HOULTON, Maine — Vi and Cedric Glidden are a couple that have enjoyed love, a second time around. Both had been married before. Cedric to Mildred Jones of Oakfield and Vi to Phil Wallace, both for more than 40 years. They each lost their partners due to death.
Vi, now 90, was from Richmond Corner, New Brunswick, just across the border. Years ago many Houlton area folks met their mate across the lines attending local dances or musical events.
She moved here to Houlton, where Phil was a Houlton police officer. Vi took a job as a waitress at F.W. Woolworth Company where she remained for more than 25 years. She was an energetic waitress with a bubbly personality and a big smile. She also worked after hours making cakes for birthdays, showers and weddings.
When the popular “Five and Dime” closed, she worked at Circle T, a restaurant on Military Street across from St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She and her husband had a daughter, Barbara who now lives in Hermon.
Cedric, at 88, is a self-made kind of guy. He completed eighth grade and started high school. Once he got an assignment to write a book report he decided that was enough for him. He left school and has never looked back. He took a job driving horses on a local dairy farm first and then was asked to work at the Orange Squeeze Bottling Company located on Drake’s Hill. Cedric spent some time in the U.S. Navy and while in the service got married. He and his wife had two children, Joanne and Darrell, both deceased now. After being discharged from the service, he worked at the Atlas Plywood Company, located on Station Street, making veneer boxes, caskets and bottoms for barrels.
One summer he moved his family to Millinocket to work in the paper mill, but it was short lived due to an unexpected shutdown and layoffs. They returned to Houlton and he took a job on Judd DeWitt’s potato farm. Jobs were easy to come by back then, as farmers always needed an extra hand.
Not long after his move back to town, the late Tom Fitzpatrick stopped by his home and asked him to join Fitz’s Beverage Company.
With his background with the Orange Squeeze Bottling Co. Cedric was asked to make their first bottle of soda. He worked there five years and during that time joined the Houlton Fire Department, as a volunteer. Bert Wetmore was the fire chief and Fred Johnston was the assistant. In time he was asked to work full-time.
Glidden was surprised with the offer and admitted to Wetmore and Johnston that he did not have a high school education. Apparently at that time it didn’t make a difference. They had observed Glidden’s work ethic and thought he would be a good fit for the department. He remained on the force for 25 years. While there he took on extra jobs on his days off. One of those jobs was setting mobile homes for Carl Crawford. He sometimes worked between 70 and 90 hours a week.
At 60 years old, Cedric’s wife passed away unexpectedly while they were enroute to a vacation in Mexico. It was a shock and devastating to him and his family. His world was suddenly empty without his partner.
About six months later, the late John McGary, a friend of Cedric’s said to him, “Why don’t you ask Vi Wallace out, she is single and you two would make a great couple.”
Cedric replied, “She wouldn’t even look at me, let alone marry me!”
“Well,” McGary said, “We’ll go to the Elm Tree for coffee and just see about that.”
Before that happened, Cedric called Vi and invited her out to the Elm Tree and also called McGary to meet him. When McGary arrived, there they sat at a table together.
They dated for about six months and at the time Cedric had a nice Buick car and a pickup. Vi liked driving the Buick because it was bigger than her current car, so she often took it home. By doing this, the neighbors began to gossip that Cedric was spending the night, but in reality it was just his car.
Cedric laughed and said, “She wouldn’t let me go any farther than the porch when I came to visit her, so there was no way I was spending the night!”
Since their marriage in September of 1987, they haven’t been apart. Even when Vi had a stroke a couple of years ago; Cedric spent every night in her room at the hospital. He would go back home in the morning to shower and change his clothes and be right back by her side.
Before her illness, they enjoyed many bus trips across the United States and Canada. Their time now is spent side-by-side in their individual recliners watching their favorite shows. He chauffeurs her around to her weekly hair appointment, or other commitments she has. They have season tickets to the Shiretowners’ basketball games, which they attend if the weather is mild. They also attend many of the public suppers in the greater Houlton community and frequent local restaurants for meals. They usually have coffee and a muffin at the Elm Tree on Sundays before going to the Wesleyan Church where they have been faithful attendees for 16 years.
Since Vi’s illness, she can no longer cook like she used to and it is difficult for her to converse, but Cedric fills in the gaps. They are like two peas in a pod.
Cedric said, “ I was very fortunate to not only have a great marriage the first time, but I got lucky and found a second wife who is just as good.”
Many readers will remember Vi, as a vivacious waitress at Woolworth’s who was always smiling and she still has it today.
Back in the ‘50s, Marilyn Hoar Carey and her cousin, Sharon Estabrook McGary would frequent the “Five and Dime” on Saturdays to purchase the latest paper dolls and always looked forward to a special tuna fish sandwich, a few chips and a fountain Coke served by Vi.
I, too, remember her there, as it was a popular place to go after school. The favorite affordable snack at the time was a small dish of chips and a Coke, all for a dime.
This is a wonderful example of finding love the second time around; a couple that took a chance and are celebrating more than a quarter of a century together.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Cedric and Vi … and many more.
