As the minister’s wife, Montgomery was an active member in the church and community. From important decision makers in the community to kids in Sunday School, Montgomery got to know Norval residents at all levels of society. The following people are a sample of those that crossed paths with her and were mentioned often in her journals. They include family members and friends, churchgoers, rivals, and acquaintances.

Ewan, Stuart and Chester Macdonald

Some of the most important people to Montgomery’s time in Norval were her family.

In 1926, her husband, Reverend Ewan Macdonald, took up dual ministry at Norval Presbyterian Church and Union Presbyterian Church, prompting their move. Together, he and Montgomery attended many social events and hosted many of their own as well. They met with parishioners, attended weddings and funerals, and were there for many milestones in the Norval community.

Their sons, Chester and Stuart, quickly integrated into village life, making friends with other children in Norval and taking part in local pastimes. Montgomery records often in her journal that they would go swimming in the summer and skating in the winter on the Credit River.

Chester attended a private school in Aurora instead of the local Norval school, but worked for a summer at the Norval mill and later at O’Neill’s Garage in Georgetown. In 1932, he married a local girl, Luella Reid, in private but didn't share the news until 1933, shocking the family.

Montgomery writes in her journal, “Chester has been working in the mill here most of the month. It is good for him and should keep him out of mischief…” August 14, 1926. Includes a photo of the Norval Mill taken by Montgomery. Click on the image for more details.

Stuart attended Norval school before also leaving for boarding school like his brother in 1928. Just like his mother, Montgomery notes that he was a lover of nature, wildlife and pets that lived in Norval.

Ernest and Ida Barraclough

The Barraclough’s were residents of Glen Williams, not Norval, but were such good friends of Montgomery that they cannot be missed. Upon immigrating to Canada in 1904 from England, Ernest Barraclough married Ida Stirrat, the daughter of a Glen Williams family. He became the proprietor of the Glen Woollen Mills and was also involved with countless community organizations. Ernest and Ida were members of Union Presbyterian Church, where Macdonald was minister.

Montgomery and her family stayed with the Barraclough’s in Glen Williams before moving into the Manse in Norval. The two families remained good friends throughout Montgomery’s time in Norval. Her journals are peppered with praises of the Barraclough's, as well as notes of the dinners, plays and many social events they all attended together. Going for drives in their fashionable cars was also a favourite pastime to do together.

“We attended to business all day and at five met Mr. and Mrs. Barraclough of Glen Williams at the Walker, they having come out to pilot us out to their home where we were to stay till after the induction. They are the nicest people in our congregation and – which is neither a cause nor consequence – the wealthiest. He owns woollen factories in Glen Williams and has a lovely home there. Mrs. Barraclough is a darling.” L.M. Montgomery’s journal, February 28, 1926

Luella Reid

Luella Reid was born in 1911 in Norval to parents Robert and Ella May Reid. The family attended Norval Presbyterian Church and Luella was active in many church events. She married Montgomery’s son Chester in secret in 1932 and announced their marriage in 1933. The couple moved to Toronto, where Luella gave birth to their daughter and Montgomery’s first grandchild in 1934.

Dr. Samuel Webster

An esteemed figure in Norval’s history, Dr. Samuel Webster was the physician in Norval from 1865 to 1909. He held other important positions in the community, including Reeve of Esquesing for five years and serving as a councillor for four years. He and his wife, Belle, who was a Gollop before marriage, lived close to the Presbyterian church and manse.

Although the Websters were members of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Norval, they would have crossed paths with Montgomery at community events. Dr. Webster passed away in 1928 while Montgomery was living in Norval and the funeral was well attended.

George Lee Watson and Dr. Samuel Webster, 1922. From the Esquesing Historical Society, EHS21794. Click on the image for more details.

The Gollops

William George “Geordie” Gollop and his wife were parishioners at Norval Presbyterian Church and nearby neighbours to Montgomery. The couple attended social and church events with Montgomery and Macdonald, and were also both involved in Old Tyme Nite events.

The Gollops were well known in the community for their gardens. The Georgetown Herald reported that “their home is their chief hobby and their efforts have made it the show-place of this village on the Credit River. Terraces, smooth lawns, well-tended flowers and beautiful hedges draw more than a mere glance of admiration.”

In fact, it was their gardens that created a two-year “row” between them and fellow neighbours, the McPhersons and Websters. Amused Norval residents referred to it as the “War of the Hollyhocks” as they battled for garden supremacy. The rivalry was much less amusing to Montgomery, who tried to help soothe tensions to no avail. The quarrel was one of many Montgomery records happening between residents and contributed to her view of Norval Presbyterian’s congregation, in particular, being “touchy” (Aug 19, 1934).

The home and garden of the Gollops, c. 1920. From the Esquesing Historical Society, EHS10824. Click on the image for more details.

Oliver and Margaret Hunter

Oliver and Margaret Hunter were members of the Norval Presbyterian Church and became good friends of Montgomery’s. She would often attend events with them and noted in her journals, at her and Macdonald’s goodbye event in 1935 that, “Oliver Hunter, who has been our friend right through and stood up for us, made the only good Norval speech” (April 4, 1935).

The McClure’s

The McClure’s were a large family belonging to Norval Presbyterian Church including the brothers Joe, Arthur, Sam, Clarence and Garfield. Four of the brothers served as elders at the church.

Montgomery and Macdonald would regularly have dinner with Arthur McClure and his wife, who were known for hosting wonderful banquets. While Montgomery wrote favourably of Joe and Arthur and seemed to have gotten along with their respective families, her relationships with Sam and Garfield McClure soured by the end of living in Norval.

In their early years in Norval, Montgomery wrote that she and Macdonald were great friends with Garfield and he was very involved in Old Time Nites. But she reported their relationship began to sour after their son, Chester, married Garfield’s niece, Luella. Unfortunately, by the time Montgomery left Norval, they were not on good terms with Garfield and left as rivals.

The McPhersons

The McPherson family lived in the house next to the Presbyterian Church on the Guelph-Toronto Road. Although the family had 10 children, when Montgomery lived in Norval, only the unmarried siblings remained in the household. Montgomery became good friends with the sisters: Kate, Margaret, Charlotte and Florence. Their brother, Andrew, was popular in town for his beehives.

The Robinson’s

Nelson and Laura Robinson were a local family who attended Norval Presbyterian Church. Nelson was the local butcher in Norval who Montgomery would have bought her meats from. He was also a former Reeve of Esquesing, one-time president of the Esquesing Agricultural Society and a prominent member of the church. His wife once recommended a maid to Montgomery and when the maid wasn’t satisfactory, Montgomery had to lie about it to keep on good terms.

The Russell's

John, Jim and Don Russell were three brothers who worked a large farm in Norval. Montgomery wrote in her journal that “Jim Russell is one of our best friends” (Feb 13, 1935). Their farm included Russell’s Hill with the row of pine trees that Montgomery wrote fondly about in her journal.

View of Norval from Russell’s Hill, one of Montgomery’s favourite places, 1920. From the Esquesing Historical Society, EHS10185. Click on the image for more details.

The Brown Family

Although the Brown family were not parishioners at Norval Presbyterian or Union Presbyterian Church, Montgomery notes in her journal that she knew them well. Unfortunately, the father, George, and his three children were in a car accident in July 1928. The children were killed, leaving the community in shock. Montgomery’s son Stuart and three of his friends were witnesses to the crash and he was a pallbearer at the funeral.