the right thing to do.
Memories
Note: During her long life, Eloise said that she couldn't remember her childhood; however, a year or two before her death in 2002, she began to remember. Here are a few:
1. Eloise's father Ezra Niday was the County Recorder for Gallia County. His office was in the large foyer of the court house across from the Treasurer's office. Ezra's office had no phone, but the Treasurer's office did. One day Ezra was called to the telephone in the Treasurer's office. Young Eloise was on the other end of the line. "Daddy, you know Mom?" ("Yes"--as if he wouldn't!) "Well, she whipped me!" One wonders what Ezra's reply was.
2. One year Ezra took young Eloise to the County Fair. He gave her some spending money to entertain her while he went to the races. Several hours later Eloise ran up to her dad in the stands, carrying a kewpie doll. "Look what I got with my last dime!"
3. Once Eloise became aware that her tummy was rumbling enough to make her hand move on her stomach. She assured her father: "I didn't pass gas; my bowels just moved." He had a good laugh over that.
4. Ezra rewarded young Eloise when she danced for him by giving her 5ยข. I think that she liked to do Irish jig kinds of dancing.
Ezra was in his forties when Eloise was young. He was old enough to really enjoy a child. Sadly, he died when Eloise was only thirteen years. Life was never the same thereafter for her or for her mother.
Memories
Note: Relatives
Eloise said that Herbert Sheets & his wife Edna used to drive Goldie, her mother, and Eloise to Grandma Burnett's for dinner on Sundays. They lived out in the country in Guyan township. Herbert had black hair and brown eyes. Eloise revealed that she didn't really like going to her Burnett grandparents, who were the only ones she had. Her first cousin Blaine Stevers liked to go, but Eloise did not.
The Gallipolis Garden Club celebrated its 25th anniversary June 14 with a brunch at the home of Lydia Simon. The original charter members were presented corsages of yellow [chrysanthe]mums.
Charter members attending were Mrs. Eloise Brown, Mrs. Betty Swanson, Mrs. Elsie Lusk, Mrs. Vivian Caldwell and Mrs. Freda Martin. Mrs. May Haskins, Mrs. Rita Frazer, and Mrs. Thelmas Shaver, who are still members, were presented with silver charms by Mrs. Janet Bolin, regional director. Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips and Mrs. Mildred Thomas, also members, were unable to attend.
Mrs. Rita Frazer presented a brief history of the club's origin and events. Discussion was held by reminiscing of good times had by all.
Each club member presented roses from their garden to be used as centerpieces for the tables. The door prize was presented to Mrs. Frieda Martin, a rose bush. Another rose bush was presented to Mrs. Bolin, guest of the club.
(I remember Eloise making flower arrangements for the Garden Club shows at which people from outside would come to Gallipolis to judge various styles of arrangments on their merits. Also the Garden Club used to decorage the bridge at the bottom of Garfield Avenue with boxes of geraniums, etc., in the summertime.)