Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen - The Whitby, Ontario Years

When we left the Carscallens in part 4, they’d bid a final farewell to China. They left on 20 October 1926 by way of India, Egypt and Rome. Christmas Day was spent on the Indian Ocean. In January, they reached Italy and spent several wonderful days there, sightseeing.

Canadian Passenger Lists show Charles and Hulda and their children, Alice and Jane (Helen) aboard the S.S. Conte Biancamano sailing from Genoa, Italy to New York.

S.S. Conte Biancamano

They arrived in Toronto on 6 February 1927 and were met by their son, Charlie and members of Charles’ family. Their daughter, Kay arrived the next day from Alma College in St. Thomas and the family was reunited.

The Carscallens rented a house at 1220 Ossington Avenue. Charles’ brother, Morley Carscallen lived on this same street.

1220 Ossington Avenue, Toronto in 2017, 90 years after the Carscallens lived here.

The house wasn’t ready for them to move into yet so they spent a few weeks travelling to St. Thomas, Dresden, Wallaceburg, Lucan and Stratford, visiting relatives. While visiting his family in Dresden, Charles was ill again and had to spend some time in bed.

In March 1927, they settled into the Ossington Avenue house. Alice started school at Oakwood Collegiate Institute, a secondary school in Toronto, and Helen attended McMurrich Public School.

The Carscallens spent a year in Toronto and during this time, the family took advantage of the city’s many cultural and recreational activities.

In May 1927, Hulda May was called upon 18 times to give talks to church groups, conferences, and missionary services. The theme she most often chose was “The Intellectual and Literary Revolution in China.”

Charles and Hulda May attended the June 1927 Convocation at Alma College where their daughter Kay graduated, winning prizes for mathematics and music, and a medal for school spirit. 

Kay Carscallen's entry in the Almafilian (Alma College Yearbook), 1927.

This same year, Rev. Charles Rupert Carscallen received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Victoria College’s Faculty of Theology.

After spending a year in Toronto, Charles was invited to become Governor and Principal of Ontario Ladies College (O.L.C.) in Whitby, Ontario. 

Rev. Dr. Charles Rupert Carscallen was the Principal and Governor of Ontario Ladies’ College in Whitby, Ontario. It became known as Trafalgar Castle School in 1979.

The Main Hall at Ontario Ladies' College.

The Main Hall at O.L.C., looking toward the Grand Staircase.

The Carscallens moved to Whitby on 1 May 1928, northeast of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

They moved into the Principal’s residence called “The Cottage,” a two-storey addition to the main structure of the college building.

The Principal's residence known as "The Cottage" is at the far right of the building.

During this time, Hulda May’s cultural life and social life blossomed. She attended the Women’s Canadian Club, the West China Club, the Library Association, and many special events. She belonged to the Toronto Art Gallery and the Ontario Museum. She frequently went to plays and movies. She joined a library study group and an art group. She spent a lot of time at Toronto’s Central Library, and attended lectures and musical concerts. At O.L.C. she taught a class in Religious Knowledge and another in Modern History. She was involved deeply in the work of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the United Church, and continued to give speaking engagements.

She worked to improve the library at the Ontario Ladies' College, as there was no official Librarian.

The O.L.C. library

She continued to entertain guests in her home, giving regular dinner parties to students, and receiving anyone who contributed to the enrichment of life at the college such as board members, speakers, artists, musicians – as well as personal friends, former China colleagues, hundreds of delegates to conferences held at O.L.C., and celebrities.

The following people are just a few of the interesting guests Hulda May entertained at her home:

Arthur Lismer, one of the founders of the Group of Seven, the most important group of Canadian artists of the first decades of the twentieth century.

Arthur Lismer

Rev. Dr. Charles William Gordon, the most successful Canadian novelist of the early 20th century. Using the pen name, Ralph Connor, one of his best known works was Glengarry Schools Days.

Rev. Dr. Charles William Gordon aka Ralph Connor.

Fritz Kreisler, an Austrian-born American violinist and composer; considered one of the greatest violin masters of all time.

Fritz Kreisler.

B. K. Sandwell, editor of Saturday Night magazine was a house guest and speaker at O.L.C.’s 1939 commencement. Sandwell declared that the Ontario Ladies College was “a preparation for citizenship.”…

B.K. Sandwell. Photo credit: Yousuf Karsh. Library and Archives Canada

It’s been said of Hulda May that she extended warm hospitality to her guests and exhibited a real interest in their lives.

The war years (1939-1945) found Hulda May actively involved in many wartime projects. Her biographer and niece, Eula C. Lapp says:

In August 1940, for the federal wartime registration of all citizens my Aunt [Hulda May] gave the day to help register the people of Whitby in the Town Hall. In February 1943, when food ration books were distributed, she helped with this project. She held an office in the local I.O.D.E. [Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire], and attended Red Cross money-making events. Like hundreds of other women, she began knitting and going to “knitting teas”, such as the one held by the Women’s Association of the United Church. She served on several War Savings Certificate committees and spoke on the plan at Kingston Presbytery; and she entertained twenty-eight women from the W.S. Committee of the Bay of Quinte W.M.S. [Women's Missionary Society] at a meeting at The Cottage.[1]

Upon turning 60 in 1941, Hulda May exclaimed, “A new cycle begins!”

Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen, 1940s. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

The Carscallens at Ontario Ladies' College in 1944. Left to right: Alice, Helen, Hulda May,Kay holding daughter Patricia's hand, and Rev. Dr. Charles Rupert Carscallen. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

As usual, the 1940s saw Hulda May engaged in public speaking and doing committee work. In 1946, she was elected Vice President of the Ontario Library Association and Chairman of the School and Intermediate Libraries Section.

Riding classes at Ontario Ladies' College

Remembering time spent at her grandparent's home on the grounds of O.L.C., Betty Marmura said, "I used to spend hours as a child, admiring the horses."

Hulda May's granddaughter, Betty Carscallen admiring the horses. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

Betty has another memory from her grandparents' years at Ontario Ladies' College. "I think it was the summer of 1946 or 1947 when my brother and I turned on a strategically placed sprinkler in the middle of a garden party. Grandaddy was not happy."

Hulda May’s biographer, Eula C. Lapp states, “We have no intention of trying to cover in any detail the twenty years which the Carscallens spent at O.L.C. That would require several volumes.”[2]

As Eula said, there is simply too much to cover so I'll skip ahead to their retirement.

Hulda May in her home office at Ontario Ladies' College in 1946. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

Closeup of photo above.

After 20 years of service as Principal and Governor of Ontario Ladies’ College, Charles Carscallen retired in August 1948. Many parties were held in honour of the Carscallens and the school dedicated their 1948 Yearbook to them. 

Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen, the "charming wife." Newspaper clipping courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

On 2 July 1948, their daughter, Helen drove Charles and Hulda May to Lucan for the 90^th birthday celebration of Hulda May’s mother, Jane Eleanor (Fairhall) Culbert.

Back row: Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen (left) with two of her sisters, Lela (Culbert) Beadle (centre) and Mary (Culbert) Hodgson (right). Seated in front is their mother, Jane (Fairhall) Culbert of Lucan, Ontario. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole from the collection of Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen.

Now retired, Charles and Hulda May purchased a house at 209 Byron Street North in Whitby. They moved into the house on 18 August 1948.

209 Byron Street North, Whitby, Ontario many years later in 2015.

The Byron Street house had four bedrooms which was a good thing as friends and relatives came often to visit.

Hulda May’s granddaughter, Patricia Rowell recalls:

I spent the first three years of my life at Ontario Ladies College where my Grandfather was Principal. My memories are a little vague of my time there but I do remember loving to go to visit them after Grandpa retired and they bought a house on Byron Street.

Grandma had a very inquiring mind and loved to read and write, keeping up a regular correspondence with family and friends. She was very organized and I remember she had a bulletin board in the kitchen with the weeks menus posted on it. I thought that was great as I could then anticipate the next meal. She loved to play chess and even played with a friend via the mail. That must have been a long and tedious game, I think. I played chess with her once and to my great surprise and hers, I won. Sheer luck for sure!

Hulda May & Charles Carscallen in their Byron Street home. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

Even in retirement, Hulda May kept up a busy schedule of events and meetings in 1948.  Somehow that year, she managed to write 554 letters and 225 Christmas greetings, and read 132 books.

In 1949, Canadian artist Kenneth Forbes painted a portrait of Charles, which was hung over the fireplace in the Common Room at the Ontario Ladies’ College.

Rev. Dr. Charles Rupert Carscallen (left) with his portrait, painted by artist Kenneth Forbes. On the right is Mr. T.K. Creighton, who presented Charles with the portrait on behalf of the College. The portrait hangs in OLC's Common Room. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

The Carscallens celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary (50th) in 1955 at the Toronto home of her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Stuart Griffiths. 175 guests awaited Charles and Hulda May including all four of their children, ex-China friends, people connected with the Ontario Ladies’ College, church associates, and many friends and relatives. She was pleased that her sisters, Lela (Culbert) Beadle from Stratford, and Mary (Culbert) Hodgson from Lucan were able to attend.

Among the many gifts they received was their first television set, presented to them by their children. Their son-in-law, Stuart Griffiths came to Whitby to set it up for them. They were pleased to be able to watch movies and the National News on their set and they became interested in hockey. Best of all, starting in 1962 they could watch CBC TV’s Take Thirty, (aka Take 30) a daily afternoon television show aimed at women; giving them food for thought and alerting them to issues of social concern. Their daughter, Helen Carscallen was the Senior Programme Organizer of the show. The co-host Adrienne Clarkson went on to become the Governor General of Canada. It was Helen Carscallen who was responsible for hiring Ms. Clarkson at CBC.

Co-hosts of CBC TV's Take Thirty, Paul Soles and Adrienne Clarkson.

Despite bouts of poor health in her seventies, Hulda May continued to be active and even prepared and gave a few talks. She was always taking on projects and she even became a member of the Board of Directors of Ontario Ladies’ College.

The Carscallens continued to travel although trips of great distances no longer appealed. They were happy to holiday in Ontario’s Muskoka district. Despite the tremendous amount of travelling they’d done in their lifetime and the incredible distances they’d covered, the Carscallens never once journeyed by airplane.

In her eighties, Hulda May continued to enjoy special outings, keeping up correspondence, doggedly writing in her journal, and reading. In 1965, at the age of 84 she read 186 books. In 1968, at the age of 87 she wrote 720 letters.

Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen, an ardent letter-writer. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

Charles suffered a stroke in January 1968. With no hospital bed available, he was placed in a nursing home and died on January 24^th, a few weeks before his 90^th birthday. His children took charge of the arrangements for the funeral and Charles was buried in Dresden Cemetery.

Hulda May decided to move into Elizabeth Cottage in Kingston, Ontario: a home for senior women.

Elizabeth College in Kingston, Ontario.

During this time, Hulda May had time to continue exploring the tenets of Quakerism and to read many books by Quaker authors. Although she never broke with the United Church, she was greatly influenced by Quaker beliefs.

She had a bad fall in her room in February 1972 and suffering from chest pain, a V.O.N. nurse was called in. Her daughter, Kay Gowland helped out as well. By mid-March she was up and about and was called upon to make what would be her last speech.

Now age 91, reading and writing had become difficult for her. Yet the year before in 1971 she’d managed to write 261 letters (by hand) and read 83 books!  

In April 1972, Hulda May received a shock when she was told that her residence at Elizabeth Cottage would have to be cancelled. Reasons given were that she was too independent and therefore hard to handle, and that she had had several falls when it took two staff members to lift her. If she should fall in the evening or during the night, it could be very serious, since the Matron was the only staff on duty then.[3]

In May, Hulda May moved to Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood to stay with her daughter, Helen and Helen’s partner, Ricky.

Before the end of July, she was in an Extendicare Nursing Centre. When Hulda May heard she was going there, she quipped, “I suppose this means I’m on my way to Dresden.” She knew there was a plot in the Dresden cemetery adjoining Charles’ plot, awaiting her.[4]

An epidemic at the nursing centre caused her to be moved to another hospital for six weeks, and after that to a chronic care hospital

On 21 October 1972, Hulda May suffered a coronary thrombosis and died while being wheeled down the hall by a nurse. She was 91 years old.

Hulda May’s funeral was a moving service on October 24^th shared by three ministers. The next morning, a graveside interment service was held at Dresden Cemetery. She is buried alongside Charles.

Photo via Ancestry.ca

They are buried at Dresden Cemetery, 299 Trerice Street East, Dresden, Ontario in Plot NTR 19, Lot 22.

Her granddaughter, Pat Rowell said:

Grandma had a remarkable life. I can't imagine the guts it took to get married and immediately start the very long journey to a totally new life in China not knowing if she would ever see her family again. As we know she thrived there and had many accomplishments of her own.

Charles and Hulda May leave behind many fine descendants.

Hulda May & Charles Carscallen with their grandchildren, 1948. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.

Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen's Family Tree:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Fairhall (parents)

Descendants: (children)
Charles Newton Carscallen (1906-2007)
Kathleen Ethel (Carscallen) Gowland (1908-2003)
Alice Patricia (Carscallen) Griffiths (1913-2012)
Jane Helen Carsallen (1916-2003) 

The Carscallen Family in the 1960s. Left to right: Helen, Alice, Charles Newton, Charles Rupert, Hulda May, and Kay. Photo courtesy of Wendy (Gowland) Boole.

 For more information on Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen, I suggest reading China Was My University written by Hulda May's niece, Eula C. Lapp and published by Generation Press, Agincourt, Ontario, 1980. Without Eula's extensive research, I couldn't have written these blog posts about the Carscallens. Since it's no longer in print, visit your local public library to see if they can arrange an interlibrary loan, or purchase a used copy through AbeBooks.

Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa houses the Hulda May Carscallen and Reverend Charles R. Carscallen fonds. The fonds consist of daily diaries kept by Hulda May Carscallen and articles, reports, and correspondence by Rev. Charles Carscallen concerning his work at the West China Union University. Note that the seven boxes of material are kept off-site so you must schedule an appointment five days in advance and also apply online (here) for a free user card.

Footnotes:  
[1] Eula C. Lapp, China Was My University. Agincourt, Ont.: Generation Press, 1980, 120-121.
[2] Ibid., 112.
[3] Ibid., 151.
[4] Ibid., 152.

Hulda May (Culbert) Carscallen: an exceptional woman. Photo courtesy of Betty (Carscallen) Marmura.