12 Prospect Street, Bowmanville, Ontario. Dad and mom bought this house. It is basically a two story brick house, but mom got talked into having it covered with the white aluminum siding you see now. It used to have a garage of sorts, basically an old shack. This was the first house we lived in that had running water, a flush toilet, and a gas furnace. It felt a bit like living in the lap of luxury. However, my brother Eddy and dad did not get to live here long; they both passed away in the same year.
Dad's funeral was on Christmas Eve. On Boxing Day our pastor, Dominee A. Schaafsma and a deacon came to talk to mom and me. The deacons had a collection for us, and there was enough to pay down the entire mortgage. What an incredible gift from this immigrant congregation. It allowed mom to keep her head above water, financially. Even so, life as a widow with seven kids was tough for mom.