COURT OFFICES

(Mrs. Rita M. Anderson)

--The judicial District of Estevan was formed in May 1913, and its boundaries extend from the Manitoba boundary on the east approximately twenty-four (24) townships west, and from the United States boundary on the South to Townships Five and Six to the north.

--His Honour Judge Reginald Rimmer, Judge of the District Court at Arcola was acting Judge of the new district until the appointment of His Honour Judge Edmund R. Wylie, who was District Court Judge of the Estevan Judicial District from May 1913 until his retirement in 1949. On the retirement of Judge Wylie, His Honour Judge Walter L. Clink was appointed in May 1930 and held these positions until April 1950. Mr. Moore now makes his home in Vancouver. Mr. Charles D. Cuming was appointed to fill the position left vacant by Mr. Moore's retirement in

(W.J. Rupert)

Court House in winter.

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July 1950 and is at the present time Sheriff and Clerk of the Court of the District.

--John W. Mealey was Deputy Clerk of the Court from the formation of the District until his retirement in 1931. Mr. Mealey resided in the Alameda and Oxbow districts for many years prior to moving to Estevan, and had been employed in the Land Office. Mr. Mealey was familiar with practically every quarter section of land in the district and could give a detailed report as to type of soils, stones, buildings, etc., off hand. Mr. Mealey is now deceased. Mr. W.H.S. Glew, was the first Deputy Sheriff of the District and held the dual position of Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Clerk of the Court of that Judicial District. Mr. Glew has now retired and resides in Victoria. He was succeeded by Miss Rita M. Hunter (now Mrs. Rita M. Anderson) who still holds the positions.

(Gordon Knight)

The Court House was built in 1929.

--Former stenographers employed in the Court Offices were Miss. Ruby E. Gleiser, Miss Elizabeth Winteringham, Miss Lily Bevan, Miss Jean Thompson, Miss Lola Hunter, Mrs. Vivian Fyffe, Miss Rita M. Hunter, Miss Myrtle Korkosh and the present stenographer Miss Irene Rosendahl.

--From the time of the formation of the District until the present imposing Court House was built in 1929 the offices of the Court were in the Smith Block on 12^th Avenue. All Court sessions were, however, held in the Auditorium of the Town Hall, which was although not suited for Court sessions was the scene of many an interesting murder, theft, arson and liquor trial. Liquor cases particularly were numerous in the early days when Estevan was more or less noted as the headquarters for many "rum runners". The people of the Judicial District apparently are more law abiding now than in the early days as the present Court Sessions do not have the long lists of crimcases to deal with, and for this reason no one should pine for the "Good Old Days".

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ERRATA: The name of Miss Nancy Williams, now Mrs. Harold Johnson of Mayville, N.D., U.S.A. was omitted from the list of stenographers employed in the Court Offices. We also regret to advise of the passing of Judge Clink, the district court judge, on April 12, 1955. He is to be succeeded by Harry A. Rutherford, a Regina barrister.

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POST OFFICE

(C.D. Griffith)

(W.J. Rupert)

The present federal building which houses the Post Office,

Customs, and Department of Agriculture Offices.

--From 1892 mail was transported by railway between Kenmay and Estevan. Then on October 31, 1892, Mr. E.H. Scott transported the mail between the Post Office and the Railway Station. Estevan became an accounting Post Office on October first, 1892, with Dr. E.H. Scott as postmaster who served till 1900.

--The revenuefor the year ending June 30, 1893 was $973, and the postmaster's salary was $138. During this period, over $5000 worth of money orders were issued. The revenue for the office for the year ending March 31, 1954 was $38,406.

--The second postmaster was Mrs. Mary N. Scott who served from 1900 to 1903, after Mrs. Scott came J.G. Hastings who served from 1903 to 1919. The present postmaster is Mr. Chas D. Griffith who began in 1919. The present Post Office building was constructed about 1910 and opened in 1912. The first Post Office in Estevan was housed in the Smith Block where Oster's clothing store stands today. The second Post Office was located on the site now occupied by Dr. Graham's Office.

--On November1, 1953 a sub post office was opened to serve the people in the east end of town and thereby relieve the over-crowding at the main post office. Estevan Sub Post Office #1 is housed in a specially constructed building adjoining Mann's Grocery with Mr. W. Mann as postmaster.

(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

The present Post Office building under construction about 1912.

The postmaster at the time of opening was Mr. J.G. Hastings.

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TELEPHONES IN ESTEVAN

(Estevan Mercury)

--Telephones in Estevan date back to the earliest of the town's existence when a local company brought in and set up the first, small manually operated switchboard.

--Actually, in the earliest days, there really wasn't too much need for telephones in Estevan because it was just as easy for a person to walk a dozen or so feet to the next place of business and talk directly with the owner as it was to put through a telephone call.

--Then, too, there were no long distance connections for quite some time.

--This service was superceded, however, by putting a switchboard into operation and provided long distance service from Moose Jaw through Estevan to Portal.

--This service continued until 1909 when the plant was purchased by the Saskatchewan Government Telephones who have provided telephone service since that time.

--In 1910, the first Saskatchewan Government Telephones construction in

(W.J. Rupert)

The old Sask. Gov't. Telephones building on Fifth Street.

the Estevan area was done, the building of a long distance line from Estevan to Gainsborough.

--At the first of the year, on February 28, 1910, to be exact, the telephone service was being used by 73 Estevan subscribers.

--There was a considerably increased telephone usage in the following years and by March31, 1915, there were 406 subscribers in Estevan. In the same year a new switchboard was installed in the telephone office which has served the town and district up to the present time.

--The equipment was modernized in 1929 with a new type of switchboard.

--On April 30, 1930, there were 587 subscribers using the telephone services, but the adverse conditions of the "thirties" cut that number drastically, to a low of 380 on April 30, 1937, and while the total had climbed back up to 488 on April 30, 1940, it was not until five years later that the total number of subscribers came close to the 1930 total. In 1945 there were 526 subscribers. The telephone service had been extended to the Estevan Airport in 1941 when the Elementary Flying Training School was opened.

(W.J. Rupert)

New Gov't . Telephones building opened on Fourth St. on Jan. 18, 1955.

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--By the end of 1950 a total of 815 stations were being used and in 1951 it was necessary to add a 200-line extension and another switchboard position to the equipment. During the next year additional toll facilities were added as well as an 80-line extension. The addition of this equipment taxed the capacity of the present building and it was announced that plans were under way for a new telephone exchange and the installation of dial telephone in Estevan.

--By the end of February, 1954 there were 1211 stations in use. At that time 18 people were waiting for telephone service and 109 subscribers were on joint use of a line with other subscribers. This "doubling up" of telephones on one line was the only possible method by which the service could be extended.

--The new telephone exchange building provides initially for 1100 lines for local subscribers and 100 lines for rotary business subscribers, as well as a total of 40 lines for rural subscribers. Eachof the rural lines can be equipped with ringing equipment to serve up to 20 subscribers.

--In the old building the equipment in use was a six-position common battery switchboard, being used for both local and long distance switching. This was the last common battery switchboard in use in the SGT system. Four of the positions were used in handling local calls and the switchboard arrangement provides, through a multiple system, that the operator at any one of the positions can handle any local calls completely.

--In the new building, all local calls will be handled automatically but a four-position switchboard will be used for handling of long-distance calls.

--Thus, January 18, 1955, will go down in the history of telephone service in Estevan, as one of the major dates in the constant expansion of the service.

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ESTEVAN CUSTOMS AND EXCISE ESTABLISHMENT

(M.J. Roche)

--It was forty-two years ago, in February, 1913 that the Assistant Chief Customs Inspector Mr. J.M. Creelman and a fellow-officer, Mr. Hugh Williams arrived here from Ottawa to officially open the Customs Outport of Estevan under the jurisdiction of the Port of North Portal, Sask.

--Sworn into office by them as Acting Preventive Officer of Customs was Mr. Michael J. Roche on February 6, 1913 and he subsequently received his promotion to Sub-collector.

--Estevan was then the headquarters for the International Harvester Company and the Rumley Products Co., both large importers of farm machinery and, as such items were then subject to a high rate of duty the collections of revenue at the new office were substantial. A bonded warehouse was also established here at that time for storage of alcoholic liquors, domestic and foreign. Import duties and Excise taxes had to be paid to the local Sub-Collector to obtain release from warehouse and such transactions greatly increased the revenue of the outport which at that time was established in the building now occupied by the Variety Store on Fourth Street. More spacious quarters were subsequently provided above the Post Office.

--As business increased so did the staff. The late L.A. Smith was an officer but only for a short time as he left to attend University. Among the many who saw service under Sub-Collector Roche were Gerald A. Yardley, now Collector of Customs and Excise at Victoria, B.C. and Hugh Connor presently enjoying retirement in Ottawa.

--Highway automotive traffic in those early days was practically unknown, but the regulations covering their entry and departure were most stringent. It was recalled that one U.S. motorist who had farming interests in Canada

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used to drive from Valley City, North Dakota occasionally to inspect his property. If he stayed in Canada more than 48 hours he was required to put up a deposit of not less than $25.00 and put up bond or deposit to cover the value of the vehicle, same to be forfeited if the car was not exported within 14 days. Deposits were also collected on such tourist items as tents, etc.

--Mr. Roche enlisted in 1915 and proceeded overseas, returning to civilian life in 1919 and Mr. William H. Yardley of North Portal Staff was officer in charge during that period. Mr. Yardley then took charge of Marienthal outport vice G.A. Thomson who was transferred to Mr. Roche's staff. Mr. W.H. Yardley is presently Chief Customs and Excise Accountant on his brother's staff at Victoria, B.C.

--Following the First World War, the increase in international automotive traffic was marked. By 1937 it had assumed such proportions in the Estevan area that it became necessary to construct border offices 11 miles south of Estevan on Highway 47, directly opposite the U.S. frontier offices at Noonan, North Dakota and officer J.R.U. LaCoste was posted from Town Office as Border Officer in Charge, with the late Bruce Duncan as his assistant. Officer LaCoste is presently Chief Computing Officer at the Customs Excise Port of Calgary, Alta. He was succeeded at the Highway Office by Mr. Bud Murray but after a short period of service the latter handed over to the second Officer, Mr. Donald E. Rollins who was thereafter assisted by the next new appointee, Mr. G.H. Brinkworth.

--About this time, the Estevan Airport helped the Customs establishment to assume greater importance when it was officially announced that the Customs Outport of Estevan had been made a Customs Airport for international air traffic. Also, due to the increased business at Town and Highway Office and the aircraft business another officer, George W. Clark was appointed. Then came the good news that Estevan outport was upgraded to Port Grade 2, effective July 1^st, 1950.

--On the 24^th of March 1952, Mr. Michael J. Roche, and ever-popular Collector of Customs and Excise was superannuated after 39 years of service. Mr. and Mrs. Roche were the honoured guests at a banquet and presentation in Estevan attended by friends from various branches of the Civil Service.

--The Port was then placed in charge of a District Relieving Officer pending the outcome of a promotional competition to fill the vacancy. The successful candidate was Mr. T. Topping, Sub-Collector of Customs and Excise, Oungre, Sask. Who assumed his new duties on August 27, 1952. In the meantime, Mr. A. D. Foster of the Port of Calgary had served as Acting Officer.

--In May, 1953, Donald Rollins of the Estevan Highway Office was transferred, on promotion, to Saskatoon as District Relieving Officer. Mr. G.A. Brinkworth assumed charge at the border and was joined by Officer G.W. Clark of the town staff while Officer Herman Brovold of Marienthal Outport was transferred to Mr. Clark's former position.

--Around this time there was a steady increase in the railway freight and other business activities of the Port which was not slackened to date. The work was further increased on April 1^st, 1954 when Estevan acquired from the jurisdiction of North Portal, the three border outports of Marienthal, Oungre and Regway. It was no longer possible to handle the work with existing staff and the implementation of the five day week made it still more difficult. Mr. Brovold was now required to relieve four days at the border office and serve one day in town office each week. At the same time two additional men were taken on strength in town office for training as assistants to the Collector. There were one or two changes and transfers of employees until Estevan became settled with its present staff. The two officers in the town office with the collector are now Messrs F.C. Slater, formerly of North

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Portal Staff and F.G. Barber, formerly of Marienthal Staff.

--A further administrative change on January 1^st, 1955 resulted in Marienthal, Oungre and Regway outports changing from sub-offices to actual parts of Estevan port, thereby assuming similar status to our local Estevan Highway Office with the Town Office being more directly responsible for their functioning and supervision.

--In recognition of all the additional work and responsibility the Port of Estevan was upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 Port on April 1, 1955. Much additional furniture and equipment now became an urgent need and most of it has already been provided. Indications are that a new Federal Building will be erected in Estevan in the next few years and a large part of it will be occupied by the Estevan Branch of the Customs and Excise Divisions of the Department of National Revenue.

--In the early years when the office was established in Estevan it was under the control of two different Federal Departments, viz. Customs and Internal Revenue. Customs and Excise are now two divisions of one Department, the Department of National Revenue, another branch of which is the Income Tax Branch.

--(Mrs. C. Boakes)

Dr. Perry of the North West Mounted

Police Force. Picture taken about 1903.

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