Canada_1941 Letter With Sad Story

Sometimes the simplest covers carry the saddest stories.
This simple cover postmarked in Bracebridge in 1941 carries the story to a woman in Hamilton about the death of her sister the previous summer.




The signing doctor, Fraser M. Greig was a prominent local physician who worked with polio patients in the 1930s, and had a small mention in the story of Rene Caisse, a Bracebridge nurse who had claimed to find a cure for cancer with Essiac (yes, Caisse spelled backward), an herbal tea.

The pursuit of 'social postal history' doesn't always find the happy endings.

Interesting cover jamesw.

The name "Doherty" I have heard before and the doctor's name as well. As you know, I live in Bracebridge and these names come up periodically here and there. The duplex cancel is a very nice clear one. There were two (2) "Duplex" 7-Bar cancellations proofed:

1 – AM / JUNE 11 / 1931 (Has the month & day below "BRACEBRIDGE")
2 – PM / FEB. 27 / 1943 (Has the month & day in line with the "B" and "E" of BRACEBRIDGE")

Nice piece of postal and social history.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi Again

I have included an image which shows what the Bracebridge Hospital would have looked like around 1941



Also, and image of the hospital in the very late 40s to early 1960s



Chimo

Bujutsu

I thought you might find this one interesting Bujutsu.
And if you don't mind, I'm going to lift your 1940s hospital image for my album page. Will make a perfect addition

A very thoughtfully written letter. I doubt there are many contemporary physicians who would provide as thorough an explanation.

Don

If so, they certainly wouldn't have been handwritten!

But would you be able to read the doctor's writing?

I wonder if those involved would want this kind of very personal information publicly published? This kind of stuff always makes me uneasy. When I was a teen in the 1970s I uncovered some very painful family history when I was searching for stamps in the family documents. It caused a lot of upset and drama, some of which lingers even today.
Don

Be my guest jamesw

I am glad that you can use it. Images such as the ones I posted, and similar ones, I find are good for dressing up my postal history albums as well.

Chimo

Bujutsu

51stud, I always think about that before I post letters like this, but I consider the age of the letter, and the very good probability that those involved are no longer with us.

jamesw..Good post.

Robert