Originally posted on Facebook: March 31, 2020

Anderson Sisters - Nellie, Maisie, Doris & Lily

William and Annie Anderson had 10 children over the space of 18 years. All of them lived into adulthood, however, tragically over a 9 year period 4 daughters succumbed to Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB).

TB was a prevalent reality in Canada until an antibiotic was found to treat the disease which was not widely used until the 1950s. TB was known to be very contagious and as a result, many families sent their sick relatives to a TB Sanitorium where they were kept in isolation.

Sadly, starting in 1931, William made his first trip to the registrar's office to report the death of Nellie, the eldest of the 4 sisters. It is likely that Nellie was the source of her 3 sisters' illnesses. They were unmarried living together with their parents at 241 Ottoway Ave. (now South St.) home and they would have shared a bedroom and maybe even a bed.

Of the 4 sisters only one, Doris went to the Sanitorium, which can be seen on her death registration, Nellie died at Victoria Hospital and Maisie and Lily died at home.

Interestingly, Lily's death registration shows that she worked for Holeproof Hosiery (Clarence/Bathurst St.) which was a large employer in London at the time. I believe other Anderson relatives also worked there.

The sisters are buried at Woodland Cemetery in the same plot with parents William and Annie.

Woodland Cemetery Headstone, Charles Anderson (brother to the sisters) and his daughter Audrey, circa 1947