'Gram' Faragher Optimism Helps
to Keep Large Family Together
By Carrie Lee Macpherson
No one can come away from the home of Mrs. Amelia C. Faragher without
being an optimist.
Years ago her children and grandchildren found this out. Years ago
they learned that every visit to "Grandma" Faragher's house was a real
inspiration.
That is why there has grown up in this family an institution which is
probably not paralleled anywhere in Ohio - a daily tea party, presided
over by "Grandma" Faragher, which has continued without the loss of a
single day for more than 60 years.
Earliest Memories
That is why two generations of grandchildren have grown up numbering as
one of their earliest and fondest memories sipping tea from "Grandma's"
cup while sitting on her knee.
Let there be rain or shine, a blizzard or a gale - no matter what the
weather, Mrs. Faragher, who is 86, has her great teakettle a-boiling
every morning by 9 o'clock in her large, cheery farmhouse kitchen facing
the lake at 1918 E. Erie-av. just across from Century park.
And no matter what the weather, the children and grandchildren will
come in - not the same ones every day, but always from three to 20 of
them, I took refuge on the porch one day just as three daughters, two
granddaughters and a son were scurrying to it thru a heavy rain, and was
invited in.
Began in Log House
The tea party really began, I found, in a little log house that stood
where the L. A. Snell house is now, 2375 E. Erie-av, in which "Grandma"
Faragher and her husband, John Faragher, lived for about a year after
they were married.
But the present farmhouse is as it was when it stood on their 100-acre
farm. John Faragher, who was later a ship captain, and died 35 years
ago, was responsible for the morning tea drinking custom. He used to
come in from the field about the middle of the morning.
Years passed. Children came, grew up, built houses close by. The
hundred acres changed into city blocks. The morning tea custom
persisted, except that after John Faragher's farming days were over the
tea hour changed from 10 to 9 o'clock. Grandchildren grew up into the
privilege of "tea at Gram's." Bobby Baker is a big schoolboy of 6 now.
He has been prompt at morning tea ever since he was 2 and Grandma held
his cup. He could not understand for a while why school could not
excuse him for it still.
Writes Poem to 'Gram'
There were delicious cookies with the tea the day I happened in, made
by Mrs. Faragher, who is much younger than her years sound. She is a
sweet-faced woman, had a keen sense of humor, and is a delightful person
to know.
It is not duty that brings her children and their children to her home
on all sorts of mornings. It's the fun of being there.
Mrs. Faragher's granddaughter, Catherine Aileen Cameron, who recently
married Paul M. Titus, of the Princeton university faculty, is becoming
known for her little poems. She will never write one tho, which will
please her own folks more than this one, which she sent from Oberlin to
present her at the tea table:
I know just heaps of lucky girls
with families big and fine.
But I think I am the luckiest,
'cause of that Gram of mine.
She doesn't care one little bit
for show or fuss or splendor.
She just likes home and home
folks best; that's why her
heart's so tender.
And since I've been away from
her I miss her something
awful,
And for me not to see by Gram
it doesn't seem quite lawful.
And O! I just can't tell you how
splendid it will be
To go running up the road again
to my Gram's house for tea.
And now, in all that I have said,
there's not a single line
That begins to do full justice to
that dear Gram of mine.
Caption on accompanying picture:
Recent photograph of Mrs. Amelia C. "Gram" Faragher, who has entertained
her children and children's children at a tea party in her old farmhouse
opposite Century Park every morning for more than 60 years. The picture
shows "Gram" by the window, knitting - one of her favorite occupations.
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