Four Sisters, Four Different Women: Ethelyn

Ethelyn Violet Skinner was third daughter born to Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner on 7 May 1898 in Portland, Maine.  She was born at home at 41 Pitt Street in Portland where her parents were living at the time of her birth.  She appears to have been happy as a child living at home in Portland with her family in photos.

Ethelyn on the left as an infant in 1898 with her mother and sisters, Alice and Bertha.  Ethelyn age 4 in 1902 on right

She and her two older sisters attended Oakdale School in Portland which was located a few buildings away from where they were living.  Her mother contracted blood poisoning from the birth and for the next few months suffered, dying just weeks before Ethelyn’s 5th birthday.  In 1904, her father moved the family to Exeter, Maine where her grandparents could help raise Ethelyn and her sisters.

Ethelyn and her sisters in 1902 in Portland,

Maine Bertha age 10, Alice age 6 and Ethelyn age 4

At some point in Ethelyn's childhood, she was taken in by her adopted grandparents, John and Mary (Tibbets) Pease who had adopted her mother, Edna.  Ethelyn's daughter, Hilma said that the Pease's were willing to only adopt and care for Ethelyn because she reminded them of their adopted daughter, Edna.  It may have been that Ethelyn's father knew of his wife's unhappy childhood and adoption by the Pease's who only wanted to adopt one of his daughters, that helped in the decision in keeping his four daughters together and raising them himself.  There was a photo taken of Ethelyn as a child with the Pease's probably taken soon after they arrived in Exeter, but it does not appear that she was raised by them for any amount of time.

Mary and John Pease, 

She attended schools in Exeter.  A diary kept by Ethelyn's oldest sister, Bertha in 1913 paints a picture of Ethelyn and her sisters spending most of their days doing chores and homework with little help from neighbors or family with the family farm.  A letter from Ethelyn's uncle, George Skinner of Hyde Park, Massachusetts arrived that same year asking if Myron would be willing to send one his daughters to live with them to help with the household chores.  None of the girls ever left home as children to work elsewhere.  She graduated from Exeter High School in 1917.  She then took a teaching job in New Sweden, Maine where many people of Swedish ancestry had settled.  She resided with a family named Anderson while teaching in Aroostook county and the woman who looked after her was named Hilma.  Ethelyn named her first daughter after this woman who was so kind to her since it was her first time away from her family and home.

Ethelyn 1915, Exeter, Maine

Ethelyn about 1918

A postcard and a letter written to Ethelyn by Donald Smith dated 1918 while he was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts during World War I shows she had already met her future husband.  It is not known how they met exactly.  His letter to her discussed the idea of her moving to Corinna and earning more money by working in the mill there and to be closer to her family.   Ethelyn's sister, Bertha began working in the mill in Corinna and had rented a room in Corinna with their younger sister, Velma, who was attending school at Corinna Union Academy.  There had been contact between Ethelyn's maternal biological family, the Southards who were also from Corinna and it may have been through this connection that Ethelyn met her husband who was also from Corinna.  It is also possible they met through Ethelyn's cousin, Harold Skinner who was also stationed at Fort Devens with Donald. In 1918, she returned home and began working in the mill in Corinna, Maine. 

Donald returned to Corinna after being discharged from the service in 1919 and married Ethelyn in Corinna within months of returning home.  Their marriage was announced by Mary Pease, her adopted grandmother, who paid for their wedding as well.   Donald and Ethelyn honeymooned in New Sweden, Maine.

Ethelyn and Donald wedding 1919

They returned to Corinna and rented an apartment in town while their home was being built on Pleasant street.  Their home was actually an old barn that was moved closer to the road and rebuilt into a house on one side and the other side was for Donald’s business as a painter and paper hanger.  The land was given to Donald by his father. 

Ethelyn was a mother to six children.  She had first, Hilma born in 1920 and second, Athalie born in 1922. Then they had no children for ten years. Ethelyn then had four more children over the next ten years, Donald born in 1932, Gwendolyn born in 1934, Dean born in 1936 and Glenn born in 1940 when she was 42 years old.  She had all, but her last child at home. 

She raised the six children and was a very good cook.  Many of the memories of her children and relatives were the many great desserts she made as well as being in the kitchen always cooking over a hot stove, even during the summer months.  After, her in-laws home burned in 1946, they also moved in with her family, adding a separate apartment for them in the part of the house that was Donald’s business.  But as her mother-in-law became older and needed more help, a door was put between the residences, so Ethelyn could help her.

Don and Ethelyn with 4 youngest children, Malcom, Glenn, Dean

and Gwen 1946, Corinna, Maine

Ethelyn marriage was not a happy one as her husband was physically abusive to her and the children.  Because she had children to care for and no income, even the few times she left him, she returned home.  Her daughter felt that much of her father's issues came from the stress of having too many children and not enough money after the depression and war and took his frustration and anger out on his wife and children.  After her husband’s death, she was her finally able to enjoy her family and free of the constant worry of her husband’s anger.

As her children grew up and left home, Ethelyn was able to work outside the home.  She worked at the snowflake canning Company in Corinna and was a member of the Pleasant Street Christian Church.  Ethelyn was well liked by everyone from neighbors and relatives who felt she was always kind and caring towards them.

Ethelyn and Donald 1962 at their son

Glenn's wedding

For me as Ethelyn was my grandmother, I know was lucky to spend time with her as a child.  I remember she was my grandmother that hugged me, spent time with me and made me feel special. I liked spending time with her.

In 1972, after suffering from diabetes for several years, she had to have surgery as the circulation in her legs had gotten worse and started to cause her toes to turn black.  It was decided to amputate her leg to stop the spread.  She died following the amputation at Thayer Hospital in Waterville, Maine.

Ethelyn was buried in Village cemetery, Corinna, Maine next to her husband and son, Dean.



Donald Clifford Smith and Ethelyn Violet Skinner had the following children:

1.    Hilma Edna Smith was born on 11 May 1920 in Corinna, Maine She died on 21 February 2011 in Corinna, Maine. She married Thurlow Dalziel Knowles on 14 October  1939 in Corinna, Maine.

2.    Athalie Shirley Smith was born on 22 July 1922 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 9 October 1986 in Falmouth, Maine. She married Orris Stanley Basford on 3 August 1940 in Burnham, Maine.

3.    Donald Malcolm Smith was born on 15 July 1932 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 24 October 2020 in Gorham, Maine.  He married Barbara Dean Merrill on 20 November 1954 in Dexter, Maine.

4.    Gwendolyn Mary Smith was born on 8 March 1934 in Corinna, Maine. She died on 18 December 1990 in Bowdoinham, Maine. She married Carl Merton Bragg on 4 September 1951 in Newport, Maine, USA. She married Richard Fowler before 1967. She married Henry S. Gilliam on 28 January 1978 in Brunswick, Maine.

5.    Dean Wendall Smith was born on 17 December 1936 in Corinna, Maine. He died on 23 September 1997 in Bangor, Maine. He married Cindy Loughman in March 1973 in Bangor, Maine. He married Starr Lounder on 25 July 1982 in Bangor, Maine. He married Elizabeth N Lally on 20 June 1987 in Maine, USA.

6.    Glenn Stanton Smith was born on 27 December 1940 in Hartland, Maine. He died on 28 June 1996 in Gorham, Maine. He married Shirley Ann Buzzell on 31 August 1962 in Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, USA.

Four Sisters, Four different Women: Alice

Alice Marguerite Skinner was the second child born to Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner on February 7, 1896 in Portland, Maine.  Like her older sister, Alice attended schools in Portland until 1904, when her father moved the family back to Exeter, Maine.  She was raised by grandparents until their deaths and then by older sister, Bertha.  She attended schools in Exeter and graduated from Exeter High School in 1915. 

For a few years she remained at home helping her sister with the chores and raising her other two sisters.  Like many young women at that time, she would have been expected to marry and have a husband to support her.  However, that did not happen with Alice, either by her own choice or that she may not have had a “beau” in Exeter.  A class photo shows the ratio of girls far outnumbered the boys and with Alice who rather plain in looks, dark hair and taller than some boys, she may not have been the first pick of the few boys in school, especially when her younger sister had the blond hair and fair skin to compete with.

Alice chose to have a career in nursing.  Whether it was something she felt came naturally to her or because she wanted to pursue career where she could make her own money without a husband, is not known.  She attended Eastern Maine General Hospital's School of Nursing in Bangor, Maine starting in 1918.

Alice and friend at school in 1920

Alice at home in Exeter in 1922

Alice did not graduate from the nursing program.   An event while school would change her life and have far reach consequences that she probably would never have expected.  The rules of school were quite explicit that student nurses where not to become to familiar with the doctors at the hospital.  Any interaction outside of the school was forbidden.  Alice, however, choose to risk it all, when it came to one certain doctor who either preyed upon a young naïve student or liked the attention of having a young woman enchanted by him.

O. R. Emerson as a young man

His name was Doctor Oscar Rodney Emerson of Newport, Maine.  He was known as Dr. O. R. Emerson locally.  He was 20 years older than Alice and married.   He had married his wife in 1896, the same year Alice was born.  He was well known and respected doctor, having established a medical practice in Newport, Maine and covered a large area of patients.  Dr. Emerson at times, did surgery at Bangor hospital and worked with the nurses who training at the school.   We don’t know exactly how they met or who pursued who, but an affair began between them. Word got around about the “closeness” between the two of them and Alice expelled from the school. 

Alice and O.R. 1922

In 1920, she was listed as a nurse working at a hospital on the census record while living at home. How she explained her departure from school to her father and sisters is not known.  Maybe they knew or heard of what had happened or maybe a good cover story was invented.   Either out guilt of getting Alice expelled or he really loved Alice, he would now be responsible for providing Alice with work and continue to see her for the next twenty years.   

She became a practical nurse working at Chase Hospital in Guilford, Maine then later at the Dover-Foxcroft Hospital.  Photos of her show her having fun with the other nurses at the hospitals.

Alice and fellow nurses at Chase Hospital

Bathing Beauties 1920s Alice at

Chase Hospital in Dover

Plummer Memorial Hospital had been established in Dexter, Maine by 1920 which became Dr. Emerson’s main place of work.  As one of Alice’s co-worker’s stated, with Dr. Emerson’s reputation as a surgeon, he only had to ask for Alice to come to Dexter and this would be where Alice would work for the rest of her life.

Plummer Memorial Hospital, Dexter, Maine

In 1930, Alice M. Skinner, now 34, was a private nurse boarding with Ernest L. and Cora (Brown) Colbath in Dexter, Maine. Cora Colbath was a first cousin to Alice's father, Myron Skinner.  Alice developed a close relationship with them and referred to Cora as “Aunt Cora.”  

Alice at 31 Birch St, Dexter, 1934

Cora (Brown) Colbath, 1934

31 Birch St. Dexter

The year 1939 would be a pivotal year in Alice’s life.  Alice was now 43 years old and had been involved with Dr. Emerson almost 20 years.  However, living on a nurse’s salary she was able to buy her own house in Dexter, Maine.  The deed shows she paid only $1 and the phrase added in was “and for other valuable considerations.”  It was well known that Dr. Emerson was that “consideration.”

Alice's home at 113 High Street

Alice also kept a diary of the events of this year.  Her entries involved her setting house, buying furniture, curtains and clothes from Bangor stores.  Although she never names Dr. Emerson, she recorded her meetings with her “S” or sweetheart.  Sadly, many entries in the diary describe her waiting for her “S” to either call her or visit her.  At this point in time, as her visits and calls with her “S” were very few, it may be the passion of the long affair may have fizzled out some.   Afterall, Dr. Emerson was now 67 years old and there were rumors that he was known to friendships with other women as well. 

It would come to an end this same year.  On September 25, 1939, Dr. Emerson would be in automobile accident.  Alice noted the day before, that her “S” had visited and that it was a short visit as he seemed very tired and not his usual self.  Mrs. Emerson aware of her husband’s relationship with Alice had forbidden her to see him.  However, a nurse took pity on Alice and brought him to see him.  Alice again wrote that her held her hand tight in his and had tried to say something and she knew what he was thinking.  It would be the last time she would see him. Dr. Emerson died September 7, 1939.  

Newspaper death of Dr. Emerson

For next 50 years, Alice would continue to live her life in the shadow of this affair.  Although, she had the freedom to see her sisters and their families more often without the worry she would miss a visit from her “S” while she was gone from home.  She continued to work at Plummer Memorial and often worked with children or did private nursing for families in the area.

Alice in 1948, Dexter, Maine

Alice in 1958 at her sister's house in Corinna, Maine

She eventually began to slowly withdraw from society.  She became more of a recluse as got older and even with her own family.  Most family relatives can tell a story of going to visit her and she would not even answer the door or answer the phone.  She kept a photo of Dr. Emerson with her at all times.  She talked to it like he was there with her.  This may have been her way of coping with his death.  Her niece told the story of going to visit her aunt in Dexter and saw Alice sitting outside in a chair.  As she walked across the lawn and got closer, she realized that Alice was talking to Dr. Emerson photograph that was sitting in a chair next to her.   Startled when her niece called her name, she became very upset and told her to go back to the front door and wait there which she did.  Alice then picked up the photo and went into the house, put the photo away and then answered the door.  No mention was made of his photograph.  

Alice and her sister Velma in 1966

Alice remained living alone until 1985 when she became too ill to live on her own.  Her only surviving sister, Velma took her in to live with her.  But it was not ideal.  They had been close as sisters, but they fought once they lived together.   Velma died in 1987.  Alice was then placed in a nursing home in Brewer, Maine where died on July 31, 1988 at age 92.