THE SOD HOUSE

"There isn't a log for many a mile

And I have no skill with stone

I haven't a brick or board," he said,

"Though a right good farm I own.

But I must have a roof between me and the stars,

And a stable for Nelly and Rod,

Why not borrow of my own good farm,

And build me a house of sod?"

So he drove his plow where the turn was green,

And tough as the hide of an ox;

And he cut his divots in lengths to lift,

And load it in the old Bain box.

Then he built him a wall like a castle of might;

The rafters he brought from the hills.

What need of more then the earth for floor,

With boulders beneath for sills?

The storm wind struck, but he heard it not,

As he fastened his hut inside

"For a man," said he, "with a house like this

Could do with a smiling bride."

With Globes and Heralds he lined his walls.

And finished it, room by room.

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Then he brought her home by the winding trail,

When the prairies were all in bloom.

In a handsome house they long have lived,

But stil oft, arm in arm,

They visit the spot where the old sod wall

Has gone back into the farm.

And they vow that the happiest day of all

In the long hard road they've trod

Were the days they spent, as their children grew,

In the old house built of sod.

W. Clark Sandercock.

(Eaton Insko)

Sod house (centre) on the homestead of Silas Insko. Sod part was built in the summer of 1904.

The lumber parts of the house were added in 1908.

Left to right are Mrs. Alva Harris, Mrs. Insko, Mrs. Mork and Eaton Insko.

(Mrs. J.H. Wilson)

This picture taken about 1916. In the picture are

Nellie Kenyon (left) and Dwella Vackas (right).

(Miss E. Johnston)

Planting potatoes in the early days.

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(Mrs. S. Mayes)

A public gathering at Roche Percee near the turn of the century.

(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

A pioneer family in 1920. The Town Hall is in the background.

EARLY PIONEERS OF ESTEVAN ( 1892 - 1900)

"The details in this outline were told to me by my mother, Mrs. Isabel Muirhead and thus recorded here."

(Mrs. G.M. Edwardson)

--The C.P.R. came into Esteven in the summer of 1892. The first station was a short distance east of the present C.P.R. Station. This first station burned down.

--Mr. and Mrs. John McLeod came to Estevan in 1892 and lived in a tent and supplied the railroad construction gang with meat. They built a log cabin at the river on what later was the Charlie Vaughan farm home. Soon after they moved back into town and built the butcher shop on Fourth Street which still stands.

--Mr. and Mrs. John Olsen came in 1892 and lived near the Soo Line section house, west of town across the C.P. track. He worked on the C.P. construction gang, later taking up a homestead north of Bienfait.

--Mr. Singer also came in 1892 and kept a supply of groceries in a tent to sell. This was located on Sixth Street, near the C.P. Station. Later (about 1893) he built a boarding house on Sixth Street just off Souris Ave.

--Mr. and Mrs. Archie Kelly came from Brandon to Estevan in 1893 and built the Kelly Hotel on the corner of Fifth St. and Twelfth Ave., where the International Hotel is today. This was the irst hotel in Estevan and was burned down in about 1907 or 1908.

--Mr. and Mrs. M.H. King came in 1893 and built a grocery store on Fifth St. and a lumber yard on Thirteenth Ave. between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Mrs. King died soon after they came here and was buried in the first graveyard just north and east of the present Sask. Clay and Brick Products plant.

--Mr. and Mrs. P.C. Duncan came in 1893 and started a livery barn on Fifth St., near where Tom MacLean has his machine shop. Later he had a small grocery store on Fifth St. Then built a large general store which is the present Whitby Hardware. Over the store he had the first undertaking parlor and funeral home.

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--Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock and daughter, Bertha, came in 1893 and lived on Third St. He was a carpenter and helped to build the first buildings in Estevan. He also made the caskets to bury those who had died until Mr. Duncan established his funeral home. Mrs. Whitlock was a dressmaker and made many bridal gowns in the early days, making my wedding gown.

--Miss Lindgren was the first dressmaker and had her shop on the corner of Fourth and Twelfth Ave. Was here in 1893 or 1894.

--Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson came in 1893 and started a livery barn on the corner of Sixth and Twelfth Ave. This soon burned down.

--Mr. Scott was the first medical doctor and also the postmaster. He had his office on Twelfth Ave. where Mr. Kohaly has his office. He died of a sun stroke in 1898.

--Mr. Stockwell started a hardware store on the same site as the present Perry Hardware. He married Allie Perry at their farm home near Bienfait. Mr. Stockwell died in 1900 and was buried here.

--Miss Hobbs and her brother, Billy, started a boarding house in 1893 on Fourth St. just west of the present Coffee Bar. This building still stands.

--The first Land Office was started on Fourth St. where the Apostolic Mission Church is now located. Mr. Phipps was the manager of this office.

--Lindsay and Patterson had the first general store in 1893 on Fourth St. where the Canada Cafe is today. Later Mr. H. King bought out this store.

--In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. McIlvenna lived on Third St. east across from Central School. He was a stone mason. She baked bread and buns which she sold.

--Mr. and Mrs. George Rooks came in 1893 and lived where Mev. Rooks lives today. Their home was the first school in Estevan and the first church services of any kind was held in their home, conducted by the Rev. Terry. Mr. Rooks was a stone mason and built their own home, the first Anglican church, the first part of Central School and the Presbyterian Church (Now the Salvation Army). Mrs. Rooks kept a record of the early history of Estevan in a diary. She made bread and buns which she sold.

--Jim Smith was in charge of the North West Mounted Police. The police barracks were just south of our present Town Hall.

--Mr. and Mrs. Henry Yardley lived on a farm north of Estevan and moved into town in 1893 and lived on Third St. just off Souris Ave. where Mr. and Mrs. Joyce live today. He mined coal and ran a lumber yard just across from the present Town Hall on Fourth St. and Eleventh Ave. He was Estevan's first mayor and a talented Englishman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yardley were trained singers. Mrs. Yardley also played the organ for church services, concerts, dances, etc. Mrs. Yardley was also an efficient, practical nurse.

--Dan McDonald lived on Third St. He was a railroad man and was married after coming here.
Tommy Lewis was the C.P. telegraph lineman and lived where Mrs. Parsons lives.

--Rev. and Mrs. Terry moved to Estevan in 1898 and lived on Third St. across the street from Central School playgrounds. He was the first Anglican Church minister. He and Mrs. Terry used to ride horseback around the country conducting services.

--In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. Tomlison lived on Second Street behind Central School. He worked in a coal mine.

--Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, a very fine old Scotch couple, lived near the present site of the Princess Cafe. He was the first blacksmith in Estevan in 1893.

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--Mr. and Mrs. Richard Perry moved into Estevan in 1893 from their farm to a house on Sixth St. just west of Jimmy Parkinson's block. This house is still there. They kept a boarding house.

--In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. McTaggart lived in the C.P. section house on Sixth St. West. He was the C.P. roadmaster on the Soo line. Mr. McTaggart's brother-in-law, Billy Horne, was section foreman from Estevan to Hitchcock.

--In 1897 Jack Allen, a railroad man, lived on Sixth St., west of the present Citizen's Lumber Yard.

--Mr. and Mrs. Bergstrom had a large rooming and boarding house on Sixth St. and Twelfth Ave. This building has since been torn down and the lots used as a parking centre.

--The first photographers in town were the Harris sisters, Annie, Eva and Libby. They had their office somewhere near the present Blacklock Barber Shop.

--The first veterinarian I remember was Dan Rooney who came out to our ranch when our calves had blackleg.

--Mike Roche was the first customs officer posted here.

--The first coal mine was started in 1893 in the ravine just west of Estevan. The coal wasn't very good so the mine was abandoned. The large boarding house that was used by the miners was later moved into town and is now used as the present funeral home.

--Mr. and Mrs. Hogman Sr. lived on Fifth St. across from the C.P. round house, where he worked. He was Sinclair and George Hogmans' father.

--Mr. Billy Bevan was the first C.P.R. pump man and lived at the C.P.R. dam at the river. He kept a lot of grey hounds and he and Charles Vaughan used to hunt wolves, coyotes and foxes, which kept these animals in check.

--Archie Klyne lived on Second St. just back of Central School. His father was an Indian Chief and his mother a white woman. He was a very clever hunter and a good neighbor. My mother, Mrs. Peter MacDonald, told me that once Archie Klyne talked all night with Chief Sitting Bull to keep him from attacking the white settlers and succeeded in doing so. His wife was a clever herbist and made her own medicine. She would give you her medicine but wouldn't tell from what it was made as that was an Indian secret.

--Mr. and Mrs. Peter MacDonald, my mother and father, lived next door, east of Archie Klyne. Their old home was just torn down this year and a new modern cottage built on the former site. My father owned a large tract of land in the valley eight miles west of Estvan. He had a large herd of horses and cattle. He and Danny Murphy ran a livery barn where Jim McCleary has his garage. My mother was a good practical nurse and helped at many of the early births in Estevan. She also made her own medicines and was a great knitter and rug-maker. She also made many wigs out of real hair.

--I, Mrs. Isabel Muirhead, was the first bride married in Central School on February 3, 1898 by Rev. Brokenshire, a Presbyterian minister. The whole town was invited to my wedding. We lived across the C.P.R. tracks just east of the C.P.R. station. My husband, Billy Muirhead, was section forman from Estevan to Bienfait.

--George Pawson and Mr. Johnston were Estevan's first market gardeners. They had their garden on the present site of the Jack Pawson Gardens.

--The first church built in Estevan was the Anglican Church but I'm not certain of the date. The Rev. Terry was the first missionary minister for southeastern Sask. He also preached at Oxbow and Glen Ewen.

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RUBY GLEISER

(Estevan Mercury)

--Ruby Gleiser was born on May 24, 1893 of Harry and Sohpia Gleiser in Milventon, Manitoba. Milventon is the centre of a farming community, long-established and an enduring testimonial to the fruits of honest and thrifty habits. These homely virtues were indelibly impressed upon the mind of the little lady, and her activities since have all shown their consistent practice.

--Ruby's energy and activity have been characteristic of her all her life. As a girl she rode horseback, played hockey and baseball, and at twelve shot off her first shotgun. It was a twelve guage rod, and father beside her, Ruby found in that outing all that her heart desired. Shooting was to be her game and she never for a moment lost her original love for the sport. Though the kick in the baby cannons used to set her down quite the wrong way, she later drew as sharp a bead as many a masculine enthusiast and could "take it" when she fired. In fact if you were insistent enough, she might even have shown you a little medal she had tucked away up at the house, which she won in a shooting competition.

(Mrs. P.H. Bailey)

Parade in Estevan during the early days. Picture was taken about 1913.

The fifth building from the left was King's General Store

which burned down in 1914. (north side).

--On the sudden death of her brother, Percy, Ruby contracted to operate his Jewelery business in Oxbow. This she did for about a year and a half before coming to Estevan, repairing the watches herself and generally making a go of it. Coming to Estevan she spent six months with the firm of Stokes and Co., in the same trade.

--However, Ruby had ideas of bugger things, and accordingly in 1913 set out to fit herself by taking a business course. In 1915 she joined the staff of "The Mercury", remaining until 1916 when a chance encounter prompted her to re-open the "Delight" Theatre, which location the Barry Block now occupies. From 1916 till June 1917 she operated it successfully, and even found time on Saturday nights to run out to Macoun with a spare machine and put on a show there. She didn't need to worry about the show she left behind her, for it was under the careful guidance of Stan Dethridge and Bill Henneberg. Incidentally, she was the first woman in Saskatchewan to hold a license for the operation of a motion picture projector and also to hold a license as a chauffeur. She used one of the first open Fords to come into Estevan, and which her father had presented to her on her birthday in 1916.

--In June of 1917 she secured a temporary job with the Souris Valley Creamery and remained until the fall. Then they realized that she was a pretty valuable person to have around the office and so she remained for seven and a half years, during which time she made an excellent contact with the farming element of the district. In April of 1933 she bought the Estevan dairy and in January of 1935 she decided that she would have to devote her time and attention to the building up of the dairy trade. Accordingly she severed her connection with the creamery.

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(Mr. F. H. Martens)

Some of Estevan's earlier citizens, about 1916.

Front row, left to right; L.A. Duncan; H.J. McNiel; Mrs. Moncrieff; W.E. Armstrong; Ruby E. Gleiser; Annie McNiel; Ellen McGregor; Mrs. McCallum; Miss Gray.

Second row: Miss J. White; Mrs. Arthur Ellis; Arthur Ellis; Miss Gilchrist; Miss Cowan; Mrs. Percy Simpson; Mrs. Ira Brown; Mrs. J.A. Chisholm; Mrs. J.G. Moffat; Mrs. W.J. McIvor.

Third row (left to right): Mrs. A. Henneberg; Jessie Duncan; Mr. Whitton; Rev. W.J. McIvor; J.A. Chisholm.

Back row (standing L to R): A. Henneberg; W. Henneberg; B.F. Grundeen; G. Moncrieff.

--In the development of her artistic talent she has produced several clever paintings in oil, and has mastered the violin, saxophone and clarinet. The violin she neglected, the saxophone was sold, and the clarinet she lost when the old "Mercury" office went up in smoke in 1925.

--Her activities in the Rebekah Lodge have blended in a steadily rising crescendo of achievement. In 1929 she unofficially attended the Assembly in Houseton, Texas, and in the following year was made treasurer of the Association of Rebekah Assemblies at Indianapolis, a position which she held by acclamation for a second term of two years. In 1934 she was made the Vice President of the Association in Toronto, and in 1936 assumed the President's office. The personal invitation of President Roosevelt was extended to the Association of Rebekah Assemblies for attendance in 1937 at the Washington gathering. Considering that constitutionally, Canada has only five votes in the Assembly's fifty-three, a pretty tribute was Canada in signalling out Ruby for the Presidency, a position previously held by only one Canadian woman, who died before her term of office was completed.

--She belonged to the Young Ladies Club, the I.O.D.E., the United Church, and was President of the Estevan Welfare League. She was also a member of the Board of Trade. Her ability as a gardener was demonstrated year after year.

--Though she came of a good old Conservative family, she felt that she had made up for the Conservative leanings of the Gleisers, through her political activity as a Liberal.

--The amount of time and energy which she had devoted to campaign and organization work, and to speaking tours on behalf of candidates, are all sure indications of the enduring faith which she had in her party and her zeal to serve in its support.

--Not being content with all this however, she had developed that rare ability among women, that distinctly masculine trait, she could whistle.

--Ruby Gleiser passed away in Estevan on August 21, 1953.

oOo

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(Mrs. Leonard Brovold)

Minor Brovold (front) and John Dravland. Picture was taken about 1908.

MRS. J. C. PHILLIPS

(The following was taken from a letter received from Mrs. Phillips who currently resides in Glendale, California, U.S.A.)

--"We lived in Coalfields from 1901 to 1906, and most of what I could say would centre around Taylorton as it is named today. There were few houses, practically all homes were shacks and most everybody worked in the mines or on the railroad. The winters were very severe and the mosquitoes usually bad in the spring, but nobody seemed to mind.

--It was quite common in those days to see many women stepping out in the same kind of hats and dresses, as Eaton's catalogue was very popular. Living was very cheap and wages were low, but generally speaking we were all happy in our newly adopted country. Church services were well attended and everything of a social nature was put on by local talent and practically everybody patronized them. The general fee being twenty-five cents, children half price or free. Almost every function ended with a "box social."

SARAH HARDING McLEOD

(The following is taken from an account "The Life Story of Sarah Harding McLeod as related by herself, June 30, 1939) Parts do not relate to the Estevan region but since they typify early life on the Prairies they are included.

--The distance from Virden to our destination of the Arrow River, which was a small stream still to be found near the town bearing that name in Manitoba, was approximately twenty-five miles. It was at this location that my husband had homesteaded. Having no house completed, we stayed for two weeks with my husband's cousin, Mrs. LeLand, during which time he shingled the house with shingles brought from Ontario. We then moved to our lown log house on the bank of the Arrow River about April 1, 1884.

--My father had given me three cows and my mother-in-law had given us a dozen hens. We did not have any money, so we lived on what we made from butter and eggs. In addition to that I made a little money baking bread for bachelors who lived in the locality. During the summer butter and eggs where very cheap and what we could not buy with our small income we simply got along without. Somehow we managed to get a little pig which we fed milk and pigweed which was growing on the prairie and that was our source of meat during the next year. We had brought a little salt pork with us from Ontario and that, with what little game we could get, supplied our meat wants for the first year. Bush rabbits were plentiful and were good eating in the winter. We put them in salt water overnight then stewed them and lastly fried them in butter. We were also able to get a few small fish from the Arrow River. We had also brought a few potatoes with us and some vegetable seeds so that after the first year on the farm we had our own vegetables.

--The community in which we settled had quite a number of other homesteaders so that we were not bad off for neighbors. We had one-half section and the other half belonged to John Fleming who had his father and mother living on the quarter. Later my brother, Philip Harding, came from Ontario and homesteaded on one of our quarter sections because we were only able to homestead one quarter and because we had no money it was not possible for us to purchase the second one.

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--Living there on the prairie was very different from our manner of living back in Ontario. The duties were very much alike from day to day. I herded the cows and looked after the house. My neighbors made their men folks straw hats and I thought that I should do the same, so I went to a straw stack and picked out what I thought was the best straw and then spent all my spare time for two weeks making a hat. After it was made I found out I could have bought one at the store for ten cents. I have never made another straw hat. I remember that on May 24, 1884, we went to the mouth of the Arrow River where it runs into the Assinaboine and caught a nice bunch of fish. In the spring when the water was high we sometimes caught little fish at the bottom of the hill near our home, but in the hot weather the stream became so small that it did not even run.

--On the prairie we got some fruit, mostly saskatoons, raspberries, strawberries, currants and other small fruit which grew in the bluffs along the river bank.

--When we had served our duties my husband went to Birtle where the land office was to apply for his deed. This was quite a journey and on that very day we had a great misfortune. We had started a small smudge to keep the mosquitoes from the stock the night before and thought we had put it out but a strong wind sprang up and must have fanned a small spark into flames and it got into the straw surrounding the buildings and in a very few minutes we lost our stables, binder, sleigh and even a borrowed fanning mill by this fire. The loss was naturally a severe blow to us and it was then that we found what good neighbors we had, for they came and helped us to cut logs, Draw them from the banks of the Assinaboine and we were able to build another stable with a sod roof.

(Miss Ev. Johnston)

A typical pioneer wedding. Notice their hair styles and other wearing apparel.

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(Miss Ev. Johnston)

This picture shows the type of clothing the babies wore in earlier days.

--Since we had no fence and no money to buy wire with, my first responsibility was herding the cows. The men in the beginning got the logs from the Assinaboine River which was six miles from us and they cut and drew them, then built the homes. In fine days in the winter they brought in firewood which also had to come from the bluffs about us. There was no coal or other fuel to be had. Because there were many fires running over the prairies in the summertime on account of the heavy grass which had been present for many years, there was also deadwood. This came about by the prairie fires running into the small bluffs and killing the trees. Later when the prairie was broken up the terrible prairie fires were stopped with the result that there are now plenty of big trees in that country.

--Eight days before Ethel was born, we had a very bad prairie fire. In one hour from the time it passed our home it was 12 miles north of us. It took hay and buildings in the way. When my baby was born, two neighbor women came in for a few hours and I had a girl to help me for eight days. Outside of that I carried on my regular work as usual.

--While we lived on the Arrow River farm we attended church in the schoolhouse. One Sunday a Methodist minister would preach and the following Sunday a Presbyterian. In the winter we had concerts and debates in the same place and we had some very fine times. I will never forget a song which Mr. and Mrs. Lynch sang called "Where is my Wandering Boy Tonight." It was grand and made one want to weep. The debates by the young men in the district were very good, some of these men being very good speakers. I have heard many men in public life making speeches that were not nearly so good.

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When we came from Ontario we had horses which we had brought with us, but we found it cost too much to feed horses so we sold them and got oxen as they neded little oats and were easier to keep. With these oxen we would go to visit friends even in the wintertime, and would drive six or seven miles all bundled up in a sleigh. Wheat crops that we had were teamed twenty-five miles and sold for a very low price. It took two days to make the round trip and there was dinner to be bought for each way, also supper, bed and breakfast in town. The final income was very small.

--In those early days we did not have as much wind as we have in recent years. I remember one bad windstorm that first year. I was in the stable, which had a stack of straw for a roof, milking the cow and the wind came and lifted and carried off the roof and I was left in the rain without shelter.

--I also had a bad sickness that summer and had to get the only doctor in the neighborhood who had to drive ten miles. He was an English doctor and because we were poor we thought we could afford only one visit, however, he was very kind and thought he should see me again so made arrangements to come back and charge only $15 for the two trips. We thought that he was very kind because it meant forty miles to be driven in a buggy. My husband and a neighbor had to each have a tooth pulled so started together to a dentist. We had heard there was one on the Virden side of the Assinaboine River and after a long drive they found him and got relief.

--In our homes on our beds we did not have any mattresses in those early days and in their place we took a tick and filled it with straw or hay. We found this to be very comfortable and slept well.

--Our fortunes on the farm in Manitoba were not satisfactory. The seasons varied and we were not able to make any money, or even get well established, owing to the climate and other conditions being against us. In the winter of 1889 my husband grew tired of things on the farm and went to Rapids City and worked and learned the butcher business. The following spring we started for Melita, Manitoba, where the new branch line of the C.P.R. was being constructed from Brandon to Estevan. In our party we had my husband, and his brother, Murdock, and my brother, Phillip. He drove the oxen on wagons loaded with our household goods and had a little boy on a pony driving the cattle. I drove a pony hitched to a buckboard which was a kind of buggy, over the prairie for this entire journey of about seventy miles and on the whole trip I carried my baby on my knee. The first night we camped outside of Virden and spent the night with my cousin. The next night we stopped with friends seven miles south of Virden. The third morning after leaving Arrow River, the men went on and I spent that day with my friends leaving the following morning over an unknown prairie without roads for Melita and I arrived there in the evening shortly after the men and the stock had arrived. I spent the night there with Dodd who kept a stopping house and a store in old Melita which was over the hill from where the present town is, and it consisted of two stores, two blacksmith shops and a small harness shop. The post office was in Graham's store and the town was on his land. There we built a small butcher shop. The day after we arrived we rented a farmhouse and the farmer boarded with us. As the C.P.R. was grading the railroad line my husband started buying and killing stock and supplying the railroad camps and the few town people with meat. When the grading was completed he quit butchering and worked with the farmer.

--The harness maker, Mr. Blackwell, was ill with typhoid fever and as there was no hospital and he was very sick we took him in, with the result that one week after my husband started work for the farmer he took the fever also. Mr. Blackwell began recovering and as we had to bring a doctor from Deloraine we could not have him very often and he wrote out all directions

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and I did my best as nurse. The farmer, Mr. Wheeler, also took the fever and by the time they were better it was fall. That fall the town of Melita was surveyed and the people bought lots and the following summer we started building the town. That fall also, 1890, we built a house on land we bought from H. Smith and moved in. The following summer my husband again worked at his trade and followed the railroad camps killing and supplying the railroads with meat which he bought from the farmers along the Souris railroad line. I lived in Melita and kept a few boarders. We also sold our little shop so when winter came and work closed down on the railroad there was not much to do.

--On February 17^th, 1890, my oldest son, Norman, was born. Early in the spring my husband and a friend, Alec Gordon, traveled back to Arrow River and got a bunch of cattle and started west along the railroad line getting as far as Oxbow. There they encountered a very heavy snowstorm, the worst of the year, and when it cleared up they came on to Estevan which was to be the end of the branch line. While in Oxbow they sold a number of the oxen and cows they had to the Jews in the new Jewish settlement. This settlement was brought to Western Canada by Baron Hursh and had settled in Hursh.

--During the month of May I packed up my furniture (as we had sold our Melita house) and started with my two children for Oxbow by train and from there we drove. At that time we only passed two houses between Oxbow and Estevan. Shortly after we arrived at Estevan, people started arriving there and a few houses and tents were erected around the place where the section house now stands.

--As soon as the railroad construction was completed as far as Estevan, the town's site was laid out and people started to build. We bought a lot and built a meat market with rooms above. That building still stands and is

(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

Estevan Riding Club - 1907. The second buggy from the right belonged to Mrs. Boakes.

(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

This picture was taken in 1907 on the pump house picnic grounds.

Standing left to right are Cal McDonald; Mike Rooney; Mrs. H. Nicholson; ? ; Oliver Fagan.

Seated at left side of table L to R are Aghey Yardley; Marion Yardley; Dan McNeil; Joe Perry; Mary McDOnald.

Right side of table L to R are Willie Yardley; Lila Yardley; Gertie McDonald; Tom Yardley and Gertie McDonald.

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(Mr. Giem)

A threshing crew at work about 1917 or 1918.

(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

The City Grocery (presently Symons Grocery). It was owned by Mr. Charles Boakes around 1910 or 1911.

A Thanksgiving Day display can be seen in the window.

Left to Right are Mr. C. Boakes, Mrs. Jack Murray, next four are unknown, Mr. W. Cumeber.

(Mr. C.R.P. Boakes)

This picture was taken in 1906 beside what is now Whitby's Hardware which was then a feed store.

Mr. Boakes was to statt out on a 40 mile drive to his farm south of Torquay.

He had come to Estevan to get his brother and sister, who had arrived from England.

Left to right are Carl Olson, Harold Boakes, L.A. Duncan, Marshall King (storekeeper), C.R.P. Boakes (driver), Fred Boakes, Nancy Boakes and P.C. Duncan.

(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

Sheriff Nicol (pipe in mouth) and Jim Dean who is driver of the team.

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(Miss E. Johnston)

Taken on a farm north of Estevan. Mrs. Hardy (left) Mrs. Stubbs (right)

(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

This picture is of Estevan's second band and was taken in 1903.

Mr. Hartley is in the striped trousers and high hat and was the band leader.

The band was made up of about 20 people. The Kelly House is in the background.

(C.R.P. Boakes)

A close up of the Thanksgiving window display in Mr. Boakes' store.

This building is now Symons Grocery.

occupied by L.A. Duncan as an office. In that locality we carried on our meat business for many years. In the year 1900 we again homesteaded a mile and half north of Estevan where we got a quarter section of land. That winter my husband cut and drew logs from the Souris River south of Estevan and built a little house.

--On May the 19^th, 1901, my second son, Lawrence, was born in the rooms above the meat market. That summer we moved to the new homestead and started living there. The first few years we moved to town in the winter and returned to the farm for the summer. On June the 21^st my youngest daughter, Grace, now Mrs. C. Rawcliffe of Virden, Manitoba was born. We spent 1904 and 1905 living in town the whole time. But in 1906 we returned to the farm and built a new brick house which is now the home of my son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Norman McLeod.

--In June, 1913, a tornado struck our farm and blew away our big barn, damaged the house, destroyed the smaller out-buildings and most of our farm implements.
--We lived on the farm until 1920 and during those years we ran a milk route in town with my husband farming and running the meat market and also dealing in stock. In 1906 we rented the meat business to J.D. Parington and he ran the retail business with my husband supplying the meat wholesale. In 1912 we built the new brick meat market now being run by my son, Norman, and Mr. Partington run this shop for a number of years until he retired and Major Wellock took it over.

--In 1926 my husband suffered from a nervous breakdown and his health was so poor that my son, Norman, returned to Estevan and took over the business which he has run ever since.

oOo

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DAVID BANNATYNE

(Estevan Mercury)

(Board of Trade)(Mrs. J.H. Wilson)

David Bannatyne (seated front),Ford made about 1932.

Widely-known businessman and

Community leader.

--

Mr. Bannatyne was born in Irvine, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 1880. He received his early education at Irvine Public School and later attended the Royal Academy at Irvine.

--At the age of 16 he joined the staff of the Royal Bank of Scotland and remained with that bank for five years. He then took charge of a shipping office in Irvine, a branch of the celebrated firm of George White and Sons of Troon. Two years later he was accepted as a member of the staff of the Bank of British North America and he left Scotland for Canada in February, 1903.

--On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1912, he was married to the former Miss Mildred Ann Jones at Winnipeg.

--They came to Estevan on June 13, 1913, and for eight years Mr. Bannatyne was manager of the Estevan Branch of the Bank of British North America.

--Resigning from the bank, Mr. Bannatyne entered into an insurance business partnership with Colin A. Manlove, and two years later when the partnership was dissolved, he purchased the business.

--Since 1923 Mr. Bannatyne had operated the insurance office as well as acting as agent for various steamship, bus and airlines.

--Keenly and actively interested in all local affairs, Mr. Bannatyne served as mayor of Estevan from 1929 to 1932, setting a prudent course for the town's finances during the early years of the depression. He served as a member of the council in 1935 and 1936 and again served as mayor in 1937, 1938 and 1939.

--He was president of the Saskatchewan Association of Urban Municipalities in 1932.

                       --(Board of Trade)

David Bannatyne (seated front) widely-known businessman and community leader.

He was worshipful Master of Estevan Lodge No. 25, AF & AM, in 1917 and was District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 6 in 1924. He was a member of the Wa Wa Temple, order of the Mystic Shrine and was also a

member of the Scottish Rite Lodge in Regina.

(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

One of Estevan's first curling champion rinks about 1908 or 1909.

Left to Right; George Rooks (seated); Tommy Lewis (standing); Phil Kane (standing); Peter MacDonald (seated).

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--Mr. Bannatyne was an enthusiastic Rotarian and made the work of Rotary International and of the Rotary Club of Estevan his particular hobby and major community service interest. He served as president of the Estevan Club in 1946-47 and was secretary of the Club for eight years following that, an office he still held at the time of his death.

--In past years he had been actively associated with the work of the Conservative Party and was president of the constituency organization for several years. At one time he was proposed as a candidate for election in the constituency.

--Mr. Bannatyne was one of the community's foremost volunteer workers and during war years was secretary-treasurer of Estevan's Victory Loan Campaign Committees which attained outstanding success.

--As secretary-treasurer of Estevan Rinks Limited, he had much to do with the erection of the skating and curling rink buildings. He was also a director of of the Saskatchewan Motor Club and had represented that organization in the Estevan area for many years.

--Mr. Bannatyne was secretary of the Estevan Board of Trade for a dozen years.

--Tributes to Mr. Bannatyne were paid by civic and community leaders at the time of his death. Mayor Harry Nicholson, speaking for the Town of Estevan, said "I had known Dave for over 40 years and was a member of the town council when he was first elected mayor. I was associated with him in many community enterprises. Mr. Bannatyne was always most interested in the welfare of the community and the betterment of Estevan and gave most freely of his time. His passing is a great loss to Estevan."

oOo

(Mrs. Nicholson)

McDonald and Murphy Livery and Feed sale Stable. This picture taken about 1905.

Part of this building is still used as Patterson's Garage.

Some of the people in this picture include Peter McDonald (standing in doorway - right);

Charlie Shaw (holding horse); Andy O'Grady (below lantern) and Joe O'Grady (second from the left).

(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

Farmstead of Peter McDonald. There is a lake west of Estevan that is named after him. This farm was the second homestead taken in 1888.

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(Mrs. C.R.P. Boakes)

Mr. and Mrs. William Miurhead. This was the first couple to be married in Central School in 1898.

EARLY DAYS IN HILLSIDE

(Mrs. Waldron)

(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

Estevan baseball Team - 1913. Manager Ernie Pierce is seated in front.

Team members from left to right are Spec Moran, Bud Doherty, Grenna, Pete Peterson, Gillis, Wally Shupe, Laghey, Brady and Reynolds.

--In 1908 many English people came to Canada, young married men, young men who later sent for their sweethearts, settled on Hillside.

--Mostly all were mechanics, good at their trade. There were no trees at that time, and to these English settlers the prairie looked bare. The glorious sunlight and beautiful settings made compensation. We were soon a community. Many women in those days deserved a medal, they were ready at all times to give a helping hand.

--Even in Canada times were not then too good, but were improving. To crowd in a wagon and surprise a friend on a farm was great excitement, below zero, did not matter. We roused the people, got fire going and danced till eats came on, and went out into the night clear as day and stars shining.

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Times were not improving and we soon realized we were preparing for war. 1914 came and many of those young men never returned. By the time their sons were they too were at war. The noble work of the Red Cross carried on through two wars. The flu in 1918, many died and few escaped it altogether. The cyclone did a great deal of damage and was an experience never to be forgotten.

--Hillside at present is going ahead in leaps and bounds, and baring another war Canada as a whole is becoming a great nation. We have everything to make it so and in spite of things, have come a long way since 1908. On Hillside at that time we had no school. This was built in 1912. Miss Lee was the first or perhaps second teacher. It served as a community Sunday School, Mrs. Gough and Mrs. Sparks teaching. There we had many happy times, dancing was then allowed. It was abused so had to discontinue. We had at that time no sidewalks. The fair there was a great attraction, carol singing at Christmas, and the school concert. We had excellent teachers and the children did well. We had the sad experience of seeing our men go to war, but the joy of welcoming home those that were left. The people of Hillside are working together, and are doing good work.

oOo

(C. Boakes)

During a snow storm in 1917 the snow was so deep

that C.P.R. snow plows were sent out. Notice how

the snow has pushed the top of the snow plow up.

Mr. C. Boakes is standing beside the plow.

(Mrs. M. Ware)

Picture shows 1918 Ford car. Left to right are Freda Hanson,

Joe Ward, Victor Hanson, Eddie Ward, and Annie Hanson.

(Mrs. J.H. Wilson)

Wagner's pioneer home in Estevan

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(Mrs. E. Southernwood)

Jack Parry in front of log house in the summer of 1913.

Remains of this building can still be seen near the summer home of Mr. Torgeson at the river.

Early Estevan pioneers. Left to right are as follows;

Mr. and Mrs. Mathesion, Cal McDonald and Mrs. Phillio.

DR. JOHN A. VALENS

The following is an exert from a letter received from Dr. Valens.

--"I thought the Primary Dept. of the Estevan School, sixty-two pupils in Grade One, during the year 1899. Mrs. McNeil was principal.

--At holidays I went to Brandon and in returning for the fall term rode a bicycle from Brandon to Estevan. The divisional point on the railway was moved to Portal in the fall of 1899 so I had returned to study at Brandon.

--In 1900 I returned to Britannia School in the Dunbar settlement until winter.

--In 1901 I taught in Souris School at the coal mines until the Medical College opened in October of 1901.

--In 1902 I again taught in the school at Souris Coal Mines during the summer.

--In 1903 I taught in the school near Cook's farm known as Roche Percee School.

--In 1904 I was appointed Health Officer at North Portal and after becoming a doctor on June 30, 1905. I returned to North Portal for six months.

--

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(Mrs. H. Nicholson)

A typical pioneer home with one door and two windows.

On Jan. 27, 1906 I came to Saskatoon and have been here ever since.

--I was a great friend of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Adams still of Estevan and a cousin of Dr. James Creighton. I knew every road, trail and house in that whole country. I am over 81 years old now.

--I used to board with a Miss Hobbs.

--I remember all the pioneers. They were great people especially all the Perry's, Dr. Scotts and Kellys.

--There was no settlement in my day."

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A STRANGE ADVENTURE

(As told to Merle Lennox by Mr. C.R.P. Boakes)

--One summer morning at four o'clock in 1917 Mr. Boakes started out on a forty mile ride to Estevan from his farm south of Torquay. It was a warm summer day. Just twenty miles out of Estevan it started to snow and soon it was so thick he couldn't see his oxen. Mr. Boakes turned in on a cross road to a farm and stopped there during the storm. When the storm was over after three days they had to dig the oxen out of the snow. Mr. Boakes didn't get his oxen home till the following spring.

oOo