happiness

There really isn’t much chance of my getting into Stanford (FGK 275)

Spoiler alert: Mom went to Stanford and had the time of her life. Apparently it only cost 7 cents to air mail this gem from San Diego to the ranch in 1959.

University of Sam Diego College for Women

4/28/59

Dear Mom, Dad and Marsh;

First: Official recognition of all your letters, and I’m glad we’re in the social register even though I think it’s a terribly snobby idea.

I usually type off the letters just before class or something like that and don’t bother to look at your letter as I do it but I think I’ve received all of them.

I got a letter from occidental last Saturday and they said they thought there was too many stairs for me there. That leaves just Redlands and Stanford. I hate to put in that $50 to Redlands until I hear something definite from Stanford as I don’t think I would get it back if I changed my mind about going. There really isn’t much chance of my getting into Stanford but if I was accepted there that would be the place I’d go. I should hear from them in the next week or so. It sounds as though I am already on the waiting list at Redlands so it wouldn’t make that much difference to wait a bit.

I finally got my English term paper done over the weekend. It was 24 typewritten pages. My other one is due on Friday and I haven’t even got going on it yet. I’ll be glad when all this is over.

One of the seniors might sell me her typewriter. She hardly ever types and it is in very good condition. She hasn’t decided how much to charge yet but if it isn’t too much, I think I’ll buy it. this one never was too good and it is getting worse. The keys keep sticking and they are too close. (As a reader I can vouch for this- there are some weird things going on with her old typewriter)

If I get accepted at Stanford, I think I’ll home by S.F. And stop to look over the campus. If I don’t, I’ll enquire about that next route. It sounds as if it might be cheaper.

I guess that’s all the news for now.

Write often

Love Margi

PS They asked me to fill out my schedule here for next year so I did.

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Swimming, School, and Star Wars Day(FGK 273)

Happy Star Wars Day! Here’s a letter written on this day 65 years ago, ages before Star Wars arrived on the scene. May the Fourth Be With You

It amazes me all of the things mom was doing. As a child I remember going family swimming and it was quite a production – just the logistics of getting mom ready and then safely in the pool and then dad held her the whole time. How did she manage swimming then? My goodness she had a lot of courage. On a completely different note I also used to love the smell of the magnolia tree we had in our yard. I also often think of the poor fig trees I had to abandon. Gosh I loved those trees. I cared for them as inside/outside plants in Rhode Island and when we moved to Virginia we put them in the ground and man did they ever grow!! Mom’s blasé comment about the poor man washing up – can you tell she’s a farm kid?

32 Dix Ave

Ormond Beach

May 4, 1958

Hi!

We’ve had a terrific weekend weather wise. I’ve spent most of it at home studying however. I have spent every night of the past weekend studying late. I had to have the first draft of my valedictory address finished by Friday. By the way thanks for your offer to help, but Col. Sampson would kill me if i just got up and said a little speech like the one you enclosed. This has to be ten to fifteen minutes long on some learned (ahem) subject!! This is killing me, but at lest I’ve got most of it written.

Also – correction – I wasn’t chosen to be it. It’s just the result of living at Webb, and not going out too much so I didn’t have anything to do but study and got the highest average in the senior class. Now I wish I hadn’t. (I mean it kind of sounds to me like she was chosen…. And also good job mom!!)

Adams invited me to go swimming at the country club with them yesterday but I couldn’t. It sure was tempting though as it is so warm out. The beach looks so nice although the body of an airman washed up on the Broadway approach last week. Just the chance you have to take in the ocean I guess, you’re liable to run into anything!

Last Friday night the seniors all met over at Vic’s motel on the ocean. There was a full moon and it looked fabulous over the ocean. As it was so warm we all went swimming in his lighted pool then Mr Bailey invited us over to his house, with the Sampsons, to listen to records and to eat. It was quite an evening.

This morning Shirley and I went to the Mormon church in Daytona. We’ve both decided we’ll never be Mormons, but it was interesting. One guy about 20 got up there and started crying while giving his testimony. I never felt so uncomfortable but everyone else took it as a matter of course. It lasted for about 2 hours and the chairs were really hard but they don’t stand up for their hymns luckily for me.

Never mind the information on Lord Byron. I’ve finished him and Shelly and am now on Wordsworth. I have to have Coleridge and Keats finished by the 16th plus an extra 500-6– word essay.

I don’t know what to tell you about Adams’ invitation. Mrs Webb has asked you too you know. Although it would be more expensive, I think you would be freer in a hotel where you could come and go as you please but that’s up to you.

I think Col Sampson is looking forward to talking to you when you come down. He is emphatically against my going to San Diego. He says I’m the type that would do better in a coed atmosphere and being a strong Protestant he thinks they would try to change my religion. I’m beginning to feel like a ping pong ball being batted between the two.

I was making a speech in school the other day and I started laughing in it! I wasn’t even that bad in drama class.

Barb went to a formal dance last night. She got a new floor-length dress and looked quite nice in it.

I can’t think of any exciting news for now so I guess I’ll say goodbye

Love Margie

PS Our magnolia tree is blooming like mad. I love their smell.

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Christmas letters from Florida friends 1957 (FGK 272)

I’m back, up and running!! My site crashed and like most things after taking a break from each other I managed to fix it today. Nothing like a fresh mind to look at things differently. To say the least.

I’m not sure who this letter is from. It seems like an adult in mom’s world while she was in Florida at school. I must be out of practice, this handwriting was a bit harder for me and a lot of it seems like we are missing the context – but it’s still interesting. You know, I love the convenience of text. In fact, if you know me well you know that I very rarely answer my phone or check voice mail as often as I should. Texting (or even email) though great for some things really doesn’t cut it the way these letters do. I love hearing about the normal lives of normal people.

Enjoy!

December 26, 1957

Dear Margaret

Thank you so much for the beautiful sweater you gave me for Christmas. It is just lovely. Bob? And I had a real nice day and often my thoughts were of you and know you too must have been happy to be at home with your loved ones for Christmas.

I do hope you are feeling much better and fully recovered from your cold.

I appreciate too the telegram received here almost 10:45, just before we left for church and also your call from Tampa – it was worth a million to hear your voice from there.

I took the gift to Mrs Franks. She said she’ll get in touch with you. Your crutch top came and other packages and several cards.

Nancy called each day for news of your arrival and I’ve relayed it as I’ve received it.

The Ray Logans, 212 W Comstock Ave, Winter Park came Sunday and we visited for a couple of hours – I promised I’d take you over to see them when we go to Orlando

Love, Mrs Webb

December 26, 1957

Dear Edna and Perc

Happy Holidays to al and many thanks for the first you sent ______ and I. The pin is beautiful and first I’ve ever seen like it and know I’ll always treasure it.

I felt so sorry for you the week before Margi left. I guess you couldn’t understand all the changes until Marg was there to explain. She was wonderful tho and calm as could be even though I know she wasn’t well at all and I worried that the trip would be too exhausting. But she’s got a lot of pluck and stamina to fix most anything .

Bob and I had a nice Christmas spending the eve with _______ and picking her up at 10 and then we had Christmas dinner at ______ and we all picked her up last eve. She didn’t seem to mind working and said they were very funny.

The Logan’s were here to see Marg. They were friends you met in Florida and she’d for you. They are a lovely couple. I’ll drop a line later as a friend is here to take me to her house.

Thank you

Love, Anne

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The Wild Winds Blew My Hat Off and Ruined my Hairdo (FGK 271)

Lovely stream of thought kind of letter from Grandma. Can certainly tell that her life and responsibilities have changed somewhat as kids have grown and she’s finally become the person I knew her as – “Grandma”. I laughed so hard at her comment about her hair being ruined – her hair routine was something else and she always looked so well put together. And it seems as though we’ve entered the era where my mom met my dad.

I’m not sure if her comment about buying plant food actually belonged in the letter or if she was making a note to herself and it ended up in here. Either way – if you knew my Grandma you know she had an amazing green thumb and the African Violets bloomed frequently here in the kitchen.

RR2 Calgary, Alberta

October 9th 1965

Dear Margi:

Aren’t you lucky you can plan to annoy the thanksgiving weekend? I know you work hard and deserve it, but this business we’re in is just the limit, when can we ever plan to do anything? This past week has been perfect weather for drying the crops, then it rained all night last night and is dull today. Don got his combine out here and started to combine yesterday and Marshall went to town and rented a combine and brought it out and they both worked till long after dark but there are so many mud holes to get stuck in they just can’t work at night. We’re beginning to wonder if we will ever rescue our lovely crop. I am alone all day today, they have gone to Grand Valley to ??ruline?? The cows. Wish we could have a dinner tomorrow but if the sun shines at all they will all be working like mad so I’d better not prepare one.

I’ve just wrapped Dixie’s birthday present so that (I hope) it will get to her in time. I’m sure disappointed in the mess I made of yours. Because of the fine weather I was just horribly rushed and busy when I should heaven looking after your gift, andI’m just afraid it didn’t reach you on time. I wanted to phone you all day Wednesday, but $$$$.

Was so glad to get your letter last mail but no flowers ever arrived Marg. Hope you can get your money back and thanks ever so much for thinking of me that way. I really just feel it would just be lovely if the three of you got together and left an order in one of the florists for one bouquet from all 3 of you after this. I do appreciate flowers so much and just the symbol that you care means so much. I know that is weak of me but I can’t help it, they give me such a boost.

Aunt Ethel wants me to go cranberry picking with her tomorrow, guess I’ll go if the sun shines. Was out riding with Dad and Marsh Wednesday morning, it rained twice but the sun came out and dried me as fast as the showers came up. However, the wild winds blew my hat off and ruined my hair-do and I won’t be able to get a fresh one till Tuesday.

I think I will join the Allied Arts this year instead of taking art in Cochrane. They offer so many courses when you are a member and there are some on Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 3pm which should suit me. Also you have the chance of getting so many good concerts etc too. I’m also contemplating offering my service in volunteer work in the new Foothills Hospital it is only 15 or 20 minutes drive from here and i could help for an hour or two once a week. Dad doesn’t approve of this so much, he doesn’t realize that the work wouldn’t be hard I guess. What do you think Margi?

Fred was out for a visit the other night, he was wanting Marsh to go to Shuswap this weekend. They are having a terribly nasty hot mayoralty campaign in Calgary, and Fred is afraid PHR Morrison is going to become mayor. Do you remember him? He is quite nasty. I hope he doesn’t win because I feel a mayor should be a good-will ambassador and he is just the very opposite. Did you have a visit from good ole Aunt Flo? She phoned up wanting your address and Marsh was really in a spot. He gave it to her roughly.

Can’t you get on TV or something so we can see you? Glad to hear you got a new pink dress, pink will really suit you with that hair do. They say silver is a really fashionable colour to wear this year. I saw a girl in town last time I was in and she had false eyelashes on about 1 inch so I hope you turn those into the “Bay” in Toronto and collect your money, they assured me you could do that. It was very foolish of me to do that but I was so rushed I wasn’t thinking clearly. Say hello to Sue and Ned for me, I’d like to see Micheal. I’d like to see Lynn Burger too, she’ll be worn up before we get down if we don’t soon hurry.

I hope you have a lovely time out at Ramsay’s and I certainly hope you don’t make any more work for Mrs. Ramsay. Try hard to think of ways to help her.

I got my fur coat so that I could wear it the night we dined at the Calgary Inn. September 27th was so cold, but I didn’t get a hat like he promised me because they had such a poor selection, and were getting more in. Maybe I’ll write more before I have a chance to post, this will close for me

love Mom

Buy a tin of plant food for the violets

Monday morning:

Dad and I had a lovely day down at Sheila’s . The baby is the cutest and best baby I’ve ever seen, large blue eyes. It is nice here today but so far too wet to work. Fred and Ginger were out and took Marshall with them – fishing or something. Had a crowd for morning tea and am waiting for the men to come to dinner now. Aunt Ethel wanted me to go cranberry picking but thought I should stay home as I have to take the car in for an overhaul tomorrow all day. Hope your car is ok and that you got your snow tires for your birthday. I am going in for a general check up with Dr Morgan Friday afternoon and the dentist in the morning. Well the men are in now so I’ll have to close

Lots of Love

Mom

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Aunt Gertie living in a Disney Movie (FGK 270)

I imagine Aunt Gertie in a Disney movie kind of scenario as she describes her boat ride. Not the scary traumatic parts of Disney movies (why Disney why?) but more the skipping along singing with the animals who are your best friends (of course until the gun came out haha).

There is an art to letter writing and Aunt Gertie had it. So did Grandma and several other women who would send mom letters while she was in the hospital. This one would have been sent when mom was almost 13 and had been in the hospital for almost 2 years.

Cochrane, Alberta

August 9, 1953

Dear Margie:

I’ve just returned from a most enjoyable boat ride. After supper we saw the lake was smooth as glass and it looked so inviting we decided to go for a row. Tow families of ducks swam around us and many flocks of large ducks circled overhead. Once a large heron swooped gracefully down and landed at the water’s edge. It stood there for a long time watching us. Suddenly we saw muskrats swimming about in all directions. George had his gun along so a hot chase ensured. Teddy, the dog, was in the boat with us. He got so excited when one passed close by that he jumped overboard and tried hard to catch it. George’s gun started popping and I had to constantly duck dropping shells. He got two, but there are ever so many in the lake. We’ll have to get them as they are again tunnelling into the dam. We stayed on the lake till the last rosy rays of the sunset reflected on the water and the mists began to rise. I love the evenings when the work is done and a peace and quiet envelopes the countryside and the birds and animals make such sleepy comfortable sounds as they settle down to rest. Life seems especially good and rich.

This last week we finished stacking the wild hay and started using the bailer on the tame hay. Davie runs the side delivery rake, Lawrence drives the “cat” that pulls the baler. George piles the bales on the stone boat and dumps them in big piles. The girls and I take out the afternoon tea and stay awhile to watch. It is rather fascinating to watch.

One day as George and I went to Cochrane we took the “Lovers Road”. We came across a group of Hollywood people making a movie shot with the farmers collie “Lassie”. The dog certainly is a beautiful golden colour with a Snow White ruff. It was fun coming across these movie folk so unexpectedly.

Today George and the boys went riding to see how the cattle were faring. When they returned, George gave me the most beautiful bouquet of pink roses he had picked. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a rich rosy colour as these had and their perfume was grand. I just couldn’t stop smelling them.

Our Indian helpers have gone back to Morley now. The day before they left they all came for tea. There were 21 counting the papooses and older children. I fed them on the lawn and there were so many of them. Afterwards they asked to see me work my new sewing machine. They crowded round me so closely I could scarcely move and their eyes grew large with interest and amazement as they saw me move numerous levers and make many pretty designs and button holes. When I was done I gave the compile to the old grandmother and she hugged it tightly to her breast and said she intended to put it on her wall. They are such simple and happy people. They really enjoy life.

One day Tom Kaquitts(?) was here for tea. He asked me for a piece of string and measured my foot for a pair of moccasins. I’ve given him the odd pound of butter so I guess he just wanted to show me he appreciated it. I’m quite thrilled to be getting a pair of moccasins as I’ve never had any before. Bet folks will smell me coming for a while as that willow smoke they tan the least her with sure penetrates.

My mother is going east to Toronto and vicinity on Labour Day. She and Roger are going by plane. It will be a nice change for her and she will see some beautiful autumn scenery. The sugar maple there take on such brilliant hues.

We were all so thrilled to hear that the nurses are letting you stand up once in a while. One day they will have you taking steps and you will have the greatest thrill of your life.

Week before last we had Bonnie Macombe stay with us. Her daddy sold us our sewing machine. She and Mary had a grand time riding, braiding, going to the field and playing house under the spruce trees. They had their table and chairs there and had spruce needles and cones for their tea. It was fun to listen in on their conversation.

Bonnie’s home is right across from Ernie Dunford’s and is really lovely inside. I haven’t been in any new homes till I saw theirs and Ernie’s. They are different from ours and have every convenience I’ve ever read or heard about. Both the houses command marvellous views of the city and no one can build in front to spoil the view. At night the myriad lights must resemble the stars above.

Did you know that Erie(?) and Georgie have a baby boy? They are very proud of him. I saw the lovely bassinet Georgie made. It sits high on a pedestal and is lined with quilted plastic. The outside is cornered with fluffy white frills and has a wide ribbon and bows on the sides. Georgie enjoyed making it I’m sure.

Well Margie, I must get to bed. Tomorrow is voting day so I’d better be able to rise and shine at an early hour to get down to the poling booth. We all send our love and best wishes. Keep up the good work Margie.

Love, Aunt Gertie

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Do you want some Badger Skin Rugs? (FGK 269)

Yesterday I was in the basement of the cottage getting ready for the furnace guy and as I was leaving I glanced on a shelf – one that I’ve passed countless times (as seems to be the case with these discoveries). There was a box full of “congratulations on having your first baby” cards. Me, being the first baby, grabbed the cards curious to see what they were. Tons of congratulations cards for mom and dad on my spectacular arrival and some letters. I swear these letters just find me. So here’s one from Grandma to my parents while they were living in Toronto (they were married in August of 1967 and then moved to Calgary not too long after). I’m very glad Grandma scouted out that neighbourhood that was close to the university as that was our home for years.

RR2 Calgary, Alberta

Dec. 29th, 1967

Dear John and Margi:

Guess what we have? And oh how I wish I could share it with you. Yesterday the CNR phoned out to say that a case of fruit had just arrived for us from Florida. The Ollendikes sent it. My! Is it good.

The Rosedale community club where Aunt Nan and Uncle Jack live, had chartered a bus for seeing the Christmas lights display last night so Dad and I went with Kumlin’s and several others. We thoroughly enjoyed it but it snowed late at night when we were driving home.

Well, where do I start to describe Christmas? It’s so long since I’ve written to you. Your lovely big box of presents arrived the Thursday before Christmas and I got them all distributed before the big day. Thank you ever so much for those wood carvings. Everyone raves about that comical figure you gave Dad. You couldn’t look at it without getting a lift, it’s so optimistic looking. They are both treasures of art, we are very pleased with them.

I hope you were well for the Christmas holidays Marg. You seem to be getting too many colds, I’ll be glad when you get out of that smoggy atmosphere. Just after I phoned you, a man phoned and when I lifted the receiver, someone started rapping on the back door so in the ??smozzel?? I didn’t get his name but he was phoning for the firm of “Nesbit, Beaumont, Proctor, and Church” in Calgary and they want you, Marg, to go and work there for them. They are going to write to you. Guess the church would be Bob’s brother eh?

Dad and I had a lovely visit down at Arrowwood, saw the big school concert which was very good and really is quite large, they bus the children from so far. One third of the students are Blood Indian. Dixie and Betty did well.

Then Christmas morning they came up and had a little Christmas with Ted’s mother (who insisted on working in the hospital that day) and then came here and opened more parcels. Then we all went to Marshall’s and just ate far too much, Walter was there and Trudy’s friends E____? And Hughie Wallace and their tiny baby, and Mrs May was there. Evie?? And Hughie gave me a beautiful pair of long black leather gloves – the kind her mother manufactures “Paris”. Trudy and Marsh gave me writing paper- forgot to use it this time but will next letter. Ted and Sheila gave me a blouse but I’ll have to take it in, it’s too small. I really got everything I hinted for and then some. It was a beautiful Christmas. The Saturday night, 30th, it snowed a light frosty snow and covered the tree and willows like they were dipped in crushed diamonds. We drove to church in Cochrane Sunday night and the country was so beautiful in the bluish moonlight. Trudy sang in our church. Just as the last peel of the church bell faded away she opened the vestry door and stood there alone and sang “Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel” with no accompaniment. Her voice filled the church to the highest rafter in that vaulted ceiling. It was just magnificent and then later Aileen accompanied her on the piano for “Oh Holy Night.” I wish now I’d got a recording of it.

We have had a lot of snow, nearly every day. Dad is sure swearing at it, it’s so hard for the cows to rustle the grass, they have to haul pellets of ???? Every day. Dad has caught and skinned 4 badgers and now doesn’t know what to do with them. Do you want some badger-skin rugs?

Harry and Agnes and Ethel have all gone to the coast for a trip. We miss them. Nan and Jack fly to Hawaii on Jan. 10th. When we were on the tour last night, I saw several homes I’d like to give you for a present, especially in the new area near the university where you can see the mountains. We’re so happy to have you coming to Calgary. You are entirely welcome to use our place as long as you want to – the longest the better we’ll like it.

I got a nice card and note from Sue and Ted this year. Rob Thompson and Valerie Hunt are coming out to our New Year’s Eve party in the hall. They seemed to enjoy Christmas in Toronto.

Well, I must close now. I sure hope everyone is well in your family circle there. We are all in good health here.

lots of love from

Mom xxxx

PS. Just opened the envelope to add a few more lines. Was talking to Winnie this am and she said she put her Dad in hospital yesterday afternoon. He seemed sick and so low in spirits and wanted to go to hospital.

I hope to go in for groceries and a hair-do this afternoon, am waiting for Dad to come in for lunch. Got a really good light-orange-dessert recipe from Winnie, hope to have roast duck with chestnuts for New Year’s dinner, maybe avocado cocktail and this dessert. Sometime buy yourself a package of Sherriff’s scalloped potato’s either plain or with cheese sauce and cook a canned or fresh ham, they go well together and are really good. Must go now, but I’ll write soon again.

I’ve ordered flowers for Uncle Jack.

This was included in Grandma’s letter
My welcome to the world card from my aunt, uncle, and cousins.
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Frank Brown Photos

There was an envelope with some photos of my great-grandfather (Grandma’s Dad) in the booklet with these most recent memories. Grandma’s handwriting for her stories was exceptional, these photos she must have labeled as her eyesight was going. Finding photos, I’ve been so grateful how Grandma has labeled so many of them – and for the ones that she didn’t my uncle was a huge help recognizing faces and places. I love discovering photos to go along with some of the stories.

Frank Brown, my father, who was Forman of the crew to survey the road in the Ghost River district
Frank Brown
Frank and Martha Brown (Grandma’s parents)

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Browns have made mark on Calgary area history

Here’s a newspaper article that was stuck in with Grandma’s memories. For those of you who may not know, her maiden name was Brown. I’ll include a photo of the whole article, but just write out the part that is about her father (Frank). This article ties us back to where Grandma was talking about the Fire in Cochrane when she was a child. I knew about the fire bit (only from what Grandma wrote), but I’d never heard of his involvement with the roads or the ranger station.

They’re quite something those Browns. Not content with filling almost three pages of the Calgary telephone directory with about 800 listings, the Brown bunch, over the years, have made history around here, too…..

An early horse rancher of the Cochrane area, Ontario-born Frank Brown, unexpectedly won the town’s gratitude. A disastrous prairie fire threatened Cochrane with extinction but Frank’s water well maintained its level. Scores of volunteers traipsed with full buckets between his place and the town to help stem the conflagration. Frank Brown helped survey and build many miles of foothills roads around Bragg Creek and, with Frank Fullerton, built the first ranger station in the Bragg Creek area.

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Grandma’s Account of the Great Fire of 1936

I was so incredibly happy to discover that I have Grandma’s story of the fire. I heard her tell this story often when I was a kid and it always fascinated me. How brave she was!!! And as I read this account I had to ask myself “was this were Grandma’s intense need for a cup of tea in a crisis came from??” At Christmastime I was sharing stories with my cousin about all the times Grandma needed to stop and have a cup of tea when things went wrong. My story was from when she broke her arm. The doctor was trying to get an X-ray done and was having trouble. Grandma also was having trouble as 4pm had come and gone without her mandatory cup of tea. She began very clearly explaining to the doctor that it was going to be necessary to stop what they were doing so she could have a cup of tea. She was feeling a bit faint you see. I ran out to the cafeteria and got her some tea – while it wasn’t up to par because it came in a disposable cup and tea belongs in a teacup- it worked it’s magic and even the doctor was impressed at the change in Grandma. X-rays were done, cast was put on, and we were on our way.

I’ve given you the first chapter of my life. Now as I’ve told you, I married Percy Copithorne in 1931 – really in the midst of the depression, the early beginning of the dirty thirties. I was fortunate to marry a man of such integrity and his knowledge of the country and cattle industry gave him and advantage in those terribly dry years. I think it was in 1904 Percy’s father got two CL brands for his cattle, CL on the right hip for his own, and CL on the right ribs for Percy.

They built us a lovely little cottage near the established ranch home. The neighbours and half of Cochrane shivaried us and later the community put on a dance in the hall and presented us with a lovely silver carving set and several other matching pieces of silver. They are a close knit community and I loved them and still do. Percy helped build that hall in 1926 and to get it started he rode horseback after supper after doing a hard day’s work and sold shares to people in all the neighbouring districts. He later was secretary-treasurer for it for many, many years. The ladies in the district had a committee and took turns making all the sandwiches and cakes for the dances. We also scrubbed that huge floor by hand, carrying water up the in cream cans. Then waxed and polished it by hand. No electricity, we used those frightening gas lamps for light. In those days the hall was famous for its good coffee made in big copper boilers and for it’s good lunches. If you were thirsty for stronger drinks there was no bar but many had a flask out in their car.

Our home always had natural gas to heat it but there was no power nor running water for the first five or six years. Then we had a dealcoe engine then a wind charger to get electricity. It was a happy day when the Calgary Power hooked up to our place.

While my father-in-law lived I had no hired men to cook for, but he died in 1936. My first child Sheila, was born in 1935 and in 1936 our part of the country south of the Bow River experienced the worst prairie fire in its history. Late in the evening of November 18, we saw a very small puff of smoke up west in the part we now call Sibbald Flats. Next day the fire stopped at Bowness – a stretch of about 30 miles. Percy and Jack Copithorne left home on horseback about 4am the morning of November 19 and met the fire at Frank Sibbald’s. They spent a very busy day with many other neighbours trying to save homes and cattle. At times the wind was 90 miles an hour and the air was full of dust as well as smoke because it was the driest year our country has ever seen. The fence posts burnt, the cattle were blinded and burnt and lost. The telephone poles burnt and Ernie Crowe (?) our operator in Cochrane kept everyone on our party line (17 of us) in touch with conditions for as long as he could. I remember the last thing he told us was to go down and stand in the creek to save our lives. I was quite stout, expecting Marshall in March and I was advised to get int he car and try and drive to Cochrane. You jut couldn’t see where you were driving but when we turned north to drive to Cochrane, the Messer’s newly renovated house was all in flames, and a half mile further the Brushy Ridge school was all in flames and no sign of children. Also, Calaway’s dairy barn nearby was in flames. We turned east there to get to Calgary, knowing by then that the fire had swept across between us and Cochrane. Heading east down past Taylor’s their barn was on fire and rabbits and cattle etc were travelling with us, many were balls of fire bouncing along and the fence posts were on fire. We turned south on the first road allowance heading south, hoping to get on the Coach Road to Calgary. But down near Wallace’s the wind had blown a big hay stacker through the fence and it stuck on the middle of the road. We couldn’t even see it, the dust and cinders were so thick and we crashed right into the centre of it and had to stay put. As the boards on it caught fire, the young man who was driving for me would get out and rip the board off and it would sail away in the the wind all on fire. The cinders were so thick we kept choking. Fortunately i had a big jar of milk for me for poor little Sheila, and we used that to wipe our eyes and nose and mouth so we could breathe. I expected the car to explode any minute. There was a pail full of tools and loose hay hanging on the side of the stacker right beside me. Suddenly my side of the car was a wall of flames outside but it soon burnt out.

Early afternoon when the air was clearing a bit, Uncle Sam Copithrone drove down that road and was surprised to find us. He took Sheila and I into Vera Wallace’s for a cup of tea, then on home. Percy didn’t get home until evening. Imagine my worry for him, and of course he thought I was safe at home all that time. The fire jumped the creek, about a mile jump from one hill top to another and just north of our home. Our buildings were saved, but many of our neighbours’ buildings and livestock were lost. We had to shoot about 20 head of freshly weened calves, they were blind.

We didn’t harvest enough feed that fall but anyways it all got burnt in that fire. Ken Koppock, manager of the Western Stock Growers visited us right after the fire and he and Percy figured if they could get the cattle to the Olds district where there were lots of old and new straw stacks, they could save them. The government was shipping cattle by train from all over the dried out Southern Alberta, so we got them shipped up there but there were many losses.

As I said, I didn’t have the hired men to cook for while Percy’s Dad was alive. He died in 1936 and then I found myself cooking and feeding a gang of men in my tiny little house with two babies to care for as well. I had a very good girl to help me. When haying time came, they cut about a thousand acres of prairie land and would cover an average of a quarter section a week with a crew of nine or more men. I’m happy to say Percy’s young brother Clarence lived with us much of the time after his father’s death. He was only fourteen years old when his father died and he was like a big brother to my family. We began building bits and pieces onto our house when we could afford it and we were a happy family until Polio struck down my youngest daughter Margie in 1952 but she has lived through it gallantly. My children rode horseback to school up to grade nine. Then Sheila and Marshall went to Mount Royal College and from there on into their careers and managed to graduate from Stanford and then law school in spite of her handicap.

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happiness

Cochrane in Grandma’s Childhood (early 1900s) part II

Cochrane had a very famous race track a mile and half west of town. A turn track which means it was grass and easy for the horses to run on. And it was a mile around it, and it was very level. The big ranches all over the country brought their fastest horses to race on it and the big horse ranches brought in horse from all over Canada and England. The Cochrane races would last two or more weeks. Special trains came in loaded with people for the races and the trains parked down near the track.

The Indians camped all around the hills near Cochrane and they had special Indian horse races too. It was all very exciting. They had a big grandstand down there and long fancy barns for the valuable horses. Friends of mine had a home near there and they had a brick yard – a big hole in the ground where you dug out clay and sand and baked in in huge ovens and made bricks to build houses with. Many of the houses in Cochrane today and the Kerfoot and Downs Hardware store is made out of those bricks, they are very strong. But these friends had a lovely little stream of water running through their yard, and it was such fun to play in and catch minnows. And near the stream was a little log building – no windows, dark inside and cool – where they kept their milk and cream and butter. And the roof was made of earth with lots of grass and flowers growing on it. I loved to go in there on a hot day and drink buttermilk.

While I was a small child, one autumn, night when the grass was tall and dry, a man was riding up out of Cochrane where the Catholic is now (*this is now the Anglican Church as the Catholic Church has moved), and he was drunk and he threw his lighted cigar down to the ground. Can you guess what happened? The west wind picked it up and in a flash, all of the hill was a roaring big fire. Everyone was terrified the whole town would be burnt.

Do you know what a gunny sack is? Grain bags. The men raced up the hill with buckets of water and “gunny sacks” which they dipped into their buckets of water and they beat the edge of the fire near town. Our well was one of the few wells that wasn’t pumped dry. The women tried to pump the pumps all night. Everyone was afraid to go to sleep. Little wild rabbits were running down into town, some of them on fire. Next morning the whole big hill was black and dead looking but no one was hurt.

When I was a little older, we moved out to the ranch and I rode horseback to school in Cochrane. It was a lonely ride, there were no other kids with me. I rode down the steep hill into the Big HIll Creek and up into Cochrane. One morning it was so foggy you couldn’t see your way, but my good horse just knew where to go anyway. And I heard a coyote howling out in the fog, and the howl got closer and closer, it was awfully eerie, and suddenly I rode over the hill and there was the coyote sitting with his back to me and lifting his head and letting out that awful long- drawn howl. But suddenly he got a glimpse of me and jumped straight up in the air in the middle of a howl and disappeared into the fog.

Sometimes in the winter when it was very cold I drove my lively horse in a nice little sleigh something like Santa Claus drives. And once a kind neighbour gave me a lovely string of bells to put on the horses. I didn’t have time to put them on in the morning, so strapped them on before I drove home. Well! You should have seen my horse take off. She was just terrified of those bells and after standing idle all day in a cold barn, I just couldn’t hold her. All I could do was hold on and it was lucky for me there were no cops with speeding tickets in those days.

Out on the ranch, my Dad had to dig a new well for more water. There were machines to do the digging. You just got a shovel and dug down until you couldn’t dig any more because it was almost all rocks. Do you know what dynamite is? It’s very, very dangerous. It’s just like a stick about this long and this round but it’s not a stick, it’s a bomb that will blow up everything when it’s lit. It would blow the rocks 20 feet up the well and into the air. Then the men would go down the well and dig up the broken rock and haul it up until they had to put more dynamite down and they did that until suddenly they hit a nice stream of water running along way down deep. Now one of the men who helped dig the well was a man from England who knew all about rocks, he had been trained where to hit the rock with a special start hammer and the rock would split open. The rocks from that well were so interesting beau they were full of seashells, and petrified fish etc. I’m sorry to say that after those rocks were lying around in the air they just crumbled to shale or clay. But I sure wish I could get one of those nice round rocks, we call field rocks, and knew where to hit it and make it split open. I have here two pieces of frock from up in the mountains and just look at how interesting they are inside. I’ll pass them around to you to look at. Be careful they don’t drop on your toe. (I wonder where those rocks are – surely in this house where no one has ever thrown anything away they are here somewhere).

Christmas was lovely as it is now. In our home in Cochrane when I was a small child we had what was called a Winnipeg Couch. It could be folded p and put away, but when unexpected visitors came we would make that into a single bed or a double bed. Try and think what it was like to live with no telephone and no electric light. Our friends 15 of 20.miles out in the country would come to Cochrane for Christmas supplies. My dad always had room in the barn for their horses and plenty of feed for them too. And they would stay a few days and we sure enjoyed having them. Sometimes they would chop down a nice Christmas tree and bring it in for us but often we hitched our team to a big sleigh with hay in it and rugs on top. We would put big rocks in the oven to get them hot and warp them in gunny sacks to keep warm and we would drive out and pick our own Christmas tree. After it was set up in the house, we old pop corn and more corn and decorate the tree with that coloured paper. And Eaton’s catalogue had some fun toys too. We would mail an order away for our warm clothes too. For us girls, the Eaton Beauty Doll was the most marvellous thing. It’s eyes would move and it had beautiful golden curls on it’s head. But the sad part is they broke when dropped.

Eaton Beauty Doll

Killing and plucking the turkey was a chore too. The turkey gobblers were beautiful birds when they strutted. They’d put on quite a colourful show – you caught them with a long wire that had a hook on it, you just hooked that wire around one leg and caught the other leg quick. Then hung them up by the feet on a nail on the barn wall and pierced their head quick with a sharp knife so they would’ve feel any pain. The you started plucking the feathers out by the handful until it looked like the ones you see in the store today. You first carefully cut a big hole in its neck to pull out the crop. The crop is a little leather bag full of grain the turkey has eaten but not digested. Then you cut a hole in the other end below the tail bug enough to get your hand in – all the way to the neck and pull everyone out onto the table. You just pick up the gizzard, cut it free, and cut it open and drop out all the sharp Little Rock’s the turkey had eaten to grind up its food. Many people enjoy eating the heart, liver and gizzard. Then the whole turkey washed and washed and stuffed with good bread stuffing and sewn up ready for the oven. When I was a small child living in Cochrane the Indians used to bring in washtubs full of wild cranberries to sell. They sure go good with turkey.

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