Cape Breton's Magazine

Hilda MIeczko continued from Back cover (Now, when were those two photo? graphs taken?) 1945. (Just before you were married?) I'll tell you. I met Henry--oh, that's a long sto? ry- -you haven't got all day. That's the funni? est thing in the book. Finally when I met Henry--he knew me a long time. He'd been (following) me for months. I didn't know. But he want? ed to meet this English girl who was wandering through his life. And he got to meet me at a show. The first time that he got to talk to me, he asked me for a date and I said, "Well, I can't come with you because I've got an appointment with a photographer." And I think he thought I was...you know, pushing him off. So just to show him that I really wasn't doing that I said, "Come with me, Henry." And when I had the photograph taken, they took Henry as well, at the same time. But that was our first date, really. I mean, it wasn't a date, because I'd already had an appointment with a photographer. But that was the first time. But that was really funny the way Henry met me. (So you have no regrets that you spent the last almost 45 years here in Cape Breton.) Not one day of it, no. I had a hard time here, of course I did, after the war. It Hilda Tipper and Henry MIeczko In England during World War Two Open Fireplace Historic Comfortable Dining Room Telegraph House A chanmng Victorian House, where Dr. Graham Bell chose to stay and royally still chooses to dine, features rooms with period decor as well as modem motel units. Eiyoy home cooked meals in our licensed dining room, beside the warmth o?? open fires. Est. 1860 - Five Generations of the Duntop Family Baddeck, Nova Scotia BOE 1 BO Telephone (902) 295-9988 wasn't like it is today, now. For instance, those houses going up there. We never thought we'd live to see the day that hous? es would come up here. We were on this hill all by ourselves. Now, I'm watching them. The way they bring up complete sides of houses, and clap them together with--I don't know--staples or glue. I mean, a few days there's a house. But we did it all, all plank by plank, board by board, nail by nail. And it took us longer. (You say "we." Did you participate in building your home?) Oh, yes. Of course I did. I learned how to shingle, and how to saw on the line. And I learned how to paint without covering myself with paint. When I came from England, I didn't know a shingle nail from a 2-by-4, but I'm tell? ing you, I soon learned.... We built on a shoestring, because we didn't have much money. Henry left (England)--we were mar? ried in 1945. And he came over in Decem? ber- -back home (to Cape Breton)--December 1945. We were only married a little time. And then I followed him in a war brides' boat, April 1946. So in that time, we Ocean JtentalsUd. Lawn & Garden Equipment Tillers Sod Cutters Air Eators GLACE BAY General Engine Hoists Jacks Tow Bars 849-1616 Much More... South (Campbells Comer) - P. O. Box 265 -