MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
Like everyone else, my parents came to Canada for a
About 1912, my parents moved to Commerce, where it
Employment in coal mines was never steady; always lay
My father was a studious, quiet unassuming man who
The coal miners were always good to the children.
My mother was a wonderful person; always lots of fun
The members of the Pentecostal Church were so kind to
My first teacher at Coalhurst was in Grade five Nora
In 1935-36, a very mild winter, we had to complete
The following winter, 1936-1937, was very different.
My mother and I moved to Ottawa in 1943. It was wartime
Beveridge, Andrew born March 13, 1879
Shaw, Elizabeth born March 11, 1882
better life. My dad came first in 1907 to the mines of
British Columbia but he did not like living or working
in the mountains. He returned to Scotland but emigrated
in 1910, about the time of Hailey's comet, which made a
deep impression on him. He settled in Midford (near
Cochrane) and that is where my mother and sister Grace
came in 1911. They sailed on the "Empress of Ireland"
in November of that year. The seas were very rough,
the boat was overdue so everyone had an anxious time.
(My brother Jim did not come to Canada until 1920 with
George and Jessie Black, my mother's sister). At
Midford, the timber wolves would watch my mother go
for water but she never showed fear. They had four
children: two sons and two daughters, Jim died in April
1983.
was so desolate that they would bet on which
"tumbleweed" would reach the fence first - those were
the days before irrigation! My mother would board other
miners. Everyone came as strangers but soon became
friends and felt right at home at our house. It was so
dry in 1918 that the cattle had only thistles to eat. In
1919 the winter was so severe that Mom said the dish
towels froze in your hands if you moved far from the
stove or heater.
offs and strikes, which eventually closed many mines.
There were several mines in the Lethbridge area.
Diamond City and Commerce Collieries closed about
1924. It was then that my dad walked from Commerce
to Coalhurst (about 7 miles) to work in the mine. Finally
a company house became available and we moved in
January 1930. My father was ill at the time of the
explosion December 9, 1935. How the wind howled
and whistled around the tipple that night when sixteen
miners lost their lives! Shortly after that the mine closed
and hard times came. Until the outbreak of W.W. II in
1939, most families were on "relief" - about $12. 00 a
month per family.
enjoyed everything in nature. He was particularly fond of
butterflies - my mother said he would run a mile to catch
one and then let if fly free. The bluebirds always had a
nest in our yard and he helped to feed their young. At
the Lethbridge Fair he would show our terrier 'Jackie',
also the leghorn chickens. He exhibited and won prizes
for sweet peas. One of his favourite books to read
was the dictionary. I seldom had to open it for a meaning
- I could just ask my dad. During the Depression (1929-
1939) my father enjoyed his garden. He always said "Plant
a tree and you plant work for yourself." so he grew only
fruit trees and shrubs. Mom used to make the best red
and black currant jelly from the currants grown by him. I
remember we usually had fresh green peas and new
potatoes for July Ist. Work was scarce but sometimes
he worked on road construction or building ditches
for the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. He never
saw the better days return as his heart failed and he
died May 9, 1938.
They supported a girls' softball team, and held sports
day, also gave Christmas treats at the school concert.
They built a hall where the miners would gather for
a beer and a chat. A silver collection gave one a lot
of entertainment in those days. Coalhurst was a nice
place to live.
when Mom was there. She was very civic minded and
tried very hard to persuade the school board to include
Grade 12 in Coalhurst High School. She was an excellent
cook, so was often employed on "cook cars" at harvest
time. I can remember her making and cooking the haggis
(it took three days) for the Burns' Supper held in the
Community Hall. The George Browns from Lethbridge
supplied the music and Janet Mcllvena sang The Star
of Robbie Burns'. Everyone donated his talents in those
days. Mother also boarded some of the teachers - Betty
Needs, Bokovoy sisters and Phyllis Obourne.
my mother after my dad died and I was away from the home
at school. In particular I mention Mrs. Harris, Mimi
Wesselman and Minnie Smith. The group celebrated
each other's birthdays with suppers, all food grown in
their gardens.
Tennant, a real gem. Some others I recall are Gladys
Allendorf, Lorne Blackbourne, Sid Oliver (taught French),
M. G. Merkley and W. J. White, an excellent teacher
who made us like to learn. He brought scholastic
achievement to Coalhurst.
senior matriculation at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.
Milton Cunning drove an old McLaughlin Buick and
took four of us to L.C.I. Tuition fees were $7.00 a
month. I don't remember paying Milton for transportation
but I do know he would shut off the engine and the car
would coast down the hill - fuel conservation was
important. He was a good driver.
There was snow and wind until every road was
blocked. No one travelled but we could walk to
the Court Whist games in the Hall. The fee was
25 cents and that included lunch. That winter
there was an epidemic of measles and strep
throat - no penicillin then! Everyone was
saddened when Milton became ill and died in
March, 1937. 1 will always remember him and the
divinity fudge he made. Someone would donate
the eggs and another the sugar. We shared what
we had but the best of all were the friendships
made.
so everyone could find employment. Mom became a cook
for a wonderful family who liked her so well that they
took her with them when they returned to New York.
Mom really enjoyed her latter years but never forgot
her friends from Coalhurst.
Cowdenbeath, Scotland; Died May 9, 1938.
Fauldhouse, Scotland; Died May 2, 1961.
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