Nannie Strong Chamberlain’s Courtship
Nannie Strong Chamberlain shared these facts regarding her courtship with Joe Chamberlain with her family on October of 1948 at a gathering at her son Roy’s home.
She said that the first time she ever saw her future husband was on the corner of Page and Ash Streets. “He and another young man were going to their boarding place, the home of Sheriff J. H. B. Adams. Joe had on a seersucker suit, the sleeves to his coat had drawn up too short. I was the first cousin of Nora Smith. I was just home from Washington City. I wore a white dress and a big white hat. We afterwards confessed that we had inquired that afternoon who the other one was.”
“Well, I was soon very busy getting up my music class. I bought a new piano (that I paid for in installments)”.
The first date I ever had with Mr. Chamberlain was a blind date. I had two visitors, Sue and Nora Jones.
It was Sunday afternoon. One of the three young men callers was a stranger, Joe E. Chamberlain, who had been prevailed upon to come instead of Mr. Warren Archer, who had taken ill. Joe was very agreeable, but he said more than once that afternoon that he had come to accommodate his friends.
Sometime later Joe began calling quite often. Mama and I were then making our home with my sister Sid and her husband Brother Bass in their new home on Page Avenue.
The first gift Mr. C. ever gave me was this brooch – the gold initial “N”. Sunday afternoon walks were enjoyed by young people of my day. Cripp Spring, now the Aqua Court, was one of the favorite resorts. We were seated there talking when Joe said, “I have a gift for you”, whereupon he reached in his pocket and brought out a small bo x.
“Oh!” I said, “It is beautiful. I’d love to keep it, but
I don’t know if my mother will let me accept a gift of jewelry.” I took the brooch home and Mama consented to my keeping it.
This is my engagement ring. As you see, instead of a diamond it is of several pearls.
Then ensued a period of questions and answers, during which Roy and Mary served delicious punch. Besides Sid’s and Nannie’s children and grandchildren, there were present Nora’s daughters Lillian and Bethenia and Mary’s mother, Mrs. Meyer, a lifelong friend.
It was a rare occasion, where one’s love and affections ruled the heart.
This Tidbit in Time shared by the Hot Spring County Historical Society
The Heritage, Vol.10 p. 80
This Heritage, along with others, can be purchased from the HSC Historical Society