A long drive and a bottle of perfume

Ken described his grandfather as a quiet and unassuming man.  However, in his younger days he certainly knew how to pursue a romantic interest.


                               Alfred Jay meets Emma Dresher
Alfred Jay was my mother’s father. He met his wife in an unusual way. It all started when Emma Dresher, a wealthy, young woman from the small town of Ringtown in the coal region in central Pennsylvania, came to Philly to shop for her Easter finery.
She always shopped at Wanamaker’s - it was the best, she felt.

While shopping this day she discovered a perfume she particularly liked, but they were out-of-stock. She was a good customer, so the clerk said he would hold some for her when it came in.

Nearby was Grandpop Jay. He was a window dresser at Wanamaker’s at the time and he overheard the conversation about the perfume.
“I’ll bring it to you,” he said, walking up to Emma and the clerk.
“But it is miles away in Ringtown,” Emma said, smiling at him.
“That’s no problem,” Grandpop said. “I always wanted to see that part of the State.”

And he did. And they were married just one year later…

Ken Wright