Bunclody Community 1879-1970

HISTORY
Community of Bunclody
Life's Neighborly Neighbors
Its fine indeed, in these days of speed
When we rest from our daily labors
To chat awhile and swap a smile
With lifes real neighborly neighbors.
For since the days of horse and chaise
Such folks are mighty few
And life is sweet when folks can gree~
Such neighborly neighbors as you.
E. M. ,Brainerd
.. -:.
In 1969 this community decided they would like to honor the
Pioneers in Manitoba's Centennial year. We sincerely hope that you,
our reader, will extend your sympathy and tolerance as none of us have
had literary training. It is in a spirit of humility, realizing our limitations, that we go forward in the research of records and memories of
old timers.
The homestead land was all even numbers, excepting. Section 8
and three-quarters of 26, which was Hudson Bay land, but the N.E.
quarter of 26 was also homestead land. All odd numbered land, with
the exception of Section 11 and 29, which was School land, was given
to the C.P.R. for building the main line railroad from Montreal to
Vancouver.
.
The following information was taken from the records of the Lands
Branch in Winnipeg and is accurate. In many cases the C.P.R. land
was sold to speculators so the names and dates of actual settlers
was obtained from Municipal Offices and from old timers' memories so
all may not be accurate. The first name was the homesteader or set,.
tIer on the parcel of land. The subsequent names in the order given
may not in all cases, be accurate.
Mr.
& Mrs. Abe Groves
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Rose
Township 6 - Range 20
Sec. 13 N.W.
Wm. McCullock
Sec. 13 S.W.
L. Sands
Sec. 13 S.E.
J. Copeland, L. Sands, Ed. Sands
Sec. 13 N.E.
John Scott - West ~ & N.E. John Perkins, Geo.
Middleton, P. Green, J. Omelchuck
Sec. 14
Wm. Ballentyne, John White, L. Cochrane
Sec. 15
John Moffatt, Graham, Wm. Halliday
Sec. 16 W~
Chas. Dobson, John Kirbyson, Hugh Roberts, Chas.
Kirbyson
Pat Burke, Jerry Burke, Pete Balon, Len Sadler,
Sec 16 E~
Mike Robertson
Chas. Dobson, John Kirbyson, Wm. Kirbyson, Chas.
Sec. 17 N~
Kirbyson
R. Grandy, John Kirbyson, H. Kirbyson, Bob KirbySec 17 S.E.
son
Tom Dobson, Wm. Dobson, Ken Dobson
Sec 17S.W.
Robert Fitzpatrick, Chas. Fitzpatrick, Crosby FitzSec 18 E~
patrick
Sec. 18 W~
J ames Wheeler, J. Spratt, Carson Sadler
Sec. 19 N~
Robert King, J .B. King
Sec. 19 S~
J. McMeekin, J. Edgerton, J .B. King
Sec 20 W~
Bob Honeyman, Bob Douglas
Mr:
and
Sec. 20 E~
Sec. 21 W
Mrs..
Dan
Ferguson
and Mrs. George McGill
Bunclody was named after their
home town ·in Ireland.
J ames Honeyman, Percy lloneyman
] arne s Honeyman, Percy Honeyman
Mr. and Mrs. Angus Sellers
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
2lK
22 N.W.
22 N.E.
22 S~
23 N~
23 S~
24 E
Sec. 24 W
Sec. 25 N.W.
Sec. 25 N.E.
Pat Burke, Pete Balon, Len Sadler, Mike Robertson
Jas. Dane, Geo. Dane, Duncan Pierce.
James Trimble, M. Moffatt, Norman Spai.n
Wm. Stark, Mike Moffatt, Duncan Pierce
Sandy Ross, B. Johnson, Rene Vandoorne
Chas. Lovatt, Clarence Sands
Jas. Wilson, ·W.J. Groves, D. Ferguson, Geo. Warren,
Wm. Garden
Jas. Stark, Dan Switzer, B. Johnson, Rene Vandoorne
Wm. Barrett, Jas. Joss, Dickson Wright
Geo. Collins, H. Leadbeater, Adam Tawse, Don
Marshall
Mr. VI J. Groves
Mrs. W.J. Groves
Mr.
&
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
26
26
26
26
27
27
Mrs.
N.E.
N.W.
S.W.
S.E.
N~
S~
Sec. 28 E~
Sec. 28 W~
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
29
29
29
30
30
N~
S.E.
S. W.
S~
N~
Sec. 31 S.W.
Sec. 31 N.W.
and S.E.
Sec. 31N.E.
Sec. 32 N~
Sec. 32 S~
Wm
Douglas
Mr.
&
Mrs.
Matthew
Taylor
Joe Copeland, Wm. Barrett, las. Joss, Dickson Wright
] ames Copeland, M. Copeland
Wm. Wallace, ] oe Neelands, M. Copeland, Bob Rose
las. Dane, D. Wright
D.A. Rose, D.F. Rose, Bob Rase
]. Bainbridge, ]. Haig, L. Sparrow, H. Balushak,
M. Copeland, Bob Rose
Tom and] ohn McGill, ]. Hargreaves, Wm. Douglas,
Gerry McLean, D.F. Rose
Alex Russell, John Douglas, Wm. Oxby, M. Rice,
Alex Knight, Wm. Thorpe, Allan Rose
Henry & Will Sellers, Al'ex Smith
Arthur Rose, Alex Rose, Annie Taylor
]. Kirbyson, H. Dalzell, L. Cochrane, Bob Draper.
Robt. King, ].B. King, John King
Isaac Dobson, H. Jones, N. Burrell, Bert Clark,
C. King
Isaac Dobson, Bert Clark, Jack King
Geo.Pettypiece, ]. Anderson, H. Morrison, Douglas
Rose
Alex Rose, Douglas Rose
Alex Rose, Alex Smith,
G. Maguire, Rene Vandoorne
Geo. Lumsden, Alex Rose, Alex Smith,
G. Maguire
Rene Vandoorne
..•
~
,,;
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
33
33
33
34
E~
N.W.
S.W.
N.W.
Wm. Pettypiece, T. W. Jones, W. P. Groves, Lloyd Groves
Alex Rose, T.W. Jones, Wm. Groves
J.T. Douglas, Wm. Thorpe, Allan Rose
Hugh Carrothers, W. Pettypiece, T. W. Jones, W. P.
Groves, Lloyd Groves
Mr. & Mrs. Louis Sands
Sec. 34 N.E.
Sec. 34 S.W.
Sec. 34 S.E.
Sec. 35
Sec. 36 W ~
Sec. 36 S.E.
Sec. 36 N.E.
Mr.
&
Mrs.
Wm. Lamonby, Wm. Douglas, Rev. Simpson, D.F.
Rose, Bob Rose
Hugh Carrothers, Wm. Douglas, D.F. Rose, Bob Rose
James Barbour, D.A. Rose, D.F. Rose, Bob Rose
C.W. Miller, H. Dawley, H. Henderson, J. Spain,
N. Spain
James Copeland, Sr., Adam Tawse, Alex Tawse,
Ed. Moroz
Peter Earner, Alex Tawse, Ed. Moroz
Tom Osborne Sr., Tom Osborne Jr., Albert Osborne,
Harold Copeland, Mervin Copeland
James
Copeland
Mr. & Mrs. Adam Tawse - son
Adam at the wheel.
Township 6 - Range 19
Sec. 16 S.E.
Wm. Campbell, Earl Campbell, Dick Campbell
Sec. 16 S.W.
James Aikens, Jim Shaw, John McDonald, Nat.
Pierce, Wm. Campbell
Ed. Shaw, Jim Shaw, John McDonald, Nat Pierce,
Sec. 16 N.W.
Wm. Campbell
Sec. 16 N.E.
James Campbell, Dick Campbell
Wes Shaw, Dick Campbell
Sec. 17 S.E.
J ames Shaw, Glen Campbell
Sec. 17 S.W.
Wes Shaw, Dick Campbell
Sec. 17 N.E.
Bob Campbell, Howard Wood, Neil Groves
Sec. 17 N.W.
Sec. 18 S.W.
David Wood) Joe Copeland, L. Sands, E. Sands,
Earl Wood
Sec. 18 N.W.
David Wood,) Joe Copeland, L. Sands, H. Coker,
Geb. Warren, E. Sands
Sec. 1$ N.E.
John Walker) W. Brown, Ed. Sands, Earl Wood
John Walker)
Sec. 18 S.E.
Neil Wilson, D.F. Rose, Rene Vandoorne
Sec. 19 E~
James Sproule, H. Simmons, Wm. Garden
Sec. 19 W~
Joe McClung, Bill & Jim Mackie, A. Brown
Sec. 20 W~
Tom Campbell, Oscar Vandoorne, Albert Wood
Sec. 20 N.E.
Sec. 20 S.E.
J.J. Sproule, Albert Wood
Ed. Bloogett, AJ18n Blodgett
Sec. 21 S.W.
Sec. 21 S.W.
Tom campbell, Bill Mackie
Sec. 21 N.W.
and N.E.
Lisk Campbell, Pete Balon
Sec. 28 S.E.
Wm. Ward)
Lisk Campbell, T. Turtle
Sec. 28 S.W.
J. Richardson)
Sec. 28 N.W.
R. Campbell)
. h
) Bob Campbe11, Wm. Campbel1,
Sec. 28 N.E.
Geo. RIC ardson
E. Gruhn
Mr. & Mrs. William Ballentyne
Mr. & Mrs. D.A. Rose - George
Lumsden
Alex Rose - filed
the first homestead
May 4, 1881, in
Township 6, Range
20; first Councillor
in Ward 4, when
the R.M. of White~
water was formed
in 1897. Reeve from
1903 until his death
in March, 1928.
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Sellers
Sec. 29 S.E.
and S.W.
Sec. 29 N.E.
Sec. 29 N.W.
Sec. 30 N~
Sec. 30 S.E.
Sec. 30 S.W.
Sec. 31 S.W.
Sec. 31 S.E.
Sec 31 N.E.
Sec. 31 N.W.
Sec. 32 S.E.
Sec. 32 S.W.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec,
Sec.
Sec.
32 N.W.
32 N.E.
33 S.E.
33 S.W.
33 N.W.
33 N.E.
34 S.E.
Mr.
&
Mrs.
Albert
Nesbitt
School Lands
Harry Leadbeater
Lisk Campbell, E. Gruhn
W.J. Groves, Dan Ferguson, Geo. Warren, Geo.
Marshall, Don Marshall
David Wilson) N el·1 W·l
' k son W···
I son, D . F
. R
ose. DIC
ng h t
A.J. Shaw )
.
David Leadbeater, Gordon Leadbeater
Tom A. Osborne - - M. Copeland
David Leadbeater, Douglas ,Leadbeater
Tom A. Osborne - - M. Copeland
. J. Graham, Bob Campbell .
E. Graham, Wm. Rundle, Harry Leadbeater; [)ouglas
, . Leadbeater
Arthur Graham) Clendenning
Arthur Graham)
Bob Campbell, E. Gruhn
John Copeland, E. Gruhn
,0
W. Seafoot, Fred Seaf6o~
Bob Campbell, E. Gruhn
H. Reynolds )
Sec. 34 S.W.
Sec. 34 N.W.
Sec. 34 N.E.
H. Dixon
) A.E. Smith, R. Grummett
LA. Archibald)
LA. Archibald)
Township 7 - Range 19
Sec. 3 S.E.
W.J. Archibald, Cam Martin, O. Martin,Mrs. Easdey
Sec. 3 S.W.
.J .K. Ross, A. Groves, F. Seafoot
Sec. 3 N.W.
A.H. Clark, R. Copeland
Sec. 3 N.E.
J.L. Stafford, Joe Copeland, E. Copeland
Sec. 4 S~
Walter Seafoot, Fred Seafoot
Sec. 4 N.W.
T.W. Brown, John McFarland, Frank McFarland
Sec. 4 N.E.
Gibson Groves, Abe Groves, Gordon Groves, W.
Fowell
Sec. 5 S.E.
John Waddington, J. Groves, Wm. Groves, A. Groves
Sec. 5 S.W.
Wm. Brown, John Groves, Wm. Groves,A. Groves
Sec. 5 N.E.
A. Graham, Wm. Rundle, A. Groves, G. Groves
Sec. 5 N.W.
Will Copeland, J. Groves, Wm. Groves, A. Groves
Sec. 6 S.E.
Thomas Leadbeater, - - M. Copeland
Sec. 6 S.W.
J ames Copeland, Gilford Copeland
Sec. 6 N.K
Thomas Leadbeater, Wm. Aldred, G. Copeland
Sec. 6 N.W.
Sam Stinson, Wm. Elliott, Guy Taylor
Sec. 7 W~
Matt Taylor, Guy Taylor, Dave Lovatt, W. Keown
Sec. 7 N.E.
Bert Anderson, N. Fenwick
Sec .. 7 S.E.
H.E. Graham, Chas. Anderson, L. Anderson
W.J. Groves
)
Sec. 8 W.~
John Osborne ) G. Copeland
Sec. 8 S.E.
John Copeland)
Sec. 8 N.E.
w. G. McLeah, A. Robson, Frank McFarland
Sec. 9 W~
J.K. Ross, A. Groves, Bud Fowell
Sec. 9 S.E.
Will Press, Dick Fowell, Chas. Fowell, Bud Fowell
Sec;:. 9 N.E.
Joe Clark, Bob Copeland - West ~ ?
Sec. 10 N~
Albert Clark, Earl Copeland N.E. ?
Sec. 10 S.W.
Mr.
&
McGill
Mrs.
John
Mr. & Mrs. J.T. Douglas
Mr. & Mrs. William Pettypiece
Sec. 10 S.E.
Sec. 15 S.E.
Sec. 15 S.W.
Sec. 15 N.W.
Sec. 15 N.E.
Sec. 16 W~
Sec. 16 N.E.
Sec. 16 S.E.
Mr.
&
Mrs.
Alex
Smith
James Wood, Cam Martin, O. Martin, Mrs. Eastley
Joe Clark )
P.R. Jarvis) Geo. Christie, Ed. Biglow, Rob McFarland
James Sloan
Geo. McArthur, Alex McArthur, Hugh Campbell,
Bud Fowell
Robert Wallace, A. Earner, Fred Seafoot
Alex White, Alex McArthur, Hugh Campbell, Fred
Seafoot
Wm. Christie, Alex Christie, B. Haggerty
Henry Sellers
Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Marshall
Sec .
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
.17
17
17
17
18
S.E.
S.W.
N.W..
N.E.
S.E.
Sec. 18S.W.
Sec. 18N;W.
Sec. 18 N.E.
Joe McGee )
E.A. Healy) Chas. Anderson, Les Anderson, Janzen
E.A. Healy) Bert Anderson, Gordon Anderson, Ken
E.A. Healy) Lovatt
Andrew McCormick, Bert Anderson, Gordon Anderson
N. Fenwick
I. Stinson ) Jack Watt)
Wm. Stinson) Jack Watt) J. Lorimer, B. Lorimer,
Sam Stinson) Jack Watt}
H. Keown
Mr. & Mrs. John Osborne
Mr. & Mrs. James Garden
Township 7 - Range 20
Sec. 1 EYz
J Jas. Copeland, Gilford Copeland
Sec. 1 wYz
Geo. McGill, Tom McGill, Norm Spain
Sec. 2 EYz
John .McGill, James Garden, D. Stuart
Sec. 2 wYz
John Wilson, R & W Douglas, Wm. Roney, L. Martin,
Jas. Joss, Wm. Styles, Geo. Miller, Alex Smith,
Rosewarren & Kingdop.,J
John Bates, A. Nesbitt,
Mr. Campbell, Fred Langman, Howard Kilfoyle,
Bob Rose and Allan Rose.
T.W.Jones, Wes Jones, Gordon Rice, P. Hiebert
Sec. 3
T. W. Jones, W. P. Groves, Lloyd Groves
Sec. 3 N.W.
Sec. 4 EYz
Wm. Best, Will Sellers, Alex Smith
Sec. 4 wYz
John Hayden, Cunningham, T.W. Jones, Geo. Jones,
Alex Smith
Angus Sellers, Henry Sellers, Angus Sellers, Jr.
Sec. 5
Arthur Rose, Douglas Rose
Sec. 6 SYz
Sec. 6 NYz
Geo... Kerr, Joe Linnen, A. McClennen, Joe Pratt,
E. Smith, J. Howell
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
7
7
7
7
8
S.E.
S.W.
N.W.
N.E.
S~
Sec. 8 N~
Sec. 9 S~
Sec. 9 N~
Sec. 10 S.B.
Sec. 10 S.W.
Sec~ 10 N.W.
Sec. 10 N.K
Sec. 11
Mr.
&
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
12
12
12
12
Mrs.
S.E.
N.E.
S.W.
N.W.
Geo. Kerr, Joe Morrison)
E. Lowery, John Brunt) L. Madill, Kurtenbach
J. Cowan, Joe Morrison )
Joe Morrison)
T.W. Bellhouse, Margaret Kerr, T.W. Jones, Geo.
Jones, F. Kruk, W. Kohut
Fred Kerr, A. Groves, Gordon Groves
.].c. Haydon, Wm. Pinch, S. Wright, Bob Long,
Alex Smith
A.J. Jamieson, John Kunka
Ed Pearse
) T.H. Patrick
Joe Buckley
\, T.H. Patrick, Joe Klier, ..:\lvin Denbow
Alex McGregor ( T.H. Patrick,Denbow, i}llan Rose
James McGregor' T.H. Patrick:
Allan Rose
/
James
Honeyman
Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Elliott - Grain
buyer
at Bunclody,
1918-37
John Copeland, Wm. Campbell, A. Groves, W. Groves
Wm. Cook, A. Groves, Wm. Groves, Arnett Groves
Wm. Aldred, Frank Aldred
T. Oliver, Wm. Aldred, Frank Aldred
Sec. 13
Tom Collins, C. Rodman, R. Patrick, C. W. Earner, C. L.
Earner, P. Sobry
Sec. 14 S.W.
Wrn. Osborne, Goldstraw, Sharp, C. L. Earner, A. Bowles
Sec. 14 N.W.
James Osborne, H. Pettinger, E. Veale, R. Lorimer, Mrs.
G. Spratt
'
Sec. 14 N.E.
Wrn. Ramsey, Pettinger, E. Veale, R. A. Logan
Sec. 14 S.E.
Sam Osborne, Pettinger, E. Veale, R. Lorimer, Mrs. G,
Spratt,
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
,,,
"..I
16
16
16
16
17
18
18
18
18
S.W.
N.W.
N.E.
S.E.
S.E.
S.W.
N.E.
N.W.
.John Kirchhoffer, Ed. Webster, J. Howell, Chas Webster,
Cliff Webster, Lovatt
David Kirbyson
Albert E. Webster
Art S. Webster
John McGregor
Wm. Sowden
David Best
David Best
Albert E. Webster
Best, Robert
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osborne Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Osborne Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Copeland
When George McGill and James Copeland settled with their families along the banks of the Souris River in 1881, the community of
Bunclody had its beginning.
With the settling of the area it became ,evident that a school was
nec~ssary and School District No. 383 was formed. A school was
built in 1884 but was not opened until the spring of 1885 owing to
the lateness of construction. Mr. George McGill was named SecretaryTreasurer and was given the privilege of naming the school - he ch::>se
Bundody, the name of the district he left in Irebnd.
By early 1900's the most of the land was s::!ttled and gradually
being brought under cultivation. For the early settlers Brandon was
the closest trading centre, a distance of 30 to 40 miles so any grain
or other farm produce for sale had to be hauled by oxen or horses,
~
trip requiring two days.
In 1904 and 1905 the Great Northern survey crews were at work
surveying a railroad from Devil's Lake N.D. (U.S.A.) ~o Bran::io:>l.1;
Manitoba. Six survey lines were run to find a suitable crossing of
the Souris River.
In 1904 a Post Office was opened at the home of David Rose (no"
ribbon cutting event in those days). Mr. Rose was responsible for
transporting the mail once a week to and from Fairfax. The office
furn.iture and set-up was a crude affair, a small table with apple boxes
atop with pigeon-holes for the mail, in one corner of the dining room.
Stamps and Money Orders were available - no hold-up's in that era.
This service continued until a store was built by Mr. McGill when the
Great Northern Railway brought a daily service from Brandon. It was
then advisable to move the Post Office to the store and Mr. Thomas
McGill became the new Postmaster in 1909.
BUNCLODY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 383
Bunclody School 1884 - 1921
Bunclody School 1921-1966
Education was important in pioneer days also and in the summer
of 1883-84 Mr. Charles Trail taught lessons in Lambey's log house
about a mile north and west of the present school site. The need for
larger accommodation became apparent as more families settled in the
disJ:rict and in 18S4 a school was built just east of the present site.
Tom Wilson and Mr. Carrothers were the carpenters who built the small
frame structure which faced south, having a coalshed at the back and
a porch at the front. It was painted white with green trim and could
accommodate approximately 35 pupils - a shed for the~horses and two
outdoor "comfort stations" completed the picture •. It was opened
in the spring of 1885 with Miss Sproule and Miss Douglas as first
teachers. There were approximately twelve pupils (3 Copelands,
2 Carrothers, 3 Groves and 3 Barbers) and the salary paid the teacher
was $35 a month. This was the beginning of Bunclody School District No. 383.
No records are available before 1908 but. some of the teachers
after that were Miss Matheson, Miss McConachy, Miss Sevei~le, Miss
Bunclody School at Field Day, 1960 - Dale Wright, Carol Groves, Sharon
Smith, Norma Groves, Carol Rose, John Neilson, Beth Rose, Myrna Spain,
Wendell Wright, Murray Smith, David Rose. Teacher was Miss Gail Marriott
Front row l-r: Fern Jones, John
Garden, Donald Garden, Leticia
Dane.
Second row: Jean Sellers, James
Dane, Tommy Garden, Vivian
Spain; Margy Rose, June Fraser,
Angus Sellers.
Third row: Minnie Sellers, .Leith
Joss, Isabel Garden, Anne Marshall, Alec Smith, Shirley Rose,
Norman Spaino
Back row: Allan Rose, Earl
Nicholson, Florence Sellers, Sid
Elliott Lorne Nicholson, Bill
Garden, Allen Elliot.
Anderson, Miss Shannon, Miss Moore, Miss Miller, Miss Prouty, Miss
Carver, Miss McCauley, Mr. A. Anderson, Miss Helen Rose, Miss
Davidson, Miss McDonald, Miss M. Rose, Miss B. Rose, Miss Montgomery, A.I. Kennedy, and Miss B. Carlson. Salaries increased with
the years and· by 1921 the teachers were receiving one hundred per
month. We also note that in 1915 the teacher was paid a yearly salary
of $544.10 plus a ten dollar bonus for lighting the fires. Trustees in
the early years were T.W. Jones, W.J. Pettypiece, D.A. Rose, L.
Sparrow, W. Barrett, and C.W. Miller. In 1908-09 total expenses for the
year were $950 including teachers salary and fuel bill of $32.50.
The school was heated by a pot bellied stove in the centre of the
room and whoever got there first lit the fire until we became affluent
enough to hire one student for the princely sum of five cents a morning
and generally he supplied his own fine kindling. It was an hour or so
before the room warmed enough for comfort.
A table for the teacher and a large brass bell completed the furnishings - no library in those days - a small dictionary and a few
left over texts were all the shelf ever held.
Playground was the wide open spaces of the prairie and sports
or games were organized in season. With the spring run off in a slough
to the north - rafts were built from -logs and boards and noon hour and
recesses were spent sailing imaginary seas. Motive power was a couple of-poles and the sailors always arrived back to class late arid wet.
The school had a row of large stones partly imbedded in the
ground on either side and many a skinned knee resulted especially
Front row l-r: Jean
Sellers, Marguerite
Rose, Vivian Spain
June Fraser, Russ
Tawse,
James
Dane, John Garden,
Donald Garden
Second row:
Minnie Smith, Shirley Rose, Norinan
Spain, Tom Garden,
Third Row:
Frank
Manulak,
Tom Tawse, Leith
Joss, Alex Smith
Fourth row:
Anne
Marshall,
Isabe'l:Ga:rd~n Jean
Mar~hall, Florence
Sellers.
Field days - George Langman, Margaret Dane, Bob Rose, Leticia Dane,
Fern Jones, John Garden, Donald Garden- Beryl Langman, Jean Sellers,
Margy Rose, Angus Sellers, Ken Os.,
borne, Doreen Jones, Vic Garden, and
Rosy Rohn.
Bunclody school with four
beginners. David Rose, Myrna Spain, Murray Smith,
Paul Rice.
when playing antl-l-over. Rounders, played with a baseball bat whittled of flat boarqsand "Duck on the Rock" were other favorite games.
The rock was a large flat stone· and the duck a small one set on top choosing sides you stood about in a circle and threw small stones to
kill the duck. Anyone in the circle was as likely to be hit as the duck.
You did not need a medical or your parents permission to participate in sports in those days and it seemed until you got to the last
grade yourself you always played against bigger "kids".
Most families provided their own transportation and with no modern communication inventions such as phone or radio in the school, a
sudden winter blizzard would give parents some anxious hours. On one
occaslon when by four o'clock the trail and visibility were nil the
Honeyman family were housed for the night at a neighbors - a note
was nailed to the cutter and the horse turned loose arriving safely
home to allay the parents fear. The children slept on robes on the
floor, were fed and sent to school the next day and that afternoon their
father arrived to take them home.
In 1921 the present school was erected - at an approximate cost
of five thousand - by Kitchen Bros. of Souris from plans drawn by
Carter Brindle. The old school was sold to Cope lands and at present
is being used as an implement shed.
The new school would not accommodate anymore students but
seemed luxurious compared to the old. This school had full basement
with furnace, separate cloak rooms and the "comfort stations" inside.
Fuel bill in 1921 was $117.70 indicating a severe winter or perhaps
just the larger area to heat. There was only one large hot air register
in the school and this was situated on the south side of the classroom
- as a result it was the middle of the morning before the north side
warmed sufficiently for comfort.
Children continued to sail their rafts in the spring and after spring
thaw followed by a cold snap these sloughs and ditches became rinks.
No one started back until the bell rang and as a result we were always
late. Many Ii recess was given up because of this. Anti-i-over continued to be· popular and over the years swings and slides were added to
the playground. We played hardball, softball and football, boys and
girls together - no separate playgrounds here. The rules continued to
be made by the biggest and oldest boys. One of the penalties in football was to run around the school ten or twenty times depending on the
infraction. It seemed as if the girls spent most of the time running
around the school but if this was a devious scheme of the boys we got
even with them at the school picnic - held the last d~y of school - by
soundly beating them in the races and capturing the first prize of
fifteen cents. This was enough to buy several treats from one ice cream
stand.
About the year 1939 the field day became popular and was an
event looked forward to with anticipation even though we never gleaned many awards. We were more fortunate with our festival entries and
with the encouragement and direction of Miss Muriel Thompson won
several firsts in the choral events. We competed in the 1937-38-39
festivals and proudly displayed the shield we won.
During the cold winter months we played in the basement - the
most popular game called "Prisoners Base", basically a game of tag.
This could be a rough game and there were many scrapes and bruises
from the cement walls and- floors.
In later years a phone was installed but until that time if a child
was hUrt or taken ill suddenly it was not possible to call the parents
Christmas Concert
1959
Don Stuart, David
Rose (tree) Carol
Rose, Mel Stuart,
Murray Smith, Myrna Spain, Sharon
Smith, Paul Rice,
Lorna Denbowo
School Choir at
Boissevain Festival
Minnie Smith, Vivian Spain, Margy
Rose, Shirley Rose,
Fern Jane s, Shirley
Marshall, Jean Sellers, Doreen Jones,
Anne Rose, Isabel
Garden,
and so the teacher had to be amateur nurse as well. I recall one day
one of the children became ill, complaining of chills and fever. She
was wrapped in coats and placed in a chair over the hot air register
for the rest of the day. The rest of the class watched with fascination
as the measles po lPed out on her face.
The Christmas tree concert was an important yearly event. About
the last week in November dialogue parts and words to songs and
recitations were distributed for everyone must take part. The real fun
began two or three days before the concert when we all moved over to
the church (where program was held) for a whole day of practice and
a final dress rehearsal. (Who will ever. forget the roar of the fire in
that great expanse of stove. pipes that heated the church). Excitement
ran high the night of the concert as we waited for the arrival of jolly
old St. Nick and the distribution of intriguing parcels piled high around
the tree.
Another annual event we looked forward to was the fowl supper held in the school basement - especially the day after when the
whole community gathered to clean up the school and most important
Bunclody
School
61-62
Don Stuart, Wendell
Wright, Mel Stuart,
Sharon Smith, Norma Groves, Beth
Rose, Carol Groves
Miss McGill (tea
cher),
Front Row:
David Rose, Murray Smith, Clair
Wright, Paul Rice,
Myrna Spain
the left over food: We really enjoyed our feast of cold chicken, salads
and especially the pie.
A visit from the school inspector was inevitable every spring and
fall. He was greeted with mixed emotions as we trembled lest we be
chosen to show how well we had learned our lessons but we also
knew he would probably give us a half day holiday.
Until approximately 1939 there ,was an average of thirty students
attending but with the outbreak of World War II and the disappearance
Back row (L to R) (standing) - Hettie Rose, -Joss Masters, Bertha COl?eland,
Mack Rose, John Dane, Ida Barrett, Sadie Copeland, Laurel Groves,' Miss
ChambersChambers, teacher; Marguerite Rose, Evelyn Bambridge. (sitting
centre), Bell Rose, Sarah Barrett, Adam Liiuise.(front) Harry Dane, Bcrt
Bambridge, Alex Lauise.
'
,
,
of the small farm, families began moving _a way and school attendance
dwindled.
Grades I-VIII were taught and Grade IX if the teacher was qualified and willing to take on this extra duty. Students wishing to continue their studies had to attend classes elsewhere usually Souris or
Brandon or correspondence courses were available from Dept. of
Education, Winnipeg.
This was the most popular choice as you were able to live at
horne although you attended school and were under supervision of the
teacher. The corr:espondence courses were lacking in some subjects
especially French as you learned the written language only. This made
it difficult for students going to city high school the next year where
oral language had been taught. You found you missed a great deal.
The science subjects were also difficult as we had no facilities for
practical exreriments.
Festival Days
Front Row lor:
Shirley
Marshall,
Margy Rose, Fern
J one s,
Doreen
Jones
Second row:
James Dane, Isabel
Garden,
Vivian
Spain, Jean Sellers
Donald Garden
Third row:
Minnie Sellers, F 10=
renee Sellers, Murie 1 Thompson
leader, Anne Marshall, Mrs. Groves
pianist,
Shirley
Rose.
Bunclody School Concert 1957
Marjorie Grossart (teacher) Edwin
Moroz, Carol Groves, Carol Rose,
Dale Wright, Sharon Smith, Frank
Denbow,
Beth Rose, Norma
Groves
Front Row:
Clair Wright, Wendell Wright, Mel
Stuart, Jim Den bow, Don Stuart.
In 1946-47 the school was kept open with only four students in
attendance but the following year the doors were closed and students
transported to Carroll. The school was re-opened the following year
and although attendance was never higher than 14, remained open
until 1966 when it was closed permanently. Mrs. E. Maxwell was the
last teacher. In 1959 the school became part of Souris Valley School
Division and the high school students travelled by bus to Souris. This
practice continued until Bunclody school closed its doors and now a
school bus picks up all students transporting them to daily classes at
Souris.
The building was sold to the Bunclody Willing Workers and continues to be the centre of social activities in the district. It sags a
little and looks a little tired and. sad - a not quite abandoned building
left with 45 years of memories of children at work and play. What a
story this would be if only the walls could talk.
LIST OF TEACHERS FROM 1922-1966
Miss Gray, Miss Jean Fairhall, Miss Leathers, Miss Beulah Hoddinot,
Miss Jean Livingston, Miss McCaskill, Miss Ina McFadden, Miss
Myrtle Blackwell, Mr. James Cowan, Miss M.E. Bradley, Miss Muriel
Thompson, Miss Muriel Christie, Miss Margaret Skuce, Miss Dorothy
Archibald, Miss Evelyn Goodwill, Miss Marguerite Mastin, Miss Edith
Lee, Miss Shirley Rose, Miss Margaret MacDonald, Miss Doris Lund,
Miss Joy Chapman, Miss Anne Skuce, Miss Bessie Marie Hill, Miss
Lorna Anderson, Miss J an~t McRuer, Miss Marjorie Grossart, Miss
M.G. Marriott, Miss R.J. Munro, Miss Helen McGill, Miss Joyce Burnett, Mrs. G. Budd, and Mrs. E. Maxwell.
Secretary Treasurer from 1908-1966
L Sparrow, W. Barrett, C.W. Miller, W.A. Elliott, Alec Tawse, D. Wes
Jones, Miss Maggie Martin; A. Smith, Mrs. Lois Rose and Bob Rose.
Trustees 1923-1966
D.F. Rose, J.M. Joss, W.A. Elliott, Mrs. G. Warren, Alex Tawse, Wm.
Sellers, Wes. Jones, J.W. Spain, George Marshall, James Garden, Dave
Osborn, Allan Rose, Dickson Wright, Lloyd Groves, Norman Spain
and Rene Vandoorne.
List of Names Appearing for Cleaning School
or Lighting Fires etc. 1908-1948
Hettie Rose, Fred Nichells, J .R. Tripp, Alex Tawse, Mrs. Barrett,
Mrs. Tawse, Frank Martin, W. Dane, Leonard Martin, Belle Rose,
Janet Rose, Olive Barrett, Murray Fraser, Mrs. J. Dane, Mary Simmons,
Mrs. Joss, E. Fraser, H. Pettypiece, E. Pettypiece, Neville Martin,
Clarence Bradbrook, Mrs. H. Leadbeater, Dave Leadbeater, Adam
Tawse, Annie Elliott, Harp Simmons, E. Simmons, James Garden, Ron
Warren., Walker Henderson, George Dane, Ivan Wilson, Sid Osborne,
Sid Elliott, Tom Garden, Bill Garden, Norman Spain, Allan Rose,
Johnny Garden, Gordon Langman, Donald Garden, Angus Sellers,
Millie Leadbeater, and Bob Rose.
Back Row l-r:
Sharon Smith, Norma Groves,
Melvyn Stuart, Murray Smith,
Paul Rice, Myrna Spain, David
Rose, Pat Nichol, Clare Wright,
Lauree Spain, Mrs. Budd, Cole en
Rose, Kathy Rose, Scott Rose,
Vicki Vandoren
Last Class at Bunclody School
THE BUNCLODY CHURCH
The first church services in the Bunclody district were he ld in
1883 in the home of Mr. James Copeland Sr. on Section 36, with Mr.
J .M. Harrison of Souris in charge and Mr. Hama assisting. Later the
services were held in the Lamonby home on the north-east corner of
Section 34.
The Lamonby home was made of logs and was torn down many
years ago. The church services were then moved to the school in 1886
and held there until the church was built in 1908. It was during this
time that Mr. and Mrs. Joe Buckley, who lived down by the river on
Section 10, rode to church on a stoneboat pulled by oxen. Mrs. Buckley
lead the Bible class at that time. Rev. Kenner and Rev. Pri tchard
were two of the ministers during this time.
Mr. Tom McGill canvassed the district for money to build the
church and Mr. C.W. Miller gave the land on the south-west corner of
Section 35 to build the church on. The contractor W:;iS Mr. G. Coleman
and he was assisted by Mr. Tom Ruttle and Mr. Tom Masters. From
the Souris Plaindealer in December 1908: "The new church at Bunclody was opened Sunday, December 6th, with three well attended
services. The church and furnishings cost $1,900.00, $1,800.00 of
which had been raised leaving only 8 debt of $100.00. The building
is an evidence of the good fee ling existing in this locality for years.
All denominations join here, all join hands in good work."
A fowl supper was held on Monday night in the school followed
by a concert in the church. The supper was planned to be from 5:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. but there was such a crowd it went on until 10:30
p.m. and there wasn't room in the church for all to get in for the entertainment. When the evening was over they had made enough money
that the church was free of debt.
The first trustees were Adam Tawse Sr., James Honeyman and
Lemuel Sparrow. The churcl;1 was then supplied with ministers from
Fairfax and Minto. Rev. Martin was the minister at the time of the
opening of the new church followed by Rev. Ashcroft, Rev. McNeill,
Rev. Matthews, Rev. Linton, Mr. Forrester, Rev. Hattrick and Rev.
Barbour.
Then came the churc~ union and Bunciody was left out of the
Minto circuit so services ~~re changed to the afternoon so a ·ninister
could come out from Souris and we had Rev. Samson, Rev. Stewart and
Rev. Daynard. When the service was changed back to the morning
again we had Rev. Foster from Brandon College for a number of years
followed by Mr. Cecil Cater of Brandon. For a few years the ministers
came .from Carroll, Rev. Bill, Rev. Radley, Rev. Anderson and Dr. Cox.
Once more a change was made with Souris supplying Dr. Harvey, Rev.
Matc hett and Rev.· Sangwine, who was the minister at the time the
church closed.
The services were usually just held in the summer because roads
were not usually very good in the winter. For this reason the Anniver-
sary services weffiheld around the first of October. The 50th Anniversary service was held on September 28th, 1958 and was the last ser-:'
vice held in the Bunclody church. At this service many former residents attended and renewed old acq~aintances at a social hour held
at the school following the service. Visitors were from Winnipeg,
Brandon,S<tskatoon, Transcona, Justic<:!, Moline, Margaret, Heaslip,
Boissevain, Souris, Holland, H<tyfield,CarroILand Fairfax.
.
At the beginning and for many years Sunday School was held for
the young and old following the service but was later charigedand
held only for the younger ones during the last part of the service.
Through the years many different members helped out with the teaching
of the Sunday School.
. Those who served as Secretary-Treasurer of the church were Mr.
Jack Kirbyson, Mr. Leonara Martin, Mr. BiH Elliott, Mr. George Marshall, Mr. Harper Simmons, Mr. Lloyd Groves. Three faithful organists
were Mrs. D.A. Rose, Mrs. Bill Gro~es and Mrs. Harry Leadbeater,
who played for the last 35 years. There were also many different
members who served in the choir through the years, Mrs. Leonard
Martin and Mrs. Alex Smith, Sr., taking part for many years.
Mrs. Jim Joss lead a Mission Band from 1936 to 1939. The meetings were held on Friday afternoons at the school. Miss Muriel Christie
started a C.G.I. T. group in the fall of 1939 when she came to teach
school here. The girls enjoyed a holiday at the e.G.I.T. United
Church Camp at Clear Lake the next summer and also many other
:t:tivities.
The church was sold and moved away in 1965. The trustees at
that time were Douglas Leadbeater, Allan Rose and Alex Smith, Jr.
The. membership roll Was transferred to Fairfax in 1958 and then in
1968 the Fairfax church was closed and the fIlembers from this district had their memberships transferred to Souris.
THE RAILROAD
The branch railway line from St. J ohnto· Brandon which was to be
known as the "Brandon, Saskatchewan, Hudson Bay Railroad" was
built through Bunclody in the years 1905-6. Mr. J.J. Hill was the
mastet of the project. He had built up the immense Great Northern
system in the U.S.A., but coming up to Canada was not the success
he had anticipated; the road did not go further than Brandon, however,
it was a shot in the arm for many a small community. Bunclody was
one of these communities.
Three railway construction camps were set up where the· road
crossed the valley, and speed was the keyword. One camp was at the
station house site and one was north of the river. They used three
steam shovels, one at 'each camp, horses, mules, and dinky engines
were used. to haul the dump cars. Thousands upon thousands of cubic
Looking north from the top of the
hill above the station - 1930
The elevator was built here a
few years later.
yards of earth were moved for the long fill and grade across the valley
and on both sides of the bridge.
The third work camp was located at the Pete Earner ravine one and
one-half miles south east of Bunclody. The ravine was .filled to road
/bed level and pipes were placed at the bottom to carry the spring run// off .. Within a couple of years these pipes broke and were replaced by a
/
/
tunnel which was dug through, it was about seven feet square with an
arched roof and lined with cement.
The timber for the bridges had to be hauled from Carroll. The
pilings' were of cedar and as long as 90 feet. The bridge over the
river ,wjas 430 feet long and 85 feet high. They also built an overhead
bridge :and under it was the main highway from Brandon to Boissevain
and al~o west to Hartney andElg~n.
Th~ first train travelled the'rails in June 1906 and from then on
the servi~e included two passedger trains a day, going south at 8 a.m.
an? north ~ 7 p.m. six days/~ week. The freight train ran every day
gomg south ''Ope day and notth the next except Sund~y. ,Many people
remember the fii~~~vke.
The Wilson Cut - 1923
;,-.
Steam shovel at work.
/
Mr. and Mrs. J
Fraser and sons,
Murray and
Mr. Fraser was
stati.on tor'eIT,lan for thirty years.
)fhe water tank 'for the steam engines was located one-quarter of a
mile north of the bridge and water was pumped from the river. Mr. Matt
::taylor ran the pumping station, as well as two other pumping stations,
/,/ for the first years of operation.
Mr. Moors Rice took over this duty
.//
from Mr. Taylor and finally it was included in the work of the new section foreman, Mr. John Fraser. He c:ame... to·Bunclody in 1911 from
~into where ~ehad been the foremi;(n ~or two years. The ftmily ~ived
ma new sectIon house east. of the statlon across the over-:,liead bndg~. .
Mr;\ and Mrs. Fraser's family at that time included Murray~lErnie, Aggie/
and Thelma. June was born later.
Murray worked 'J'ith his fathet
from 1918 until 1932, and Ernie from 1923 llntil 1932.1here were als~
many other men employed full time who liv~d in the .lfunkhouse west o'f
the section house and men of the district,who y;h6 their own homes
near?y. Mr. Fraser and the boys accumulated 1{7, years of railroading
withlthe Great Northern Railways.
!
This farming community was fortunate to have a grain buyer in
these 'early years. Mr. Dave Rose. bought/·graih over the platform at
Beverley,. Hebron, and Bunclody in 1906-7. In 1908 the McCabe graIn
elevator was built and by Nov. 14 of that year the freight moved out
ninety-six cars' of wheat. In one of the early years Mr. Rose handled
The Bunclody Station-l906
~:
..
one quarter of a million bushels of grain. The Bunclody elevator always received a good share of grain froIP the surrounding districts.
Mr. Rose used to bring in a car load of apples eac)l f~ll; these sold
readily to surrounclingdistricts. Sometimes these apples were shipped
loose and the customersbtought their barrels to be filled. Mr. Rose
went toftiU time.farming <in. 1918 and .Mr. William Elliot became the
grain buyer. Mr. Elliot .l,iadfarmed in the district a number of years
before he took·\over this job; He built a new home north from the elevator overfooki~g;the Civer. There were five children, James, Annie,
Dorothy, Siclney,and Allan. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot lived here until the
elevator was closed and they were then transferred to Fairfax, where
some·6f the old customers patronized him. The elevator operated for
one year after tht'.! railroad closed and the McCabe Elevator Co. trucked
the grain to their elevator at Carroll. Coal was always available at
the elevator while it was in operation as they had their own coal shed.
Many incidents stand out in the minds of the people who lived in
the area. One morning three horses wandered onto the right-of-way.
They were frightened by the freight train and ran ahead of it to the
bridge; where they jumped off and met their death on the frozen river
85 feet below. This was in the winter of 1914. Two years later a lone
engine came from Minto and stopped at the water tank at Bunclody.
Later in the day the Engineer and fireman came walking down the track
looking for the runaway. The Engineer thought that the C.N.R. derail
was closed, so he ordered the Fireman to jump and let the engine go.
The derail had not been closed and the engine came on to Bunclody
stopping at the water tank. A year or so later a box car got away from
the Heaslip siding and ttavelled by itself to the Bunclody Bridge; this
was downgrade.
Snow was the trains worst enemy. In the first year of operation
there was a lot of snow and a train spent· the winter stuck in the
Hebron Cut from late November until March. This being a work train,
the crew had their own cook car and were able to live there all winter.
This was on Mr. Roger's farm, and he hauled water to the train every
day while it was there. Mr Wilson had opened a store at Hayfield and
other supplies were got from there.
The winter of 1915-16 was one of the worst cuts were piled full,
some fifteen feet deep. The train did not run for six weeks. In the
spring the run-off was very high and the pipes would not take the water
but the road under the over-head bridge helped carry the water on its
way to the river and saved the railroad grade, but made a mess of the
traffic road leaving holes 10-12 feet deep in the road.
In the middle of Feb. 1923 a blizzard blocked the .line from Minto
to Brandon for three weeks. Local men were hired ,to help clear the
road and put' up snow fences. Some of the men drove four or. five miles
to work and then walked from the station to where they were needed.
Some of the snow f.ences were under 5 or. 6 feet of snow. When the
rotary snow plow did. cr-:me through, it madea. cut of' 10 feet. It would
go as far as it could and back up while the men shovelled oft" the top
four or five feet. The plow blew this snow out, but also blew down
some of the recently erected snow fences the men had worked so hard
to set up. The worst spot was in the Wilson Cut one and one-half
miles north of Heaslip. That wasn't the end of snow trouble that winter. On March 20 there was another big snow fall. The passenger train
Ready t.o start work in,- 1905.
went through on the Friday morning with two engines and a snow plow.
Mr. Fraser later received word that the train was stuck in the Wilson
Cut. He called his men together and they walked down the track. When
they got there the train was drifted in, with snow half way up on the
coach windows. Efforts on the part of the conductor to free the drive
wheels by using the stea~ hose failed. The wheels became frozen to
the rails. Jacks were used and by loosening one engine they were
able to bump the other one free. By 2 a.m. they were ready to travel.
The water in one engine was low so they decide'cl to back it up into the
cut so they could shovel snow into the tender. This wasn't successful,
because by backing into the cut the engine was stuck again. The lady
passengers got coffee and bread from the baggage car and th~y got
Building the bridge
the Souris River.
across
This shows how the big ravines
were crossed. This one being at
Bunclody.
other supplies; from the Heaslip store to make lunch. The train pulled
into .Minto at :5 a.m. The one engine was let die and the other one' was
also low in coal and water. They wired St. John for one to replace it
and it arrived around noon, Saturday. The Bunclody crew were taken
to St. John where they stayed until Monday noon. The trip back was
made with two engines and an extra water car. They arrived at Bun!=lody at 6 o 'dock and the plow travelled to the Carroll dossing and
returned for the night. In the morning when the plow reached 'that spot,
where they had stopped the night before; it jumped the track 'as ice
had formed there. The Bunclody men were called out again to get the
plow back on the track, and although it was damaged, it was still able
to be used and make its way to Brandon by nightfall. Regular service
was soon restored.
The line was always very well kept and in good re·pair. In 1929-30
a new river bridge was built and service was never interrupted during
the construction. The passenger. service was excellent. The train WaS
called into service for doctors.' or patients. The circus train came to
Brandon Fair on this railway line. Many excursions were offeredtorhe
public on ·special dates, such as July 12, Brandon Fair week and so
on.
The railway tine had been a paying proposit~on as long as they
made the long haul to Duluth with the grain, but later practically all
the grain in Manitoba was shipped to Fort William on the Canadian
side. Tariffs also cut down on shipment of American goods to Canada.
The Great Northern had a 30 year mail contract and. the last train
through the area was in June 1936. Charlie Byrant's train picked up
Mr. and Mrs .. Fraser and also their carload of household goods and took
them to Manville, North Dakota where Mr. Fraser became the new.secti~n fqreman; later moving to Cando, North Dakota where he still resides at the age of 91.
The people of the district look back to the days when the train
whistle was a familiar sQund: The young folks got their pleasure. from
the surroWlding area. On a Sunday afternoon you probably walk ed to the
railroad bridge or down to the tunnel and you never ceased to be
thrilled if you could go to BFandon or Minto on the train.
Piers for new bridge' 1960.
The old bridge - 1937
RIVER CROSSING
There were three ferries in operation in the 1980's to serve the
art:a. The McGill Ferry was two miles up the river from here. Next
was the Osborn Ferry, this crossing was about half way between the
present bridge and the site of the railroad bridge. The old road leading
to it can still be seen there. Shepherd's Ferry was a few miles east of
here.
In 1893 the first bridge was built here, this was a pile bridge.
In 1902 the river was very high and all the bridges from Souris to
Wawanesa were taken out with the ice flow in the spring.
In 1903 the first span bridge was built here. The bridge had to be
rebuilt a few times, but was used until 1937. Up until then a plank
floor was used which had to be replaced every few years. There was
generally one or more loose planks that rattled every time a car crossed.
The bridge that followed was built in 1937. The design was the
sarrie as the last one, but treated timber was used. The deck was made
of "two by eights" spiked toge~her and then covered with asphalt.
The river ~as quite low that summer, and east of the present bridge a
Moving the old bridge off.
,
The old bridge in the background
1960
temporary bridge was built from the north bank over to the island, and
a grade from the island to the south bank. This was used whi Ie the
new one was being erected.
In the winter of 1959,.60 the present cement bridge was built.
This was erected on the. east side of the old bridge. In th<3.t way they
were able to use the old one until the new one was finished. Before
the railing was put on, the old bridge was moved over onto the new
one, then it was pulled off, one half being moved each way. This
bridge was quite an improvement over the others, as it was about
10 feet wider. The pictures in the book will show the difference.
AGRICUL TURE
When the first settlers arrived in this area (later to be named
Bunclody) in 1881 many of them settled along the Souris River so
wood and water would be more readily available. Each man of 18 years
of age or older was able to homestea rl a quarter section (160 acres) of
land. The registration fee was $10.00 and he had to live on the land
at least six months of each year and break or bring under cultivation
a minimum of fifteen acres a year for three years. When he received
title or patent he also had the privilege to preempt an additional 160
acres for $2.00 per acre. It is interesL.ing to note that although many
.homesteaders took advantage of their preemption privilege, In many
cases they did not do so for a number of years.
All even numbered sections were open for homesteaders with the
exception of Section 8 and three-quarters of Section 26, which were
given to the Hudson Bay Company. The north-east quarter of 26 was
open for homestead. All the odd numbered sections with the exception
of Sections 11 and 29 were given to the Canadian Pacific Railway in
payment for building the c.p .R. main line from coast to coast -Montreal to Vancouver. Sections 11 and 29 were set aside by the Government and were sold at, $7.00 per acre, the money received to go toward· the cost of education and were called School Lands.
On the accompanying map and list of names all homesteaders
and dates are accurate as the information was obtained at the Manitoba
. Land Branch. However, on C.P.R., Hudson Bay Company and School
Taken Sept. 12, 1903, after 12 to 15 inches 'of snow had fallen.
One of the big steam threshing
outfits. Note the wing feeder.
Abe Groves.
Stook loader that mechanically
unloaded at the separator, used
in connection with the wing feeder.
Land much of this land was not settled for a number of years and in
many cases was sold to land speculators who never lived on it, so
most of these names and dates have been gathered from memory with
assistance from the Municipal Offices at Whitewater, OakL:tnd and
Glenwood, which in most cases only recorded the owner's name. On
the map we have gone outside the Bunclody community to some extent
but in the early days, when settlers were scattered and social activities were few, all these names were quite familiar in our community.
Although the growing of wheat was the main activity, most of the
early settlers tried to grow or raise most of their every day needs on
their own farms with a few cows to milk, a good flock of hens, a large
garden and all the wild fruit they could get such as saskatoons, raspberries, cranberries, pin-cherries and some wild plums which grew
along the bank of the Souris river. As the banks and valleys of the
river provided good pasture as well as water, many of the farmers of
the area have always had good herds of cattle and have not relied
solely on the growing of wheat.
One of the many good driv.ing teams in the Community. Wes Jones with
his well-matched team took manv red ribbons at local fairs.
A typical harvest scene In the early 1900's - lunch time. Tom Jones
on second .binder.
For the first settlers in the early 1880's the closest railroad and
grain market was Brandon, a distance of 30 to 40 miles. This was at
least a two day trip and in many cases three or more days & 50 bushels
of wheat was a good load over prairie trails.
Although some wood could be cut along the river, owing to prairie
fires which blackened everything for miles, the trees were so small
that much of the wood for fuel as well as the building of log houses
had to be hauled from the Turtle Mountain, again trips of 30 to 40
mi.ies and two, three or more days to make the trip.
~n 1892 the Canadian Pacific Railroad branch line from Winnipeg
to Regina was completed through Souris and Carroll, this brought a
grain market and source of supply much closer. Six years later in 1898
the Canadian National Railroad from Winnipeg to Virden was built,
with elevators and stores at Minto, Fairfax and Elgin, and land that
had not been settled because it was so far from a market was soon
brought under cultivation. Red Fife wheat was the first variety grown.
It was a good milling wheat and a fair yielder and was wheat that gave
the prairie provinces first place in the world market for the best bread
wheat. However, it was a late maturing wheat, 110 days with good
growing conditions from date of planting to tiine of cutting, so many
One step ahead of
the oxen, breaking
the prairie sod.
One of the first
self-propelled combines - a Waterloo
Sunshine.
Teams waiting to
unload at the Bunclody
Elevator.
One of the modern farms in the districL The home
of Mr. & Mrs. Dickson Wright"
years, especially in low lying areas, there would be frost before it was
ready to ·cut. This would reduce the yield and lower the gr ade often
to the point that it did not pay to harvest it at all depending on the
state of maturity. However, as there were few other varieties available
and Red Fife was good if it escaped the frost, it was the main wheat
grown fa;: many years.
About 1910 Marquis wheat became popular. This was also a good
bread wheat and a good yielder maturing 10 to 12 days sooner than the
Red Fife. Marquis gave good satisfaction until 1916 when the first
rust hit Manitoba, After a very bad winter with lots of snow, a late
wet Ispring seeding, lots of moisture and a warm summer we had one of
the finest crops ever seen in the district. Then, the rust hit late in
July, most of the wheat was cut and stooked and the farmers could
not realize how bad it was until they started to thresh. Any fields
sow.ed early, although badly rusted, were worth threshing but later
sowed fields were so bad that the wheat only weighed 32 pounds to
. the bushel instead of from 60 to 64 which it has to be to get top grad~
lng. One farmer threshed all afternoon with a crew of six stook teams
and 2 field pitchers for one wagon load of gr ain - when he delivered
it to the elevator it was not worth enough to pay the men for their
half days work. Although Marquis was the main wheat crop for a few
more years, many farmers were starting tp grow Durum, a variety of
Early
school
transportation.
A four-horse team on a gang plow
was a common si.ght for many
years.
Robert
Best
iAlbert, F.4
: Webster
Will~am
1;:;E1:i:,~~?~
30-4-8X: _ 14-1-93
r
·j.ames
" Cowan
Wood
_
&
Fred Kerr
Kells
15-10-83
s
H. B. C.
S
15-10-83
.
2S-2-84
s)'
i 14 -
A. J.
Afex
g~James
McGregor
McGregor
/
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7-6-84
Sa~e
i
14-5-81
s~~e
~..,
H
T.
,+,.
Jones
29-12-87
15-p-83
-------------~-----------
lWilliam
:
Smith
30-~-Sl
T.W.Jones
! 10-1l-S3
i 16-2-93
i
s
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John
: 'John
Wilson· : 'McGill
24-6-81
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SamUl3l.
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• ';-George •
Wilson:
McGill
1
13-6-84 : 1S-11-84
sis
A. Seluers
IFair &
A14n
I
!
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______ ~_____ ~--~c,-~------- --------- ----~ ------------ ---- ---------4-- ----- .---Ar.thur
'; A;-tl,11:lr "
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Pettypiece '
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Best
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5-11-94
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Kerr
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Low;ry
:
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Alex Rose 1 Alex Rose
4-5-B1
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8-6-00
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1
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1
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Honeyman!
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:
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i
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Fi tzpatrick
10-11-92: 19-2-26
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lt1heeler
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i::
Fi tzpatri
30-6-81
II
Chas. FObson
15-~2-83
BUrke
15~3-84115-3-84
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Stark
:
11-6-81
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William
Stark
So
Pat
Chas.
Dobson
11-6-B1
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Burke
I 11-6-81
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,
,
Mfrratt
; GrcndY
Chas.
Dobson
. Pat
Burke
Tom Dobson:
20-2-84
27-9-02
S
D.
Bal
s
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5-7-88
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William
I
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Cook
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:e
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i
26-4-98
Copeland
es
: John'"
H.
McArthur
: Joe
!
Clsrk
Joseph! Clark
W. G.
: B.
Will
Copelsnd
i!
:
A.
j 11-12-94
:
Copeland:
l'
Os~
3()"1l-86
Tomas A.
Osborne
21-4-92'
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James- ----3~·peter---­ ------------31-----------26-1-89
: Eamer
: 22-5-90
28-2+84
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~omas A.
DaVid
A.
Dave
Leadb,~~8f
Ki
ater: Osborne
Clendening.
!
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; Joe
:9land: Co~eland
Wm.
Barrett
!
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Geo.
Collins
5-18-83
Clendening
I
Robt.
Campbell
John
jRobt.
Copeland 1 Campbell
no ~te
-")isk
Harry
Leadbeater
,cam:rb ell
ll15-95
: 3()..6-81
Robert
Campbell
Walter
Seafoot.
-----------·3'2------------ --------- ---33-----------Wm.
Rundle
cj C. P. R.
f.:.
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Wm. J olfl Groves
R.
: W. G.
; Archibal
J. K. Ross
: 8-5-99
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pf
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A.
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J. L.
Stafford
C.
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j
Seafoot
r
HiS
Copeland
H
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Wood
4-1()..92
A. H.
Clark
i 25-11-84
9-1()"88
)
3()"12-85
John
: Gibson
McFarlane: GrOVe
Graham
! Waddingt~
,Leadbeat 'Mn. Brown
Albert
Clark
26-;7:-87
: John
Tamas
17-t86
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MCLean! JRo~~
28-3~81
u
. 3()..6-81
Miller
W. G.
Will
McLean! Press
Groves! Osborn
I 16-12-82
:
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t
W. J.
Graham
:T._s
pelanf
Buncla
W;
P; R.
Jarvis
«-9-91
i
John
Osborn
_____~ ______ ~. ___1! ______ _ _________ 9, __~-A~-------­
Cope
3'5 --------.--
Anderson
1 Leadbeater
4-12-88
wj Hiller
W. J.
Groves
:
Sam
Stinson
Jas.
i:PRRI< .
c.
: Geo.
27-12-82
William
Christie
Wallace
11-9-86
19-5-82
!
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HCGill:
,
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chas'i Anderson
: H.E.
!
Taylor
31-5-84
,
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Matt
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: Jas.
C;
i
11-9-86
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Copeland
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R.
Sloan
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Robt.
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Will
Taylor
i 1()..4-84
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r.
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Robt.
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I
Stinson tWilliam.
l
c.
15-1..,s6
s w8-S-:1 :
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Stinson
F..t.y..---~---·1:8';--------lk
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Stinson : McCormick
14-41-84
. :William
.. Aldred
!
8-8-81
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LS-8-91
: Samu61
Stinson!
T~
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Campbell i Richardson
.3-4-88
j 15-5-82
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Wilson
«-2;j88
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Miller
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Ja~~ir
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____~______..JI_________c_
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McCll,fng
J.J.Sprou
C. P.! R.
31-12-91
15-1()"86
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David
Wood
:
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Campbell
Walker
Wes
Shaw
: 23-5-81
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Thos.
Campbell
James
r Neil
Sproule! Wilson
n.w.
1.()..4-89
16 _ 5'-81;
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28-8-89
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1 Campbell
27-8-81
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Joe
McClung
James
Neil
Sproule \ Wilson
23-5-81
:~-----1;4-----------
lentynr
Wm.
McCullock
i
~pbell
:
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28-5-89
Ed
Shaw
17-5-82
H
James
Campbell
i 13-5-82
!
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--~~;~----1,1~~~-------- -:;;,;;:~~----1~~;:.-------'
~s~·~L
Shaw
Shaw
15:::"
i ~::ll
________~______~L____~__L_~~__~1
--
~
When Tom J ones lost his barn
by fire i~ the Fall of 1910, all
the neighbors helped them to
rebuild.
One of the early driving teams
of the West. Doug Stuart's father
and mother make their monthly
trip to town for supplies. Doug,
as chief navigator, holds the
lines.
wheat used lfl the manufacturing of macaroni and spaghetti. It was a
good yielder and more rust ristant than Marquis but had a long weak
straw that lodged badly presenting many harvesting problems, especial. ly in the days of the binder and threshing machine.
In 1936 the Durum wheat rusted badly for the first time and, although DUflim was still the main wheat crop, the search was on for
something better. New varieties tried included Preston, Ceeres,
Renown, Reward and many others. None of these ever gained widespread popularity.
In 1936, Thatcher, a good milling and yielding
bread wheat was introduced followed by Selkirk, Manito and Neepawa.
Oats and Barley were only grown as feed and very little of these
grains was ever marketed. Oats was the main feed for horses and
cattle. This was a very important crop from the days of the oxen in
the early 1800's to the time the tractor took over as the main source
of power in the late 1930' s. Barley was used mainly as hog feed and
was not grown extensively in the early days. Flax was grown as
early as, 1910 but did not becomea major crop until combin!=s became
popular In the late 1930's as it was hard to cut and thresh with the
binder ap.d threshing machines. Rape, sunflowers and mustard were
unheard of before 1960.
,One of the first traction engines
In
the district - Will Copeland's.
Many interesting stories have been told of the early homestead
days. When Charlie Dobson had to draw his wheat to Souris, he loaded
his team of horses with fifty bushels and led an Ox with a stone boat
loaded with ten bags (twenty bushels). This no doubt was the forerunner of the modern trailer. In 1901 on June 6th they woke up in
the morning to find the land covered with 4 to 5 inches of snow. All
were fearful that the crops would be ruined, however, a-s there
was no frost, no damage was done, even the gardens were not hurt.
On S~ptember 12th, 1903, 12 to 15 inches of snow fell. Most of the
crop was cut and stooked - any that was not cut, layed perfectly flat
and had to be cut one way, but the snow disappeared rapidly and
with a long dry fall the crop was harvested with very little damage.
The change in agricultural methods since the first land was homesteaded in this community is almost unbelievable. For the first fifty
years the change was very gradual from oxe-n and two-horse teams to
4, 6 and 8 horse teams with a corresponding change in the size of
machinery. In the late 1920's and early 1930's some tractors and
combines made their appearance but the second World War'" slowed
this trend as all farm machinery was in short supply. In the early
1940' s more farm machinery was availab,le and each year bigger and
more powerful tractors came on the market. Today .one man can accomplish as much as 4 or 5 could with horses. This- comparison is
more significant at harvest time when 2 men with a large combine and
truck can thresh more bushels in one day than 15 or 20 man crew could
do with the qig steam threshing machine used at the turn of the century.
One of the early combines with
Wes Jones in command.
A big advance in winter transportation - a dosed van with
stove.
Six-horse teams were quite common. Ed Sands starting out for a
Ray's work.
Guy Taylor - Championship for
gang plows. Carroll plowing
match, 1908.
Note the low
lifted by hand
nors on top of
der. Owned by
bagger when the grain was bagged on the ground and
into the wagon. Also one of the first se lf~feeder goverthe separator to regulate the flow of grain to the cylinWill Taylor,
Commercial fertilizers, chemical weed killers, better yielding of
earlier maturing varieties of grain have played their part in the changing agricultural scene. In the early 1900's many farms were only
. half seCtions and very few were more than one section but today any
farm under two sections is not considered an economic unit and many
farms are much larger.
With this change in farming methods the population of. the community has decreased by 2/3 and a school, church and store that
was once a hive of activity is no more.
A modern dairy in 1912.
In the days of the binder and
threshing machine, fields like
this at harvest time were a common sight.. A good crop of Preston wheat.
The
horse is replaced by the
tractor. Merv & Gilford Copeland.
spearator with no
bagger. Grain. was caught in
bushel measure on the ground.
THE BUNCLODY STORE
Through the years 1906 - 1908 the lumber was hauled from Turtle
Mountain, the Store erected and business started in the Bunclody store
by Thos. J. McGill.
After a year or two the store needing more space, the living
quarters at the back were put into the store when another piece was
built at the back again for living space. There was a small warehouse
and barn at the side and back of the store.
In· 1908 Mr. McGill was appointed Postmaster and took in incoming and outgoing mail up the hill to the Great Northern passenger train
which was now running through Bunclody over the border to Devil's
Lake, North Dakota.
The former Postmaster was Mr. D.A. Rose who operated the Post
Office from his home on the farm, the mail being delivered and gathered
from Fairfax, Manitoba.
In March of 1914 Leonard Martin purchased this store from T.J.
McGill and was then appointed Postmaster on the first of May, 1914 .
.On the 1st of May, 1915 this office was made a Money Order Office.
In these years the young people of Bunclody and surrounding
districts used to gather in the evenings at the store, then away to
skate on the river and sleigh-ride down the hills, coming back to the
store to talk awhile, get warm and then away home again. So many
gathered at the store that extra props had to be put in the basement
to ::arry the load above.
The winter of 1915-16 was a terrible one for snow, storms and
drifts. A snow-plough sent up from Devil's Lake to clear the Great
Northern Railway track got stuck fast at Bunclody and there remained
until a large plough was sent two weeks later which finally got through
with crews from the sections of Minto, Beverly, Bunclody, etc.,
helping with picks and shovels.
The essential goods of the Martin Store were getting rather low
at this time, 'not being able to get in supplies and Mrs. Martin also
ran out of her own supply by baking loaves of bread and large pans of
biscuits for the train crew. It was a happy day when the track was
Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Martin - Store
keeper at Bunclody 1914-1956
The Bunclody store and Martin
family residence.
finally cleared and supplies and mail came regularly again. L. Martin
made qvo trips to Carroll by team to get the mail from the Canadian
PaCific train at Carroll through this period with the team plunging all
the way.
In the fall of 1914 L. Martin, with the help of sons erected a cottage and the fall was a beautiful open one so the house was completed
and the family moved.in Christmas eve, so enjoyed Christmas Day in
their new home. Later years a barn, galvanized oil shed, garage and
small flour shed were added, not forgetting "Dog Villa" for the NewfoundlandDog.
There was a spring of good water trickled down the bank near the
traffic bridge and two young men of the district thought it would be
nice to have a cool drink through the afternoon as they were working,
so dug a hole and put in a pail, then coming to the store to purchase
a bottle of Raspberry Vinegar. Jack Spain and Moors Rice emptied
the bottle of Raspberry Vinegar into the pail and left for work. When
ready for the cool drink they discovered that the pail had overflowed
and the Raspberry Vinegar had merrily trickled down the bank to the
Souris River - really disappointing.
In June of 1936 the Great Northern Railway was abandoned and
the mail from Bunclody store had to be taken by road to the Canadian
National train at Minto, Manitoba, calling for the Heaslip store mail
enroute. This arrangement continued for about ten years then another
change, the Bunclody mail going to Carroll, Man., and the Heaslip
mail on a bus travelling on No. 10 Highway.
On October 10th, 1937 Leonard Martin passed away leaving his
wife, Ellen Edith 'and daughters May and Margaret to carryon the home
and store. May Martin was then appointed Postmaster, mak ing the
fourth and last Postmaster of Bunclody, Manitoba.
This business was carried on until December 3rd, 1956 when
property was sold and the mail came by R.R. No. 1 from Carroll,
Manitciba.
THE MCGILL FAMILY
Mr. & Mrs. Tom McGill - Built and operated the store at Bunclody for
the first six years.
When Mr. & Mrs. George McGill and family of four boys and two
girls arrived from Bunclody, Ireland> in 1881, the parents did not~now
that one boy, Thos J., would play an aCtIve pattin community affairs.
Soon after the arrival of the first settlers there wa.s apparent desire
for a church service. They were few in numbers but the Bible says
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I
in the midst of them", Matt: 18 - verses 19 and 20. So they gathered
in a home and the first church service was establIshed. It could have
been that it was from these early services that Thomas J. became interested in carrying on the Lord's work. Soon a school was built and
named by Mr. McGill, Sr. Not surprising (is it?) that Bunclody was
the name chosen for the new school, and the people were meeting in
the school for religiousguidance and it is there that we find Thos.
J. Mc'Gill actively engaged.
.
Before manyyea,rs had passed Mr~George McGill was gored by a
bull and died shordy after leaving Mrs. McGill and her family to carry
oil with the. wor¥: of the homestead. Since cemeteries were few, Mr.
McGilf was buried on their farm near the riv(':r andere long other members of the family were buried there too. In 1919 the graves were removed and re~interred in the Carroll Cemetery .
Thos J. had itchy feet and left Bunclody. At 23 years of age we
find him with the Salvation Army and. going westward during the Riel
Rebellion. He became a cadet and then we find he is working as an
"Out Rider" in the mountain trails of B.C. With ambition and zest for
adventure, he left with a pioneer party over the trail of 1898 to the
Klondike. This party was made up of Senior officers in the Salvation
Army and soon he rose from one rank to another and when he returned
to live at Bunclody, he held the office of Adjutant.
Prior to his return he had acquired a wife, who was ~lso an Adjutant in the Salvation 'Army. They were a genuine asset to the dis-
Tom McGill Back row, 3rd from left
". :
trict. During his absence great changes had taken place and many
more settlers had arrived - the school was crowded come Sunday with
people arriving from many miles around for religious instruction. It
was also the one meeting place where the neighbors had the opportunity of discussing the needs of the world .and their own problems.
Since no one had extra transportation in those days, the same horses
had to be used on Sunday that had been worked hard during the week.
It is believed there was a "'Be kind to animals act" in those days and
the horses benefited by the length of these discussions.
.
In the early 1900's a regular service was established by the
. Methodist Church and the first ordained minister, Rev. A.W. Kenner,
came each Sunday from Minto at 11:00 a.m. Following this service
Mr. McGill as Superintendent conducted the Sunday School for the
following hour and also taught the Young People's Bible Class. Mr.
McGill possessed great organizing ability and from his efforts the
school w~ls bursting at the seams, so to speak. He used contests to
promot€) interest. C.aptains were chosen and each side, designated by
wearing' red and blue buttons, began the race to bring in new members
and a dinner was provided for the winners by the losing team at the
McGill home j In the winter young people drove many miles to take
part in oratorical contests, spelling matches, etc. In the summer the
Picnic held at the river brought the community together. A feature·
raCe for the girls was to see who could harness a horse, hitch it to a
buggy and drjve away fiI:st.. The boys shared in the usual races.
Mr. McGill had much to offer, with his experience on the '98 trail
and he held class attention with funny stories and events which at
times caused much laughter. Ah, yes, there was always a moral to be
.learned which gave food for thought during the week, until we met
again the following Sunday.
He .also enjoyed music and song - he had a good voice and often
accompanied himself on the Banjo. Occasionally Mr. and Mrs. McGill
conducted Revival Services for short periods in the sc.hool.
Mrs. McGill
Miss Laura Aikenhead had come .from Nova Scotia to Manitoba in
the late 1880's. She taught school at Mekewin, Manitoba (near Gladstone). The Salvation Army had opened services at Neepawa, a distance of sixteen miles. Miss Aikenhead became deeply interested and
involved and later she gave up teaching school for full time Salvation
Army work. The Army flag was unfurled wherever she went, Rapid
City, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Vancouver, Nanaimo and Victoria.
In 1891 she was sent to Winnipeg from Victoria and promoted to
Ensign and from there she went to Halifax. In September 1899 she
returned to Victoria to meet her husband-to-be, Adjutant Thos. J.
McGill. After a Hallelujah wedding, they left to take command at
Skagway, Alaska. In a few years they were appointed to command the
Victoria Corps. She carried on alone much of the time while her husband assisted his widowed mother on the farm. Later an urgent call
came and she arrived at Bunclody to help care for her mother-in-law
who had suffered a stroke.
In was a test of courage to leave her beloved work but she triumphed over 'difficulties and soon khe was able to organize meetings
for the construction crews who were building the Great Northern Railway from Devil's Lake, U.S.A. to Brandon; Manitoba
Many times I'm sure she pondered:
"It is a good thing to remember, And a better thing to do,
To workwi'th the construction gang, and not the wrecking
crew.
This she d,id with vim and vigor.
On the completion of the Railroad Mr. and Mrs. McGi 11 built and
opened the General Store. It was a great boon to the community, a
daily mail service became available and the store contained the daily
needs for family living. It also served as a gathering place to meet
neighbors and friends. In 1914 the McGills decided to retire from active work. They sold the business and left for Vancouver where they
enjoyed more leisurely living and continued in Salvation Army work.
Just before Mrs. McGill died in August 1945 the Vancouver Park's
Board dedicated a spot in Stanley Park known as Hallelujah Point,
at which she was the speaker. Mr. McGill later joined relatives at
Warner, Alberta and lived until 1950 when he was buried beside Mrs.
McGill in Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver.
SOCIAL LIFE
There was very little social life in the pioneer days. People "amused themselves by visiting neighbours and holding dances in different homes to the tune of violin's played by Abe Groves,. Alex Seafoot, Jimmy Osborne, Tom Osborne, Jack Douglas, BiJl Ballentyne,
George'Lumsden, Arthur Rose and Bill Dane. Euchre and King Pedro
were the favourite card games in those days and some spent their
time at checkers.
As more people settled in the district a school and church were
built. Christmas concerts were then held in the church, and Were enjoyed ',by theadulfs as well as the children. The teacher taught the
school children drills, dialogues and recitations which were presented
prior to the arrival of Santa Claus. The day of the concert the men of
the district set up the huge tree and decorated it- with tinsel and coloured streamers as there was no electricity for-tree lights. Santa always arrived at the end of the program with bells ji ngling and loaded
with presept;s and goodies for everyone.
The next generation had life much easier, and so had more time
for social life. Sunday school picnics were held in the farmyard of
Jim Copeland. The committees organized races and games for all ages
and a peanut scramble for the children. Later, in the twenties, Bunclody became widely known for its old-time dances, whist drives,
Willing Workers 1932
L, to R. Back Row
Mrso D.F. Rose, Edith Jones"
Mrs, To Jones, Mrs, Wilson, Mrs.
Elliott, Mrs, Taylor
Front Row
Mar gie Rose, Mrs. A. Smith, Mrs.
,A" Tawse Mrs. J. Copeland,
,Vivia'n, Spain, .Mrs. Martin, Mrs.
, J, Spain, Sarah Osborne
and cribbage and checker tournaments. Music was supplied by Roy,
Bill, and Dave Osborne, Harold Copeland Fred Seafoot, Gordon Leadbeater, Gordon Groves, Geo Dane and the Nesbitt brothers, Ab and
Harry. Accompanists were Mrs. J. Spain, Mrs. W. Gr~Y~s~ Mrs. G.
McLean, Mrs. J. Fraser, Miss BeithaCopeland, MISS Shirley Rose and
Allan Rose. Gib Maguire played the guitar and Ale~ Smith strummed
the banjo. Callers for the square dancing were Jerry Burke, Geo Dane,
Dave Leadbeater, Mack Rose, Douglas Rose and Ab Osborne.
Box socials" pie socials and fowl dinners were put on to raise
money to help community projects. Due to lack of "ski-doos" skating
and, sleigh riding parties were held in the winter on the hills and ,the
river, and were thoroughly enjoyed. The main sleigh was a long ladder
with hand sleigh attached to ,each end. The sleigh at the front was
used as a steering wheel and the whole apparatus carried 10 or 12
people. Others less fortunate were forced to use scoop shovels and
pieces of tin. These parties often ended up at someone's home for
baked beans and brown bread, or lunch around a river bonfire.
On Saturday nights, all the sk aters met at Bunclody_ store and all
went to the river together. The local boys cleaned off a small rink in,
the afternoon, and the first part of the evening was spent gathering
wood for a bonfire. There wasn't a- finer sight on a frosty moonlight
night than a big bonfire lighting up the snow-covered trees, while the
skaters sat around the fire on stumps and stones, lacing up their
skates. There was the odd mishap, as on the night that Guy Taylor
skated into the water hole. After the skating everyone gathered at the
store for soft drinks and chocolate bars. Finally the horses were unblanketed untied from the hitching rail beside the store, and because
they were cold, it was always a quick trip home.
Before the days of cars and good roads, the people travelled by
team and sleigh to dances at Carroll, Lily and Fairfax, arriving home
many mornings just in time to change clothes and do up the chores.
~::
On a really frosty night the teams were changed at the half way point.
These were real tally-ho's with the jingling of bells, the crunching of
hooves on the frozen ground, and the cries of the unfortunates who
were pushed off and left to run behind.
In-'U)3":Z the Bunclody Ladies organized a group called the Bunclod.y WillipgWorkers. Tgis was a local group, not affiliated with the
chUrch or.aJ.JX, W;'b}l(mairt~y organized to look afterlocalneeds and
to raise-:rn~geyfB~;:;worthwhile projects. The membership fee was
Bunclody Willing Workers 1937
Mrs. Leadbeater, Dorothy Elliott,
Mrs, D.F. Rose, Mrs. Marshall,
Mrs. E. Sands, Mrs. Groves,
Bertha Osborne, Mrs. T. Jones,
Edith McLean, Mrs. W. Elliott,
Mrs. Nesbitt, Mrs. W. Sellers,
Mrs. Martin, Mrs. J. Joss
Sitting:
Verna Tufts (?) Edith Osborne,
Florence Ga -den, Mrs, A, Smith,
Mrso J Spain
0
Red Cross Sewing Circ~e 1916-Mrs. T. Jones, Mrs. Bu~ke, Mrs. Sellers,
M.rs. Marshall, Mrs. PettYPlece, Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. A. Rose, Mrs.
Klrbyson, Mrs. D. ,Rose, Mrs. Honeyman.
originally set at 25 cents, plus a collection of 10 cents a month. Mrs.
Guy Taylor was the first president, Mrs. Jim Garden, vice president
and Mrs. Mack Rose Secretary-Treasurer. The first meeting was held
in the home of Mrs. Tom Jones. For Some years the group was affiliated with an extension service, and the members learned how to make
mats and stuffed animals. The meetings started with a short devotional
followed by minutes and everyone then proceeded with their different
projects. Achievement Day was held at Carroll and each district had to
take part in making up some of the program. The Willing Workers sang
the following song composed by Mrs. Douglas Rose.
Chorus
Chorus
Tune - Little Brown Jug
Here we stand just as bold as brass
Telling you of our sewing class
Plenty of work and lots of fun
We tell you what we're sorry its done.
Ha, ha, ha, Bundody
Learned to stitch right merrily
By two fine leaders we were taught
Mesdames Spain and Ell-i-ott.
All went well at lesson one
No one thought of trouble to come
'Twas Halloween & a clear, cold night,
The Osborne Ford was frozen tight.
Ha, ha, ha, if you had seen
Mrs. Spain in that ravine,
The car was in an awful plight
Bunclo~y Willing Workers . 1948-Mrs. H. Leadbeater, Mrs. Hooker,
Mrs. A. Sm~th Sr"1 Mrs. L. Martm, Mrs. J. Copleland, Miss Gertie Aldred,
Mrs. D. W;r~ght, and Dal, Mrs. H. Simmons, Mrs. A. Fraser, Mrs. J. Bell,
Mrs. A. SmIth, ~rs. A. Rose and Carol, Mrs. G. Marshall, Mrs. J. Spain,
Lynn and Dale SImmons Mrs. G. Copeland.
Chorus
Chorus
Ne'er reached home until midnite.
Mrs. Joss had lesson two
When tailors tack s we learned to do.
Measles broke out then you see
So twice postponed was lesson three.
Ha, ha, ha, we learned to smock
The noisy ones weren't there to talk
To finish seams we must be neat
And now Bunclody - can't be beat.
We gathered next quite near the store
And gained so much from lesson four.
Mrs. Will Sellers, had a birthday
And she did get, a lovely bouquet.
Collars now we can make
And pointed plackets undertake
Ha, ha, ha, you and me
Can now sew shirts for Bunclody.
den, Syd Osborne, Ken Warren
Mr. D. Ferguson & Beverly, Jim
Garden, Ron Warren, Syd Elliot,
Mrs. D. Ferguson, Mrs. W. Groves
Front Row:
Mrs. G. Taylor, Mrs. L. Martin,
Phyllis
Leadbeater,
Norman
Mrs. Mack Rose, Mrs. J. Joss,
Spain, Tom & Russ Tawse,
Mrs. A. Tawse, Mrs. J. Spain,
Shirley Rose, Margy Rose, Leith
Mrs. A. Smith, Miss Muriel WilJoss, Bill Garden, Allan Rose,
son, .Flo Sellers, Isabel Garden, Ross Taylor,. Alex Smith, Allan
Millie Leadbeater, Florence GarElliott.
Social Gathering 1929
Concert at Bunclody School 1967
Mrs. D. Stuart Mrs. Rene Vandooren, Mrs. Bob Rose, Mrs. A.
Smith, Mrs. A. Rose, Mrs. Lloyd
groves, Mrs. N. Spain
This group is still carrying on and in 1957 held its 25th annIversary tea at Bunclody school. Mrs. H. Leadbeater, who served as
president for many years, officially opened the tea. Those who held
offices twenty five years ago Mrs. Guy Taylor from Holland, Mrs. T.W.
Jones from Brandon, Mrs. D.F. Rose, and Mrs. C. Duncan, in honour
of her mother Mrs. J. Garden, poured tea during the afternoon and many
old and new friends were present. During the last war the members
sent parcels over$eas to all the boys from the community and donations were sent to the Red Cross and "Milk for Britain" fund. Proceeds of lunch sold at one farm sale was sent to "The Prisoner of
War" fund. For some time before the closing of Bunclody church the
Willing Workers raised the money to pay the Missionary and maintenance allocation. Donations of money and linens were sent to Souris
Hospital, the needs of various patients from the Ninette Sanitarium
were looked after and more recently donations of baking and household requirements have been sent to the Workshop for the Mentally
Retarded at Boissevain. There has never been a very large membership
over the years but at present, they are the only active organization in
~unclody, and are still looking after all local community needs while
still making donations to Cancer Research, Childrens Aid Society and
Bible Society. Mrs. Jack Spain is the only original active member left.
This organization will be providing refreshments for perhaps the most
exciting socia 1 event of all times, namely the Bundody Centennial
Celebration. "Bunclodyites" will be returning home from all parts of
Harold Copeland, Gib Maguire,
Alex Smith Jr., Tom Tawse, Anne
Rose.
Lloyd
Anne
Groves, Kaye Groves,
Rose, Alex Smith Jr.
~.O· ."
Canada and the United States, to join in good fellowship, renewing of
friendships and to pay tribute to the pioneers.
Social events are still being held at Bunclody school, with a
Christmas concert in the winter, and occasional card parties, and a
community pi cnic in the summer. There is much musical talent in the
district and musical numbers make up a good part of all community
programs. The younger generations of Spains, Vandoornes, Roses,·Hie~
berts and Copelands tak e part in local festivals every year, and local
community gatherings. The spirit of good fellowship, fun and cooperation that always existed in the Bunclody community is still
very much in evidence even though the number of families involved has
become much smaller, and the community horizons have become much
larger.
SPORTS IN BUNCLODY THROUGH THE YEARS
Throughout the history of Bunclody Community, much of the sport
a,<I recreation was casual and spontaneous. From time to time ball
and hockey teams were organized to play the other local teams of the
day. But a large part of the sport activities of the district took the
form of a "choose up sides" game at all social gatherings, or a skating or sleigh riding party when the weather was co-operating.
. Up until the early 1900' s football and baseball were the popular
games for picnic days. Equipment was simple and inadequate by today's standards. The catcher, at a baseball game, wore one of his
Bunclody Hockey Team 1911-12
Ing Roney, Florence (Skin) Burke, Doug Ferguson, Jack Elliott, Bill
Roney, Mack Rose, Norman Roney
winter mitts while the rest of the team usually played the field barehanded.
Horseshoes were also very popular. Many of the enthusiasts had
their own horseshoes carefully selected for size and weight. T~g of
war too was a regular part of picnics. One competition between the
heavy-weights and the baseball team was won handily by the smaller
players - their baseball spikes made the difference - probably proving
that traction is more important than power.
The river provided a swimming hole in summer and out door rink,
in winter, and in the early 1900's Bunclody entered a hockey team in
a league with Carroll and Hayfield, using the river as home ice. A
bonfire provided some heat for changing boofs and sk ates and at
least some of the spectators kept warm by running down the river to
retrieve the puck.
After the railway was built, the winte~ roads made from teaming
grain, were great for hand sleighs. The hill down from the elevator
past the store was handy and popular but all other hills got their share
of attention. If there wasn't a hand sleigh or toboggan, then a scoop
shovel or a piece of tin served equally as well, and some very young
enthusiasts managed with a tin pie plate.
The period prior to the first world war was an active one. Both
baseball and hockey teams were formed and played in local leagues,
and there seemed to be enough young people around to make any sport
get together a real success.
1928 Hockey Team, and Friends
L. to R.back row:
Mack Rose (?), Mrs. Gerry Burke, Mrs. N. Roney, Doug Ferguson,
Ing Roney, Dave Leadbeater, Bill Roney
Front Row:
Norman Roney, Gerry Burke, Geo. Dane, Guy Taylor
The 80 x 180 ft ice surface was surrounded by a 8 ft board fence
with an inside 4 ft wall along the north side for spectators. A skating
house and shelter for horses completed the building. For the first
winter, gasoline lanterns were hung in the corners of the rink for the
occasional evening skating party or Carnival, but the following year
a second hand lighting plant was purchased from Elgin and for the
next few years the valley glowed, to the steady thump of the single
cylinder gasoline engine. This was a cheery sight to the sleigh loads
of people who rounded the bend from the west and south hills on their
way to Bunclody.
During the first world war the pace of sporting activities was
slowed considerably. But in 1920 a baseball league had again been
formed, this time with Carroll, Fairfax and Burbank. By the mid thirties the population of young people in the district was at its peak.
The highest school enrollment was recorded in 1936 with all of the
32 seats occupied. Except for seasonal employment on local farms,
jobs were hard to find and so most of the young adults of the district were home for the ;vinter months. The need for winter recreation
was great and in 1935 a rink was built along the south bank of the
river, on the west side of the road.
During those years Bunclody's senior hockey team played home
and home games with nearly every town that travel facilities allowed.
For one or two seasons they were in league with Carroll, Beresford
and Souris. It was during this time that the Souris club came to play
in Bunclody on a cold clear frosty night. Their transportation arrangements included a truck with a canvas cover from Souris, to a point on
the highway east of Bunclody, and Ed Clendenning brought them the
remaining four miles with team and sleigh. On the way back the truck
broke down somewhere near the Log Cabin, some 16 miles from Souris
and the players decided to hitch their way back to town. Unfortunately
there weren't any motorists abroad that. night and the sorry team straggled back to Souris about 5 or 6 a;m. To top it all off they lost the
hockey game to Bunclody, by a score of 3-1. The story was picked up
by the natIonal news service and appeared in several papers.
Bunclody Hockey Team
Bill Groves, Dave Osborne, Geo Jones, Diff Copeland, Herb Thorpe,
Mac Rose, Gorden Leadbeater, Syd Osborne, Albert Osborne, Ed
Thorpe, Bill Garden, Ab Nesbitt, Allan Rose
BUNCLUlJY SPORTS - 19:35
Bunclody sports on Saturday, June 6, were highly successful, a crowd
of over 800 attending. Eleven baseball teams competed, three junior teams,
and eight softball teams.
In the baseball tournament Riverside beat Carroll, Bunclody beat Berbank, Margaret beat Elgin, Fairfax beat Minto, and Hayfield beat Nesbitt.
In the second round Roseland beat Carroll, Riverside beat Bunclody, and
Fairfax beat Minto. In the Final Roseland got a bye and Riverside de·
faulted, Roseland defeating Fairfax by the close score of 3-2.
In the junior ball, Bunclody beat Carroll, Riverside beat .Nesbitt, and
Bunclody beat Riverside in the final.
In the softball Carroll beat Bunclody, Roseland beat Berbank, Souris
beat Minto, Fairfax beat Lily, Roseland beat Carroll, and in the final Roseland beat Fairfax by 25-5, Fairfax getting the semi-final by default.
In the horseshoe play, the first four places were won by Roseland,
Ferguson getting first, Kidd second, M(;Conachie third and Cockburn fourth.
There were 20 entries in this event.
The Bunclody rink committee wishes to thank all, especially the ladies,
who helped make their sports day such a success.
-Souris Plaindealer
In 1939 the outbreak of the second world war signalled the end of
the rink. School enrollment dwindled to three in 1944, and many of the
young folks of the community left to go into uniform or fill jobs brought
about by the war effort. Determined efforts were made by the community to keep the facilities going, but by 1942 the job of flooding and
clearing the snow off the rink was too much and the rink closed. The
extra waiting room, which had been added when the railway bunk
house became available, was used for a few years for weekly cribbage
games, a meeting place for the Willing Workers, and toboggan parties,
but by 1946 the bunk house was sold and the balance of the rink was
Girls Hockey Team, 1940
Margie Rose, Marg Skuce, Jean Sellers., Girlie Copeland, Millie Leadbeater, Phyllis Leadbeater.
torn down. A few pair of skates were left unclaimed in the old shack.
The 1930's also saw more ball teams than at any other period
in Bunclody history. The senior
baseball team was still playing
in local leagues and tournaments
as it had for many years, but in
addition a ladies soft ball team
and junior baseball team were
formed and became quite active.
Ball tournaments were very oppular with prize money of $15.00,
$10.00 and $5.00. Softball and
junior ball got somewhat less.
Local teams took part in tournaments held close to home, as
transportation was still difficult
in the 30's, even in the summer.
One junior team that had entered
Mens Ball Team 1931
in a tournament at Belm.9nt nearDave Leadbeatet, Bill Groves,
ly had to stay at home for lack
Merv Copeland, Mack Rose,
of cars with tires in shape to
Harold Copeland Gilford Copemake a 40 mile trip, and back
land, Wes Jones, Bill Kirbyson,
home again.
Harper Simmons, Ab. Osborne,
In 1934 the first of four ball
Geo.
Jones, Dave
Osborne,
tournaments was put on to raise
Gordon Groves.
money for the rink. Since there
was no permanent ball diamond or sports ground in the community,.a
site had to be found, and the first year it was held on Copeland's
summer fallow. The last two years it was held on a hay meadow across
from Bil) Groves home. The tournaments were quite successful with
good crowds and a large entry of teams. But at the. end of 1930's with
with the declining numbers of young people around,. organized ball
and hockey was at an end.
After the second world war
was the beginning of a new era.
Better cars and better roads, and
more money with which to drive,
discouraged
the
re-formation
of small community sporting
activities that had flourished a
decade before. Some of the. people came back to live in B,unclody, put many had found new
homes in other places. In short
Bunclody - like most other small
communities,
no longer had sufGirls Soft Ball Team 1931
ficient interested young people
Back Row L. to R.
to form any team sport, and the
Bertha Osborne, Flo.rence Garden
young people have become part
Melitta Nickolson, Alice Copeof larger centres and their spon
land,
Viola
Jones, Margaret
aCtiVIties.
Picnics are still
Martin
held
annually
and the tradition,JI
Front Row
ball game is played. As always
Eva Simmons, Edith Osborne,
everyone is encouraged to play
Edith Jones.
and no one under six or over sixty is ever called out. It is not
unusual to see 20 players to a side at these community picnics.
Skating parties along the river are still great fun - a freshly
flooded river and a reasonably mild, Sunday with a bonfire and hot
dogs and coffee provided by the Cope lands are all the ingredients
needed for a real fun afternoon.
F or the past two years a men's fastball team has had their home
diamond in Stuarts pasture and in 1970 are in league with Elgin, Hartney, Souris and R e g e n t . , . . , .
The newest thing in sports is the .Ski Doo and the river and sUrrounding hills offer special challenges fOr the enthusiasts.
While community· activities have grown less in
the last few years, the
river and valley attracts
growing numbers of people
from elsewhere. Some do
some fishing while others
explore the bush or do some
berry picking and camping,
but mostly they enjoy a
picnic, just like the people
of Bunclody have been
doing for years.
Hunting Trip
Don Garden, Mac Rose, Merv Copeland
land, Bob Rose, Alex Smith, Allan
Rose, Gorden Langman
M~CELLANEOUSITEMS
The War Years
In 1898 a war broke out in South Africa and a few men of the district joined up. It is known that one, Fred Wallace, returned to the
Bundody district in 1900. He farmed on the S.W.% of 26-6-20 for a
few years.
Another Boer War veteran, Jack King (a brother of J .B. King)
whose home was four miles' west of Wallaces', also returned and
everitually became a civil engineer. He moved to B.C. and followed
his profession in that province.
August 4th, 1914 was the beginning of World War I in Europe when
the German War Lords undertook to conquer that continent, starting
with Belgium and France. However, they had not figured on several
allies of these two countries and though it took until November 11th,
1918 Germa.ny had to give in. Many young men from Canada, Australia,
New Zealand and other countries including United States were to do
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battle before the Germans became convinced that they should ask for
Armistice which they eventually got. During this time, thousands of
our Canadian troops were killed and maimed and naturally the same
applied to other countries. One has only to see or read of the many
cemeteries scattered over Belgium and France in particular, to realize
in some s!Ilall way of the lives lost.
However, in 1939 another German (Hitler) took a notion that h~
and his cohorts could lick the world and once again Germany had to
be shown that it could not be done. One of the .local boys, Harry
Douglas, who was born and raised at Bunclody, was reported missing
during the battle of Dieppe.
During these two wars, Bunclody and Riverside communities,
together: .with thousands of other districts, sewed, knitted and forwardedpaiMlsto the boys of each distrkt. During the first war, the
writeireceNeda:>parcel in July which had been intended for the previous·thiistlna$~1'he content~ looked. good hut the whole works had
to be thtowrt-aViaywith the e,xception of a cak e of Lifebuoy soap. Carbolic '!fasnot~mongmyJavorite flavors!
Accidents:
In:ailyoiledistrii::t;. acCidents have occurred over the years and
Bunc1odf;hasp~d a number of them since the first settlers came to
the dist}i.c(iIl;.tbe·J,aSOIs;Bef9re any bridges were built across the
Sourisiiy~rtl1eeat~ysettle.r$had to ford the river to get to Brandon
or re9lrn,depe!1ding' onw-hich 'side of the river you lived. Those first
home$fe,~deJ:~hadHrandonas
source bf supplies and those living
southii>fth~. riv¢rh!idto ford .the tiver going to Brandon and again
when theY:we!e:comiilg home. Dne mi~hap of the early years concerned
a Mr.Campbell,.wl1owas f?rding the river west of Bunclody with a
team of horses hifchedu>awagoll. The river was quite high at the
time arid.I!la ·and' horse, 5 were drowIlt=,d.
ll
Inll1~3ate IS80's tile fatherofT.J. McGill was doing the chores
one Sund~imp];h~ng -,-'the rest of tl1e.family having gone to church at
Bunc10dY scho()l. Mr. McGill took Jhe Bull out to water and got him
back jnt<> the, barn where the animal gored him. When the family returned~~yfoundMr. McGill lying in.the barn but he died shortly after.
In 1~90, Samtiel Osborne, who homesteaded on 14-7-20, died as
the result oJ an 8:c~ident. Lunch was brought out to the field where
he was cutting wheilt. While enjoying it, a prairie chicken flew up
frightening the horses and they started to run away. While trying to
stop them, Mr. OsbQrnegot caught in the binder and had one leg badly
cut. The Doctor was brought down from Souris, but Mr. Dsborne had
lost a.lot of blood by then and he passed away that night.
John Mcfarland farmed on the N.W. quarter of 4-7-19. He and his
wife Ellen, had two children, Frank and Eva Maud. The lives of John
and Ellen ended tragically in September of 1907. Dne Sunday morning
while building the fire in the cook stove, John poured on what he
thought was a bit of coal oil. However, it was later thought to have
been gasoline and it exploded, causing the clothing of both parents
to catch fire. Frank had been reading the Buster Brown comics and
when his paper caught fire, he threw it down and ran out unhurt. The
paper was the only thing that saved him from being burnt.
Frank's Dad sent him to Dsborne's for help about ~ a mile away.
Mr. McFarland -got Mrs. McFarla'nd and the little 2 year old girl out
although they were badly burnt. John Osborne had seen the smoke and
was on his way and Frank went to the Dsborne home and told Mrs.
Osborne. Dn her way she met Mrs. McFarland carrying the little girl.
a
Their clothes were badly burnt so Mrs. Osborne wrapped the little girl
in some of her clothes. Lan Cascaden, who worked for McFarland's
at that time escaped out of the upstairs window unhurt. Within a week
mother, father and little girl passed away.
In 1908 James Hargreaves, a bachelor, was farming the E.Yz of
28-6-20, where D.F. Rose now lives. A severe thunder storm came up.
] arne s was standing in the doorway of the barn when a bo It of lightning
killed him. It was understood that two other men were further back in
the barn but this writer cannot name them. No telephones at that time
but the two men sQon spread the news to the neighbors.
In the winter of 1910 Mr. Dave Rose went over to his granary to
get a bag of chop for his stock one morning. To his surprise a man,
Mr. Liston, whose home was north of the river, had become lost and
took shelter in Mr. Rose's granary. His feet and legs were badly
frozen and until medical help arrived Mr. Rose kept rubbing snow on
the frozen limbs.
1913 - Cars were beginning to be more plentiful and one day Mrs.
Robert Marshall - formerly Mrs. Pat Burke - and her eldest daughter,
Clara, were going to Bunclody - Clara driving. About half-way down
the west hill they met someone coming up on horseback. Horses at
that time were scared of cars and on a narrow road Clara tried to turn
off a little to try to give the horse more room. The ditch was quite
deep and one wheel of the car fell into the ditch. It threw Mrs. Marshall out and the car crushed her.
Another tragedy happened on a Sunday morning in the summer of
1917 when a party of young men went to the river for a swim. One
young man who was working for Bob Douglas (his name has been forgotten) apparently dived off a big stone striking his head on another
stone, as there was a bad bruise on his forehead. As .soon as he was
missed someone ran up to Copeland's home for help and Gilford Copeland and Jack Spain responded. By the time they reached the scene
the· man had been located in deep water and ] ack Spain succeeded in
bringing ~im to shore. Mike Burke, ,a young Doctor who had spent
sometime in France in the Armed Services and had been sent home to
Canada to graduate, was with the group and immediately took charge.
Two other Doctors were called from Souris. Some 14 hours later this
young man was finally revived, although no one knows for sure how
long he was under water, but it must have been at least ten minutes
or pos'sibly more. Full credit must go to young Doctor Burke for saving this. man's life.
1918 - Somedme before this Mr. Leonard Martin had taken over
the Bunclody Store from Mr. T.]. McGill. Joe Martin, a son, was painting the water tower in Minot, North Dakota. He fell and was killed
at the age of 18. Another'son, Neville had spent f our years overseas
safely but in 1921 he W1 s fatally injured in a power machinery accident.
On May 24th 1918 a serious accident befell Mr. W.D. Ballentyne,
through which he lost his life. Mr, Ballentyne was working in his shop
repairing the tap on an empty gasoline barrel. He was using a soldering iron at the time and the barrel exploded, blowing the top off the
tank. His little son Douglas was with him and was badly burned by
the explosion, but he ran to the house to tell his inother of the accident. Neighbors were quickly on the scene and Dr. Chestnut. of Minto
and Dr, Adamson of Elgin were hurriedly summoned but their efforts
were unable to restore life and Mr. Ballentyne passed away that afternoon. The Pallbearers were Messrs. Henry Leathers, 'Louis Sands, John
F. Perkin, David A. Rose, Robert Marshall and Thomas Truscott, all
of whom were pioneer friends of the deceased.
IVAN WILSON KILLED NEAR BUNCLODY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1934
WHEN LOAD OF POLES FELL ON TOP OF HIMI; FATHER INJURED
Accident occurred at Sproule's Ravine, a mile north of Heaslip-Restless horse caused wagon to go over bank-Father and son caught beneath
falling logs.
Thrown under a load of wood when the wagon overturned, Ivan James
Wilson, of Bunclody, was instantly killed on TUesday morning last. His
father, Edwin A. Wilson, who was riding with his son, was also pinned
by the wood, but beyond a bad shaking and slight injuries to his arm
was not hurt.
The accident occurred in Sproule's Ravine about four miles south of
Bunclody, and one mile north of Heaslip, while the father and son were
taking a load of poles to their Iarm home. Going down the ravine road
one horse became restless and crowded the other over into the ditch. The
wagon and poles turned completely over on top of the twO' men. The
younger one apparently hit his head on a stone and was killed instantly.
The father was also pinned below the logs but succeeded in attracting
the attention of John McDonald who happened to be passing the spot
shortly after the accident. Young Wilson was completely buried under the
poles. When these were removed by the neighbors who came to the scene
it was found that he had been killed instantly.
The deceased was' twenty-five years of age, unmarried, and lived at
home with his parents with whom he came to the district from Victoria
about twenty years ago.
The funeral was held Thursday frqm the Bunclody United Church to
Carroll cemetery, Reverend A. E. Foster of Brandon College officiating.
The pallbearers were: J. Blodgett, A Blodgett, G. Copeland, C. Sands, H.
Coplela.nd and D. Osborne.
EARLY MEMORIES OF BUNCLODY BISTRICT
1).
Jim Honeyman worked as a boom man with a pike pole among
rafts of logs on the Ottawa River before coming to Winnipeg in 1879.
There he drove a team of horses on a wagon freighting supplies to
Selkirk. For fear of Indians and rebellious others, their freighters always went in wagon trains. This being such a long and extensive
trip, they had to camp overnight enroute eating supper by their bonfire.• Suddenly an old buffalo bull rushed forward out of the darkness
but stopped suddenly on the other side of the fire, snorting, pawing
and uprooting the soil with his horns, his tail lashing angrily. The
men all rushed for their guns fearing a stampede either from the
frightened horses or the disturbed herd of Buffalo. However, the bull
soon realized he was the one in danger and retreated to his more'
friendly herd of buffalo cows.
While working in Winnipeg, one contract Honeyman had was tearing down the wooden stockade known as Fort Garry. For many years
he treasured a ,gun bullet fully three-quarters of an inch in diameter
which he g~t out of Fort Garry lumber.
This was in .1880 rememberJ
soon after the Riel tragedy and the Indian rebellion!
As the C.P.R. was not yet in Winnipeg, Dad had come by Great
Northern to St. Paul and then northward entering Winnipeg by paddle
wheel ·boat on the Red River. So in 1882 Dad, having met the girl of
his dreams, Margaret Croston, who had come from Manvers and Barrie,
Ontario, decided he should homestead. He and his brother Bob and
Bill Starks set out together from Winnipeg South on the Red River,
again, toward Emerson, and then by "Shanks Mare", as they called
walking, they started Westward Ho! Crossing the Souris River at
"Shepherd's Landing", and proceeding as far as Waskada - Deloraine
area, probably by the Old Thompson Trail, they still had not selected
land so turning North and East they set a "bee line" for Brandon,
seventy miles distant. At section 20-6-20 the Honeyman men chose
the whole section, Bob the West half for homestead and pre-emption
and Jim the N.E.~ as homestead and S.E.~ for pre-emption. From
this place we could often see the City of Brandon in a summer "mirage" thirty miles- away. Not a stone was in sight - no forest of sugar
maples to dodge, after coming from S.E. Quebec at the foot of the
Notre Dame Mountains this land was a priceless treasure to the
Honeyman men. Stark chose land 2 miles East.
So Dad built a log housere-inforced on outside walls by the
Prairie Sod to a height of 2~ feet. This certainly helped to keep the
floors of the two roomed cabin warm. Later this was enlarged to a
three-roomed cabin and sat on the extreme N.W. corner of N.E. ~
20-6-20.
Later Dad bought a small grain separator and a horsepower plant
or machine to which were hitched two horses, by double tree and
whipple tree, and a driver seated on the machine with a long whip.
Horses walked round and round, the gears meshed - wheels turned
and belts tightened and a two-horsepower machine was in power running the separator. Later I drove two horses on this rig to elevate
threshed wheat from wagon box to granary bins.
There was little fencing in early years so cowboys came in two's
or three's gathering a herd of cattle together to take to a large grass
area at Whitewater Lake. As many as two hundred would be gathered
and driven.away. One year an early blizzard caine and this herd drifted
ahead,of the storm right into the lake and were drowned or trampled to
death.
At this time several of the men of the district would go to Turtle
Mountain to cut the years supply of. fire wood. Leaving home early
before dawn Monday mornings with food supplies for man and horses
for a week, they cut the logs, loaded them on their sleighs, took them
to a home about half-way to their homes, unloaded their logs and returned to mountain camp. The cold and winds must have been very
chilling at times and a great physical hardship. These half-way trips
continued through the week and on Friday they gladly loaded logs and
with a long noon rest for the horses they would arrive home in late
evening. Standard dothing was "all you owned", heavy woolen socks
with felt socks over, moccasins and rubbers or heavy high overshoes.
Even then I can remember my Dad coming home with his feet frozen
white.
About this time also, 1910 settlers began to gather better stock.
We had a pure bred Clyesdale brood mare - a confirmed halter puller
but she gave us wonderful colts year after year. Also we had pedigreed
Shorthorn cattle, one killed by lightning~ when trying to get through a
fence. Then we had Plymouth Rock hens and Tamworth pigs about
big enough for ponies. All neighbors were working to 'improve stock,
home conditions and acquire a little more comfort.
Up to these years the nearest Doctors were at Brandon - Dr.
Moore & Fleming 30 miles - Boissevain 27 miles Dr. Schaffner. He,
it was in, 1894 that came to Crown School and vaccinated all the pupils
because one case of smallpox had developed in his district. Then a
little later Dr. Sherrin came to Souris and gave wonderful service for
many years:"Somehow in the early 1900's a very mild epidemic of
smalipox developed without being recogp.ized and those with only a few
spots moved freely in public. My mother was most unfortunate and got
a severe case of smallpox, nine of us at home at the time. I nursed
Mother in the upstairs with sheets saturated with carbolic acid over
each closed door and the rest of thefamily'escaped contagiono
About and up to 1916 (?) thousands of great white geese collected
in migration months on the large sloughs of water on Section 29.
Herb Fitzpatrick shot 92 and Elwood Honeyman 15. About 1905 Prairie
Chickens thumped their breasts to a steady hum. Ducks were indeed
unlimited then. We read that now the Ducks Unlimited Organization are
protecting our wild fowl. We wish them all success. Buffalo became
almost extinct by 1900. A great pile of buffalo heads, horns and ribs
are buried under feet of sand at a spot I well know on the home farm.
Mr. & Mrs. Shaw owned the first gramophone in the neighborhood
(about 1900) and sang and produced their own records. These people
also made their own good cheeses annua tiy. Mrs. Switzer made beautihil feather-down flowers. Grandfather Nicolls (Mrs. Dave Dobson's
father) polished buffalo horns to a clear black. I wish I could get a pair
now. Mro & Mrs. Dave Dobson used a type of clay mud and with cut
straw worked into it, the mass could be used as our cement now is
used. This was built into hen houses and barns with sod rooL Adam
Tawse needed lime so he dug a hole in the river bank, lined it with
stone, found lime stone rock and piled them in on a heavy built fire sealed his lime kiln and long after opened this ,kiln and had the best
of lime as pure ash.
[""
So little fencing and so few roads, teamsters were in danger of
getting lost so at nights window blinds were left open and coal oil
lamps left lighted. Jim Dane coming home from Souris .one night in a
blizzard had to kave the horses to choose the right road. They came
to Honeyman's Farm at 4 a.m. where man and horses were warmed,
rested and fed - then tak en safely home. A Mr. Robinson (I think) out
Boissevain way went to his barn at 8 p.m. one stormy night to feed
his ho~ses. His four year old girl pleaded to go too. Returning from
the barn he lost his way and wandered all night with child on his
back or in his arms. When daylight came she had perished with the
cold and, still lost, he headed for the nearest house.
Nellie (Honeyman) Dodman
Baking day on the farm; before
the days of sliced bread,
MORE "MEMORIES"
Depression years of the 1930's found us doing many things the
pioneer folk had done - they were the "do it yourself breed". After
a long winter people craved a taste for a spring tonic. The first was
a home-made one of sulphur and molasses - a few doses of this
cleared the system of winter sluggishness - then followed horseradish, rhubarb and lamb's quarter (Pop Eye's Spinach). By now the
pussy willows were budding and the spring flowers appearing, our
Provincial flower, the Crocus, usually the first, followed by the
Buttercup, Violet, Anenome, Dandelion, Three flowered Avon, Lady
Slipper, Meadow Rice, Wild Rose, Orange Lily, plus many weeds.
The birds, a ~harbinger of spring, were back and ready to build
and re-build their nests. The Crow, flocks of wild geese were followed
by the Robin, Meadow Lark, and Mr. Gopher which were real signs
that spring had sprung. Ere now everything was in motion with grain
cleaning, clipping horses, repairing harness and machinery ready for
another season.
I vividly.remember the days we washed quilts. Rarely did we have
enough soft water and the well water was very hard, but the tub of suds
made with mother's homemade soap served its purpose and we tramped
the quilts in our bare feet, rinsed and twisted them partly dry and hung
them 'on the fence or spread them on the grass for a couple of days to
dry. It was a major operation.
Seeding, haying, summer fallowing were all part of the farmers
job but threshing was a culminating major effort requiring a lot of
help - teams and men as well as expert machinists. It was a lot of
excitement, work and fun and the results were vital to our well being
for the next year.
I don't recall we ever went hungry but the diet we grew up on
would not pass as adequate now. Apples in season - an orange at
Christmas in our stockings - potatoes and turnips peeled and with
a shake of salt were a tasty treat. We always had some kind of candy
and popcorn, which we strung to decorate our poplar Xmas Tree and
little candles that clipped on like a clothes pin. Since we all helped
cut and drop the potatoes in the long furrows in the field and helped
pick the potato bugs off by brushing them into empty cans (later dusted
with paris green) and then picked them in bags in the fall - the success of the operation was vita:! to our food supply.
A suitable blessing in those years that could have been used,
went like this:
Father in heaven, we thank Thee
Please help us keep alive
There are eleven of us for supper
And there ain't enough for five.
There must have been plenty of protein and calories in what we got;
as none of us starved or suffered from malnutrition.
As I said - threshing time was e 4 citing - the old cumbersome
separators and straw fed steam engines a never ending source of excitment. Everyone pitched in and since the crop was all in stook or
stack we were at it early and late. A large tank hauled water from the
river and the engineer kept stream up forking straw into the fire box.
Two men stood on either side of the feeder on a platform with a sharp
knife cutting the twine that bound the sheaves which the drivers and
pitchers forked onto the table-like shelf on either side. That was a
tedious and dangerous job and the separator man, whose task was to
,keep the whole thing running, spelled them off in his spare time.
Wagons with racks and men with forks gathered stooks and wagons
with boxes and drivers sacked and took away the grain. The real fun
Was bucking straw. A team of quiet horses were hitched to either end
of a large 10' by 10' pole - one went on the outside and one under
the carriers to take the accumulation of straw away and keep it from
plugging the carriers. The inside horse lowered its head and went
under while the outside one kept in line - hauling the straw some
distance to right and left alternately making a row of piles fifteen
feet or so - the final one was left the height of the separator and the
machine pulled away to a fresh place in the field. Later in the fall
and on a night when no wind was likely to cause a.prairie fire, farmers
went out at dusk and lit the piles of straw.
GIRLS
Dorothy Elliott, Janet Leadbeater,
Marguerite Pettypiece, Jean Pettypiece.
Edith Pettypiece, Eva Simmons,
Marjorie Pettypiece, Annie Elliott.
Taken at the river near bridge.
This was our own special fire w~rks and a thrilling sight as rows
of fires- spaced along the horizon - the large central one and a row
of lesser ones ion either side like huge candles, lit the sky. A never
to be forgotten sight. Of course with newer machinery, blowers and
combines, less burni ng of straw was done and more put back into the
soil but that is something our generation enjoyed and will never forget
and the young people of 1970 never will know.
But fires sometimes pI".oved dangerous in those days. I recall being aroused one night in the darkness to see little tongues of flame
against the horizon a mile or so West of our house. The wind whipped
it along and as self preservation was a do-it-yourself deal my father
on the run hitched horses to a plow and galloped them in a huge circle
around the huildings, plowing a guard - in fact two guards with a
space of gr ass between which was backfired to make a wider break.
He then went racing to the school to similarly protect it and back to
fire the grass between, which was beaten out by wet sacks. Fortunately the wind veered - the main fire retreating and burning itself out.
That was one night we stood at the window watching and I doubt
mpther or father knew we were out of our beds.
The second fire started on what was later known as the Bain
Johnson farm - the Switzers lived there then - it was mostly prairie
and a fine warm afternoon. A small fire got out of hand and soon the
Barrett home Was endangered but for tunately it was in the afternoon
and the neighbors left their work and rushed again wIth teams, water
and wet sacks were used to kill the flames. There was a great sigh
of relief when safety was restored.
In the early 1900's the Daly Tea Company from Ontario canvassed
the district taking orders each spring for Tea. Everyone used green
tea, which was bought once a year in 60 lb. crates which were lined
with zinc foil and crated with thin wood wired into place. These
orders were delivered in the fall. The most popular pedlar was the
Assyrian who walked with packs on his back from home to home peddling his ware.s. They were never charged for their board and lodging
but paid for their keep with trinkets and necessities they carried in
quite an assortment. N'ext came the Watkins and Rawleigh salesmen.
Many of the neighbors kept that lamp alight in a window on a
st'ormy night to aid a: lost traveller.
. "The little lamps cif friendship we light upon the way,
Go shining down .through all the yeHs and brighten every day.
Tis love that keeps them burning, and sympathy and trust,
God help us that no lamp goes out, because we let it rust."
Long before there were metal window screens, mosquito netting
was used to cover windows~ Fly poisons, sticky paper, and then the
cylinder type hung from the ceiling were used before sprays were
available. Maybe more healthy than in our age of pollution.
In those pioneer days milk was put into oblong containers called
creamers. They were lowered into a well to help separate the cream
from the milk. A glass tube was inserted in the creamer to see how
high the cream had risen and a screw stopper at the bottom of the
can to run off the milk. The cream was saved to sour and make butter.
Then came the cream separator and now homogenized milk in cartons.
Some pioneers had great success making home-made cheese and it
was delicious.
Another must - As soon as the first threshing was done, the
straw ticks, which formed the mattre ss for our beds, were tak en out,
emptied and the new straw put in and another yearly job was accomplished.
A yeast called 'starter' was made with a yeast cake, sugar and
potato water - after a few days of fermentation it was ready for use.
There was always a quart of this saved for the next baking of bread
when potato water and sugar were added but no more yeast required.
Vinegar was also made at home. A 'mother' was obtained, originally from a brewery, sugar and raisins were also added ..
Homeamade soap was a 'must' and our faces shone and our clothes
glowed with cleanliness.
Disinfectants were not. readily available. Watkins and Raleighs
had not arrived with 'Florient'. Carbolic Acid (a few drops in. water),
sulphur and newspapers were let smolder on the stove, coal-oil and
turpentine were all good disinfectants. Formaldehyde was used when
it became available.
Coal oil was used as a hair tonic too. Visitors which were carried
home in our hair from school, did not remain long after a 'comb-in' of
coal oil.
Meat curing was essential.
I'm sure if Granny lived today,
She'd love our modern trick s,
So many things in boxes say,
'Just open up and mix.'
Hop beer was made, a healthy drink during harvest time, when
typhoid was often prevalent.
Great ingenuity was··used to fashion dresses, petticoats, under
garments, sheets and pillow cases from flour bags. A sheep fleece
was washed and carded for quilts.
An Ice House was a great step toward refrigeration. Big block s
of ice were cut and sawed from the river, brought home and packed
in straw or sawduct, the best insulation available. This ice would
usually last until July or August. We made a £rosen dessert of mi lk,
cream and sugar many times, not exactly 'Ice Cream' as we know it
today.
One gentlemen who was sought after was Fred Kerr. He enter~
tained by reciting Henry Drummond's French Canadian poems. He was
applauded long and well.
We did not have music recitals in the late 1800's nor early 1900's
but we had music teachers, the first one coming about 1910, Pearl
Strain by name from Mi·nto and later Claribel Little from Boissevain.
They came on the evening train, taught lessons on the following day,
returning home the next morning.
Once when a railway car was being prepared for loading at the
elevator a box containing one dozen black umbrellas was found. No
one knew from where they came so they were distributed among the
neig!:!bors, a boon to those whohad tople"", buggies.
Halloween provided an evening of merriment with decorations
and costumes, the decorations of green and orange and black witches
and cats cut out of Bristol Board: by our artist, Pearl (Barrett) Van
]\lorman, who did not need a pattern, as she was a master with the
SCIssors.
A Surprise!
I dreamed death came the other night
And Heaven's gates swung wide,
With kindly grace, an angel ushered me inside.
And there to my astonishment
Stood folks I'd known on earth,
Some I'd judged .and labelled "unfit" or "little worth".
Indignant words rose to my lips
But never were set free,
For every face showed stunned surprise
No one expected me!
Cooking and laundrying in one room left plenty of humidity in the
room - and Jack Frost did an artistic job on the one kitchen window
and a good quarter inch thick. It made a fantastic picture - Jack
Frost peeped forth one still clear night and whispered, now I shall be
out of sight, through the valley and o'er the vale, in silence I.shall
make my way, etc. There were vevies of birds and swarms of bees,
etc. all pictured in silver sheen. Well beautiful as it was, on Saturday
BOYS
Eddie Simmons, Ab. Osborne, Jim
Garden, Sid Osborne, Gordon Leadbeater (in dark). Back row: Joe
Pettypiece, Jim Elliott, unknown
(2).
mormng I was given a dinner knife and honey pail of hot water and I
started at one corner to remove the frost without breaking the glass.
I finally cleared the glass and restored clear daylight in the room. In
a few hours it was frosted over again, adding layer on layer and in
new designs another picture.
Lighting was a major problem - the coal oil lamps were lined
up on the shelf to be fi lied, wick trimmed and chimney polished each
A.M. It was a dirty but very necessary task, including the barn lanterns. I disliked it but we all did our share of those chores. Later on
we had an Aladdin. lamp, a cone was placed over the flame and it gave
a white light. Then came the gasoline lamp and iron.
Farming was as hazardous then as now - we had a real good crop
on July 11th and on July 12th not a blade of green - even potatoes
were beaten into the ground by the hail stones which we shovelled up
in the corner of the porch in a sc-oo? shove 1 at noon that day.
My father had bought a new separator for fall and he did threshing
for all and sundry 'til after Xmas and worked wherever he could until
harvest started, Not every farm was effected but it cut a swath from
our farm to Heaslip catching all our crop, but he met his payment that
fall and we lived. I can still picture him years later sitting in a chair
by the kitchen window - tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair but never a word - when a big black cloud portended a thunder storm
of unusual appearance and one day I said in my childish way - "why
don't you do something about it?" and he replied "you will learn there
are some things you can't do anything about." As I look back over
the years, I realize how right he was, and it was a philosophy many
a homesteader followed without knowing he was practising one of
the great truths of life. But I like to think of the things they succeeded
in improving rather than accepting, and how the prairies in living communities progressed to this day. I am optimistic enough to think that
those following us will look at the same wide spaces with glorious
sunsets and will lead to further achievements in a progressive world
and still retain the charm and wisdom of those early settlers.
In these early years the neighbors depended greatly on each
other and many of our parents were called to give a helping hand at
time of birth, marriage and death. The Doctors, Ministers and Undertakers were few and distant. The great deeds many performed have
perhaps been forgotten but we who still survive know that they were
guided and served as best they knew how.
We go forward to carryon the work left undone and some day meet
our loved ones in the great beyond.
Those responsible for erecting the cairn and the material for the Bunc10dy History Book:
Front Row-(Sitting on Grass} left to right-Mr. "Mac"Rose; Mr. and Mrs. Diff Copeland; Mrs. Jack Spain; Mr. and Mrs.
Nor Spain.
Middle Row-Mr. and Mrs. Alec Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Groves; Mr. and Mrs. Don Marshall; Mr. and Mrs. Dickson Wright;
Mrs. Peter Hiebert.
Back Row-Mr. and Mrs. Allan Rose; Mr. Edwin Moroz; Mr. and Mrs. Doug Stuart; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Groves; Mr. and
Mrs. Rene Vandoorne; Mr. and Mrs. Bob Rose; Mr. Peter Hiebert.