Annie Kitcher Chasse (b. 1886)
Annie came through Barnardo’s to Hazelbrae in Peterborough, Ontario. She sailed on the Vancouver and arrived in Quebec on August 7, 1897. She was placed with the Haney family in Tillsonburg in 1897 and later the family moved to Strathroy.
The Ups and Downs from October 1898 has this to say about Annie:
“ANNIE KITCHER (1897). Mrs. H is very well pleased with Annie, who looks bright and well. Says she has a good time with the children when she has done her work.”
Annie wrote the following letter to Ups and Downs in 1904:
“STRATHROY, ONT., Dec. 8th, 1903.
To the readers of UPS AND DOWNS I wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I received a letter from Mrs. Owen, asking me to write a letter for UPS AND DOWNS. I am pleased to say since I left the Home I have enjoyed the best of health. I was only eleven years of age when I came to Mrs. Haney’s home, and now I am nearly eighteen, so you see I have never changed places. Don’t I deserve credit? I have no desire to knock about among strangers; I am satisfied to be left here. They have all been very kind to me. I spent six years on a farm; last year we moved into town. I like the town, but I have been enjoying a pleasant holiday at our farm with the old schoolmates and neighbours. I can milk and do the work around a farm-house very well. I like this country very much. I would not care to take another trip across the ocean. I thank Dr. Barnardo for his kindness to me. I attend the Methodist Church and Sunday school. There are three boys and one girl where I stay. I remain, one of your girls,
ANNIE KITCHER.”