Hotel Sumas and the Howell family...part 3 of 3

Posted with permission from the Cregan Marmont Collection

 

 

The gentleman standing on the locomotive was William Alfred Marmont, who lived with his parents in Bellingham, WA and worked for the Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad.   In his travels with the railroad he met and later married Margaret Dorothy Howell.  Margaret was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Howell who owned and ran Hotel Sumas.  According to Cregan Marmont  the couple met while he was boarding at the Hotel Sumas.

posted with permission from the Cregan Marmont Collection

 

Transcribed from the  back of the back of the above photograph:

 

Bellingham Bay and British (BB & C) railroad ran between Bellingham and Vancouver.  Burned wood.  Went up in the morning - come back at night. 

 

W. A. Marmont worked for the railroad 1891 - 1893 as wiper. (?)

Locomotive Engineer 1899 to 1902 at which date he left company to form his own company.  See letter from BB&B in file.

 

W.A. Marmont on Engine.

 

 

Posted with permission from the Cregan Marmont Collection

 

This letter is transcribed as followed:

 

 

 

Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad

Office of Master Mechanic

 

Whatcom Wash. November 14th, 1902

 

To whom it may concern:

 

One bearer, W.A. Marmont was in the employ of this company as follows

Wiper 1891 to 1893

Locomotive Fireman 1893 to 1899

Locomotive Engineer 1899 to October 1902

at which date he left the company's service of his own accord.  Is a man of good character and a competent Locomotive Engineer.

 

Yours Truly,

 

(Signature is not legible)