Dancing with the undertaker hope I can – Huron Daily Tribune

Mary Drier, For the Tribune

Being a journalist has been an amazing career with some memorial experiences because it opened so many doors for me and offered the opportunity to meet a wide range of people from all walks of life.

As I was doing some spring cleaning actually just shifting things from one location to another. I came across some of the journals I have kept over the years. Of course, I had to stop and glance through them for several hours.

As a journalist, I've been allowed to go places most people haven't.

I have always admired the "wedding-cake house" in Watrousville off Ringle Road. Over the years I left several messages asking the owner to do an interview about the house. There was never a response.

When the house went up for sale, I called the broker and asked for a tour. I was granted a tour of the magnificent house and was provided with the history of it. It was an awesome experience. Not many people can say they had a tour of the wedding-cake house, including the access to the widows walk at the top. But, I can.

Because of the articles I had written about the wedding cake house, a production company reached out to me last year to learn more about the house. It was a new program for the History Channels Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests, which earned me a guest appearance on the first show.

My interest in history and useless trivia finally paid off.

And, how many people can say they sat in the tower room of Vassar's North House and looked down on the city? The house on the hill is a bed and breakfast. I called the owner and was given a full tour of the unique house. The tour included being able to sit in a rocking chair in the tower room that looks down on the community. I don't think many people can say that, but I can.

Besides being able to boldly go where most aren't allowed to, I've done interviews in some unusual places as well.

A family gathered for a reunion in the Unionville and Gagetown area. Those who knew the family's history showed the others where the family lived when they first moved to the area, the country schools that were attended, the church the family attended. The tour also included visiting the Gagetown cemetery of St. Agatha's Church where several family members were laid to rest.

Because they were on the move doing the tour, it was decided that I was to meet them at the cemetery because they planned to take a break there at noon to eat lunch.

As some walked among the headstones locating family members, others sat under the shade of a tree at the edge of the cemetery. They shared their picnic lunch with me while I did an interview. The family has an amazing history and had had a strong connection to the area until the family moved away.

Whenever I see the stately towers of St. Agatha's Church in Gagetown I think of that family and the unique interview. I don't think many can say they did an interview sitting in a cemetery. But I can.

And, how many journalist can say they conducted an interview in a bathroom?

For decades, several generations of one family gathered at a home along the Bay City-Forestville Road for Thanksgiving. An elderly aunt of the family lived there, and she assumed the duty of hosting the annual get together for many years, which at times could total several dozen of people.

Because the aunt was in her late 90s, family members came from far and wide because it was probably the last Thanksgiving at the homestead.

About 80 people attended, so it was standing room only. With everyone talking, it was hard to hear and it was difficult trying to take notes while standing. The only quiet area with a semblance of the seat was the restroom. With the lid down I sat on the porcelain throne and the interviewees sat on the edge of the tub.

That event was recorded in my journal along with many others of my journalistic adventures.

Another unique event I received an invitation to was a Halloween wedding. The couple married on Oct. 31, so they encouraged people to wear Halloween costumes. It was a fun event. Little Red Ridding Hood danced with the Easter Bunny, and a wolf-masked man danced with a Little Debbie-dressed character. I had the opportunity to dance with Dracula, an alien, a cowboy, etc. How many people can say they danced with such interesting characters? I can.

I loved to dance. I was always the first one out on the dance floor and the last one off when the music stopped.

And, there is one event that I wrote about that still brings a smile to my face with I think about it. I was covering the 100-year birthday celebration of a former resident of the adult-foster care home Vadavilla out side of Unionville.

At that time, Vadavilla only housed 12 ladies. The birthday girl, for her 100th celebration, asked to have a steak dinner with 12 white-haired men, and to have music. Her wishes were granted. A group of local musicians used a guitar, banjo, accordion, harmonica and spoons to play tunes from the 1930s and 1940s to the birthday girls delight.

When they played a waltz, she clapped her hands and tapped her foot to the beat. Then, she grabbed the hand of a man standing next to her and led him to the middle of the floor to waltz. The man was Rollie Gaeth. I snapped lots of photos to go with the article.

I didn't realize the irony of the photo until I got back to the office. Gaeth was the undertaker of the Unionville Funeral Home at that time. Not many people can say they danced with the undertaker on their 100th birthday. I hope I can.

Excerpt from:
Dancing with the undertaker hope I can - Huron Daily Tribune

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