The Sunday School Picnic, by Phyllis Ellis

As on every Sunday morning we would attend Sunday School, but today was special. It was the day of the Sunday School Picnic!


At the end of the last hymn Mrs. Harris, the Sunday School Superintendent, would distribute the slips of paper which told when and where in Victoria Park the picnic would be held, ending with the delightful phrase, “Would the girls please bring sandwiches and boys please bring cake?” And it always worked.


Because there was no plastic wrap, and waxed paper was available for commercial use only, the sandwiches and cake were brought to the picnic wrapped in brightly coloured waxed bread wrappers likely from McGavin’s Bakery or ECB (Edmonton City Bakery). Homemade lemonade was provided by the Sunday School. No hot dogs cooked on a barbeque in those days.


Everyone dressed up for the event. Women wore their pretty summer dresses (as a change from the house dresses they wore during the week) as did the girls. I remember a pretty mauve floral cotton dress I wore with matching mid-thigh panties (for modesty’s sake) and the panties had a pocket in which to carry my handkerchief. I loved that outfit! The men and boys wore dress shirts and the boys wore “short pants.” Sports clothes hadn’t yet arrived on the scene unless you were a man who played cricket. Cricketers wore white trousers and that was about as sporty as any clothes worn. Almost everyone wore a hat (usually straw) to complete the outfit.


There was great excitement and anticipation. Games were organized: 50 yard dash, three-legged race, wheelbarrow race, sack race, candy hunt, etc. The mothers took part in an egg and spoon race and the fathers had a tug-o-war. Prizes were awarded for all the events. When the races and other activities were finished it was time to eat. Everything tasted delicious because we were so hungry and thirsty after all that exertion.


The afternoon finished with a Peanut Scramble and then we all went home happy and tired and looking forward to next year’s picnic.