Anna Reisa Wellington
(1920-1983)
Anna
and Liam share a dance at their wedding in 1939.
Anna and Liam were married in 1939 but
some might have said the honeymoon started well before the wedding. Anna and Liam
enjoyed the nightlife and having fun, they were both still a bit wild at heart, but
they were wild together.
Liam had nearly finished the construction of what would
be their own home along the shoreline of Wellington Lake, the house was white, rather
colonial style and stood 3 levels tall.
The couple was so excited about their
new manor, they insisted on having the wedding held there.
The wedding was a joyous
occasion, and a wild one as the reception seemed to have started before the wedding,
and continued again after the wedding.
This photo
was taken hours before Anna's wedding in playful fashion as we see Anna getting some
"luv pats" from one of her bridesmaids. The bridesmaid in the photo is
Rita Allerman, who at the time was dating Liam's business partner Jim Corey.
This
photo is here because its rather funny that the ladies(especially the bride) dont
seem too nervous about the wedding, and it also speaks to the sexy and frivilous nature
of Anna from a very young age.
This
is Anna outside Trestian Manor photoed by Liam. This image also shows Anna's cute
yet flirtatious personality.
This ia Anna
in 1942 just after giving birth to her first child Michael Vincent. Next to Anna
is a cheesy looking photo of a very young Jim Corey.
Here's Anna
at the estate house in 1943.
Anna and Liam's marriage
Anna
and Liam shared what was clearly a story book marriage, they were well known around
town and treated with an almost mogul status. The couple certainly enjoyed the benefit
of being named with one of the largest employers in the surrounding area, that of
course being Wellington Timber. In 1941 Anna gave birth to the couples first child
Michael Vincent Wellington, the young boy was automatically considered the next
great heir of Wellington.
World War II impacted all Americans and did the same
to Anna and Liam. Liam was still required to re-enlist for military service, though
because of a hip problem he was given a very low draft priority and did not actively
serve. Anna actually worked part time at a lunch counter in a metal manufacturer
center for 2 years during the war.
In February of 1945 Anna gave birth to the
couples second child, a daughter they named Alexa Renee Wellington, with the war
at an end, Liams construction business would take off to record heights and Anna
would become a full time mommy.
Anna became a very pro active mother getting involved
in the schools pta functions, she volunteered time for school related activities,
and also helped pay toward many activities for all the children. Anna had the children
in music, dance, sports and anything she thought might captivate their interests.
During this early time Anna also went back to school herself and received her high
school diploma feeling that it would serve as a better example to her kids as they
got older.
Another project Anna was very proud of was sponsoring an effort for
a new library and gymnasium at the local grade school in 1948. Anna had a good base
to work from as she was quickly able to get father in law Garren Wellington on board
and within a years time construction started on both the library and gymnasium.
Anna's life and marriage remained wonderful
during the early 1950's. Anna even dabbled into a bit of local celebrity status during
this time when she was approached by two different organizations to be a spokesperson
via television for community and state education related activities.
Anna also
took a job for a short time as a clothing magazine model for a local department store
in the early 50's but this only lasted for about a year. The department store learned
that Anna had done some magazine modeling as a younger woman prior to her marriage,
someone annonymously released a photo of Anna as a younger lady modeling lingerie.
The released photo was actually a bit grainy and unclear to see but the department
store decided to release her for "impropriety."
The shocking ironies
of this was first that Anna had a copy of the original photo in her posession
and she shared it openly with many of her friends, her thinking was if someone was
going to see the photo they ought to see a clear quality image of it. The second
irony was that despite the riske' nature of the photo, it didnt seem to bother anyone
in Anna's circle of friends and oddly enough the department store was sold to new
owners just 2 years later due to lack of business.
Anna's
riske' "uncovered" photo probably taken somewhere around 1937
This also
is an uncovered photo taken by Liam at Trestian Manor out by the pool. Privacy is
in abundance when you live along the shoreline of a large timberland moutainside.
except if your husband is sneaking around with a camera.
As early as 1954 Anna and Liam took an
interest in a local fad that was known as fringe theater. There was a local theater
house known as the Cordaire Performing Arts Theater that held acting bits every weekend
where unscripted performers went on stage and basically played out some sort of skit.
There was food and drink served, though it was mostly drink, and mostly drink served
by a young woman named Vivian Arnell. Vivian had studied theater and wanted to be
involved in acting but she fell in love with the concept of fringe theater and in
fact wished to own the theater house herself.
Anna expressed her enthusiasm to
be more involved in this to Liam and the couple eventually started a series of investments
into the theater.
Anna's life couldnt be more grand, it was 1955 and she had a
perfect marriage, 2 healthy growing kids, she was a good mom, a devoted wife, a participant
in community affairs and was now even working towards a business venture of her own.
A funny and
cute photo of Anna, perhaps her expression after seeing what it might cost to invest
in the theater??
The tragic and untimely death of Liam
Wellington in 1956 brought Anna's story book family life to a brutal halt.
Anna
was devastated and nearly in shock, for an extended period of time afterward she
was watched nearly 24 hours a day by friends, family, and specialists who were worried
about her due to depression. Anna had difficulty keeping it together in any regard,
she wasnt able to stay very strong for her children, who were also obviously devastated
as well. The children stayed with Norrine, and with the Cottingtons for periods of
time trying to give Anna a chance to gather herself, yet all in all it was simply
a brutal and miserable time.
The socialite and outwardly mobile Anna became isolated
and secluded. Anna attempted to go out in public from time to time but found it to
be very upsetting, she would notice people look at her with a sorrowful gaze and
then quickly look away as if they didnt know what to say. Anna felt she was a magnet
of empathy which made her even more depressed over her loss thus she simply chose
to not venture away from the manor unless absolutely necessary.
Anna stopped driving
the kids to school, Vicki Cottington would take Alexa to school and Michael rode
a bike to a nearby bus stop to find his own way to school. Jim Corey spent alot of
time around the estate trying to take the kids places and give them things to do
ouside of the house, but he too struggled with Liams death feeling guilt that he
survived when his friend did not.
Anna visited with many friends who came to the
estate to see her and try to comfort her, Anna was always cordial but wasnt interested
in going anywhere, she wasnt interested in being happy.
Despite the best efforts
of the Cottingtons, Norrine, and Jim Corey, they couldnt seem to life Anna's spirits.
Anna
would spend the better part of 2 years in this isolated, secluded retreat in depression.
Anna
believed that Liam was her soul mate and when he died, she died as well, yet the
fact was Anna had to go on , somehow and some way.