Be Our Guest entry: Letter, Alice Monk
Maker
Monk, Alice
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter to the Be Our Guest competition written by Alice Monk (nee Wiggins) about her memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
Alice Monk was nine years old, and at Havelock North school when the 1931 earthquake struck. Her father had mustard gas problems with his chest and was on a pension, but grew flowers for a Hastings florist to supplement his income. He narrowly avoided injury when two rainwater tanks collapsed, as he had gone inside for a drink. He went to get two younger sons, who were three years and six months old, and were in the kitchen. There were six children in the family so they qualified for an army Bell tent. An uncle and two cousins came to help them after the quake, one cousin coming from Australia. Alice's family lived in a makeshift shelter until late May when they moved back into their house.
Alice Monk was nine years old, and at Havelock North school when the 1931 earthquake struck. Her father had mustard gas problems with his chest and was on a pension, but grew flowers for a Hastings florist to supplement his income. He narrowly avoided injury when two rainwater tanks collapsed, as he had gone inside for a drink. He went to get two younger sons, who were three years and six months old, and were in the kitchen. There were six children in the family so they qualified for an army Bell tent. An uncle and two cousins came to help them after the quake, one cousin coming from Australia. Alice's family lived in a makeshift shelter until late May when they moved back into their house.
Maker
Production place
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Handwritten in blue ink on lined paper.
Media/Materials
Measurements
In the Be Our Guest Folder No 2.: Height x Width: 255 x 205mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Credit line
gifted by Alice Monk
Other number(s)
m2006/27/150, 36052
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