My Edmonton Memoirs, by Isobell Dittrich -- 1915 - 1993
Date: September 14, 1915 to August 1993
I was born September 14, 1915 at 123 Street and 103 Avenue in Edmonton. That area was all bush at that time (See more details in Mum's Memoirs [p.32]). In fact, the doctor got lost trying to find the house after Dad had called him at the time I was being born. Anyway, I came into this world without much difficulty and have lived that way ever since - how many people
can say that? I was over 8 lbs., Mum was able to nurse me so all I did was "eat" and sleep as I was so contented. Dad used to say "If you wake her in the night, she'll just smile". Mother always said she wanted me so badly and took such good care of herself for those 9 months, I had to be a healthy, happy baby - I don't know how true that is.
The mosquitoes were so bad, in those days - no chemicals had been invented up to then to control them - one could buy Citronella, which was used to repel them on our body, but it stung and wasn't effective for long. Anyway, Mum bought enough cheesecloth to cover the baby carriage to keep the miserable things from me as "I had to have my nap outside each day to
make me strong" (Mum always had a fear, in the back of her mind, either Roy or I would develop T.B., as her Mum had died from it. There again, no research had been done on the prevention of T.B.. In Mum's time, as a girl they said T.B. came on the night air, therefore all windows were firmly shut at night and even the fireplaces in the bedrooms were tightly closed when not in use. Another thing Mum did was splash cold water on our chests, when we had our baths "to strengthen your chest").
When I was "coming". Dad had built a cottage so I would be warm, as the shack they had moved into the bush must have been like a grain bin (see Mum's Memoirs [p.29]). Dad had never done any carpenter work but "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" and Dad was a person who could turn his hand to most anything. The Cottage had a screened in porch to lessen the misery of the mosquitoes. June was a month of rain showers and then the sun would shine, that kind of weather is ideal for breeding mosquitoes.
They had to buy their water - 1 barrel had to last a week - that was 50 cents, after I came Mum had the waterman bring an extra half a barrel, 25 cents. He got the water by having his team of horses back the water wagon into the river and then he'd pump the tank full by hand. When the (Mum's) barrel was nearly empty, she said there were worms in the sand that had settled to the bottom. This water was used for drinking and cooking as well as bathing and washing. Remember, 1 ½ barrels to last a week - why didn't they buy more? They had very little money that's why.
We must have stayed 2 years in the bush, then we moved to a little house on the lane between 122 nd and 123 rd Streets on 108 Avenue. Mum had to go to an outside tap on the wall of the house on the same lot for all her water. Later, a large house with all the facilities, 3 doors away, 10742 - 122 Street came empty and we were glad to move in. Must have stayed about a year and a half here as Roy was born in what we called the Red House - 125 Street and 108 Avenue. Once again, no indoor plumbing but at least a "stand-pipe" just outside the back door which was cold water. It had to be protected, from freezing, in the winter, with straw packed around it, but it froze sometimes anyway and Dad would have to stay home from work to thaw it out. A few years later, the City passed a law forcing landlords to put plumbing in houses, like these, for sanitary reasons - so that was a lot easier for Mum once she had a bathroom with hot and cold water in the sinks. The main reason for this move, was the "Red House" had 2 lots, all trees and Dad wanted a greenhouse (see more in Mum's Memoirs [p.34]) The house wasn't as large as the last one - the upstairs was kind of spooky". The only way up to it was by outside stairs, therefore it wasn't used. There was a lovely large room with a bay window - we weren't allowed to go up there for some reason.
Here I met Muriel "Wayne" Batchelor, and was to have her as my friend until she died two years ago. We had many "adventures" together - she was 3 and I was 4 when we first moved there. Roy was born there, in the "Red House". I can remember Muriel and I peeking in the bedroom window to see what was going on until they sent us away from the window. In those days babies were born at home and then a nurse stayed 2 weeks to look after the Mum and baby, but the nurse didn't do any housework, so.... Dad stayed home from his work.
Another time, the mailman gave us a letter to take to Mum instead we tore it up and put it down a crack in the sidewalk - sidewalks in those days, were always of wood, cross pieces were 1" x 6", laid about ½" apart and these were nailed on 2" x 4"s laid on the ground. I lost one of Mother's gold rings she'd let me wear to school, down a crack in the sidewalk (I can see the place to this day). We never did find the ring I don t know why Muriel and I tore the letter up, seems our Mum's found out about it later and we got heck. Mum and Mrs. Wayne (Essie) were good friends until Mrs. Wayne died a year before Mum - that left a hole in Mum's life as each Monday, Mum went to spend the afternoon with her - sometimes they went out to tea together. Once, Muriel and I hid in the (dry) rain barrel, at the corner of the house. When the Mother's got wondering where we were and started calling for us, we didn't answer until finally when someone was passing the barrel, calling, Muriel giggled and gave the game away - we was bawled out. We both went to Westmount School (I had to walk a mile). Muriel caught up to met in Grade 3 - we were in the same rooms some years. I remember Grade 8, she went ahead of me. I could not do Aritmetic (Math).
For years, our Mums took turns, on Wednesday to make the lunch and Muriel and I would come home together. When we went to Wayne's, we had a lot of time, as by this time they had moved to a house a block from the school, so we had time to do "tricks" (handstands, cartwheels, etc.) as we called them. When Muriel came to us we had to step right along, as we had moved back to the house on 122nd Street. I remember Mum always made baking powder biscuits (which she made well) which we had for dessert with syrup.
Muriel was the first one to come to me after my wedding ceremony and throw her arms around me. She stayed with us, in this house on the farm, for about a week when she and Bill (who she married later) had a fight - she was broken-hearted.
We didn't see each other often for a number of years, after I was married but kept in touch through our Mothers. Then when our children were married and we had more time, we would spend birthdays together - Muriel and her Mum were on the same day.
Muriel was an especially kind and thoughtful person. I have quite a number of friendship books and the like she gave me at different times. After Mum died, she gave me our Church Hymnal in Memory of Mum. I'm sure there are a great many people remember Muriel as I do.
I must have been 8 years old when we moved back to the "big house" on 122nd Street where we had lived before we moved to the "Red House". My first memories of this house was sitting on a sack of potatoes in the hall, been set there during the moving and Roy making himself a cup of cocoa - he wouldn't have been 4 years - Mum trusted him with the boiling kettle - Roy was capable. (While we were still in the "Red House", Mum would give him a little purse with money and a list and off he'd go to the store, a block and a half away, with his little wagon. He could make it fly, with one knee in and pumping with the other leg. At that time he used to say he was going to be a delivery boy for Mr. McDougall, the little store owner - Roy did start delivering groceries, but for Safeway stores, on his bike, when he was 18 years. He became the youngest manager, of that time, by the age of 21 and stayed as Manager with Safeway until he was 55, then retired - it was hard work.)
I have many happy memories of this house. I lived there until I married Carl and moved to this farm. Minnie "Hendrickson" Steward became my close friend during this time - I still write to her in Victoria, B.C. - have visited her twice - she came here to the farm once.
In my growing up years, they were mostly do-it-yourself times. I was knitting when I was 9 years old - I can remember taking my doll to school, only on a Friday afternoon, Miss Livingston's room, with the dress on I had knitted - Mum had helped me and made the toque to match. I still have them - Lynn and the granddaughters used them on their dolls, when they paled here. Mum always knitted sox, mitts, sweaters for us and I guess a girl copies her Mum, if the Mum has the patience to teach her - me being left handed and Mum right handed sometimes posed a problem.
On my 10 th birthday, Mum, Dad and Roy went off on a "secret mission" - left Min and I to await the unfolding mystery. Maybe an hour later when they drove up in our Model T Ford, I had to "close my eyes and hold out my hands" - a scrambly little puppy was given to me. Buffy was to be with us until she was 13 years, when she had to be put "to sleep". We all had great pleasure from her - she went everywhere with Roy on his bike - there was little traffic in those days and I think a person could ride on the sidewalks. We had Buffy "fixed" so she couldn't have puppies - there was a great fuss made of her when she came home from the hospital with a bandage around her stomach. She was a Cocker Spaniel but a throw-back, had short hair. For this reason, she had her cushion under the kitchen table and in winter she had a cover (the old house was really cold). We armed her cover on the oven door (coal wood stove) and when it was ready she pulled it off so we could cover her, may sound silly but an animal becomes almost human they are treated thus.\
I can still see 2 piles of 7 nickels, in each pile, on a shelf by the chimney for Roy and I to swim
each day of summer holidays - Min went too. It was 5 cents a swim until we became a teenager then it was 10 cents. We could take our lunch and stay all day if we wished but we usually came home at noon, it got crowded in the afternoon. I'd sleep some of the afternoon - the water makes a person tired - we stayed in the water 2 or 3 hours (you can see how Mum spoiled us). Finally, as we grew older, the lifeguard took an interest in us when he saw we came so often - there were no lessons in those days. The Japanese Crawl had just come to the attention of the long distance swimmers, so we got some pointers from the lifeguard.
Mum was a great believer in us "playing out-of-doors, in the fresh air", summer and winter. There were deep ditches between our place and Min's, ^ a block away and in those years lots of snow, so the ditches drifted full - what nicer place to play than in that deep snow - run and jump and then try to get out. I must tell you, girls didn't wear slacks then, just skirts, heavy, navy blue long to the knees, pants-like fleeced lined underwear. We had long drawers under these which came to the ankles, dark colored heavy knit stockings came over this long underwear and were held up with suspenders which were attached to a "waist". Mum made my waists of flannelette. They didn't have sleeves, just were over the shoulders and down to the waist, buttoned in the front. Then there was a vest under this, with short sleeves - sounds glamorous, doesn't it? But we all wore the same so....Oh, yes, moccasins for the feet, with lots of wool mittens and a coat completed the "outfit". Can you imagine the snow we brought in after great fun in the drifts? Dad made a rack, on pulleys which could be lowered from the ceiling of the kitchen and all these wet clothes were hung on there to dry - buy Mum was so happy to see our rosy faces, she was just thinking of our health, didn't worry about the mess.
I only remember owning one pair of skates as I "skated" on the sides of my boots, weak ankles I guess, therefore I didn't like that sport. I'd be about 11 years, Dad made a nice rink in the backyard more than one winter.
We had little hand sleighs, close to the ground, were fun on the rink - hold the sleigh to your stomach, run and fall on the sleigh or someone would take the rope, tied to the front of the runners, run pulling you then stop and spin you around trying to unseat you. We had open fields to the south and east of us and made good use of them summer and winter. Large fox and goose circles were made and played in - there were 3 or 4 neighbor children. Snow angels were fun to make - lie down on your back, move your arms and legs back and forth, then get up and look at the angel you'd made. Snowmen of course, with coal for eyes and teeth, carrot for a nose.
Cross-country skiing was nice - the Indian Reserve was just across the railway tracks, ½ a block from us, which was untouched land, mostly willow bushes, as I recall and no one questioned us when we skied there. I don't remember seeing Indians there in winter but in summer when Mrs. Hendrickson (Min's Mum) took u son Nature walks, in the Reserve, we would pass tents with families camping. I remember seeing their washing spread on the bushes to dry.
The foot-gear for skiing was a lot different than now. Moccasins and to hold the feet in the cross-strap over the toe, we would cut a narrow, 1"cross section out of an old care tire inner tube - they were made of rubber and stretched - now slip this over your foot before you put your foot through the strap, then your foot from slipping out of the strap as it was behind your heel too. We couldn't afford ski poles, so did without - still had fun, lucky to be able to buy the skiis. Downhill skiing didn't appeal to me - we went a few times to the hills of the Saskatchewan River Banks. Our ski pants were riding breeches (see a picture in the old Photo Album). My jacket was an old cut off coat.
Spring, summer and autumn time, we had more to do. Some of the fields were low and in spring would fill up the water which were good for rafting and wet feet.
There was a hand-bridge over one of the ditches near us and we spent many an hour doing "tricks" on the hand rails. In the Autumn, when it got dark earlier, we liked to spend time
there in the street light, which happened to be overhead.
Speaking of tricks, for many years we met after supper, in the summer, near Min's, at a clearing in the bush where we would do hand stands, backbends, splits, cartwheels etc. and got quite good at them - in fact I still did a few after we were married. Hank, one of Min's twin brothers, was a natural, could bend and twist with no effort and he would make us disgusted with our efforts, but he didn't come often. There's one thing I haven't forgiven him for - Min and I may have been 12 and 10 years when we made a little house in this clearing. We worked really hard using willow branches woven in and out to form walls. The corner posts were the hardest part, to get them in deep enough to hold the walls up. Then when we had it finished and could have enjoyed it, Hank came and pushed it over.
Two months summer holidays were too long - some afternoons we ended up just sitting and making silly faces like wiggling our ears, touching our nose with our tongue - Min was good at that - we even made funny noises. Min is double-jointed so I couldn't bend my thumb and fingers like she could.
The people in the house next to ours had a player piano - one that played automatically from a drum. Also these people got a cabinet radio about 1925, (before that the radios had ear
phones), so we would go to the outside wall that the piano and radio were near, lean our ear against the wall and be entertained when they had either playing. I don't know if they ever knew
we did this - their house and ours were very close together on the same lot.
Another pleasant memory I have is the many, many times Dad read to me from the Red Books - (Books of Knowledge) until I knew the stories by heart. Later years, when winter came, we would all sit around the kitchen stove, Roy and I with our feet on the open oven door, where it was cosy and Dad would read by the hour - until he couldn't see anymore. I would become so
interested, I'd forget to blink until I noticed Dad getting smaller and smaller.
As I said before, we had fields to play in. There was a farmer on the other side of the Indian Reserve who put the hay up for his animals so that when we played hide and seek in the tall grass, he got angry, as we packed it down and he couldn't cut those places. He made coils of the hay when it was nearly dry and we loved to play in them too. Poor man - when I think of it now. He had 2 horses and a mower, then a rake which he raked the hay together with, then he'd trip it with his foot when he had a big enough bunch - these bunches were lovely to run and jump in when he'd gone home. I'm sure Mum and Dad put a stop to that.
Min and I took tap dancing lessons one winter - Min was good at it, I'd sooner have taken ballet. I took Lynn, my daughter to ballet and tap dancing when she was young - she didn't think much of the ballet - odd how we think our children should like what we do.
When we were older. Hank and Jim, Min's brothers, made a tennis court - that was a lot of work to get the cinders rolled firmly (hard top hadn't been invented). The boys made a cement roller
and we girls had to roll it "if you're going to play tennis you have to help make the court" and I guess that's fair. None of us got very good at tennis but it passed the time. I remember once I fell on the cinders and cut my knee, I was embarrassed and hoped they wouldn't notice but the blood was running down my leg, so they made quite a fuss and fixed it up. I still have the cinders in my knee. Another time, I remember Jim hit the ball so hard it went right through the racket. I don't imagine that's good tennis.
I always wanted to play the piano, so finally, Mum and Dad consented but I didn't get very far. When Mum passed away, she left Roy and I a little money. It was then, at 61, I bought
an organ and took 1^ years of lessons from Pat Tetzlaff, over on the Wye Road. I "worked" so hard practicing, I was making myself sick, so I stopped as I knew enough by then to go on
my own, which I still do and enjoy it very much. I'm sorry I couldn't have continued as I had ambitions to play well, such is life.
When Min finished grade 12, at Westmount School, she took a business course and became a secretary for a few years until she moved out to Victoria where Jim and his wife had gone to.
I went to Technical school after I finished grade 10, so our times together were limited but we have happy memories to keep and look back on.
I enjoyed my 2 years at Tech. I had always liked sewing so thought it would be useful and maybe I could get a job in the alteration department of one of the downtown stores. This
decision was to determine the rest of my life. Naturally, I got to know the girl at the next table to me, a Clara Dittrich. We grew to like one another. One day, when we were in town to shop, I was introduced to Carl, her oldest brother. I was provoked with Clara, for as soon as she had introduce us, she stepped in front of Carol and I wouldn't carry on a conversation with him. I like him right away. It didn't really matter as she invited me to spend a few days with her at the farm 23 miles east of Edmonton, so I had lots of time to become acquainted with Carl. I spend many happy times at the farm in the next 2 years.
There were 14 girls took the first year sewing course at Tech and 7 the second year - neither Clara nor I completed the whole course, few of the girls did but we learned a lot. Besides
the sewing, we learned Dress Design, Cooking, 3 other teachers gave us what was called Personal Care, Needlework, etc. then we learned Household Economics, English, Industrial History, Math and Science - they applied somewhat to sewing.
One of the girls was such a clown - could have made her living being funny - whenever Miss McConnel would go out of the room, Mabel would entertain us. One time, we were having such fun, when Miss McConnel came in, she said she could hear my voice above all the others!
Another of the girls gave me a shower before I was married. She lived a long way from us and for some reason. Dad didn't want to go with the car, so I had to bring the presents home
on the street car. Jean wondered where the car was, I said around the corner. I didn't like to tell her I was going home on the street car.
We lived 21 blocks (2 miles) from Tech. I walked morning and night and once at noon as there wasn't time to walk back. I have always liked to walk and it also saved the street car fare
too. Street cars ran on tracks like a train, in the middle of the street. Overhead wires which a trolley ran on, seated 30 or 40 people much like the buses. There were platforms in the centre of the street to stand on to wait and get off and on.
Tech. was on the Northeast corner of 101 Street and 107 Avenue. Roy went there later to take Motor Mechanics and Wood Working' Tech. was like NAIT.
Carl and I went together for about a year before he asked me to marry him. I can remember the moment like it was yesterday. It was early spring time and I had gone with him to get a load
of hay, we were coming back and he got out to open the gate (I would drive the horses through) and in his shy manner, asked me while he was busy with the gate. I can remember well too,
when we went to pick out my engagement ring. I chose an opal! I felt a diamond was too expensive and anyway they don't appeal to me. (The saying is opals bring bad luck but that certainly hasn't been the case with us).
We decided to have our family after a while to let me get used to farm life. Mum and Dad used to "come out" each Saturday, that was asking a lot as the roads were dirt - even the graveled highway wasn't good when it rained. Once when it was raining when they left, Roy was driving, a mile or so from here, Mum said "don't go in the ditch", Roy said "Do I ever" and just about that time, the car started to slide sideways on what we called the Hi-grade, (the first road, in this part of the country, to be graded up with deep ditches). There was no way to control the car and they ended up with the car on its side, having rolled over. No one was hurt and the only damage to the car was to the upholstery where the battery acid leaked on it. The cars in those days were sturdier than now.
Another time in winter, when Dad and Mum were bringing Muriel to visit us, we used to come through Leo's meadow, east of us, instead of by the road. It was a stormy day and the snow was
drifting in the meadow - as fast as Dad would shovel the track out, it drifted in again (so near and yet so far), I don't know why we weren't watching for them. They were huffy when they finally got here and you can't blame them. Mum and Dad brought quite a few of our friends out to the farm and I secretly think that was partly to show people I was happily married and also that we had a nice home. People in those days were more inclined to look-down on farmers, I think because some of them weren't so well dressed and often not so well educated. I have had a very happy 45 years here and enjoyed the farm people - they are much more friendly and anxious to
help when help is needed, more like a family.
In those days, we burned wood and coal to cook and heat with. Each winter, before the snow got deep, the men would go to the bush to chop down poplar trees for their years wood supply,
first asking permission of the person who had a bush quarter. The trees had to be limbed and the very top taken off, then loaded on sleigh bunks (running gear) which were 6' wide and
the load would be piled 3' to 4' high - 30 to 40 trees to a load and the team of horses pulled it home. They usually got a load a day, sometimes two if enough had been cut the day before. Ten loads seemed to be the amount needed to last until the next winter (I used to go along with Carl if the day < was nice). When all the neighbors were ready, we would have a bee and take turns sawing one farmers woodpile a day, starting when the chores were done - it usually took 6 hours for a pile. It took a crew of 6 - that meant 6 neighbors worked together. There was no pay, just work exchanged and a wonderful opportunity for visiting and fellowship. Usually one of the wives would come to help with the cooking. This was usually done in March which often meant the woodpile would be drifted full of snow and the men would be soaking wet by the time they had finished the job. Pete Gunn owned the saw we used. A circular saw can be operated by a variety of engines from a stationary type to a tractor. We were always glad to see the end of the wood sawing, as it was a dangerous job.
We needed 5 or 6 tons of coal for the winter. The first year we were married, Carl still got up at 3:00 a.m. to go to the coal mine at Clover Bar, 20 miles distance. Soon after that, coal was found at Olsen's - 7 miles south of here, later we had a truck bring the coal we needed.
I have to tell this one on a "greenhorn city girl". Spring came in 1937 and of course I had to have some chicks, everyone did. Mamma Dittrich bought them for us. We had them with a
cluck (setting hen). Well the first bunch got killed by a skunk - the second bunch we decided to look after them really well, - put Nicotine under the wings of the cluck to rid her of lice, so...when the chicks went under her to get warm, they got asphyxiated by the nicotine. I can't remember if we were given a third bunch. Another time in the same vein, we decided to
keep the chicks in our unfinished upstairs until they got bigger (there was no cluck this time). To keep them warm, we thought a crock of warm water would be the answer and for added comfort,
I put a cover over the side of the pen and the crock too "so they could huddle-in under". Well that was fine until some chicks decided to fly up on top of the cover, then the cover pressed down on the chicks below. Later, when we went upstairs to see how they were doing, we found a lot of them smothered - when Carl started taking out the wet little bodies, I left. I still remember it vividly. These incidents didn't deter us, we just learned. I had chicks, each spring, for many years after. We had a nice place in a freight car, from the CN Railway, which had been used, by a work crew as living quarters. It was nice and warm with heat lamps for them to run under if they felt chilly (alright until the power went off).
I conquered most farm jobs but cow milking had me buffaloed. One hand could get the milk out but the other squeezed wrong, the milk came part way and then went back up - I could feel
it - poor cow. One backed out of the stall, almost over the top of me - that was the climax. Carl didn't suggest I milk again.
At harvest time, Carl always asked one of the neighbors young girls to help me and of course Mamma Dittrich and Clara came when they could.
It was hard work, long hours - up at 5 o'clock, supper not until 7:30 PM - I don't think the dishes would be finished until 9 o'clock (I'm glad I was young then). We had to make lunch in midafternoon and take it to the field. It was a happy time if the weather was good and the thrashing machine didn't break down, which didn't often happen.
For breakfast, we fried potatoes, left from supper the night before, eggs, toast and coffee. There were 10 men as a crew. We always made pies for dinner besides meat, potatoes, gravy vegetables, etc., (the men were fed well as they worked hard). Same at night, but a pudding etc. instead of pies for dessert. Before my time, the women had to bake all the bread too, for the bunch. One wonders how it all could be done.
We usually had the thrashers for 2 days but people like Mamma Dittrich who had more land, could have them for a week or more. If it rained, most of the crew could go home, as they were neighbor boys, but some would stay then they would be asked to help "pick potatoes", a job always needed doing at that time of the year. (People grew more potatoes in those times as we always had potatoes twice a day.)
I remember "bandaging" the legs and crossbar of our dining room table, (one we sill have) it was just new. The men all wore such heavy, big boots and I could visualize our new table getting scuffed up. I wonder if the men noticed and if so, what they thought.
I only had 2 years of this and then Leo and us got a combine which meant only a couple of men extra for meals - what a relief. This can be a worrisome time if the weather doesn't cooperate - even dull days when there's mist "hold-up-the-works". Also the weather is nice and the men are fixing on the machine. The odd time the machine agent has to send to Winnipeg or Calgary etc., for the repair, but we nearly always get finished before the snow comes. At times, the grain may have to be combined tough, (some moisture in) so long as it will keep, if the weather is closing in on us. We can only remember about twice we had to finish in the spring, mostly that was going through the motions as the mice had a good time in it over the winter and there wouldn't be much grain left - but it had to be gotten off the field so the next crop could be sown after it (land) was worked. Carl recalls once combining until 4 o'clock in the morning to finish, it was snowing powdery, dry snow so it didn't stop them. Oh, the joys of farming, but those are rare times.
Then on July 28, 1939, the first of 2 great events took place, Ralph came into the world. When I asked Dr. Terwillegar what he was like, he said "the ordinary garden variety". That's not what Grandfather Crook said later, "If you'd enter him in a baby contest, he'd win 1 st prize". This was said in all seriousness. For 4 years we had great pleasure with our little man. Then on July 31, 1943, the 2 nd great event - a baby girl, Lynn Molly-Ann. I don't remember Ralph being jealous of her, he just went about his own business. He had a little wire-haired terrier who went everywhere with him. Also, he spent a lot of time with the little pigs. I gave him his boundaries, how far he could go from the house. I would check out the upstairs windows. Carl left the little pigs run, we had no neighbors and it was healthy for them to root in the virgin soil.
Later, when Lynn was a little older, I would put her outside in her carriage for her afternoon nap, with mosquito netting over the carriage. Mrs. Pete Gunn, one of the neighbors, said later she had fears a sow would come and take Lynn out of the carriage and carry her off (we didn't have a fence then). This may sound silly but if it hadn't been far the alertness of our neighbor boy, Dennis Simmons, working for us at the time, something could have happened to Ralph. An old sow was carrying him off when Dennis noticed. Ralph wasn't crying, maybe complaining, as pigs were his friends. Carl's nephew, Art Lawrence, had a similar experience only he was mauled enough to have marks left on him - that was the same sow mentioned in Carl's memoirs, which put him through a slab fence.
Ralph spoke oddly when he was little, like his Uncle Roy - I don't think they heard the words correctly, but they grew out of it.
We were fortunate with their health, other than the common diseases - had them all but whooping cough. I guess they were inoculated for that and Scarlet fever and the like.
One thing Ralph didn't like doing was filling the wood box. My Dad had made us a metal one - I use it still to keep my potatoes in. I can still hear the ring of the metal when Ralph heaved the wood into it when he was displeased.
We didn't start Ralph to school until he was 7 as he had to ride 2i miles horseback. The teacher said she had a mind to report us. I don't think it bothered Ralph that he was a year older then the other children in his grade. He did well although he didn't try and didn't like school. He quit after grade 10 with the idea of going to Vermillion School of Agriculture. However, one of his friends told him it was like prison there so Ralph decided against going which didn't please us.
Ralph, Allan Burnett, Garry Burnett worked with Reverend Wiggins at carpentry, in Edmonton, for a couple of years. They called themselves R.A.G. Construction. One of the jobs they had- was helping build the first Ardrossan school under a difficult boss. Ralph decided building wasn't for him, farming was his first love - he enjoyed working with his Uncle Leo and Carl, he made
the 3rd partner. These last few years he has taken the lead and the "old boys" ask him what he thinks should be done next, it's been great that he fitted in.
Lynn was a farmer from the word go. She too loved the little pigs - all the animals were her friends. When she was 5, she taught a cluck with chicks to lead with a string tied to its
leg. There's a picture in the album of her sitting on Brownie, while she is lying down, a heifer Carl intended to butcher. Lynn said "couldn't you buy another heifer to butcher and keep Brownie?" She was the start of our present day herd.
Then when Lynn was 9, in 1952, Marion, Roy's wife and I decided, their girls, Diane and Kathie were old enough to come to the farm to visit for a week. The first time, Kathie would have only been 6 and she got homesick but ever after that until they got married, we looked forward to their summer holiday visit with us. Then when Roy and Marion got a cottage at Lake Wabamun,
Lynn was lucky to spend some time there with them. They have happy memories of growing up together. They still come for reunions when they can but everyone is so busy rushing here and there these days, it doesn't often happen.
I well remember the day Lynn started school, by this time Ypres Valley School had been closed and the children were bussed to Partridge Hill. I don't quite remember how Ralph and Lynn weren't out at the road waiting for the bus, as I had time to take a snap of them, as I did each 1st school day all the years. Anyway, the bus came and they were still in the yard. Ralph tore off and left Lynn behind, then she wouldn't go alone although I tried to take her, she was always so shy. Well Frank Kulak, the bus driver, could see what was happening so he got
out of his bus and came all the way down the lane, took Lynn by the hand and off she went, no trouble. He said he'd seen this happen before and people had real trouble. I was sure thankful.
The next few pages on horses our children had are written by Carl.
In 1946 when Ralph became of school age, we started to look for a suitable pony for him to ride as he had 21/2 miles to Ypres Valley School. Willie and Blanche Burnett said their children had just the pony for Ralph and that his name was "Rocket". The price was right - $5.00. The name Rocket may have been appropriate at one time in his life but 30 years of taking kids back and forth to school had taken its toll, he was slowing up. So Ralph got a young horse called "Snap", who was recovering from a wire cut - he didn't heal in time for school opening in the fall so we bought "Baldy" who was broken for riding and could also be driven in the buggy. He and Ralph had some difference of opinion at times but thanks to the good grounding, Ralph had had when he learned to ride Rocket, Ralph usually won out.
When Lynn was old enough to go to school, the children were being bussed to Partridge Hill as Ypres was closed. She distinctly remembers the first Van she rode to school in, the farmer who drove it also raised hogs and delivered them to market at times when he wasn't hauling kids!
Lynn grew up to be the best little pig handler we ever had on the farm, pig smells didn't bother her a bit. She cared for all farm animals and made friends with them all. When Lynn was 13, Ken Horton asked her to break a colt for him. We were a bit skeptical as this 5 year old colt had given Ken a pretty rough ride along a barb wire fence which had almost removed his trousers. He also warned us "Rusty" might grab you with his teeth when you went to feed him.
Well, Lynn went cheerfully to the task of taming the critter and in a short time literally had Rusty eating out of her hand. In the evening when she came from school, she would ride him out to the pasture to bring in the cows for milking. In a short time, he was looking for her to get off the school bus so they could round up the cows. There were days when he saw the bus coming, he would get excited and rush out and bring the cows in at a high speed before Lynn could get off the bus.
Lynn was able to send Rusty home to Ken well enough broken for his young son to ride. I may add there was a tear in her eye when she had to part with Rusty.
We saw him doing his bit at a children's pony ride a few years later at Antler Lake Recreational Park.
Her ability to handle colts must have gotten around as it wasn't too long after Lynn parted with Rusty that Sam Melville brought her a lovely buckskin 4 year old mare to break. Well, "Goldie"
wasn't much of a problem to break. Lynn enjoyed her for part of a year then sent her home to Sam well enough broken.
About this time, Lynn must have realized if she was ever to have a horse of her own, she would have to get out and buy one. This is where "Goldie #2" entered the picture. Lynn bought her from Dick and Nora Hicks, of Edmonton, who had quite a number of good riding horses.
Goldie was a well put-up, nicely marked chestnut mare about 10 years old, about the only good recommendation she had was that she had been used in a parade when the Queen had visited Canada some years ago. ,
We heard a few unflattering remarks about her when we proceeded to catch her. When we get her home, Lynn took over. She couldn't see anything but good in any horse - she and Goldie
got along just great. She gave us 2 nice colts, Rocky and Penny, that was 1959 and 1961. By this time, Lynn was working up at the Coffee Shop at Brookville and thinking of getting married
so she was thinking of more than horses. Ralph worked with them but he was working too, so we sold them, we didn't become to attached to them, so it wasn't hard.
One horse incident we forgot to mention - in 1960 Lila Houston, our neighbor, asked us to have her mare, soon to have a colt, so we could keep a close watch over her. Well, we thought we were but by the time we found she had had her cold, it had wandered away from her and was literally sucking a fence post, trying to get some nourishment. Once an animal wanders from its mother, it was very hard to get them to nurse. Finally we got it to drink from a plastic bottle and then a baby bottle - now the trick to get it to drink from its mother. We would put the bottle between the mare's legs where her udder was until the colt drank from the bottle that way, then we gradually transferred it to her teats - what fun- Anyway, Lila still has the "Colt" 23 years later.
Now to the 4H Clubs. These are very worthwhile groups. Children learn to get along with one another, hold office, learn public speaking, which is stressed strongly, growing grain, feeding and care of animals.
Ralph was with a grain club from when he was 12 years until he was 17. Each child had a plot of 3 acres which they had to keep free of weeds and the edges cultivated. In 1959 Ralph received Honorable Mention for his plot and 5 days at the University Farm Young People's Week. Mr. Whitbread, the District Agriculturist at the time tried to get Ralph to be a leader
but Ralph didn't feel he was that type. He enjoyed his years with the 4H Club.
Ralph wasn't interested in the calf club but at 15, he started a registered Hereford herd of his own with a heifer called Blanche. At Christmas, Carl bought him a bull, Monte; Lloyd Burnett had raised him. Monte threw very good calves, in fact we still have cows from him. He also was sire of winning club calves.
Lynn started in the calf club as soon as she could, 12 years of age in 1956. Her first calf, "Elvis" took 3rd prize, next year we bought "Spud" from Roger Flemming, then "Mickey" took Champion at Ardrossan and Grand Champion in the City, (this has a little unhappy side as it happened the price per pound dropped that year from $1.00 or even $2.00 per lb. to 35 cents
not that Lynn was counting on the money but it would have been nice The next year was the same but since has been high) We haven't a name for the 1959 calf. "Gibs - Ge Be" took 2nd
prize in 1960. "Frosty" was Lynn's last calf in 1961 - all were our own calves but one - wonderful years for Lynn.
The day of the Show was a different story always. Lynn of course, was on edge but I'm sure Carl was more so. Lynn tells how she would groom the calf nicely to please her, go to the
other side to finish him and Carl would go where she had been and do it differently, just to be doing something. They never did fight but it was hard on everyone. The calf was loaded on a truck about 8 o'clock in the morning, taken to Ardrossan where the grooming took place (they had been washed and head clipped of long hair and shined up, that included hooves, the day before). What a mad house. Finally, they were ready for the ring, tails all fluffed up and pretty.
After the judging of the individual calves, the choosing of the Champion and Reserve Champion,
There was a group of 4 chosen, also prized for grooming and another for showmanship. By this time, it was noon and the ladies of the district served dinner to all, in the Ardrossan Hall. Now the calves were loaded back in the trucks and off to the City for the Show and Sale of the next day. This meant some of the children stayed overnight to see all was well and I guess they had some fun, I think there was a grown-up there too. The Champion and Reserve Champion of all the clubs of Edmonton, surrounding districts were judged again for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. Then the sale of all the calves - the worst part was selling your "friend" of constant care, of the past 8 months for all you had known this had to be, there was nearly always many tears.
Another exciting event in the 4H years was in 1959 when , thanks to Garry for selling so many tickets, Lynn was chosen and crowned Carnival Queen.
Those were happy years.
Lynn liked school, did quite well and completed Grade 12. She had plans to become a nurse but Garry said he didn't want to wait that long to get married, so Lynn went to work up at the Coffee Shop at Brookville to earn a little money to buy a few things for their home. She wasn't quite 19 when they were married in April 1962.
Ralph and Marion went together for about 2 years, were married April 1965.
We now have 6 grandchildren:
Laurel, our first, 19 in March.
Greg, our first boy 16 years. '
Darryl and Darlene, our twins 16 years.
Danny, 13 months later, 15 in March.
Dawnelle, our 2nd redhead, 13 in June.
How time flies.
I don't want to end my memoirs without saying I'm glad I have the habit of going to Church. Mum was made to go to church until she grew to dislike it and vowed she'd never make her children go. I went to Sunday School sometimes but it wasn't part of usual Sunday. After Carl and I were married, Carl was in the habit of going most Sundays and I would argue, one can be just as good a person without going to church, which is true but as Carl said, "It only takes 3 generations of non-church goers until there would be no longer a church."
Church services were discontinued at Ypres Valley School when Ralph and Lynn were just young and Sunday School and Church were started at Good Hope. At that time Birdie Hare and Emma Bushnell had young children too, se we decided to start a Sunday School with us mothers to be the teachers. Helen Moyer, a young lady, helped us. I learned along with the children and enjoyed 20 years of teaching, all together. When Good Hope Church services were discontinued, from lack of attendance, we started going to Partridge Hill and have ever since.
Ralph didn't take to Sunday School but Lynn went until she was confirmed when she was 14 along with 7 other girls and boys.
The Ladies Aid has been a part of my life I've enjoyed. I didn't want to join the group at first, they all seemed so much older than I - sometimes Mamma Dittrich urged me to go. Then when
Lynn was little, I decided I'd held off long enough. I've gone ever since and made some good friends through it, people we probably would not visit otherwise. We have always been a
compatible group and look forward to each month's meetings at each others homes. Our group is as small now as it has ever been but we still hang together after 50 years. All through the years, we've made quilts - at one time we made them for the hospital at Lamont which is supported by the United Church - we were a church group until the U.C.W. came into being and we decided to become the Ypres Valley Willing Workers on our own. We still give to the Minister's salary and have given to the Sunday School when they were hard up.
For many years, we were the first of the districts each year to have our community picnic. This always came the end of June and we always said it was sure to bring rain, which it often did. We had the picnic tables outside so that wasn't so good. Josephburg were in the same fix but Partridge Hill had the hall as long as I can remember.
A few years before I joined the Ladies Aid, the women made ice cream for the people who came to our picnic. Mamma Dittrich often took on the job alone, to make the doughnuts (as hers
were extra good), a wash tub full. In those days, no one (farmer) bought bread so the buns must have been made by the ladies.
The people who came were from the 3 or 4 adjacent districts.
The Suppers were a lot of work but looked forward to by all. We had to:
Fry 4 young roosters,
Make a gallon of potato salad
Make 3 pies,
Take 2 cans of port and beans.
The green salad was made in quantity at someone's house.
Bought buns - in my time.
Then this was all taken to the Ypres School grounds and hopefully served on long wooden tables which we covered with paper bought in rolls from the store.
There were games and races before supper and baseball after. A bazaar, which was made up of articles (4 each) we had made. At one time a group of us ladies would canvas the Edmonton stores asking for donations to help our group - most of the large stores had a certain amount allotted for this purpose so we had to go early in the year to get in on it. Some of the department
stores gave yard goods and then we would sew things out of them for our bazaar.
When our group got down to 8 or 10, it was too much for us to carry the picnic on. Folks from around were disappointed as it was nice for people for miles around to come to visit.
Josephburg and Partridge Hill carried on for a few years then Josephburg stopped but Partridge Hill still have their annual picnic.
We, the Ladies Aid, aren't very active now but look forward to each month's visit and we do send to a few charitable organizations and support the Minister. We usually make a quilt a year and this year we are completing a Cookbook to commemorate our 50th anniversary - only making enough for our members and anyone else who might be interested like former members. There are so many cookbooks being made these days. (P.S. We didn't finish the Cookbook.)
I have always enjoyed to draw. When I took sewing at Technical School, I learned of a charcoal drawing course being offered there one evening a week, so Mum kindly gave me lessons two different winters. (Mum, Dad, Grandfather Worthington and Mum herself had the gift of drawing.) I enjoyed these, we drew from busts of people and animals.
Then a few years after we were married, Birdie and Bob Hare were visiting at our house and we discovered we both loved to draw. Birdie asked me to go with her one evening a week, to take lessons from Doug Barrie, at the University. He taught watercolor, I would have liked pens and ink but went anyway.
The next year, Birdie and Clarence Prochnau got talking art and found Harry Wolfarth would come by bus from the City to Deep Creek School, Clarence's School, to give us lessons once a month. (Birdie taught us from notes she had, each week between his visits). Mr. Wolfarth did this for 2 winters, we took turns taking him to the bus at Brookville, to get back to the City.
We then started the Elk Island Art Club and later went into Fort Saskatchewan. We had 4 teachers I can remember, some came more than one winter. J. Allison Forbes, Henry Charles, Janviers (he signs his name with his treaty number), Paul Braid.
I hadn't been going for a few years until the Josephburg Senior Citizens recreation hall was built onto the hall in Josephburg four years ago. Now I go each Tuesday afternoon to meet with a few others to have a very enjoyable time. Our men and others come too and play pool while we paint. We have a show and sale once a year. Doreen Smith is our teacher sometimes - we had
Jean Jones last year but often we just help one another. Birdie and Doreen have helped me keep my interest up through the years.
Doreen and I took a few lessons in pastels from Merlyn Davidson in Fort Saskatchewan.
I've always enjoyed house plants. I can still picture Mum's of long ago, so I must have been interested to remember them. My great grandfather. Mum's grandfather always had a greenhouse, which is mentioned in Mum's memories.
I really have too many but it would be hard to know which ones to part with. I heard "by way of the grape vine", "poor Carl can't even see the TV because Issie has so many plants."
Rudolph Bruns, our neighbor, built a porch onto our house a few years ago because the landing at our back door was so small. Guess what? Rudolph put big windows in it so now it is full of plants too. When people see how many I have, they say, "what a lot of work", but I don't feel that way - I love them.
One last thing I have neglected to mention, the many trips Mum and I had to Vancouver. Mum having been born in the low altitude felt the benefit of a holiday there. Dad didn't care to go
so when Lynn was only 11, I think. Mum and I started an annual trip to Vancouver. I know it put quite a burden on Carl as usually the children were still in school when we went "so the
trains wouldn't be so crowded". We would be gone 10 days to 2 weeks. We always went to the same hotel and walked the same paths and streets to see the flowers and gardens, sat by the ocean, we both loved it and came home refreshed.
Lynn suggested I mention I've always had a garden since we've been married. Dad always made a garden so I knew a little of how to go about it. It is rewarding work. I don't recall a failure all these years, sometimes I remember Carl would bring a barrel with water from the creek so we could pour water in the rows before the seeds, as the ground was so dry in the spring.
At first, I had to can the peas and beans by boiling them in sealers in a "hot water bath", in a copper boiler for 3 hours. (That was a wood stove in the hot summer time.) Now processing the vegetables to freeze is a breeze. These last few years Carl does the cultivating of it as he isn't in the field as much as he used to be and he likes working with the soil.
My ending thought is: If I could have only one wish for my family, it would be that they can be as happy as Carl and I have been these past 45 years.
August 1993
Lynn has asked me to update my memoirs.
Our 50th anniversary went very nicely - Lynn had a great idea to make a book of all the memories, best wishes, congratulations that our family and friends wrote.
The Ladies of the community club made a very nice lunch for us - the Partridge Hill Hall was a convenient place for most people to come to.
We had a program first - Dave Bushnell made a good Master of Ceremonies - Daniel, Darryl and Greg had readings (Garry had composed Greg's). Laurel, Darlene and Dawnelle sang to Laurel's accompaniment on the piano. Then Laurel played Carl's favorite hymn, "Oh Master Let Me Walk With Thee" and sang "Danny Boy" for me. Peter Ream spoke for the Church. Warren Thomas brought greetings from the County. Lila Houston spoke for our neighbors. Garth Osbaldeston spoke. Vera talked of the years our W.W. enjoyed together.
Beside the guest book at the door, Lynn made a tablecloth which everyone was asked to sign - a real treasure. The grandkids decorated our car nicely - there's a picture of it in the book
great fun was had by all.
I have tapes of the musical instruments my grandones played through the years.
Laurel - piano accordion, piano and clarinet.
Greg - saxophone.
Dawnelle - piano and french horn.
Darryl - violin (my dad's).
Darlene - piano.
I do hope they go back to their instruments or any other, as music is a wonder pass time.
Highlights Though the Years
We had the phone put in soon after we were married. In those days, farmers maintained the lines themselves by doing one free days labor a year (see Carol's memoirs). It was long distance to phone to Edmonton (had to pay) so we didn't phone Mum and Dad very often.
About 30 years ago, the telephone lines were put underground which makes maintenance much easier.
It's wonderful how the Country has improved the road conditions. In 1937, the roads were gradually "hi-graded" and graveled. Then in 1981, they were all hard topped. Something the County has been doing, these last few years is spraying the roadsides for weeds but this has killed the wild flowers, which I miss very much.
In 1952, Calgary Power brought electricity to us which really changed our life (see Carl's memoirs).
Then in 1966, the gas came to us which made things so much easier and cleaner - no ashes to battle with or wood or coal to haul (see Carl's memoirs).
Through learning to quilt with the Willing Workers (Ladies Aid [see page 42]), I've made a quilt for each grandchild for their graduation.
A family one, the squares made mostly by family members - I have it on my bed here in the Lodge and treasure it.
Another quilt with squares mostly made by W.W. Two other quilts of exchange squares with women from all over Canada and USA - those were good years.
Something I want to mention is our friendship with Marj Long and Pat Conger. They led us in Bible study for quite a' few years. A few people from around met mostly at their place, have lunch after.
They both took part in Carl's Memorial Service and photocopied it for us to keep. They are fine people - always doing for others.
I've corresponded with my cousin Olive since we were very young. My one regret is I didn't get to visit her while she lived in England - Carl was always too busy. She now lives in Australia. I've phoned her a couple of times - she sounds like the Queen.
Trips We Have Taken
1973 July 9 to Aug. 7 - 6,003 miles to Quebec City.
1974 Mid June to Aug. 8 - to Prince Edward Island.
1976 May 20 to June 1 - Cypress Hills - took bus from Grand Forks to Winnipeg - train home.
Bob and Birdie were gone all summer. These 3 trips we travelled with Birdie and Bob in their travel-trailer. Birdie studied the route we would take, that way we didn't miss places of importance - they were good years.
1986 Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 - With Doreen and Harry to Kelowna.
1988 July 25 to 26 - Krebs reunion - snaps in album.
1988 July 28 to Aug. 1 - Helen and Gordon's 50th anniversary. Lynn drove us.
1989 Mar. 23 to 27 - Daniel and Mary's wedding - Peace River. Lynn drove us.
Aug. 18 to 21 - Wendy and David's wedding - Saskatoon. Pap and I drove.
1992 June 23 to July - I visited Clara by plane, Vancouver Island.
April 13 to 27 - I visited Clara by plane - very good visits.
Leo, Jack Corcoran, Bob Hare and Pap (Carl) took many short day trips, together, around the country filled with memories of when they were young.
Carl loved his bowling - did well for many years. We bowled first in a bowling alley in Fort Saskatchewan until it burned down. Then in 1976, a bus took us to the Rosslyn Bowling Alley,
in Edmonton, for a couple of years. For some reason, we started to go to the Sherwood Park Bowling Alley. In 1981, the Fort Leisure Lanes opened and that was easy for all to get to. I
didn't want to bowl any longer so I washed or shopped on Monday and Friday when Carl bowled. Slowly, he couldn't do as well as he used to, which really upset him. So finally, after the Banquet in the spring of 1990, he said he felt he couldn't do well enough to be on a team anymore. I think too, he really got tired after 3 games.
Pool was another game he loved. In 1978 when the Josephburg Drop-In Centre was built, he and Harry Smith played pool on Tuesday while Doreen and I joined the other women in the Art Room. Sometimes, there were too many men for the one table so there would be 2 tables in use. Now the tables are silent on Tuesday afternoon. When we moved here, in the Lodge, Carl often played after each meal with "boys" he had grown up with - so there was a real bond between them. I know they miss him.
I've been very fortunate healthwise - had my tonsils out when I was about 4. The operation was done in the doctor's office. A DandC in 1985 - just in the hospital for the day. Carl wasn't so fortunate. Tonsils out about 20 years old. Varicoseal before we were married. Hemorrhoids. He experienced "death after" and said "it's hard to describe the most beautiful place". Hernia. Slight heart attached April 12, 1974 - in hospital 3 days. Good report from Dr. Sheppherd April 30 - got good medication seldomly bothered after that. Slight stroke a couple years later. Suffered little from it, got good medication. Carl tapered off field work - one reason, the new machinery was getting more technical - this was about 1979. He still "tended the cows". They were a great pleasure to him - "something to get up for". Pap had another slight stroke on September 28, 1991 - slept a lot after that, so when we were called to say Dr. Turner Lodge had a double room for us, we accepted as we had been waiting 11/2 years by then. We liked it here from the start. It's more like home all the time.