C6-Sunday News, October 26, 1980 TRACING ROOTS BACK TO PRISON c Philadelphia in the 80’s-a mess “Roots” was a popular television serial a while ago, and although it dealt with chasing down African an- cestors, it sparked quite a [6t of ancestor-chasing among the rest of North Americans. I didn't have to chase very far my aunt, Dr. Lillian Salsman, did the job for me back in 1939 when she wrote a smal! book on the history of the Mason-Salsman family. “Our Lineage”, Aunt Lil’s book says: “When William (Mason) was in his twenties, being prepared for the priesthood, he was at home (Newfoundland) for summer vacation. His father owned a vessel and he and his sons, including William, were fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland. An American Man-of-War came upon them and took the lot prisoners, England and the United States being engaged in the Revolutionary War at this time. Mr. Mason and his sons being British subjects were allt lodged in the “Libby” Prison at Philadelphia where the father and one son died of starvation.” William Mason Jr. sur- vived this ordeal because of a wealthy Philadelphia lady who brought food into the prison for the family, allegedly because of their beautiful singing voices. Anyway, William gave up his chosen field (priesthood) and ended up marrying a chick called Mary Rogers in Halifax. They went on to have fifteen kids — the youngest being my great- grandmother. That sure shoots some of my arguments for birth control down in flames! Her ninth Child was my grandfatherand his tenth was my Dad. Last week I was in Philadelphia and ended up on the site of the old prison. The ghosts of my ancestors haunted me as I flew up to the top of the Pennsytvania Mutual Tower which stands on the site of the old pnson. It's a popular viewing area for the city (open 10 am - 5 pm. Admission $1 50 for adults and half prmce for kids ) They had a set of handcuffs on display and | wondered tf they might have shackled the wrists of Wilham Mason Srooor Jr ot one of the other brothers The father and one of the sons died, but in those days they didn't think cnough of prisoners of war to give them WAIKIKI °419 8 Daye / Nignta An & Hote: WAIKIKI 2429 '6 Gaya 14 Nayntn An & Moto! WAIKIKI = *559 2 Days 2) Nigihta Ab & teote: LAS VEGAS *199 9 Deye @ Niyhta Aa & Protea: RENO $199 5 Daya 4 Nights Ae & Mote: RENO '299 8 Daya 7 Nignta As & Ptutet 1666 Robson Sree! 10507 K Geo. Hwy Surrey 689-7117 Rep Travet Agent No 15/3 decent graves so I suspect that some of the fancy chestnut trees near the Liberty Bell are fertilized with the bones of my family. Thanks a lot! Philadelphia is a funny trayel- wise by Barbara McCreadie city to visit. Frankly, it’s a mess. A few years ago, everyone who could get out, did, leaving wreckage behind them. Stores were boarded up. Houses fell vacant and deteriorated while vandals looted. Everyone blamed _ the destruction on poor civic government. As_ the population dectined, so did the taxes resulting in no bucks spent on civic im- provement. Today, people are returning to the city to be closer to their jobs. The tourist bureau is desperately trying to interest visitors in “The City of Brotherly Love”. Construction is going Orchid Travel now offers... Airline Ticket Courier Service Oolivery of Airline Tickets of Aiport prices of required within the hour un f the North Shore 4% Downtown oreo for further info call: 984-0381 on all over the place in a haphazard attempt to get the city back to its former grandeur. That may take a while! Meanwhile, 370 new restaurants opened, they have built a little modern museum to house the Liberty Bell and all the old buildings that were the original home of the American nation are shiny and restored. To my surprise, you can touch the old bell. In the past, people hacked off pieces along the bottom for souvenirs but today it’s guarded by the National Park personnel — who wouldn't hesitate to shoot you if you tned to take a chunk home with you. They give a speil on the history of the bell, answer questions and cherish their relic. Benjamin Franklin would probably throw up if he saw what they have done to his old house! Since the original structure doesn't exist any more, Philadelphia saw fit to erect some steel girders patterning the shape of the house. The square contains some glassed viewing areas where remnants of the original foundation are enclosed and explained, using maps. A row of houses that old Ben owned, and rented out, still stand. In the basement of one of the houses, pottery shards and glassware are exhibited, found in the old PRIVY! Poor Ben! not even his outhouse was safe from archaeologists trying to reconstruct colonial America. According fo the guides, Ben was a _ busy gentleman, siring enough litte Franklins to populate half of Philly, most of France and part of England. His paramours liked him so well that after his death, some tour A reader responds Dear Barbara: I really enjoyed your story on the Vancouver Airport on October 12 and often wonder what citizens should do to improve the situation. Personally, I have travelled through numerous inter- national airports and without a shadow of a _ doubt, Vancouver is the worst in terms of fnendly service and high prices. The main bar is nothing more than a glorified beer parlour with waiters about the rudest you'll find anywhere. Until recently. it the also had to be about North Vancouver 1139 Lonsdale Ave dirtiest you’? find anywhere. The main restaurant and dining lounge are a disaster, as you so aptly described in your article. As a matter of interest, the other international airports | have travelled through are: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Hawaii, Denver, Baltimore, Dulles, Las Vegas. Calgary, Ed- monton, Toronto, Montreal, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Amsterdam, Winnipeg. Scot Simmons Openshaw Simmons Manne david ingram’s CENTA TRAVEL is happy to introduce Linda Eagland Senior Travel Consultant 980-0321 * Cabinat re-facing * Traditional & European styling Manufacturers of Reynolds Cabinets Reynolds Furniture & Cabinet Co. sore ave.nonnven, 985-9527 contributed paintings and letters to the city of Philadelphia. 1 wonder how he got away with his passport escapades in Quakerville! Philly has three places you Dp otos shouldn’t miss! And one while you wait gourmet cafeteria that is North Shore Darkroom 1527 Lonsdale worth the air fare to the city. 1560 Marine Dr. Tune in next issue. 988-9813 926-0421 SKYLINE TRAVEL SERVICE —The Seattle—King Country Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Combine to bring you the annual XMAS SHOPPING TRAIN Leave Van. Nov_8, 7:00am. Retum/Leave Seattle Nov_10. 7 15pm A CANADIAN WEEKEND AT SEATTLE WITH CANADIAN MONEY AT PAR (OR BETTER At a host of places including: hotets. shopping. sight-seeing. entertamment, restaurants, Tilicum Village & many others Stores Open Sunday Choice of hotets starting at $64 per person, Can funds, dbie oc. cupancy tnctuding roundtrip rail, 2 nights hotel and tax, bus between Seattie depot & hotel. Full payment required with reservation. SKYLINE TRAVEL SERVICE 563 Granville St., Van. Phone: 685-6102 Now Through to April 30, 1981 Victoria, B.C. 7 a Royal Weekender $39. 75 Person ¢ 2 Nights, 3 Days in a Large Deluxe Room Twin, Double or Queen Beds. 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