Mel Culbert's Humidor

Today marks the 100th birth anniversary of the late Milward Taylor "Mel" Culbert (1920-1958). Mel was born 29 May 1920 at Poplar Farm on the Coursey Line near Lucan, Ontario, Canada to parents, Myron Manford Culbert and Effie Pearl Taylor.

Mel Culbert with his son, Terry in 1943.

Mel died on 20 July 1958 when his son, Terrence Patrick "Terry" Culbert was just 16 years old.

In the previous post, I asked readers of the Culbert Family History blog to submit photos of an item that has been passed down to them from a previous generation. In remembrance of his father, Mel Culbert, Terry sent me this photo of Mel's humidor...

Mel Culbert's humidor, now in the possession of his son, Terry Culbert. Humidors were designed to store tobacco and to keep it fresh.

One day, when he was a young lad, Terry and his parents were in the car on their way to the Culbert farm on the Coursey Line near Lucan. Terry was prattling on about how cool it is when old farmers and baseball players chew tobacco and spit it out.

Chewing tobacco - popular with baseball players and farmers, alike.

Mel, sensing the opportunity to teach his son a lesson, pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Here, son. Try some of this," said Mel as he handed Terrry a wad of his pipe tobacco. Terry was disgusted by the bitter taste.

After that incident, it's not surprising that Terry never became a smoker. Well, there may have been a few occasions when Terry had a smoke. We'll get to that part, soon.

When Terry grew up, he would purchase the best quality pipe tobacco for his father's humidor. Terry would add a slice of apple to the tobacco to keep it fresh. He had a few pipes of his own, as well.

You may be wondering why Terry kept fresh tobacco and pipes on hand if he didn't smoke. Well, sit back and picture this...

Once each season on a rainy day (it had to be a rainy day to capture the right atmosphere) Terry would add a bit of tobacco to his pipe, fling open the garage door to the elements, and light his pipe. There he would stand, smoking his pipe and looking out to (an imaginary) sea, PRETENDING HE WAS A SEA CAPTAIN.

Sea captain fantasy: how Terry imagines himself.

Terry Culbert with a pipe. This was not taken during one of his "sea captain fantasies." You'll just have to use your imagination, folks.

Mel Culbert smoking a pipe.

To learn more about Mel Culbert, click here to read Terry's memoir of his father.

Milward Taylor "Mel" Culbert's Family Tree:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (grandparents)

Myron Manford Culbert & Effie Pearl Taylor (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Terrence Patrick "Terry" Culbert

Dana Elizabeth (Culbert) Garrett

Mary Jane Culbert (author of the Culbert Family History blog)