The Gift of an Autobiography: From “I Do” to Detroit Tigers and a New Job

One of the things I enjoy most about sharing my dad’s autobiography is seeing how everyday moments like weddings, road trips, and ball games come to life in his words. Today, I get to share one of my favorite parts: the story of my parents’ wedding day and their first summer together.

On May 31, 1952, Bruce and Audrey said “I do” at Trinity Lutheran Church in Onekama, Michigan. Surrounded by family, friends, and a whole lot of love, followed by a farm dinner, a polka band, and a wedding cake made to order.

Their honeymoon may have been short, but their summer together was full of little adventures including attending baseball games at Briggs Stadium, figuring out married life in Hazel Park, and waiting for the next teaching job to come through. It was a season of new beginnings, shared laughter, and figuring things out together.

Here’s a look at that special day and the summer that started it all—in my dad’s own words.

The wedding of Bruce David Glover and Audrey Jane Fredricks 

photograph in the family collection of the author.

OUR WEDDING SATURDAY MAY 31, 1952

     Our wedding which took place at 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon was held in the Trinity Lutheran Church, in Onekama, with the Rev. O. N. Behringer officiating.  Rev. Kenneth Snow of the Brethren Methodist Church was soloist singing “I Love You Truly” and “Always”.  Maid of Honor was Jeannie, sister of the bride and Mickey, sister-in-law of the bride, was bridesmaid.  Best man was Hank Glover, half-brother of the groom and groomsman was Richard Fredericks, brother of the bride. Ushers were John and Norman Fredricks, brothers of the bride.  Out of town guests in attendance from the groom’s side were his mother, Mrs. Harry Glover; Sister-in-law and Nephew Mabel and Stuart Glover; and Uncle and Aunt, Burt and Frances Watt and daughter Jean. In addition to Otto and Daisy Fredricks, parents of the bride, out of town attendees from the bride’s side included Frank and Fay Graf, uncle and aunt of the bride. In addition, the church was near full of relatives and friends of the bride and groom, too numerous to mention.

Bruce's family: Front row L-R: Bruce, Audrey, Bruce's mother-Sarah Lilla Glover, 

Bruce's nephew Stuart Glover. Back row L-R: Bruce's brother Hank Glover,

 and Hank's wife Mabel Glover. Photograph in the family collection of the author.

        

A dinner on the farm followed the ceremony, at 6 PM, for the wedding party and guests of the bride and groom and the reception was held at the Wellston Township hall, at 8 PM, with a Polka Band and plenty of refreshments including a huge wedding cake.  At the stroke of 12 the newlyweds retired to a cabin they rented in Bear Lake.

Audrey Glover driving in front of Zehnder's Restaurant 

in Frankenmuth, Michigan June 2, 1952. 

Photograph in the family collection of the author

The next day, Sunday, after lunch at the farm, Bruce and Audrey loaded up their car and departed on an abbreviated honeymoon. Sunday evening, they stopped at a motel in Clare and spent Tuesday and Tuesday evening in Frankenmuth. Wednesday morning, they headed for their summer home, my mother’s residence in Hazel Park. Mom had gone with Uncle Burt and Aunt Fran, after the wedding, to spend 2 months in Marquette and thus the newlyweds had the place to themselves to get used to the married routine if there is such a thing.

     That summer I spent working as a replacement for factory workers on vacation in Detroit (a job which made me glad I didn’t have that to look forward to the rest of my life). Audrey settled in as a housewife of which she has no peer. In addition to socializing with Hank and Mabel, including a jaunt to Caseville in the Thumb where they parked their camper, the highlight of the summer was several evening trips to Briggs Stadium in Detroit to watch the Tigers.  We sat in the bleachers for 50-75 cents and saw Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle among others perform. A feature of these ballpark jaunts was trying to see how far we could get without hitting a stoplight. 2nd avenue was one way northbound and 3^rd Avenue was one way southbound.  If you kept a steady 40 mph it was possible to go a long way without stopping.  I think we made it once all the way and several times stopping only once or twice.

     As the summer progressed, I was still without a job, but holding out for the Kingsley job which finally came through much to Audrey’s and my relief.  I signed for $3300 as Social Science teacher, Varsity and JV Basketball Coach, Varsity Baseball and Track Coach.

     In August of 1952, we packed up our gear and headed north stopping first in Brethren; picking up several our wedding gifts we left at Kate’s for safe keeping and headed to Kingsley.