On May 2nd, 1914 the Baltic Steam Liner entered New York Port carrying mostly English and Irish immigrants. Racing to the deck, Caroline could hardly believe her eyes when she caught sight of Ellis Island. After 12 days at sea, America was coming into view. The steerage passengers (third class), were climbing the ladders from their quarters below deck to find a place in line to be processed inside the building. There was a mixture of anxiety and excitement in the air. Everyone was talking at once. “There it is” and “I hope we don’t have a problem”. It was going to be a long day.
Caroline was blessed. The Monk’s had purchased first class tickets and had saved themselves and their servant Caroline the discomfort of traveling “between the decks”. The ship, Baltic 2, had been built in 1904 and was quite modern and more comfortable than earlier Trans- Atlantic Ships, still, it had been a long journey. I can picture her with her long blond hair blowing in the sea air as the Pilot Boat guided their ship into the harbor. I know she had a big grin on her face. God had brought her safely to this place. He had a plan.
Meanwhile, up on the farm in Earlville, New York, Charlie was going about his business as a hired man. He was working on our Uncle Henry’s farm doing what hired men did in those days. He was milking cows by
hand, tilling fields with horses pulling plows and all sorts of chores that are part of our country’s heritage and history. How was a city girl going to make it in such a different atmosphere? She was unaware of the excitement she was causing in Earlville and surrounding county. There were people who couldn’t wait for her arrival. The bachelors, the hired men, young and old, were getting ready. The fun was about to begin.
Faith Break Moment
An example of an Enclosed staircase which had doors at the bottom and the top. Grandma’s hiding place when it thundered. .
One of the memories that is clear in my mind is Grandma’s fear of thunderstorms. As soon as she heard thunder rumbling in the distance, she headed for the enclosed staircase to sit on the steps and cry after closing the door. The thunder reminded her of the German bombings that were threatening London and causing fear in her homeland as she boarded ship leaving her family behind. Those fears became reality as German air raids began in London just months after she left for America. Letters from her mother Amy and three brothers at home did little to calm her apprehension. She became nervous and frightened when a storm was brewing. This became real to me while in Jr. High School because we had air raid drills. At the sound of warning bells, we would line up and go out into the hall. There we would kneel on our knees in front of the lockers with our hands covering the back of our necks and wait for the all clear. I remember the deafening silence as if we were waiting to hear the planes overhead. It was practice just in case.
It seems like we are heading for our spiritual enclosed staircases hoping to close the door and hide from facing the threat of Covid-19. We are worried about our families, friends and ourselves. Now is the time for us to stand strong in our faith and practice what we have been preaching. There will be casualties and there will be survivors but we are Christians who believe the truth that Christ has died, Christ is Risen and Christ is Coming Again.
We are an Easter People
God Bless You Rejoice!
