Mr. and Mrs. W. Grant Allen Celebrate Their 50th Anniversary
From Warkworth Journal of Feb 10, 1982
From the files of Margaret Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. W. Grant Allen celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary Sunday, January 24th at their home 94 Old Hastings Road, Warkworth, with a reception from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Grant and Elizabeth were at home to over one hundred relatives from Brampton, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Peterborough, Cobourg, Belleville and Brighton.
Garth Allen, Bryce and Janice Allen welcomed the guests, the latter wearing a beige chiffon dress with gold and brown mum corsage and black accessories.
Their father and mother assisted by her bridesmaid, Mabel Wellard, received their guests in the spacious livingroom, which was tastefully decorated with floral arrangements, one being yellow, long-stemmed roses on the mantel, a gift from their family.
The bride wore a charming russet gold gown with a bronze orchid corsage and brown accessories and her sister was wearing a dusty blue gown with coral rose corsage and black accessories.
The 50 year groom wore a navy pin-striped suit with a yellow rose in his lapel.
Dr. Arnold Henry who had been his boyhood chum's bestman was unable to be present as he resides in Palm Beach during the winter.
At noon Dr. Henry telephoned and talked to both Mr. and Mrs. Allen and stated how. disappointed he was in not being with them but wished them many more years together and said he would be seeing them come May when he returns to his home in Brechin.
The dining-room was beautiful with the table as the focal point, covered with a pale beige, hand embroidered table cloth, trimmed with wide ecru lace. The centrepiece was of bronze and gold mums in a silver bowl, flanked by silver candleabra with tall white tapers.
On the buffet nearby was an arrangement of gold mums and displayed by it was a glass berry bowl with gold fluted edge, and 6 matching fruit nappies, a family gift given to Grant's grandmother Loise, on her 50th wedding anniversary in 1912 and standing in the corner was a gold-headed walking stick, a gift presented to his grandfather William Losie on the same occasion.
On the opposite end of the buffet was the silver demi-tasse tea service presented to Grant and Elizabeth by St. Paul's United Church when they were married, at which time the bride was President of St. Paul's Young People's Society and the groom was Secretary-Treasurer of the Sunday School. At that time they were also presented with a pair of wicker chairs by the community, which they still cherish deeply.
During the afternoon Doris Arnott, Oshawa, a cousin wearing a pale pink gown and white carnation corsage was the dining room hostess, where a hot and cold hor'douvres were served along with the wedding cake.
Ladies who had served at the wedding in 1932 poured tea: Ruby Knight, Stirling; Sabra Ketcheson, Belleville; Nellie Buttar, Cobourg; Alice Huycke, Warkworth along with a cousin Enid Schloen of Whitby.
Those serving were Margaret Gainforth, Wooler, Wylanne Weatherson, Oakville; Elizabeth Van Blaricom, Mississuaga; Clarice Ward, West Hill and Lesle Campbell, Elizabethville.
Johanna Allen, granddaughter, wearing a hot pink dress with white rosebud trimming and a pink and blue baby mum corsage was in charge of the guest book. The Allen's have two other grandchildren, Hillary, wearing a matching dress of her sister's and Nathan, dressed in a maroon velour sailor suit, were present and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Sunday evening Mr. and Mrs. Allen held Open House to their many friends from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. It was the same “gala affair” as the afternoon with Miss Jane Wellard wearing a deep mauve dress and brown and gold corsage in charge of the guestbook and Mrs. Emma Findlay wearing a beige flowered dress and bronze mum corsage was dining room hostess.
Pouring tea for the evening were close friends and neighbours of the couple, namely - Margaret Greenly, Jean Wragg, Elaine Watson, Mabel McKee, Mary Hutchinson and Norma McCleary and serving the guests were Jean Dudley, Sharon Rowe, Patricia Honey, Sylvia Binkley, Grace Edgar and Clara Robins. All of the ladies assisting both afternoon and evening wore gold and brown corsages, a gift of the bride.
The Allen's have spent their entire married life in Warkworth; in fact Grant, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Allen, was born directly across the street from his present home, which they built in May 1944 and except for the period spent at Shaw's Business College, Toronto in 1928 he has always lived in Warkworth.
After graduating from Warkworth High School he assisted Mr. P. S. Ewing as Municipal Clerk and Insurance Agent. Later they went into partnership and the business was known as Ewing & Allen Insurance. This business is now known as “G. & B. Allen Insurance Brokers Ltd.” as his son Bryce Allen after graduating in Business Administration from Seneca College went into partnership with his father. Grant has the unique distinction of being in continuous business in Warkworth for 56 years and still goes to his office on Main Street 3 days a week.
He has served as Elder in St. Paul's for 20 years and was Superintendent of the Sunday School for 15 years. He has always been active in supporting his home town in every way possible, from Fire Chief to Township Clerk and Treasurer, the latter from which he resigned after 40 years of service. He is a Charter member of the Men's Service Club and President of the local Curling Club. His hobby is collecting and repairing antique clocks. In 1980 he was made “Citizen of the Year” by the Kinsmen Club.
Elizabeth Duncan Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Duncan was born at Morganston but moved to Warkworth upon entering Warkworth High School in 1927 and the year after graduation was married to W. Grant Allen.
Elizabeth has always lived a very active life both in the community and church: for a number of years was President of the Warkworth Drama Society, a member of the Belleville Drama Guild, and the Cobourg Theatre group, President of the Northumberland Historical Society, when Barnum House was established as a museum. She held the position of SecretaryTreasurer of Northumberland Music Festival for 10 years and had the honour of being elected First President of Cobourg Presbyterial U.C.W. when it was inaugurated in 1962.
She served many years as Sunday School pianist and Sunday School teacher and President of local church organizations. In 1934 she restored a Victorian House and in 1967 restored a stone house built in 1850. For the past 19 years she has owned and operated a successful antique business.
The Allens were married January 23, 1932 at the home of the bride by the late Dr. Edwin Smith of St. Paul's United Church. They have two sons, Lionel Garth Allen, a graduate of Western University, London, Ont. who is (illegible) in Warkworth, Campbellford and Brighton. He is serving his second turn as Village Trustee and is well known for his coaching ability in hockey. He is married to the former Janice Tinney and they have two daughters and one son. They reside in the Maiden's Mill area.
When Mr. Howard Sheppard, M.P.P., a personal friend of the Allen's presented them with the Provincial 50 year Plaque he paid particular tribute to the work and loyalty the Allen family have given to their community and surrounding area.
