Viola Gertrude Harvey

Viola Gertrude HARVEY was born on the 9th June 1875 in St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

She was the only daughter of Augustus William HARVEY and Elizabeth (Lizzie) HARVEY, née WALKER.

On the 1st August 1875, baby Viola was baptised in St John's Anglican Church: St Mary's Anglican Church Southside.

Viola's childhood still remains a mystery: this green-eyed girl with chestnut brown hair never married. She dedicated her life to her art and to her travels visiting her loved ones in America, and visiting Italy, Bermuda, Canada, and France, where she spent her last of her days. 

On the 1st December 1920, then aged 45, Viola arrived in the port of New York. She declared herself to American Immigration services as a resident of Rome, Italy. 

On the 15th September 1930, accompanied by her 58-year-old brother Edward Feild, and his wife, 39-year-old Lurlina, Viola returned from Bermuda and resettled in New York. Edward and his wife returned to their home in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, whilst Viola continued her travels, this time heading for Paris.

Her art: Sculpture.

It appears that Viola had her first success in Paris itself. In fact, in early June 1928, Miss Harvey's sculptures were exhibited in the entrance hall of the Comédie des Champs Elysées theatre (avenue Montaigne, Paris).

We still don't know if Viola lived "the high life" after her success in Paris, but she spent the later years of her life in the countryside. In fact, it was in the quaint village of Houx, situated 12 or so miles from the towns of Chartres and Rambouillet, that Viola spent many a happy day in her home, La Bergerie.

She spent her time there sculpting and, anticipating that the end wasn't far, she even created her tombstone with her own hands.

The 25th September 1954: A young Elvis Presley releases his second single “Good rockin' tonight ", the magnificent Audrey Hepburn marries Mel Ferrer, the Swiss report seeing an AVNI, an unidentified flying weapon...

...And at 11am, Viola Gertrude HARVEY closed her eyes for the last time.

Viola's passing was declared the same day at 6pm by her nephew, Maurice Edward Matheson HARVEY. Given Maurice's presence in Houx, who was at that time residing in London, it is certain that Viola's death was not sudden.