Margaret Alwilda Bonnar

Alwilda Bonnar was born 4 April 1888 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  She was the daughter of Robert Nelson Bonnar and Johanna Harris.  I wrote about their family on 20 May 2011.  Above is a photo of Alwilda.  Earlier I had learned that Alwilda was a nurse.  Guess because I am also a nurse, I became very interested in learning more about her.  She completed her nursing training at Massachusetts General Hospital.  I have come across two short articles that describe her nursing activity.  The first article is from an exhibit online at the virtual museum.ca  entitled "Ashes & Rebirth, St. Mary's Ferry North/Devon".  Credit is given to Robert McNeil & Carol Randall.

"Allie Bonner (1882-1969) graduated from the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing, Summa Cum Laude, and became a surgical nurse for Dr. Lahey, founder of the world famous Lahey Clinic in Boston.  Allie also nursed in the Bowery District of New York City, where she must have seen the devastating results of liquor on the human liver and thus perhaps began the roots of her hatred for liquor.  At some point, Allie, described as a big woman with a ruddy complexion, returned to Devon to care for her parents and her sister Maude Pangburn, and in 1924 was awarded full ownership of this house.  She was a 'character' around Fredericton because of her strong beliefs and actions.

In an article written by John Alexander, he describes Allie Bonnar this way:  Allie was a familiar sight on the streets of the city, usually with a fur coat that reached down to her ankles.  She gave an impression of gliding along the sidewalk instead of walking.  Her cane seemed to have no medical reason except that of being used as a weapon.  She could be described as Fredericton's Carrie Nation because her one central focus in life was the elimination of strong drink from every level of society.  Those who were known to indulge in the consumption of alcohol and those whom she suspected of leaning in that direction ran the risk of receiving the sharp edge of her tongue, loudly and publicly.  When there was a liquor store at Westmoreland and Queen Streets it was not uncommon to find Allie outside the doors of the establishment, berating the customers and attempting to smash the contents of the "plain paper bags" with her cane..."

She was a superb storyteller, very dramatic and just held you attention the whole time.  She talked about everything from war, to politics, to religion, especially Roman Catholicism, for which she held an intense hatred.  She was a very intelligent lady and was on top of current events."

The second article I received from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.  It was estimated that the date was about 1962 and the publication was the Fredericton newspaper.

Miss Bonner

Makes Herself

Heard on Liquor

A high-pitched voice burst suddenly Thursday upon the Court House room where Canada's royal commission on health services was holding a public hearing.  "The more liquor outlets there are the more hospital beds will be needed," it shouted.

"You can put that in your report", the voice went on evidently directed at Saskatchewan's Chief Justice Emmett Hall, chairman of the commission, "and tell Mr. Diefenbaker I said so."  Mr. Justice Hall reacted by announcing that the next submission would be from the New Brunswick Dental Society.

Outside, the owner of the voice identified herself as Miss Alwilda Bonner of Fredericton, a retired registered nurse and an official of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.  Earlier this week she attended a WCTU convention in Saint John where plans were made to fight any relaxation of New Brunswick's stern liquor laws.  A commission of inquiry was recommended sweeping changes in the law.  Miss Bonner also had something to say Thursday about fluoridation.  When the N.B. Dental Society call for addition of sodium fluoride to community water supplies to prevent tooth decay, she shouted from the spectators gallery, "Rat poison".

I think these articles speak for themselves in describing Alwilda.  I recently received an email from a grand niece of Alwilda's who stated that she left her home to the Salvation Army when she died.

I also talked on the phone with another grand niece who stated she believed that Alwilda also left $250,000 to the Salvation Army in her will.  She certainly held to her convictions.  I'll bet there are more stories about her.  Although I might not agree with her approach in expressing her convictions, I now know her better and hold a good deal of respect for her.