A New Year's Greeting to My Love by Ethel (Culbert) Gras

Ethel Culbert's love, Norman Gras.

Ethel Gertrude (Culbert) Gras (2 March 1886 - 21 April 1986) composed this poem for her husband, Norman Scott Brien Gras on New Year's Day, 1 January 1946. By this time, they had been married more than 30 years.

A NEW YEAR’S GREETING TO MY LOVE

              1 January 1946.

Norman dearest, husband of mine,

I greet you, I wish you a Happy New Year

In this very inadequate juvenile rhyme

That expresses some sentiments deep without fear.

 

Of course I am prejudiced far beyond measure

In the strength and wisdom of such a great man –

Both author and teacher.  But more do I treasure

Your honor, integrity, courage so calm.

 

The years have been many; the ups and downs, too,

We have been busy and we have been gay.

Life has been happy while journeying with you.

Forward we look to a still brighter day.

 

It is hard for me here to precisely declare

How much I do love and adore you, my dear.

About that, of course, you’re already aware,

So together we’ll toast to a Happy New Year.

 

Source: Poems and Rhymes by Ethel Gertrude (Culbert) Gras.

Ethel (Culbert) Gras, 1943. Photo courtesy of Jane (Gras) Heigis.

I’m hoping that some day, one of Ethel’s descendants will write a biographical piece for us about Ethel (Culbert) Gras. Ethel was a bright and engaging author/painter/poet and granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

In the meantime, here’s a little background about Ethel and Norman’s love affair.

Norman Scott Brien Gras was born 18 Jul 1884 over his father's tobacco store on Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario. Later in life, he would be described as "the most outstanding economic historian in the United States." He received a PhD in economics at Harvard University where he would become the first ever professor of business history. Norman was the author of more than a dozen books in the fields of history, economics and business; and author of scholarly articles appearing in the leading economic journals of England and the United States. The list of accolades goes on but let's return to our love story.

Norman and his parents moved to London, Ontario when Norman was about 13 years old.

Norman literally dreamed that he would marry a girl from Lucan. Norman wrote, “During two summers I had camped at Ipperwash. One time while waiting for a train connection at Lucan I lay in the sun and dreamed that I should marry a girl from that village, a girl with a red petticoat. Later, such a girl, though she has since denied any red petticoat came to London and shared a few entertainments with me at the Western. Later she – Ethel Culbert – went to Victoria University and on graduation became my wife and the mother now of three undergraduates on their way to undetermined heights in mathematics, technology, and medicine.”

Meanwhile, Ethel Culbert, age 19 had left her home on Poplar Farm near Lucan, Ontario around 1905 to attend Westervelt Business School in London.

Seeking a place nearby to live, Ethel says, "fate seemed to take me to Norman's home where his mother rented rooms in an apartment above a store. My small room was next to Norman's and a mutual attraction inevitably occurred."

Regarding their courtship, Ethel goes on to say, “They had a little Shetland pony and cart. We had many delightful drives and walks together for a year until he graduated from the Western University and left for post-graduate study at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.”

Norman Gras and Ethel Culbert married on 18 June 1915 in Albany, New York.

Around this same time, Ethel graduated from Victoria University at the University of Toronto with an A.B. Degree with honors.

Ethel Culbert's graduation photo, 1915. Photo courtesy of Jane (Gras) Heigis.

I was told by my aunt, Helen (Needham) Culbert that the Culbert family didn't take to Norman at first because his family background was German. (Another side of his family was Irish in origin but the Culberts apparently chose not to factor that into the equation.) Norman’s Germanic ancestor, Captain Michael Grass (then spelled with two s’s) emigrated way back in 1752 from Strasbourg to Philadelphia. Michael settled in the Mohawk Valley region of New York state just in time to participate in the Seven Years’ War. Later, he led a band of 900 Loyalists to Kingston and he was one of the founders of Kingston, Ontario. Despite his ancestor’s achievements, Norman was considered by the Culberts to be too foreign to marry their daughter!

Heritage plaque in Kingston inscribed with the name of Norman’s Loyalist ancestor, Captain Michael Grass.

Ethel and Norman went on to have four children, and they led a fulfilling life in the United States. 

Norman Gras died 9 October 1956 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, age 72. Ethel lived to see her 100th birthday. She died 21 April 1986 in Burlington, Vermont. 

ETHEL GERTRUDE CULBERT’S FAMILY TREE:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Edwin Culbert Gras

Ranulf Worcester Gras

Alfred Edward Gras

Jane London Gras

Note: You've already met some of Ethel and Norman's descendants. Click here to read about their grandson, Seaton Gras; click here to read about their granddaughter, Robn (Gras) Diekow, and click here to read about the seven-year 'round the world sailing voyage embarked upon by Ethel's son, Ranulf Gras, and his wife and children.