Macaulay Morrison Family
The Past & Present
Candlesticks from Glasgow
This is one of our memories of our mother, Marion ‘Morag’ Carey.
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In 1924, the Macaulay family was preparing to emigrate to Canada, Mary ‘Wee Granny’ Macaulay, wanted to take something special with her that would remind her of their lives in Scotland. Mary decided to take a pair of brass candlesticks that the family had used for special occasions and celebrations. Where these candlesticks came from is not known. Perhaps they were from Mary Macaulay’s parents or were something special that Mary purchased when she was first married. The candlesticks had some strong connection to Mary and she wanted to bring them with her to Canada.
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By John Carey and Neil Carey
Mary and her seven children left Scotland in 1924 on the ‘SS Marloch’. After a long ocean voyage and train trip they arrived in Red Deer, Alberta. The family lived in Red Deer for two years and moved on to their farm in the Clandonald Colony in 1926. After beginning their lives as farmers, the settlers built a church, Saint Andrews, for the Catholic members of the colony. Mary Macaulay decided to place the brass candlesticks on the church altar as a remembrance of their life in Scotland. St. Andrew’s Church and parish hall were the centre for social and religious activities for the farm families living in the Clandonald Colony. During the 1930’s, most of the settlers left the farms and settled into various locations in Canada. Mary Macaulay eventually moved to Richmond, B.C. to live with her son John Angus ‘Jock’ Macaulay until she passed away in 1953.
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Marion, Neil, Cathie, and Wee Granny
Marion ‘Morag’ Carey remembered the candlesticks and special the attachment her mother had to them. She always wanted to have the candlesticks returned to the family. In 1966, Marion decided to try and recover the candlesticks and keep them as a memory of her mother. Marion planned a holiday trip to Vermilion and Clandonald to visit her sister, Kathy McPhee and to recover the candlesticks. Marion wrote to her sister and asked her to ask the parish priest if she could have the candlesticks. The priest agreed, if Marion replaced them with a new set of brass candlesticks. Marion bought a new set of candlesticks and brought them with her on the trip to Alberta.
Marion 'Morag' Carey 1930's
Marion travelled to Alberta with her husband, Roy, daughter Mary and son John. They travelled in the family’s small blue Volkswagon. In Vermilion, the family connected with Marion’s sister Kathy McPhee and her daughter Mary Theresa. They planned to visit various locations in the area and meet some of the friends and relatives still living there. John, who was 12 years old, was not too keen on all the visiting and driving around. Marion had a plan that she hoped would keep John happy and occupied during the trip. Marion knew that their friends, the Macmillan family, were still operating their farm. Marion and family paid a visit to the Macmillan farm and John was invited to stay and help with the farm work. He thought that was a great idea! He could help care for the animals, work outdoors and even get a chance to drive the tractor and plow fields. John stayed on the Macmillan farm for three days and helped with the farm chores. He especially enjoyed driving the tractor and plowing the fields. Marion, Roy, Kathy and Mary Theresa carried on with their travels. While in Clandonald, Marion visited St. Andrew’s Church and exchanged the candlesticks for the new ones she brought from Richmond.
Marion and Roy Carey 1980's
The candlesticks remained with the Carey family after they returned from Alberta. Marion was pleased that her mother’s candlesticks had been returned to the family. They were a treasured reminder of Scotland and ‘Wee Granny’. When Marion passed away in 1996, Mary Dickie inherited the candlesticks. The candlesticks now sit on the fireplace mantle of the Dickie home in Northwest Bay on Vancouver Island. They are a treasured memory of Glasgow, Clandonald, ‘Wee Granny’ Macaulay, Marion Carey and Mary Dickie.
Candlesticks on mantle in Dickie house