The Halina Family in Edmonton, 1916 -2004, by Olga Chorny

Olga Chorny reflects on growing up during the Great Depression.

My father, John Halina, came to Canada from Austria in 1910. He arrived in Calgary where he worked for six years as a repairman for the Calgary Street Railway. In 1916, he married my mother, Rose Chmilar who was a farmers' daughter. Together, they decided to go into farming.


John and Rosie Halina settled on a piece of forested land east of the village of Edmonton. In those days, a settler was required to build a house, dig a well, and clear thirty acres of land within five years to obtain the title for a homestead. With strong will and determination, they were able to accomplish these things and survived - much of the time - in poverty and hardship.


Taxes were paid in Edmonton. It took five days to get there in a wagon drawn by mules. The trails were rough and winding and the mules were obstinate. If they decided to stop, no one could make them go! They were done for the day and just had to rest. Dad would then have no option but to eat a simple lunch and go to sleep in the wagon. His journey would have to continue the next day.


Sometimes when Dad went to town, he would buy Puffed Wheat at twenty-five cents a bag. Puffed wheat came in patterned cotton bags from which Mom sewed dresses. Also, Robin Hood Four came in white cotton bags from which tea towels, underwear (especially petticoats), and pillowcases were sewn.


All summer and into fall, we were barefooted. The soles of our feet were so calloused that we were able to walk on crop stubble. From Edmonton, Dad would buy us shoes at the Army and Navy Store to start school in. If they were too big, we would stuff the toes with paper. If they were too small, we tried to wear them anyway (even if the toes were a big squashed in the process). Dad was always sure that there would be someone to wear each pair. At first there were five of us and later, two more. Most of the children were born at home.


There was also a lot of kindness in our family. My uncle and grandmas were out clearing a piece of land one day when my uncle began to feel tired and weak. Uncle was young and undernourished and the work was very hard. Grandma told him to go home and check if on of the two hens they owned had laid an egg. If she did, he was to fry it and eat it. Uncle did as he was told and, sure enough, there was an egg. He ate half of it and brought the other half to his mother in the field. They continued to work together hoping, at the same time, that there would be another egg waiting for them to share when they got home.


We live through the Depression Years of the 1930's. Wheat was eighteen cents a bushel, eggs were six cents a dozen, and cows were sold for between five and seven dollars. During this time, the municipality wanted to reduce some of the overpopulated wildlife which was destroying our crops and vegetables. They paid two cents for a magpie egg, a gopher tail, or a crows' egg. Many children helped their families with the earnings they made by hunting for these items.


A boy I knew saw a bird's nest and decided to look for eggs. A hawk swooped down, seemingly from nowhere, grabbed the cap off his head, and flew away. The boy was so terrified that he fell out of the tree. For a long time, he cried for his cap which was never found. His mother said that he was lucky, though, because he could have had his head ripped by the hawks' powerful talons.


Milking cows was an everyday chore and the milk they gave was precious indeed. Once when Mother was milking a cow, my mischievous brother ran up and swung the cows' tail. This "joke" wasn't as funny as he had intended. The cow kicked and mother fell off her milking stool spilling nearly a full pail of milk. Words were flying because of this stunt!


Toys were scarce. One day, my aunt surprised me with a doll. I really loved this doll and carried her with me everywhere I went. Our outhouse had two holes and when I placed my dolly on the edge of one, she fell in. No amount of tears could rescue her and this was a very sad day for me. She was the only doll I ever had.


Farm goods were often traded for second-hand vehicles. Later on, when we were doing a bit better, Dad acquired a Model "A" Ford which had curtains on the windows, and then a Model "T" with a very popular rumble seat. We children often fought and made deals with each other over who would get to ride in it. These vehicles, unfortunately, came with their own challenges. My uncle had an Overlander whose axles broke constantly and the tires had tubes which were often deflated due to punctures. A patching kit was always in demand.


During the Depression Years, gasoline was expensive so some cars were converted into horse drawn vehicles. They were sometimes called "Bennet Buggies".


The Halina family moved to Edmonton in the 1940's where Dad worked in real estate, Mom continues as a homemaker, and we completed our education. Among us, we were to become two teachers, a medical doctor, an electrical engineer, a secretary, and a mechanic. We were fortunate to have had encouraging parents who were as proud of us as we were of them.


Our radio was a much valued possession. It brought us the news, sports with Foster Hewett, and various dramas presented by CKUA. Some of the dramas were Lux Theatre, The Lone Ranger with Tonto, The Shadow, Green Hornet, and Ma Perkins. CKUA marked it's "60 th " Anniversary in 1987 by re-airing the special two-hour program entitled, "War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells.


When I reflect upon our past, I see it as being rich with experience and rewarding in opportunity. It wasn't always easy, but it was never dull. Through it all, we had each other and all the wonderful things which money can't buy.