Ethel Powers Simpson & Wendy Jessome Douthwaite
This interview features two members of the Powers family. Ethel Amelia Florence Powers was born in 1942, is the daughter of Charles and Ada Powers, and grew up at The Brown Homestead with many stories from the 1940s and 50s there. Wendy Ann Jessome Douthwaite is Ethel’s niece and grew up in a house just down the street on a different part of the farm. As such, Wendy also has clear childhood memories of this site and visiting her grandpa Charlie in the John Brown House.
This interview was conducted at The Brown Homestead in St. Catharines, ON, on November 7, 2024. Interviewees preferred an audio recording only.
Introducing Ethel & Wendy
Ethel is the daughter of Charles and Ada Powers, and the granddaughter of Lafontaine and Mary Ann Powers who purchased the John Brown House from Joseph Chellew Jr. in 1902. She grew up at The Brown Homestead and has many stories from her childhood, playing with her siblings, working on the farm, and experiencing both joy and trials along the way.
Wendy was born in 1957 to Fred and Martha Jessome. Martha was Ethel’s eldest sister. Wendy grew up in a house just down the street from The Brown Homestead, as part of the original farm. As such, Wendy also has clear childhood memories of this site and visiting her grandpa Charlie in the John Brown House.
Bringing History to Life
Wendy Ann Jessome, her brothers Freddie and Donnie, and their cousins enjoy a holiday gathering together in the dining room of the John Brown House. Grandpa Charlie smiles in the background, c. 1960s.
Ethel and Wendy’s stories continue to shape our understanding of The Brown Homestead’s rural history including how the interior of the John Brown House has been renovated and changed over time, how the surrounding acreage was used to house barns, orchards, and animal pens, and how they interacted with the community around them. Through this interview, these women bring life to some of the people who called this place home and walked these very halls.
Ethel and Wendy both live nearby and are great supporters of The Brown Homestead’s work, donating photographs and attending public events. Their memories are a treasure as we continue to gather information and share stories about this special place. When you come for a tour, plenty of the information shared by your guide will have come from these conversations with Ethel, Wendy, and family members that we’ve met over the years.
Ethel captioned this photo “Dad (Charlie) with lady friends. His first car.” c. 1920s. Note the west side of the John Brown House and Pelham Road in the background.
Ethel recalls riding horses as some of her favourite childhood memories.
Ethel and one of her older sisters cleaning up in the kitchen in the John Brown House, c. 1950s.