Lawrenceburg Boy Drives to Woodford, Wakes Officials, and Gets Married”
“Versailles, Ky, Sept. 15 –
Wallace C. Collins, 30 years old, stationed at Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, arrived home last night for a visit to his father, R. S. Collins in Lawrenceburg. As he only had 24 hours leave, he drove to this county accompanied by his father, went to Mr. W. H. Hitt’s home in the country, got his daughter Lucile 22, and drove to Versailles. As the hour was 12:30, he was compelled to awaken Mr. Lewis to issue a marriage license. Rev. M. D. Austen was aroused to perform the wedding ceremony, and the happy young couple drove back to Mr. W. H. Hitt’s house, where they will spend Mr. Collins furlough.”
Wallace and Lucile are my grandparents, and I found this article mixed in with some photos yesterday. I love that their wedding announcement was so unique in the paper, but what a picture it paints in my mind. I can imagine the excitement on their faces with this middle-of -the night wedding. This could easily be the beginning of a romantic, war story of WWI.
Lulu told me that story, and I can still see the twinkle in her eyes, as she remembered it. The headline in the newspaper celebrates the event in only a few words. This September wedding was in 1916, and their anniversary is around the corner.
Family stories make up history, not only those factual accounts we read about in books. “What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life — to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ” George Eliot
Yesterday at a funeral service for a friend of my dad’s, the story was told about how the two used to go pick corn and then take it around to friends and family. I can remember being on the receiving end of their times spent in the corn fields. After their corn-picking days were over, Daddy used to deliver a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts just because. Not too long ago, his mechanic told me how much those donuts meant to the men in his shop.
Celebrating today that soldier who came home for his bride! Celebrating family memories!
Sheila Ingle 