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Museum Musings: the 1925-26 federal elections

Fred Payton
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Museum Musings: the 1925-26 federal elections

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society

As the electors of the Prince Albert constituency prepare to head to the polls next week, I thought it might be interesting to look back to the three times local electors were required to cast their ballots in federal elections in 1925 and 1926.

The first of these elections occurred on October 29th, 1925.  There was really little of significance with respect to this election.  The incumbent, Andrew Knox, who had been elected in the two previous elections as the Progressive party candidate, was once again to carry their banner in this election.  The Conservatives would be represented by John Diefenbaker, while the Liberal candidate would be Charles McDonald, a former city alderman and two-time member of the Legislative Assembly.  Not surprisingly, although Diefenbaker received more votes from the city polls, McDonald displayed the strength which had powered him in the provincial elections.  He received more votes in total than Diefenbaker and Knox put together.

Nationally, the general election in 1925 had left the Liberal party with 101 seats, fifteen fewer than the number won by the Conservatives.  With support from the Progressives (24 seats), Labour (2 seats) and 2 Independent candidates, the Liberals managed to cling to power, having convinced the Governor-General, Lord Byng, that they would be able to form government.

Locally, however, the aftermath of the election was very significant.  The leader of the federal Liberal party, William Lyon MacKenzie King, went down to defeat in his constituency of York-North.  This meant that the leader of the party did not have a seat in the House of Commons.  Charles McDonald and the executive of the Prince Albert Liberal association weighed the merits and concluded that if King would be willing to agree to their requests, McDonald would resign his seat and allow MacKenzie King to run locally.  (One of these requests was that the Prince Albert area be guaranteed the National Park which they had been denied thus far by the federal government.)  Officially, McDonald justified his decision to step down based on the speech from the throne in which the newly elected government indicated that they would move quickly ahead on the completion of the Hudson Bay railway, something which had been long desired by both local residents and area farmers.

King agreed to the requests of the local Liberal executive, McDonald resigned his seat, and a by-election was called for February 15th, 1926.  The local Conservatives, after deliberating the matter, chose not to contest the election, while the Progressives made it clear that they would support the Liberals in the House of Commons and in the by-election.  However, some individual Conservatives and some individual Progressives were unwilling to see an acclamation, and a local farmer, D.L. Burgess, was nominated as an Independent candidate.  King won the by-election with an overall vote of 7,925 votes to 2,299 votes.

Following his success in the February by-election, King took his seat in the House of Commons on March 15th, 1926.  An article in the Daily Herald indicated that “pages and pages of unanswered questions have piled up on the order paper, and more than a hundred different questions, it is understood, will be answered this afternoon.”  It was expected to be a day “without parallel”, given the number of questions on the order paper.  For the time being, King was back in his familiar position, in control of the Government of Canada.

It was not long, however, before King found things going “off the rails”.  There was a scandal in the Ministry responsible for the Customs and Excise department.  Three Liberals, three Conservatives, and a Progressive member were appointed to report to the House of Commons with respect to the scandal and, upon reporting to the House, the Conservatives moved a vote of censure against the Liberal government.  MacKenzie King was determined to avoid a vote on the motion, and went to the Governor-General requesting that the House be dissolved and that an election be called.  The Governor-General refused his request and asked the leader of the Conservative party, Arthur Meighan, to form a government.  (The King/Byng crisis remains one of the most hotly discussed situations in Canadian politics and, to this date, whether or not the Governor-General’s decision was appropriate, or even legal, continues to be argued).

Meighen formed government on June 29th, 1926, but it lasted only until July 2nd when his government was defeated.  The people of Canada were once again going back to the polls for a second time within a year, and the electors of Prince Albert were returning to the polls for the third time within that year.

With the defeat of the Conservatives, the front page headline in the July 2nd edition of the Prince Albert Daily Herald informed its readers that the “Local Political Bodies Will Act in Near Future”.  Dr. Thomas Robertson, the president of the federal Liberal Association, stated that their executive would hold a meeting shortly in order to prepare for calling a nominating convention.  Richard Mulcaster, the vice-president of the Conservative Association, noted that John Diefenbaker had been nominated in March, shortly after the February by-election, to once again be their candidate.  He indicated that he expected that the party’s executive would meet shortly to discuss organising their campaign.  The executive of the Progressives also indicated that a meeting would soon be called.

On the 5th of July, the probability was that a Labour/Progressive candidate would be nominated to contest the Prince Albert constituency.  Alderman Harry Davis’s name was suggested as a possible candidate.  Davis worked as a car man for the CNR and was active in their union.  Andrew Knox, a member of the Progressive party who had represented Prince Albert as its Member of Parliament twice before, indicated that he had no knowledge of any agreement by the Progressives to entertain an alliance with the Labour organization.

A meeting of prominent Liberals occurred during the afternoon of July 6th to discuss the situation.  No steps would be taken, however, until a constituency-wide convention was called and a candidate named.

It was the next day, July 7th, that it was announced that MacKenzie King would be invited once again to stand for the party in Prince Albert.  It was expected that he would accept the nomination.  (King had also been asked to accept the nomination for the Liberal Party in his former seat of York-North, and would be considered as the possible candidate in Vancouver Centre).  Should King refuse the Prince Albert nomination, there were other candidates being considered, including Charles McDonald, George Langley (a former Member of Parliament), and Harold Fraser.

It did not take King long to reply to the offer of the local nomination.  According to Harold Fraser, he indicated that, were he to be nominated, he would accept.  A nominating convention for the Liberals would be called for July 20th.

A well-attended meeting of the federal Conservative Association determined at a meeting on the evening of July 10th that they would formalize the candidacy of John Diefenbaker.  All parts of the constituency were represented at the meeting, at which they also organised a Young Conservative club, and decided that their club rooms would be in the Manville Block.

As of July 12th, there had been no decision made by the Progressive Party with respect to a local candidate.  A meeting held the previous Saturday had informally discussed and decided that they would wait until after a meeting of the provincial executive, which was to be held on the forthcoming Saturday.

On July 17th, the local Liberal Association met at the Memorial Hall to select the delegates to their Party’s nominating convention.  The meeting was chaired by Dr. R.L. King, president of the federal association, and was addressed by Harold Fraser and J.E. Lussier.  Thirty-two delegates were chosen, as well as 32 alternate delegates.   The address by Mr. Lussier praised the unity between producers and consumers which the Liberal government had managed to achieve during their recent time in power.  Mr. Fraser pointed out that Canadians wanted the Constitution to be adhered to.

The Liberals’ nominating convention was held in a packed Orpheum Theatre with Dr. Thomas Robertson presiding, and the Honourable W.R. Motherwell as the featured speaker.  MacKenzie King was not in attendance, but wired his acceptance of the nomination.  As the leader of the federal party, he would be campaigning nation-wide, opening his campaign in Ottawa where he spoke about the “illegality” of the Governor-General’s decision and of Meighen’s dissolution of the House of Commons.  He also spoke about the Customs

scandal, and declared that a Royal Commission should be called to enquire into it.

The local campaigns were well underway by July 24th.  The Liberals opened their committee rooms on 1st Avenue West, in a building which is no longer existent.  They later transferred their committee rooms to the old Royal Bank building (now the site of the Abrametz Law Office) on 1st Avenue West. The Conservatives had moved their committee rooms to the former Presbyterian church on 11th Street West.  There was still no formal announcement of a candidate for the Progressive party.

John Diefenbaker opened his campaign at a meeting at Wild Rose, and on July 28th he addressed a ‘big meeting” in Big River (reported to have been the biggest such meeting ever held there).  He dealt briefly with the “real issues of the day”.  Later that evening, he addressed a meeting of the Young Conservatives, and the next day spoke to meetings at Red Deer Hill and MacDowall.

Given his success in the city during the February by-election, Diefenbaker concentrated his campaign in the rural areas.  He spoke in Paddockwood, and at the nearby schools of Chesley and Dorothy.  He also addressed meetings at Canwood, Duck Lake, Lily Plain, and Henribourg.  Due to illness, he was unable to address a Conservative meeting at Wakaw, where he was represented by W. Franchuk and F.C. Cousins

Using oratory that mesmerized court rooms, Diefenbaker entertained his audiences with attacks on the Liberal government.  He stressed the Customs scandal which had occurred under King’s government, openly accusing them of allowing tax free alcohol to enter Canada to be consumed by Liberal cabinet ministers, and silk dresses to be worn by their wives.  He claimed that, although the Liberals had dropped the tariffs on automobiles, they had increased it on farm machinery and clothing.  He focused on old age pensions, tariff reforms, and promises made by the Liberals during campaigns but forgotten once they were in office.

Diefenbaker closed off his campaign with a rally held in the Orpheum Theatre, where he claimed that it had been the Conservatives who had built the Hudson Bay Railway.

With MacKenzie King busy campaigning on behalf of the Liberal Party nationally. the Honourable T.C. Davis spoke to the Young Liberals in Prince Albert on July 28th, and on July 29th the Liberals held a meeting in Wakaw, with Charles McDonald and Dr. R.G. Scott speaking.

Other prominent local Liberals spoke at events, including Harold Fraser, Aime Besnard, Dr. Urich, J.E. Lussier, and George Ens.  Like King, they tended to focus on the legality of the Governor-General’s decision in June, and the need for Canada to have a workable constitution.  Like Diefenbaker, the Liberals held meetings in various rural communities, including Steep Creek, Shellbrook, and Lily Plain.

King did spend a couple of days in the constituency, travelling to Marcelin, Prince Albert and Wakaw, as well as Rosthern on his way to Saskatoon.  The meeting in Prince Albert, held in the Armouries, is reported to have been attended by approximately 2,000 people.

Of interest is the fact that both parties had individuals give some speeches in French at locations where the French language was predominant, the Liberals more often than the Conservatives.

Neither the Progressives nor Labour entered the election.

The final result of the local election was William Lyon MacKenzie King as the winner, taking 8,933 votes, and John Diefenbaker with 4,838 votes.  King expended $2,819.35, and Diefenbaker spent $1,603.80.

                                                                fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum Musings: R.D. Brooks

Fred Payton
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Museum Musings: R.D. Brooks

Frequently the Brooks name has been in the local news over the past few weeks.  Having been active in pursuing the history of Prince Albert and area, I was familiar with another Brooks who was often in the news beginning a century ago.  At that time, were you to hear someone speak of R.D., you automatically knew that they were referring to R.D. Brooks.  Brooks being a fairly common name, it was not until a recent conversation with Donna that I connected the two Brooks families.

Ruggles D. Brooks came to Prince Albert from a small northern Ontario settlement called Tashota, where he had operated a freighting business.  Once in Prince Albert, Brooks became active in freighting and road building.  In the 1925 edition of the Henderson’s Directory, a listing appeared for Brooks Construction and Transport at 1601 – 2nd Avenue West.  Kenneth Brooks was listed as the assistant manager.  The 1929 edition of the Henderson’s also listed Brooks Construction, which had its yards at the corner of 16th Street and 2nd Avenue West.

Brooks Construction was active in road building throughout the province, as well as building “grade” for the railway tracks.  This involved moving dirt to, or from, the potential railway line.  Tracks between Lloydminster and Unity, in Alberta (Vegreville and Two Hills areas), and in the area of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, rode across tracks which were laid on “grade” established by Brooks Construction.

It was, however, for the development of northern Saskatchewan that R.D. Brooks was best known.  He contracted to freight for the Hudson’s Bay Company and for Revillon at La Ronge and Stanley Mission, and he agreed to deliver the Lac Du Brochet trade goods at the south end of Reindeer Lake.

This was deemed to be a tremendous undertaking as Southend was ninety miles (145 kilometres) beyond the Churchill River.  It would entail a round trip from Prince Albert of 700 miles (1125 kilometres), which would take well over a month to complete.  R.D. was told that it couldn’t be done.  Even if he could haul the payloads, the men and the horses would be unable to stand the trip.

Brooks was not deterred.  He built stables large enough to hold thirty horses at a distance which could reasonably be covered by a days’ travel.  A heated tent was supplied for the men’s sleeping accommodation, and a cook and cook-car was provided.  Contracts were let for hay to be cut and stored along the way to provide for the horses.

Brooks Construction even built a road between Stanley Mission and Southend, with the rocks of the Pre-Cambrian Shield blasted out of the way, or corduroy roads being built over them.  To provide for snow removal, R.D. improved on the existing system of clearance by using a series of push-poles from one sleigh to the next, so that the lead sleigh with the plough would receive support from the horse teams following behind.  (This seems very similar to the “tush-push” used by the Philadelphia Eagles!).

Although the first attempt to haul into and back from Southend was not successful, owing to insufficient hay having been cut and the weather being more severe than usual, R.D. was known for his tenacity and did not give up.  He once again faced extremely severe weather conditions, but with twice the hay laid up for the horses and flexibility in scheduling, the return shipment, employees, and horses all returned.

Another of R.D.’s businesses was his fish business.  He ran a string of fishing camps in the north and would haul fresh, frozen fish from La Ronge into Prince Albert on his return trips from La Ronge  .This business improved considerably after R.D. began using air freight, first by forwarding cargo through Canada Western Airways and then Cherry Red Airlines.  Eventually, in 1930, he bought his own Buhl Standard Airsedan.  He began air freighting during the 1930 Christmas season and by March of 1931 more than 54 tonnes of freight were lifted into northern Saskatchewan.  This over a period of 80 days.  In addition, he sent the plane to Tashota, where he flew an additional 36 tonnes into northern Ontario and Manitoba.

R.D. used the plane to fly fresh fish into Prince Albert and Saskatoon, allowing the residents of those communities the opportunity to eat fish caught in northern Saskatchewan in the morning to be eaten for dinner that night.  He also flew fish from northern Saskatchewan into the United States, where it was sold as Brooks Flying Fish.

Brooks also used the plane for scenic tours over the Prince Albert National Park and the area around LA Ronge.  Tourists, prospectors and others were carried into the far north by Brooks Airways Limited.

After his son, Hiram, his pilot and another employee were killed in a crash at Emma Lake on June 21, 1933.  R.D. appeared to have abandoned the airline business after that.  Brooks Airways eventually passed out of northern Saskatchewan aviation on May 14th, 1935 when Wings Limited from Winnipeg leased the company’s remaining aircraft and transferred them to use in Manitoba.

During the 1940s, Brooks pioneered the change from horses to gas caterpillar tractors on the northern freight haul.  This was the final innovation implemented by R.D. Brooks before his retirement.  But what a career for which he can be remembered.  A strong personality, a tenacious individual, and so very capable of overcoming what seemed to be overwhelming odds.

fgpayton@sasktel.net

MUSEUM MUSINGS: THE MCDONALD BLOCK

Fred Payton
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MUSEUM MUSINGS: THE MCDONALD BLOCK

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society

Although we have lost many of them, Prince Albert’s downtown has many old buildings with wonderful architectural interest.  I enjoy stopping and looking at them, and thinking of how many people have walked past them, shopped in them, or worked within their walls.  Were I asked which of them is my favourite, I would be hard pressed to choose.  But amongst the top three would have to be the McDonald Block.

The McDonald Block, built in 1912, has stood on the corner of Central and 11th Street West, and watched the many changes which have occurred through the years.  It was there when the Mitchell Block burned down, when the first purpose-built police station was opened, and when the original town hall (now the Margo Fournier Arts Centre) was vacated in favour of rental space in the former Holy Family Nurses Residence, as well as when the current city hall was built.

A three-storey brick building, it served as home to the druggist and his family when he moved off of River Street.  In fact, it served as a drug store from its opening in 1912 until 1967 when it received new life as a banking financial institution called Northwest Trust.  Currently On the Avenue Art Gallery, you can still see the original drug vault which later accommodated the needs of the Northwest Trust (and, later still, the Continental Bank) for safe storage of their cash and other valuable assets.

Originally McDonald’s Drugs, it later became Liggett’s Drugs, then for a year Tamblyn Drugs and, finally in 1957, Rowe’s Drugs #2.  Apparently Liggett’s owner was not a local resident, as the store was managed throughout the years by individuals such as J.M. Deane, L.V. Dare, George G. Thompson, W.L. Giles, and George Badger.  As Rowe’s, it was managed primarily by Neil Shewchuk.

Long-time residents of Prince Albert might remember Allan Barsky’s Lady Bug store on the main floor in the early 1970s, and possibly as Gedir Consulting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, or one of the financial services companies, Beneficial Finance and Associate Financial.

Through the years, the upper floors have served as homes to doctors, dentists, lawyers, and real estate firms, as well as residential apartments.  Lawyers who have had offices in the building include Clyne Harradence, Val Longworth, Tom Ferris, and Larry Zatlyn.

On the west end of the building, in a space that opens onto 11th Street West, there have been a number of occupants.  In 1919, C.P. Erwin had a jewelry shop.  H.W. Davy opened his electrician’s business in that space in 1925, and continued in that accommodation until 1938.  Max Carment’s father shared the space with Adamson Jewelers from 1941, first as an optometrist and later as the jeweler.  Hinz Radio was in that location from 1950 until1960, after which it was the home for Fred Allen, an insurance specialist and then Blacklaw’s Agency.  Grey Cab operated from there from 1964 until1980.  Other businesses included The Diet Centre and Investors Group Financial Services.  This space actually was built over the property where Hugh John Montgomery (and his daughter Lucy Maud) resided.

It is not simply the building’s tenants, or even the grand nature of the building itself, that draws me to the building.  It is the man who had it built, and his life story, which I find compelling.

Charles McDonald was born in Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland on March 2nd, 1867, the son of George Wood McDonald and Clementine McDonald (nee: Chalmers).  His family emigrated to Canada when he was two years old, resulting in Charles being educated in Renfrew County, Ontario.  At the age of seventeen, Charles began employment in the drug industry.  In 1893, he married Florence Oran of Belleville, Ontario, and they became the parents of two daughters.  The Charles McDonald family moved to Prince Albert in 1898, with McDonald purchasing an established drug business on River Street West (likely that of Eastwood Jackson, Prince Albert’s first druggist).

By expanding his stock, McDonald soon expanded the business’s trade.  He also became active in the community, including in the Methodist church and the local Liberal organization.  He served six years on the school board, before being elected to City Council, serving for four years, including two as mayor.  In 1917, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly and, in 1921 he was re-elected by acclamation.  It was during his first term in the Legislative Assembly that McDonald demonstrated his courage (or, perhaps, his stupidity).  He joined with Inspector Sullivan of the Provincial Police in seeking two of the three individuals alleged to be responsible for the Steep Creek murders.  They were armed, and believed to be hiding in a hay stack on a farm east of Prince Albert.  On a Sunday morning, he and Sullivan walked up to the hay stack and convinced the two men to surrender.

In 1925, he sought the federal seat in the House of Commons and defeated his two challengers (former mayor William Knox and a brash young lawyer by the name of Diefenbaker).  He easily won the election, receiving more votes than both of his opponents combined.

It was in that election that the leader of the Liberal party was defeated in his riding of York North.  McDonald agreed to resign his seat to allow MacKenzie King to run in a by-election in Prince Albert.  One of the commitments which he required of King, however, was that Prince Albert should be rewarded with the establishment of a national park in the area.  King was elected in the by-election early in 1926, and the Prince Albert National Park was opened in August, 1928.

McDonald had retired from his business as a druggist and moved to British Columbia.  In 1935, when an opening occurred for a Senator from that province, MacKenzie King rewarded McDonald by appointing him to the vacant seat in the Senate.  Unfortunately for McDonald, as he was travelling by train to Ottawa, he had a heart attack and died.  It is believed that McDonald is the only Canadian to have been elected to the House of Commons and appointed to the Senate without taking a seat in either House.

                                                                                fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum Musing: Remembering Helga

Fred Payton
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Museum Musing: Remembering Helga

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society

Had you turned on CKBI radio in the early 1960s, around 5:30 in the evening, you would likely have heard the sound of a single engine bush plane starting up.  This would have been followed by the voice of Helga Reydon welcoming you to The Northern News.  Helga, along with her colleague Harold Read, would then present a programme outlining news, events, and other items which would be to interest to listeners in northern Saskatchewan.  Perhaps the most important part of the broadcast would be the messages delivered, read by either Helga or Harold, even sometimes in the voice the person sending the message.  “To his family, Moses underwent surgery on Monday at Holy Family Hospital and is recovering well.  He should be discharged on Friday”, or “Rosie will be coming home on Thursday, please meet her at the bus!”

from the April 7, 2007 Daily Herald
Helga Reydon is remembered as both a broadcaster and a sportsperson.

At a time when communication was much more limited than it is now, this programme, sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, provided a vital service to the northern listeners.  That Helga Reydon should be a part of providing such a service would not surprise anyone.  Helga was a caring, supportive individual, always happy to assist in any way she could.

Helga was born in Prince Albert on July 31, 1912.  Her father, Aage J. Hansen, was an immigrant from Denmark.  Helga’s mother was the daughter of the de la Gorgendiere family. At the time of her birth, Helga’s father was the chief clerk of the local Land Titles office.  He later established a loans and mortgage company, known as A.J. Hansen and Company, before being appointed Sheriff of the District of Prince Albert.  Helga was the couple’s only child.

As a child, Helga lived on the city’s west hill in a home which at the time faced on to 20th Street West.  Raised as a Roman Catholic, she would have attended St. Paul’s School, which was located where St. Mary High School is now located.  In her later life, as an independent individual, Helga would admit to the fact that she resented the protectiveness of her mother.  She always admired her father, however, and remained close to him throughout his life.  She believed that he had taught her to be a “listener”, something she continued to enjoy doing in later life.  “Each person has a special story to tell.”

In later life, Helga would recall visiting the nearby Mounted Police barracks which was the centre of many special events, including dances and garden parties.  The grounds were beautifully kept. And

Helga admired the police horses stabled there.  She also recalled how impressed she was with their driving horse and the carriages which would travel along 20th Street, often with the immaculately dressed wives of the Mounties riding in the carriages, escorted by a red coated Mountie.

Helga had a life-long love of horses.  Her family had a stable behind their home on 20th Street, in an area which is currently the residential district between 21st and 22nd Streets at 5A Avenue West. 

Helga would think back and chuckle about how her horse would occasionally escape and wander off. For Helga, the most memorable occasion was the time when her horse made it to the golf course.  She would grin whenever she recalled how upset Hubert Cooke became as a result of the damage the horse’s hooves would do to his precious well-kept greens!

A local “character”, William Bird, had been a cook at the newly constructed Saskatchewan Penitentiary and later worked as a ranch hand in the northern United States, but after being injured and therefore unable to work, he had returned to Prince Albert where he gained employment as a night watchman.  He travelled back and forth to work on his horse, and was often seen riding his horse around the community during the day.  When he died, a virtual but well-loved pauper, his most valuable and recognizable possession was that horse.  The local citizenry felt that his horse should be a part of his funeral procession.  Helga very proudly rode the horse from St. Alban’s Cathedral to St. Mary’s cemetery at the head of the funeral cortege.

Many people will remember Helga riding her horses at the local Exhibition.  She won many trophies, both here in Prince Albert and at other summer fairs around the province.  Later, as a divorced mother of two young girls, Helga augmented her income teaching riding lessons locally.

Other people might remember Helga and her friend, Wynona Mulcaster, riding out to Round Lake and back for a day’s outing.  Helga enjoyed the trip on “a lovely old trail” which Helga recalled as being about fifteen miles one way.

I remember visiting Helga and her husband when they resided in an apartment on the second floor of a home on 24th Street East.  As you walked up the stairs, her saddles would greet you, stored openly over the stair rail surrounding the top of the stairwell.

Her love of horses was not confined to the four-legged animal.  Helga also loved horse power!  She and Peggy Kerr would often go for drives with their Siamese cats, stopping at Kentucky Fried Chicken to buy treats for themselves as well as the cats.  Of course, Helga would drive her A-90 Austin convertible with the top down, the cats secured in their gold-coloured harnesses.  Even in her later years, Helga owned a high-powered vehicle which she drove with panache.

When, in 1929, she married Count Eric Moltke-Huitfeldt, a member of Swedish minor royalty, she herself became entitled to use the title of Countess.  She and her husband had two daughters, Corinne and Anna Marguerta.  Unfortunately, the marriage did not last and, although no longer able to call herself Countess, Helga continued to be referred to as being one.  This was likely the result of how she comported herself, always displaying the social graces of that class.

Helga married a Dutch immigrant, Willem Reydon, in 1966.  They enjoyed 33 years together before Willem died in 1999.  Together they shared their love of reading and music, particularly jazz, as well as entertaining and being entertained by members of Prince Albert’s higher social echelon.

Helga returned to radio once again in May, 1974, when the Prince Albert Pulp Wood Limited sponsored the radio programme “People and the Great Outdoors”.  Along with Harold Read, the programme was an attempt to bring the Northern Trappers Association closer together by giving out information on such topics as better methods of pelt preparation, news of meetings, as well as publicizing other activities such as fish cooperatives, tree planting, and outfitting camps.  The programme was broadcast each Sunday between 5:45 p.m. and 6:00.

Helga loved the work that she did through the years with the Department of Natural Resources, and the people whom she met as a result.  The people living in the north she referred to as some of the finest people she ever met.  As a result of her work, she developed such a very open and broad world view.

Helga moved to St. Albert, Alberta, in 2002, and died there on March 5th, 2007.  Her cremains were returned to Prince Albert interment alongside Willem’s in the family plot of the old Roman Catholic cemetery.

In her eulogy at the funeral of Pat Nelson, widow of Judge Walter Nelson, Helga ended with “There are certain people whose influence will never die.  Their example will bring us strength for whatever life brings.  Pat was one of these.”  I can think of no better words to describe Helga herself. fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum musings: the Ninth Street School

Fred Payton
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Museum musings: the Ninth Street School

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society        

Not every column has its origins at the Historical Museum, emanating from the confines of the Bill Smiley Archives.  The seed for this column was planted in the midst of the parking lot surrounding the South Hill Mall.

I was advised by the person with whom I was speaking that she and her husband have long resided in what was once the Ninth Street School, much altered and extended, but still the former school building.  The site of that school had long been discussed amongst those of us who volunteer in the Archives, so this information was quickly shared with the others when I rejoined them shortly thereafter.

Most of us who have lived in Prince Albert for the majority of our lives will remember schools which once were but are no more.  Central School, demolished to make way for the Gateway Mall; Prince Charles School, now the site of residential housing; Queen Elizabeth School (once known as the Cottage School, but more recently as Angus Merasty School); each has been demolished.

A few of us, more as a result of research than memory, will be aware of the Hazeldell School, Goschen School, and the Ninth Street School.  Information about these schools is sparse, even in such publications as The Development of Educational Institutions in Prince Albert (also known as A Record of the Early Education in Prince Albert), a pamphlet published in March 1955 as part of the Golden Jubilee of the Province of Saskatchewan.  So, when additional information is found, or existent information can be confirmed, it is a meaningful moment.

Ninth Street School is first mentioned in the 1913 edition of the Henderson’s Directory for Prince Albert.  It is listed as being located on Ninth Street East between 5th and 6th Avenues.  A. McEwen (no first name could be found) was listed as the principal, with Margaret G. Campbell as the teacher.  T. Crossland was listed as the caretaker.  No address could be found for A. McEwen, while Margaret Campbell was listed as living at 221 – 21st Street West.  If T. Crossland was Ted Crossland, he might have been the E. Crossland who lived at 211 – 9th Street East.

The 1914 Henderson’s Directory listed two teachers, but no principal.  Miss Lily Rose of 11 Harphill Apartments, and M.E. McDonald (possibly the Mary E. McDonald who had rooms at 571 – 19th Street East) sought to educate the students in their care.  The maintenance of the school fell to Isaac Bryant who lived at that time at 520 – 9th Street East.  Of note was the fact that the houses on each side of the school (516 and 526 9th Street East) which had been occupied in 1913 were now vacant.

The next Henderson’s Directory to be published for Prince Albert was in 1919, following the Great War.  Vera Muzzy of 406 – 8th Street East was listed as the principal.  No other teacher was listed.  Once again, Isaac Bryant was listed as the janitor, only this time he was listed as living at 561 – 9th Street East.  The two houses which had been vacant in 1914 no longer existed, and the Ninth Street School was now listed as being on the corner of 9th Street and 5th Avenue.

Succeeding Henderson’s Directories, in 1923 and 1925, listed Kathleen Bradshaw and Mildred Frith as the school’s teachers.  Kathleen had two other sisters, one of whom was a teacher.  She resided in the family home at 317 – 9th Street East.  Mildred’s father was a farmer, but her brother was listed as a partner in the law firm of Mathieson, Salter and Frith.  She also had two sisters who were teachers, including one, Irene, who taught at King George School.  The Frith family lived at 320 – 11th Street East.  A third teacher was listed for the school in 1925, Grace G. Dryden, who lived at 404 – 10th Street East.

By 1923, Isaac Bryant had died, and the new janitor for the school was listed as K.A. Turner.  He was still the janitor in 1925.  Principal Muzzy was no longer listed in the Henderson’s Directory in 1923, although we know that she later returned to Prince Albert, becoming the first woman to be elected to City Council.

By 1927, the year in which the next Henderson’s was published, Ninth Street School was no longer in operation.  Kathleen Bradshaw and Mildred Frith were both teaching at Prince Edward School.  Grace Dryden was no longer listed in the Henderson’s, at least not under that name.  She may have moved on to another community, or she may have married.

It is interesting to speculate on matters such as from where these teachers came, and to where they disappeared.  As noted, Grace Dryden may have attained employment elsewhere, or she may have married.  Kathleen Bradshaw appears to have remained unmarried, as she is listed by that name in a family obituary in 1959.

We do know that in the years of operation of the Ninth Street School, the provincial government made available a number of teacher training classes throughout the Province in order to supply the teachers necessary to meet the needs of the growing population.  This programme began in January of 1914 and, with considerable changes, continued into the 1960s when the schools were absorbed by the University of Saskatchewan (1964) and the University of Regina (1969).

In the beginning, a four-month course was provided for students with a Grade X academic standing.  Successful completion of the course resulted in the student receiving a Third Class permit.  Students entering the programme with a Grade XII were given a longer course and, upon successful completion, received a First Class Temporary permit.  Three years of successful teaching resulted in the temporary permit becoming a permanent permit.

In Prince Albert, these classes were held initially in King George School, with J.H. McKechnieas the Principal and W.H. Magee assisting.  By 1920, the classes had been transferred to Queen Mary School, where they continued until the Government terminated the progamme in Prince Albert.  From 1916 until its termination after the 1926/27 term, Mr. J.T. Tomlinson was the principal.

One of the students attending the Ninth Street School was H. Arthur Loucks.  He commenced attendance at the school in the spring of 1915.  Art remembered the school as being a two room school, with one room downstairs, and a second room on the upper floor.  The second floor room was reached by an outside stair case on the north side of the building.  Beginners were placed in the main floor room, with higher grades using the upper floor.  Art continued at the Ninth Street School until the end of term in 1915.

Photo courtesy of the Bill Smiley Archives.
Art Loucks who was once a student at the Ninth Street School, and later principal of Queen Mary School.

Art could not recall the name of his teacher, but did remember the caretaker of the school who obviously made a far greater impact on him.  He recalled Isaac Bryant as a man with a long, white beard.  The caretaker’s son was also in Art’s class, and they played “war games” in the lot across the street from the school. 

Art’s sister, Edith Loucks Terry, also recalls her attendance for one year at the Ninth Street School.  She remembers is as a wooden building, rather as a stop gap measure.  Her only memory of her education there is a recollection of “a stranger” coming in one afternoon and teaching the students to sing “March of the Men of Harlech”.

Ella Muzzy’s daughter, Winnifred McKinnon, was educated at the Fourth Street School (known as Goschen School).  She did not attend the Ninth Street School, but believes that it was opened in order to take care of the primary grades.  The Ninth Street School was under the administration of Central School, which would explain why there were only two years when the school had a principal listed.

Although short-lived, and educating so few students, it is interesting to note that at least two of the students who attended the school went on to become teachers.

As we come closer to the end of the calendar year, I remind you once again that memberships in the Historical Society need to be renewed.  I would also encourage you to consider one final charitable donation to the Society in order to reduce your tax burden!

                                                            fgpayton@sasktel.net

MUSEUM MUSINGS: MARGE NAINAAR AND THE MULTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Fred Payton
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MUSEUM MUSINGS: MARGE NAINAAR AND THE MULTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society

The week just past, November 16th to November 24th, was Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, an opportunity to celebrate multiculturalism in the communities in our province.  Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to enact multiculturalism legislation, recognizing the right of every community to retain its identity, language, traditional arts and sciences for the mutual benefit of its citizens.  The Multiculturalism Council of Saskatchewan was founded on November 22nd, 1975, for the development and promotion of these multicultural values.

One of my earliest memories of Marge Nainaar stems from one of the annual celebrations of Multicultural Week.  Along with another person, she approached me in the Gateway Mall.  Likely in regard to a survey she was conducting, she asked me what I thought was the best thing about multiculturalism.  I never hesitated, responding immediately “the food”.

Through the years, I have gained a greater appreciation of multiculturalism, but I would probably still reply “the food”.

Marge Nainaar was born in Durban, South Africa, where she trained as a teacher.  She came to Canada with her husband, Sundras, and together they settled in Canwood.  Marge quickly became actively involved in Canwood’s community life, before her incredible energy resulted in a need for her to become actively involved in numerous organisations in Prince Albert.

Although mainly known for her involvement with immigrants and multicultural activities, Marge contributed to numerous other activities.  I knew her as a member of the Correctional Service of Canada’s Citizens Advisory Committee.  While a member of that committee, she organized the first Multicultural Council within a Canadian penitentiary.

Within the larger community, she was involved in the organisation of the Prince Albert chapter of the Council of Women, served on a steering committee organising the establishment of a youth centre, helped to establish the Share-a-Meal programme, serving on its board for several years.  She was also president of the Prince Albert Mental Health Association, during which she successfully lobbied the provincial government to establish an office and staffing in Prince Albert.

Prior to the establishment of what is now Saskatchewan Polytechnique, Prince Albert had a Community College.  Marge served as the chair of the Board for a period of time.  She taught fashion modelling and deportment for numerous local people, even training some of the young women who took part in the competition for Miss Winter Festival.

In addition to all of these initiatives, Marge served as a commissioner for Girl Guides.  For this she received a twenty-year pin.  She also coordinated the programme Christmas at City Hall, the Terry Fox run, and Canada Day on the riverbank.  She served on the Regional Economic Authority, as well as encouraging the City to establish the Race Relations Committee and organising the first Elimination of Racial Discrimination event in Prince Albert. 

But it is primarily for her work with immigrants that Marge is remembered.  As an immigrant herself, Marge coordinated citizenship ceremonies in local schools, organised and coordinated Tapestrama (Prince Albert’s Folkfest), and Multiculturalism Week.

She served as a founding member and president of the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Association of Multiculturalism.  She also served as the president of the Saskatchewan Association for Immigrant Serving Agencies, the Saskatchewan Council for Educators of Non-English Speakers, and the Western Canada Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies.  Nationally, she served as president of the Canadian Multiculturalism Federation.

When asked about all of her responsibilities, Marge responded that “it’s a labor of love… I love human beings.”  She further expanded that “despite creed, race, political affiliation…everyone needs the same thing.  We need money to live but money is not the end.  People need people.”

Marge Nainaar was a proud Canadian.  She once joked that, aside from when she was in the shower, she could always be found to be wearing her Canadian flag pin.

Marge passed away on November 6th, 2011, at the age of 75.

We are quickly approaching the end of the calendar year.  As a result, I would encourage members of the Historical Society to renew their memberships for the 2025 season.  Non-members are also encouraged to buy a membership in the Society.  The annual Society Christmas dinner is a good time to renew or purchase a new membership.  The dinner will be held at the Coronet Hotel at 6:00 p.m. on December 12th.  Tickets are $25 for members, and $30 for non-members, and should be reserved and paid for by December 5th.  As for memberships, payment can be made in person at the Historical Museum or by telephone with a credit card.

If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift with a local flavour, check out the items we offer for sale from our gift shop.  There are several local books, boxes of jigsaw puzzles, lunch bags, and numerous other items.

Also, for those of you who want to reduce your income tax, a charitable donation to the Society could be just the ticket.  Donations to support museum operations and/or the archives, or to the endowment fund would be greatly appreciated.

                                                                                fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum Musings: Indigenous persons and the military

Fred Payton
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Museum Musings: Indigenous persons and the military

Fred Payton

Prince Albert Historical Society

In August 1939, a list prepared by Edward Ahenakew was submitted to a committee preparing for the Jubilee celebrating Emmanuel College.  Of the fifty-eight First Nations men on that list, at least eleven had been, or were, members of the Canadian Armed Forces.  Of those men, three had been killed in action, while two had died later as a result of wounds incurred.

Outside of the Band Office at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, there are three monuments on which are engraved forty-five names.  The Band’s website indicates that they “show appreciation for what the veterans have done for Canada and the native community”.

At the time of the 1885 Resistance, members of the bands which now make up the Mistawasis First Nation and Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation rode to the Prince Albert Settlement to offer protection to its citizens.  Although no action was required on their part, they remained camped outside the community until there was no longer a threat.

These examples are just a few of many which could be listed which indicate the willingness of First Nations people to serve within and alongside the Canadian military.  That willingness extends further back, before the Treaties, before Canada became a nation.

Photos courtesy of the Bill Smiley Archives.
Prince Albert and area Indigenous veterans Thomas Settee (left, seen here in this photo from November 1959) and and Urban Leonard Vermette.

We have at the Prince Albert Historical Museum a George III medal which was presented to Chief Flying Thunder in the War of 1812 for their loyalty and the respect that they had shown to “the Great Mother across the water”.  The medal was passed from Chief Flying Thunder to his descendant, Chief Hupa Yakta, and in turn to his son, Chief Tamah.  Chief Tamah was the last hereditary Chief of Wahpeton Dakota Reserve.  He passed on the medal to the Reverend J.C. Meek who had been the minister to the Wahpeton band.  Meek in turn, gave it to the Prince Albert Historical Society.  The Society formally holds the medal in safe-keeping on behalf of the Wahpeton Band.  Both the Band and the Society have replicas of the medal.  These replicas are on display for the public to see.

The loyalty to the Monarch which resulted in receipt of the George III medal was further cemented when the Treaties, such as Treaty Six, were signed.  This instilled a sense of patriotic duty, which in turn led many members of the First Nations to volunteer for service in the First World War.  That same sense of patriotism also served to encourage men to join the Canadian Forces in successive wars, although other factors contributed.  For example, the lack of employment and the poverty of the Dirty Thirties encouraged men to join the forces at the start of the Second World War.

Joseph Okemasis of Muskeg Lake was only seventeen years old when he dropped out of school, travelled to Prince Albert, and signed up to join the Saskatoon Light Infantry.  Two years later, in 1943, he was in southern Italy, making strides northward as they fought their way towards Rome.  The First Canadian Infantry Division, of which the Saskatoon Light Infantry was a part, drove the Germans from one deep river valley to another.  In December, with snow falling, they fought some of the bitterest battles along the Moro River.  The Germans repeatedly counter-attacked, often fighting hand-to-hand.  Two thousand one hundred and nineteen Canadians had been killed to that point in the Italian campaign, and on Dec. 7, 1943, Joseph Okemasis became one of them. Private Okemasis was buried with some 1,600 other war casualties in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery near Ortona.

One of the names on Edward Ahenakew’s list was Mrs. Joe Dreaver.  Her husband was Chief of the Mistawasis First Nation.  Joe had served in World War I, receiving the Military Medal for his service.  Two of Dreaver’s brothers had also served in the Great War, one of whom died in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the other who died later as a result of the wounds which he received.

At the start of the Second World War, Chief Dreaver brought seventeen young men from his community to sign up in Prince Albert.  Three of these young men were his sons.  In addition, two Dreaver daughters signed up.  Chief Dreaver, now too old to enlist, joined the Veterans Guard to watch over German prisoners of war being held in Medicine Hat.

Chief Dreaver’s son, Harvey, joined D Company of the Regina Rifles.  He trained at Dundurn, Saskatchewan, and Debert, Nova Scotia, as well as various bases in Sussex, England, before landing on the beaches near the French town of Courseulles-sur-Mer on D-Day.

Although the landing was difficult, with fewer than half of his company of about 120 men landing safely, Harvey Dreaver made it ashore and joined the rest of the regiment in its goal of clearing Courseulles.  Continuing inland, the Rifles took the village of Reviers, capturing thirty-five enemy prisoners.

Promoted from Lance Corporal to Corporal, and finally to Platoon Sergeant, he commanded thirty men as the Rifles prepared for their assault on Caen, which would include the capture of Abbaye d’Ardenne.  Amid the fighting around the abbey, Harvey Dreaver never faltered and became a real Canadian hero.  His cool and courageous leadership helped his Company and the Regina Rifle Regiment to win several key battles, including the Battle at Leopold Canal.  A well-equipped and experienced German infantry division was garrisoned behind the Canal, and a relentless counter-attack ensued with heavy losses on both sides, resulting in a half-hour truce requested by the Germans.

Sergeant Harvey Dreaver was killed on the first day of the assault.  An eyewitness account indicated that he was looking over a parapet with binoculars when a sniper’s bullet hit him in the forehead.  He was buried at Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium, with the Belgian government awarding him posthumously the Belgian Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

Harvey Dreaver also has place of honour in Buckingham Palace.  King George VI and his wife, Elizabeth, commissioned portraits of Commonwealth aboriginal servicemen.  Dreaver’s portrait hangs in the palace, alongside other portraits from Australia and New Zealand.

Most people from Prince Albert and area are familiar with the Isbister name.  James Isbister, along with his brother Adam and their sister, settled in what is now Prince Albert’s West Flat in 1862.  Three descendants of that family also served with distinction in the Second World War. 

Born and raised in the Mont Nebo district, Archie, Russell, and Vern (better known as Tony) had been active in farming before enlisting to serve King and Country.  All three served as rifleman, Archie and Russell with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and Tony with the Regina Rifles.  Both the Royal Winnipeg and the Regina Rifles were part of the Seventh Canadian Infantry Division which landed on Juno Beach on June 6th, 1944.  Both Archie and Russell were killed the first day, two of the 335 officers and men lost in that campaign.  Archie is commemorated by the Bayeux War Memorial.  Russell is interred at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.  Meanwhile, Tony’s war lasted two more days.  On the eighth of June, in a counter-attack by German tanks, Tony Isbister lost his life.  He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery near Woking, Surrey, England.

These were just some of the Indigenous men who gave their lives for the freedom which we enjoy today.  There were many more, from across this province and the entire nation.  Unlike most members of the Canadian Armed Forces who lost their lives, the death benefit was not paid out to members of their family.  Instead, the benefit was paid to their Band’s Indian Agent.  Dependent upon the agent, the family may have received all of the benefit, although far too often the family received only a portion, if any, of it.

Others members of our Forces, considered to be more fortunate, survived to return to their lives in Canada.  But for the First Nations veterans who returned home, things were much different than for the non-First Nations veterans.  They did not receive housing or monetary grants.  Instead, they were returned to the homes on the reserve from which they had come.  They were expected to continue living the life which they had been living prior to enlisting.  The only exceptions would be for those individuals who were willing to give up their treaty status, which resulted in them being disenfranchised from their Band.

Possibly more difficult was the loss of the freedom of movement which they had enjoyed while serving in the Armed Forces.  Once back on the reserve, they were required to request, and receive, permission to leave the reserve to travel elsewhere, including to meet with those comrades with whom they had fought.  More than one non-First Nation veteran bemoaned the fact that, once back in civilian life, he was no longer able to have a beer with his former First Nation comrade.

The contributions made by our Indigenous people have helped to preserve our freedoms from before Canada became a nation.  Let’s honour them.

                                                            fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum Musings: The First Collegiate Snake Dance

Fred Payton
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Museum Musings: The First Collegiate Snake Dance

Prince Albert Historical Society

A meeting of the Lions Club held on Friday, October 4th, 1957, discussed an idea which was to result in providing great memories for thousands of Prince Albert teenagers over the years.

As reported in the Prince Albert Daily Herald on October 5th that year, an October 31st teen dance for members of the Central Teen Council, tentatively preceded by a snake dance, was being considered.  Mr. H.R. Boucher, a member of the Lions’ Club entertainment committee, reported that representatives of the Teen Council called for the support of other service clubs to provide supervision of the Hallowe’en programme.

Later in the month, on October 22nd, the idea was more fully explained by William Katz, the chairman of the Lions’ Club entertainment committee.  He advised that the student councils of Prince Albert Collegiate Institute, Riverside Collegiate Institute, and St. Mary’s College had agreed to attend the Lions’ Club sponsored Hallowe’en snake dance.  The idea, jointly proposed by the Central Teen Council and the Lions, would include a snake dance organized on a competitive basis.  The City’s recreation services had been asked to form two teams, one made up of PACI students, and the other of Riverside and St. Mary’s schools combined.

Six local service clubs, Quota Club, the Stagettes, Kinsmen, Kiwanis, Rotary and Cosmopolitan, had offered join with the Lions to police and judge the evening’s programme.  The events at the dance at the Arcade Hall, as well as the snake dance itself, would be judged and points would be awarded to determine an overall winner for the evening.

According to the Lions/Teen Council plans, the teams would start their respective snakes at 7:15, one team starting at the fire hall and the other at the foot of the viaduct.  The snakes would meet in front of the City Hall (now the Margo Fournier Arts Centre), at which point the judges will inspect each team, and will award points for the best organised, the most colourful, and the best controlled snake.

City Recreation Director Glen Tuck had ordered coloured paper hats which will enable the awarding of points based on the best turn-out by per centage of school enrollment.  At the time, PACI had 480 students enrolled, while Riverside and St. Mary’s had a combined enrollment of 435 students.

A representative of the Central Teen Council visited each of the collegiates to speak to their respective student councils.  Riverside, for example, was visited by John Jordon, who outlined the events planned for the evening of October 31st.  He indicated that they would be required to decorate half of the Arcade Hall, and that they would receive green hats the morning of the dance, to be worn to identify them as students of that school.  On Hallowe’en evening, they would gather at the school, snake down River Street to Central Avenue, and then up Central to City Hall, where they would participate in the tug-of-war and give their school yell.

Two days after the October 22nd announcement, the Daily Herald carried a story headlined Police Chief Favors Plans For Hallowe’en Snake Dance.  Chief Poole said he was in favour of the plans outlined by the Councils of PACI, Riverside, and St. Mary’s in cooperation with the Lions’ Club.  The proposed programme, in his estimation, was a “good idea” and would have his full support.  Chief Poole did not elaborate, but Prince Albert still had a number of backyard “privies” and tipping privies, or even moving them back a few yards, had become something of a tradition for local teenagers on Hallowe’en.

William Katz was once again quoted, advising that there would be six categories judged by the participating service clubs, including best snake, school yell, a tug-of-war made up of fifty students on each team (using both male and female members), team turn-out (by per centage), a fifteen-minute floor show at the Arcade Hall, and hall decorations provided by each team.  A shield would be awarded to the winning team.

During this time of preparation for the Hallowe’en competition, one of the sponsoring organisations, the Central Teen Council, held its annual election.  Glen Barrie was elected president, defeating three competitors, Marion Wintermute, Helen Reiderer, and Len Burkitt.  The victorious first vice-president was Wayne Grasley, defeating John Plaxton by 21 votes.  Plaxton assumed the position of second vice-president.  Pegi Pond was elected as secretary, polling more votes than the other two candidates for the position, Jean Parnell and Deanne Kernaghan.  For the treasurer’s position, Fay Norris received more votes than her opponent, Karen Hynes.  As a result of the election, Jimmy Hill became the organisation’s past president.

On October 30th, the Daily Herald carried a story indicating that the plans for Hallowe’en evening had been completed by representatives of the school councils, the teen council, and the Lions’ Club.  Most of the previously determined plans remained unchanged, although there were a few minor changes.  PACI would convene at the school at 7:10, and arrive at the foot of the viaduct by 7:15 to begin their snake.  Riverside and St. Mary’s would convene at Riverside and start their snake at the agreed upon time of 7:15.  Each team would snake down Central Avenue to the opposite end (i.e. the fire hall for PACI and the foot of the viaduct for Riverside), then turn and snake back to City Hall.

The dance at the Arcade Hall would include some of the competitive events between each team, but there would also be competitions for the best costume and for the jive contest.

Police Chief Poole once again provided a statement, indicating that the Collegiates, with the assistance of several service clubs, had organized the event.  He asked for cooperation from “the motoring public” to keep Central Avenue clear of traffic between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., and suggested that no unauthorized persons “crash or join in the snake dance”.  Action, he said, would be taken against any persons interfering with the parade.

Although the previous day’s Daily Herald had indicated that the plans for the snake dance had been finalized, the newspaper on Hallowe’en indicated that some of those plans had to be adjusted on the day of the event.  Representatives of the participating schools’ student councils attended a meeting at City Hall on the big day, along with members of the Lions’ Club, the Stagettes, the Kinsmen, Kiwanis, Cosmopolitan, and Quota clubs.  City Recreation Director and Police Chief Poole were also in attendance.  William Katz requested that the judging of competitions be changed from a points system basis to straight judging of individual events.  This was approved.  The unsuitability of the paper hats also needed to be changed and, at the suggestion of one of the student councillors, it was decided to issue instead coloured arm bands to be worn by the students.

It was agreed that members of the women’s service clubs, the Quota Club and the Stagettes, would be stationed at the midway point, while judges from the men’s clubs would be at the starting points, with Kinsmen and Rotarians at the viaduct, and the Kiwanis and Cosmopolitan clubs at the fire hall.

It was requested of the Recreation Coordinator if the balcony on the City Hall could be used as a vantage point for the judges, but he pointed out that they would need to be acrobats in order to get onto it.

It was again indicated that the two teams would participate in the tug-of-war in front of the City Hall, with each team consisting of twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls.  Once PACI completed their school yell, they would stand on the west side of Central Avenue, while the Riverside/St. Mary’s team would occupy the east side.  After the two competitions were completed, the two teams would snake together to the Arcade Hall.

The decorations at the Arcade Hall, and the floor show scheduled for 10:30 would be judged by members of the six service clubs.  It was hoped that these individuals would remain at the hall for the entire programme.  Mr. Katz advised that the teenagers had told him that they approved of being chaperoned.  In fact, he said “the more the merrier”.

The meeting ended with the City Recreation Director indicating that the eighty girls at the Academy of the Presentation of Mary had been overlooked during the organization of this event, and it was decided that those interested in participating be allowed to join whichever team they wished.

The night went well, with just one hitch.  When the teams of fifty started tugging on the rope for the tug-or-war, the rope broke.    As a result, when William Katz stood to announce the night’s winners, that event was declared a draw.  Riverside/St. Mary’s won the best organized and most colourful snake.  Apparently some of the PACI participants became a little rowdy when they turned at the fire hall to return to City Hall.  They disconnected themselves from the snake and attached themselves to a car which they nearly turned over.

The winner of the school yell was the PACI team.  They had gone to the trouble of getting a truck and a public address system which they used to great benefit.

The best turn-out by per centage also went to PACI, as did the Arcade decorations, primarily through their use of apples and pumpkins to trim the stage.

Riverside/St. Mary’s won the floor show, which was emceed by John Jordon.  Performers included Shirley Cockwill, Janet Beggs, the Lashlikawitch brothers, and Brian Kernaghan.

The PACI floor show was emceed by Ronald Allen, with performances by the Romanchych sisters, Wayne Grasley, Verelyn Pouliot, Irene Hayes, Rodney Soonias, Rod MacKenzie, and Diane Naish.  PACI lost points because their fifteen minute floor show last twenty-five minutes.

It was noted that the pace set by the leaders of the snake went too quickly (having participated in later years, the speed was probably the best part of the snake!), and too little Hallowe’en spirit was noted (too few costumes).  There could be, the sponsors noted, no criticism  of the students behaviour.

The service club judges were Mrs. Daniel Speaker from the Quota Club, Deidre de Fossett from the Stagettes, W.A. McLean from the Kinsmen Club, Russell Isaac from the Kiwanis Club, Edward “Bud” Dallin from the Cosmopolitan Club, and Jack Howard from the Rotary Club.

William Katz of the Lions’ Club, Glen Tuck from the City, and Police Chief Poole all remarked on the success of the collegiate snake dance.  The schools were also delighted with the evening.  One student from Riverside was quoted as saying, “Everyone had an evening of good clean fun.”  The Central Teen Council expressed their thanks to the city, the city’s teenagers, and the city service clubs, especially noting the Lions’ Club.  They also looked forward to a bigger and better snake dance in the years to follow.

An editorial in the Daily Herald posed the question, “What are teenagers coming to?”  They answered it themselves, stating, “On the basis of their Hallowe’en activities, we’d say a bright future as good citizens.”

The first organized collegiate snake was certainly a great success, and set the framework for subsequent years.

fgpayton@sasktel.net

October: harvest, Thanksgiving, and fall suppers

Fred Payton
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October: harvest, Thanksgiving, and fall suppers

I have a confession to make.  I love the month of October.  If not my favourite month, it certainly rests within the top three of my favourite months.  Oh, I know that it is a harbinger of what is to come, the cold and snow and ice, and all those things which we love to moan about.  But it tends to be the best time for football.  The CFL is nearing its zenith, the NFL is beginning to sort the best from the worst, and university and college football is sorting the wheat from the chaff.

Speaking of which, I enjoy drives in the country in October.  If the harvest is not complete, it is nearing completion, especially when we have weather like we have enjoyed this autumn.  My thoughts tend to stray to how different farming is today from the “early” years.  I think about James Isbister, growing crops with his family on fields in what is now the west flat of Prince Albert, and then hauling the wheat by cart all the way to the Red River (Winnipeg) to be milled.  I think about how in 1868, the land where the Arts Centre and City Hall now stand was a field of grain.  Wheat varieties and equipment is so much different now than in those days, as is the life of the farmer.  But like then, farmers of today are still dependent upon the weather and other enemies such as invasive disease and scavenging animals.

Farmers tend to rely more on mechanization today than the did in the early years of settlement.  So many community histories record how crews of men and even young boys moved from farm to farm, assisting one another is “getting the crop off”.  These same community histories often record how this farmer or that farmer was the first in the area to own a threshing machine or some other piece of equipment which increased efficiency on the farm, and how these owners often paid for these machines, not only using them on their own properties but also by charging other farmers as they used the equipment to harvest their crops.

All these people who worked so hard to bring in the crop needed to be fed.  The women, many of whom also worked in the field, were mainly responsible for providing food and beverages for the harvest crews.  Food was prepared and carried out to the field during the day, and at day’s end suppers consisting of beef, chicken, turkey and ham, along with mounds of potatoes, carrots and turnip, were served up on tables sagging with the weight of it all.  People crowded around the tables, often set up in the barn, feasting on the delicious offerings before heading off to sleep in preparation for another busy day in the fields.  Dependent upon the ethnicity of the family whose crop was being harvested, you would likely have some of their particular foods included.  Many of the farms in this area would have borsch, vareneky, holubtsi, and syrnyky, while others might serve Scandinavian or German specialties.

I suspect that the ability to prepare such harvest meals for so many people led these women to recognize the opportunity to raise a few dollars for required community resources, such as community halls, and that this was the prelude to today’s fall suppers.  Although fewer in number since the Covid pandemic, people still flock to such suppers when they learn about them.

Giving thanks for the completion of the harvest led to parochial and religious celebrations.  The last harvest supper on a farm would often lead to a good old fashioned barn dance.  The tables cleared away, those who had instruments would tune them, and the dance would commence.  I wonder how many farm families formed an alliance with a neighbour family as a result of such dances?

Churches also celebrated the end of the harvest.  A special Sunday would be set aside for such a celebration.  The church would be decorated with wheat sheaves, garden produce, and often a loaf of bread and grapes (when available) on the altar.  Prayers and hymns of thanksgiving were offered, with the produce being presented after the service to the officiating minister or members of the congregation who, for one reason or another, were in need.

It is interesting to note that the first celebration of Thanksgiving in North America occurred in what is now Canada, in Nunavut, in an area then considered to be Newfoundland.  Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew participated in a feast of thanksgiving to celebrate their safe arrival in the New World.  This occurred in 1578, nearly a half century before the pilgrims held their first celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Samuel Champlain led French colonists in what is now Quebec in a similar celebration in 1614.

Sporadic thanksgiving celebrations occurred in what is now Canada between then and the end of the War of 1812, with even more frequent celebrations occurring after the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841.  It was not until April 15th, 1872, that the first official Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Canada, until in 1879 when it became an official national holiday.  The date upon which it was celebrated varied, however, between the months of October and November until a Proclamation of Parliament in 1957 declared that it would be held on the second Monday in October.  This ensured that Thanksgiving Day was separated from Armistice (Remembrance) Day which was at that time celebrated on the first Monday of the week of November 11th.

One of the more memorable stories I read in our collection of community histories was from I Remember When…Star City.  Gerald and Evelyn Guy had decided that they were ready to settle down and moved their effects, hoping to rent a farm.  They unloaded in Brooksby on a cold Thanksgiving Day in 1937.

I imagine that they were very thankful that day, and hope that they had many more days of thanksgiving after that move. I should ask their son Harold if that is so.

Regardless of how you celebrated Thanksgiving Day this week, moving into a new home or simply doing some last minute yard work, I hope that you enjoyed the day, and that you found much for which to be thankful.

fgpayton@sasktel.net

Museum Musings: The life and times of William A. Spencer

Fred Payton
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Museum Musings: The life and times of William A. Spencer

Prince Albert Historical Society

A few weeks ago, we drove east on Highway 302 towards the Stanleyville district.  It was a beautiful morning, making for a pleasant outing in search of the district’s cemetery, where I believed the remains of William A. Spencer had been interred in 1909.

The cemetery had once been the site of Holy Trinity church, but the church had been moved off-site in 1968.  We were not certain what to expect with respect to the cemetery.  Would it be neglected and overgrown, as is often the case for so many early cemeteries in rural areas?  Would it be possible to locate and read the headstones, many of which had been erected over one hundred years ago?

Submitted photo.
The grave of William A. Spencer in the cemetery of the former Holy Trinity Church.

We finally located the cemetery, thanks to the assistance of an area farm family, and were pleased to see that the cemetery was well maintained.  A cairn identified the origin of the graveyard, and most of the headstones were easily read.  Many of the names were connected to the earliest settlers in the Prince Albert district, including families such as the Markleys, Robertsons, Andersons, and McBeaths.  Easily found, and easily read, were headstones erected in memory of members of the Spencer family including, of course, Willam A. Spencer.

You may be wondering:  why the interest in William Spencer?  Some of you may recall Ernie Spencer, onetime Prince Albert’s deputy fire chief.  He was a descendant of William Spencer.  There are several other descendants of the man still residing in Prince Albert, and these connections which make it of interest to persons who are fascinated by genealogy and family trees.  But even without these connections, I found the life of William Spencer to be a life of interest and significance.

The first point of interest relates to the place of Spencer’s birth.  According to an article written by Joan Frith in 1988, Spencer was born in 1822 in the Orkney Islands, and apprenticed to the Hudson Bay Company in 1838 at the age of 16.  He is said to have arrived in York Factory in June of that year, on the annual supply ship from England.  Other documentation suggests that Spencer was born on James Bay at Moose Factory, Keewatin District North-West Territories to John Hodges Spencer and Anne Sinclair.

Regardless of his place of birth, Spencer was hired on as an apprentice at York Factory.  In this role, he was expected to serve as an understudy and assistant to men of higher ranks.

After his first two years at York Factory, he served a further two years in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), before being moved to Fort Vancouver.  According to Frith, the cold weather, isolation and the Company’s harsh rules discouraged many of the young apprentices and drove them to suicide.  However, she states, Spencer having been raised in the bleak Orkney Islands, was prepared for the climactic and other hardships.  Apprenticing in the Sandwich Islands and on coastal British Columbia might not have been too great a challenge to an Orkney Islander.

The salary for apprentices was lower than for labourers, but the prospects of promotion were greater.  Most apprentices spent their time doing menial tasks and running errands.  Spencer had a quick mind, and could read and write and do arithmetic, allowing him to engage in tasks with his superiors which led to a deeper understanding of the Company’s workings, as well as its failings.

When his term as an apprentice expired, Spencer was offered a position as a clerk.  Spencer argued that in order to be a good clerk he must experience life outside of the fort in order to understand how to correct some of the Company’s faults.  As a result, he secured a position on the English River (now known as the Churchill) as a “middleman” which, contrary to its title, was one of the lower ranks.  However, it afforded Spencer the opportunity to canoe and portage across the Company’s territory and gain access to its trading posts, as well as to interact with the First Nations people.

Spencer also had a knack for languages and quickly learned the Indigenous tongues.  This led to his appointment in 1846 as an interpreter, a position considered to be very valuable in the fur trade industry.  Regardless of their value, interpreters were not allowed to keep company with the Chief Factors or to eat in the Company dining halls.

Spencer served as an interpreter for three years in the Lesser Slave Lake region and the Rocky Mountain House region.  Often at the centre of controversy, he made gains in improving the interaction between the fur traders and the First Nations people, and was known to report those traders who were not dealing fairly with the Indigenous people.

In 1849, Spencer accepted a position as the post master at Fort Carlton.  This post had little to do with handling mail, but was more an internal trouble shooter, mediating between the First Nations people, the traders, the local residents, the Company servants and its officer.  He was later appointed clerk at several of the Company’s stations, during which time the Company finally realised its internal failings, failings which had earlier been noted by Spencer while serving as an interpreter.

In 1848 and 1849, while at Rocky Mountain House, Spencer had become acquainted with Patrick Small, another interpreter.  He was introduced to Small’s family and, on July 15, 1848, he married Small’s daughter Caroline.  They eventually had ten children, six boys and four girls.  Three of the boys were educated at St. John’s College in Winnipeg, and subsequently apprenticed to the Hudson’s Bay Company.

After serving at Carlton, Spencer served at The Pas, and Cumberland House (the latter place in the summer months), Berens River (on Lake Winnipeg), Stanley Mission, Cold Lake, and in communities on or near the English River (La Loche, Ile-a-la-Crosse).

Spencer retired in 1856, partly due to his wife’s failing health, but also due to rumours that the Company was giving up its monopoly.  They settled in Prince Albert, where Spencer was appointed the registrar of new born babies.  He was active in the community, serving on the Goschen school board.  He was also approached to act as a mediator in the dispute between the Metis and the federal government.  Although he recognised the Metis grievances, he soon found that Louis Riel was not prepared to participate in the mediation process and accordingly resigned from the position.

Spencer’s wife, Caroline, died in 1886, and he left Prince Albert to take up a homestead in the Stanleyville district east of Prince Albert.  As the eldest person to acquire a homestead in that community, he required the assistance of his son and family to build a log house and to work the land in order to meet the homestead requirements.  Spencer continued at this time to act as the registrar of babies and made many trips on foot to Prince Albert.  (Did I previously mention that Stanleyville is about 25 kilometres or 15 miles from Prince Albert?)   He preferred to walk and, according to his daughter Elsie, refused to utilise any other form of transportation.

Spencer died in 1909 at the age of 87.

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