MHS Annual General Meeting Saturday, 4 June, 10:30 AM · MHS Annual General Meeting Saturday, 4 June, 10:30 AM Dalnavert Museum Visitors’ Centre (61 Carlton Street, Winnipeg) docs/sites)

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The Manitoba Historical Society NewsletterVol.43No.4May/June2011

MHS Annual General Meeting Saturday, 4 June, 10:30 AM

Dalnavert Museum Visitors’ Centre (61 Carlton Street, Winnipeg)

docs/sites). The presen-tationwillshowhowin-formationiscollectedforthemap,illustratedwithsome noteworthy sitesmappedduring the pastyear.

All MHS members areencouragedtoattendourAGM as we review thepast year. This is youropportunity to discussthe present and futurestate of the Society. Weneedyourparticipation!

Pleaseconfirmattendanceby1JunethroughtheMHSofficeat 204-947-0559.Meal cost is $20perperson.Paymentmustbemadeinadvancebycheque,VisaorMastercard.

ThepinsonthismapofsouthernManitobadenotesiteslocatedduringthefirstphaseoftheMHSmappingprojectstartedin2010,thatwillbediscussedbyGordonGoldsboroughduringhispresentationattheAGMon4June.

TheMHSAnnualGeneralMeetingbegins at 10:30AM.Attheconclusionofthebusinessportionofthemeeting, there will be a light lunch served buffetstyleintheVisitors’Centre,withsalads,wrapsandsandwiches,dessertandcoffee.

After themeal, recipients of the 2010McWilliamsAwardsandMHSCentennialOrganizationAwardswill be presented. Then,MHSwebmaster GordonGoldsborough will give a presentation on our“HistoricSitesofManitoba”project.

Many of Manitoba’s historic sites—monuments,buildings,cemeteries,museums,trails,andothers—languishinobscuritybecausetheirlocationsinout-of-the-wayplacesareknownonlytoafewpeople.In2010, theMHSstartedamulti-yearproject tomap,usingGlobalPositioningSystem(GPS)technology,asmanyaspossibleofthesesites.

So far, over 2,000 sites have been captured on aninteractivemaponourwebsite (www.mhs.mb.ca/

MHSwebmasterGordonGoldsboroughwillspeakattheAGM

Vol.43,No.4,2011 Time Lines

2 Manitoba Historical Society

MHSPresidentDr.HarryDuckworth

President’s MessageThis is my last col-umn for Time Linesas President of theSociety. I came on tothe Executive, as Sec-ond Vice-President,in 2004, became FirstVice-Presidentin2006,andassumedthePresi-dency in 2008. So ithas been seven years.I will not try to sum-marizeeverythingthathas happened over all

this time,but therehasbeena lot.When I started,theSocietyofficeswerestillinrentedspaceonMc-DermotAvenue,andtheSocietyandtheDalnavertMuseumwereoperatingasalmostseparateentities,withlittlecommunicationbetweentheoffices.NowJackieFriesen,ourChiefAdministrativeOfficer,hasanofficenextdoortoJenniferBisch,ourChiefPro-gramOfficerandCurator,DalnavertMuseum,andthetwoofthemaresharingfacilitiesandideasandhelpingoneanotheronaroutinebasis.Manynewthingsmaynowbeattempted,andduringthispastyear,wehavealreadyseenthefirstfruitsofthenewarrangements.Facilitatingthishighlydesirablesitu-ation, and redefining themanagement structureoftheSocietybusinessandDalnaverttomaximizetheuseofourresources,areachievementsfromwhichItakemuchsatisfaction.

We now have the results of the Society’s newestinitiative, the establishment of the LieutenantGovernor’s Awards for Historical Preservationand Promotion.At the closing date, 31March,wehad twenty nominations, most of them excellent,and from these five individuals were selected. Iam grateful to Bill Fraser, Gordon Goldsborough,JamesKostuchuk,JockLehrandAnnabelleMaysforservingontheselectioncommittee.Alltheawardeesmaybedescribedas“amateurs”inthebestsenseoftheword–personswho,overmanyyears,havebeenleadersinidentifying,explainingandpreservingthestuffofhistoryintheirowncommunities.Thenamesof thesewinners appear in a list elsewhere in thisissueofTime Lines.Thisfirst setof awardswillbepresented inaceremonyatGovernmentHouseonTuesday,17May.

One activity where I will continue to take thelead is in preparing the Society’s contributions tothe Bicentenary of the arrival of the first party ofSelkirk Settlers, in 2012. The Executive appointedme as Chair of the committee for this purpose,and Maureen Dolyniuk (Keeper, Hudson’s BayCompany Archives), Tom Ford (member, MHSCouncil) and Gerry Friesen (Professor of History,UniversityofManitoba)aretheothermembers.Ourplans are now firming up very quickly, and exactdatesforeventsshouldbeavailablewithinacoupleofmonths.Weareplanningtwokindsofevents–anexhibition,andapairofconferencesorsymposia.Theexhibition,tobemountedattheManitobaMuseumand to run from approximately the beginning ofMaytotheendofOctober2012,willbedevotedtothe early history of the Red River Settlement andthepeoplewho livedaround theForksof theRedand theAssiniboine. Featured prominently in thisexhibitwillbecertainkeydocumentsinthecareoftheHudson’sBayCompanyArchives,inparticularthe original Selkirk Deed, by which Lord SelkirkacquiredtitletoAssiniboia.Thisdocumentbearsthesignaturesof severalFirstNations leaders,notablythefamousChiefPeguis.

The first of the two conferenceswill be a one-dayacademic-style conference, free to the public,withaworking title “TheSelkirkSettlementRevisited.”ProfessorFriesenhasagreedtoorganizetheprogramforthisevent,whichwilltakeplaceinspring2012,in collaboration with the biannual Colloquium ofthe Centre for Rupert’s Land Studies. The secondconference, also free, with a working title “TheImmigrant Experience in Manitoba”, is still onlya gleam in the eye, but it is intended to involverepresentatives of the so-called “ethnic” groups inManitoba,bothlong-establishedandnewlyarrived.Thepurposeofthissecondconferenceistomakeclearthat theSelkirkSettlerswereonly thefirst arrivalshere,aftertheFirstNationspeoplesthemselves,andtoexploretheideathatallimmigrantstoManitobahavehadsomethingofacommonexperience.

Another initiative that Iplan to continuewith is aneweraofcooperationwithoursisterorganizationin Winnipeg, Heritage Winnipeg. While the twoorganizations concentrate on different kinds ofthings, we have much in common, and there areissuesandcauseswherewetwo,workingtogether,will probably havemore of an impact than eitherorganizationworkingalone.CurrentlyonthedocketistheneedtogettheWinnipegAirportTerminal,a

Manitoba Historical Society 3

Time Lines Vol.43,No.4,2011

ObituaryWell-known prairiejournalist and popularhistorian Fred McGuin-ness diedinBrandonon22 March. He was bornin Brandon in 1921. Hejoined the Royal Cana-dianNavyintheSecondWorldWar.Aseriousin-jury ended his wartimeservice and he studiedinWinnipegatSt.Paul’sCollege, United College

greatexampleofModernistarchitecture,recognizedasaheritagebuilding.TheTerminal,openedin1963,wasbuilttoahighstandard,atatimewhenanewsenseofpridewasemerging inCanada–ourownCanadianflaghadjustbeenadopted,andwewerealreadylookingforwardtothethrillingyearof1967,withallthatwasachievedthen.Inspiteofupdatesinthe1980s,thebuildingremainsmuchasitwas,itisclearlystillusefulanditisavaluedsouvenirofacriticaldecadeinCanadianhistory.

The Manitoba Historical Society and HeritageWinnipeg also plan to collaborate in influencingthe writing of the new Historic Buildings By-lawfor the City of Winnipeg, which, with the receiptof the Luxton consultant’s report that I havementionedpreviously,willsooncomeunderactiveconsideration.

The Manitoba Historical Society still has manyquestions to answer, about all its activities, howthey are to be sustained and where we shouldplace our priorities for the future. As immediatePast-President, I will do my best to help, butone individual has only so many new ideas, andonly so much energy to drive improvements andother changes. It is time forme tohand themajorresponsibility over to others. My experience hasbeen amost gratifyingone, and everything I havelearnedabouttheSociety,itsactivities,itsvolunteersanditsmembershasincreasedmyrespectforthem.Weoccupy aposition of central importance in theprovince.Interestinhistoryisdeepwithinallpeople,eveniftheyareunawareofit.ItwillalwaysbethejoboftheManitobaHistoricalSocietytohelppeopletofindthisinterestinthemselves,andtonurtureit.

HarryDuckworth

Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Historical Preservation & PromotionHerearethenamesofthefirstgroupofwinnersof the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards forHistoricalPreservationandPromotion.Thesenew awards were devised by the ManitobaHistoricalSociety,andtheHonourablePhilipLee,ourpatron,hasgraciouslyagreedthattheawards shall bear his name.Hewill presentthe awards, which consist of a medal and acertificate,ataceremonyatGovernmentHouseon17May.(Attendanceattheceremonyisbyinvitationonly.)

1.MargaretAshcroft,Birtle2.RudyFriesen,StFrançoisXavier3.LesGreen,PortagelaPrairie4.MaryMcCallum,Boissevain5.LenVanRoon,Charleswood

Theseawardswillcontinuetobeofferedeachyear. The next call for nominations will bemadeduringthewinterof2011–2012,withaclosingdatetobeannouncedlater.

andtheUniversityofManitoba.Hebeganhisnews-papercareeraseditorandpublisheroftheMedicine Hat News.In1966,hetransferredtotheBrandon Sunwherehespentthenext30yearsaswriter,editorandvicepresident.Inadditiontowritingandadminis-trationattheSun,hewaswriter-commentatorontheweeklyCBC“NeighbourlyNewsfromthePrairies”for20years.McGuinnesswasalsoaregularcorre-spondentfortheradioprogram“Morningside”Hewastheeditororco-editorofadozenbooksonsocialhistoryandhewrotefeaturearticlesfortheReaders Digest.Forthreeyears,hewasexecutivedirectoroftheSaskatchewanGoldenJubileeandin1967wasadirector of the Canadian Centennial Commission.MHSwashonouredtohavehimgivetheaddressattheMHSannualdinnerin1980.



Dalnavert MuseumChildren’sProgramContinues:TheTreasureHuntthatDalnavertofferedoverSpringBreakwasafunprogram, sowe are planning to continue the fun!EverySaturdayinMayandJune,DalnavertMuseumwill be offering the Treasure Hunt program forfamilies,suitableforages4andup.Visitorswillgoonatreasurehuntthroughoutthehouse,lookingforartefacts from longago.Afterhunting through themuseum,visitorswillhavethechancetomaketheirownVictorian toys to take home! This program isofferedonadrop-inbasis,sonopre-registrationisrequired.Programincludedwithregularadmission.Adultsupervisionisrequired.Formoreinformation,contact the Manitoba Historical Society [email protected]

Watercolour Workshop: On Saturday, 28 May,1:00-4:30pmDalnavertwillhost“FunwithGardenFlowers,” a watercolour workshop with SylviaRussell.Learntopaintflowersusingthisbeautifullyfree style, focusing on colour and simplicity. $45(includesallsupplies).(BeginnerLevel).

InrecognitionofManitobaDayon12May,Dalnavertwillbeoffering2-for-1admission!

Guidedtoursareoffereddaily.Adults$5,seniors$4,youths(5-17)$3,family$12,children<5free.Wed-Fri11am-4pm,Sat11am-6pm,Sun12pm-4pm

MHS German EventTheMHS German event was held at the GermanSociety ofWinnipeg building at 285 FloraAvenueonTuesday,19April.Therewerewordsofwelcomefrom Heinz Petsch, president of the GermanSociety of Winnipeg and Dr. Harry Duckworth,MHS president and master of ceremonies. TheGermanSocietyBrassBand,theTruerHusarDanceGroup and the Bavarian Yodel Quartet providedentertainment.After a delicious authentic Germandinner, we heard Dr. Hans Werner’s address on“EverydayGermans:theMultiplicityofManitoba’sGermanCommunity.”Thespeakerwasintroducedby MHS First Vice President Dr. Annabelle MaysandthankedbyMHSprogramchairCarlJames.Alargecrowdattended.

Sessional Journal of the 1870 Legislative Council of Assiniboia Now Online

In March 1870, a group of Francophone andAnglophone residents of theRedRiver Settlementmet,withLouisRielasPresident,todiscusstheneedsofthecommunity.CalledtheLegislativeCouncilofAssiniboia, thegroupappointedWilliamColdwelltokeepajournalofitsproceedings,whichranfrom9Marchto24June.WiththearrivaloftheWolseleyExpedition in mid-1870, Riel and his provisionalgovernmentdispersed,andanothergovernmentwaseventually established under Lieutenant GovernorA.G.Archibald.

In 1939, the Sessional Journal of the short-livedLegislativeCouncilwaspurchasedbytheLegislativeLibraryofManitoba,alongwithcopiesofTheNewNationnewspaper,fromoneofColdwell’srelatives.The Archives of Manitoba has transcribed itscontentsandisnowmakingthemavailableontheirwebsite.AfeatureonthejournalisalsocontainedintheWinter2011issueofManitoba History.

P.ForsytheBavarianYodelQuartet.

W.Fraser

HeinzPetsch,presidentoftheGermanSocietyofWinnipegspeaksinfrontoftheGermanSocietyBrassBand.



Participants Needed for History Project on Manitoba’s Chinese Community

The Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and CommunityCentrehas joineda$1.2millionChineseCanadianHistoricalRecognitionprojectledbytheUniversityofBritishColumbia.Dr.AlisonMarshall (BrandonUniversity) and Dr. Tina Chen (University ofManitoba) will be the project managers for theCentreandtheChineseCanadianManitobaresearchprogram to documentWinnipeg’s Chinese historyandmakeitaccessibleinaCanada-widecollection.ChenandMarshallhopetodocumentHeadTaxandother immigration experiences and the importanthistoryoftheWinnipegChineseCommunity.

Male and female English-, Cantonese-, Toisanese-andMandarin-speaking research participantswhocame to Canada before 1965 are required. Theresearchers aim to gather life stories, photographsand documents about Head Tax and otherimmigration experiences of Chinese CanadianswhomadeManitobahome.DescendantsofChineseimmigrantswhohaddirectexperienceoftheHeadTaxwhohave relevantmaterials are alsowelcometo contact the researchers. Material collected willbe placed on a national bilingual web site (http://chinesecanadian.ubc.ca).Researchparticipantswillbepaid$25onceallconsentandcopyrightformshavebeensignedandthematerialhasbeenuploadedtotheUBCsite.Formoreinformation,pleasecontact:[email protected]

Heritage NewsA Victoria Park 1919 Cabaret will take place atUkrainian Labour Temple, Pritchard at McGregoron:Thursday,19May2011,7:00pm.StepbackintoearlyWinnipeg and join us for 1900s style varietyshow and buffet dinner, sponsored by Friends ofVictoriaPark(www.victoriapark1919.ca).Thiseventkicksoffthecountdowntothe100thanniversaryoftheWinnipegGeneral Strike in 2019.Funds raisedgotowardcreatingaheritagesitetocommemorateVictoria Park, the Winnipeg General Strike, earlyimmigrantlabourersandhard-wonworkersrights.Performers will include musicians Dan Frechette,EmmaCloney,What’sLeft, andThreeBlindMice;comedian Paul Rabliauskas, and magician JoeKaufert. Tickets are $28, available from GlennMichalchuk(204-479-7026),SandraGessler(204-770-9298), Workers Organizing Resource Centre (204-

947-2220),WinnipegLabourCouncil(204-942-0522)andMondragon(91AlbertStreet).

HeritageWinnipegwillholdDoors Open 2011 on28thand29thMay.VisitsomeofthehistoricbuildingsthatWinnipeghastoofferandlearnoftheirhistoriesand many stories each building holds. ContactHeritageWinnipeginMayformoreinformation.

Pembina Valley Online reports that Winkler citycouncil has given first and second reading to aby-law todesignate the oldpost office building atthecornerofMountainAvenueand6thStreetasamunicipal heritage site.After the bylaw is passedlocally,theProvincewillgivefinalapprovalmakingthe designation official. After the designation,the building cannot be destroyed or substantiallymodified without approval of the designatingauthority.

The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Manitobagovernment archaeologists believe they havediscoveredDavid Thompson’s missing trading postinnorthernManitoba.Thompsonat22yearsofagebuilthisfirstHBCfurtradepostin1792atSipiweskLakeontheNelsonRivernorthofCrossLake.Lastsummer a Manitoba Hydro crew discovered twopiles of rocks thatwere exposed by a small forestfire. Manitoba government archaeologists believethe rock pileswere the remains of chimneys fromtwo log cabins that were at Thompson’s tradingpost.A crew of Cross Lake First Nation students,led by provincial archaeologist Perry Blomquist,withinadayandahalfeasilyfound1,400artefacts.These included brass wire, clay pipe fragments, aknife blade, an axehead, beads, broken glass fromkerosene-lamp flutes and a tinderbox. A carefuldiggingformoreartefactswillbegininJune2011.

On23 June,St. Francois Xavier Historical SocietywillholdafieldtriptosoutheasternManitoba.Thetripwill includevisitstotheUkrainiansettlementsofRosa,Tolstoi,Garden,Vita,SirkoandSundown.The tour guidewill be Professor John Lehr of theUniversity of Winnipeg. There will be morningrefreshments and an ethnic lunch and supper inSteinbach.Thecostis$90perperson.ThebusleavesWinnipegat7:15amandSt.FrancoisXavierat7:45am.ToreserveyourseatcontactEdOwcharat204-864-2304.

Agrouphasbeenformedtogatherinformationonthe history ofWolflea School north of Souris, inthe Rural Municipality of Glenwood. The school



operatedfrom1890to1944.Ahistoricalmarkeronthesiteoftheschoolwasunveiledin1996.Thegroupis looking formemorabilia,more information, andpicturestoincludeinahistoryoftheschool.PleasesendinformationtoWolfleaHistory,Box251,SourisR0K2C0

ThecompletionoftheQuarry Heritage Arts Centre in Stonewall will be delayed about four weeksbecause of water damage in the lower and upperlevelswhenapipeburstduringatestofthesprinklersystem.Drywall,flooringceilingandsomeelectricalequipmentwillbereplacedandsomerepaintingwillberequired.Theinterpretivecentreisnowexpectedtoopenon1July.

Virden’s Auditorium Theatrewillbeonehundredyears old on 29 February 2012. The auditoriumopened in 1912 as a 500-seat opera house. Severalcommemorative events are being considered forthecentennialyear.OneplannedeventisafashionshowwithcostumesfromtheCostumeCloset.TheVirden Empire Advance reports that Aud Theatreboardwould likepublic inputas theyplan for thecentennialcelebrations.

The Winkler Heritage Society passed a motionto create the new Winkler Heritage Museum atitsmeeting inMarch Itwill open in its temporarylocationof752squarefeetintheSouthlandMallinAugust2011.TheWinkler TimesstatesthattheneedforaWinklermuseumhasbeenfeltforalongtime.A core of exhibits will be on permanent display.Other exhibits will change in different seasons ofthe year. People are encouraged to donate or loanrelevantartefacts,newspaperclippings,photosanddocuments to themuseum.Financial contributionsto the Winkler Heritage Society for the museumprojectarewelcomeandtax-deductablereceiptswillbeissued.

In 2010, the Russell and Area Heritage and ArtsHistoryBookCommitteepublisheditsfirstvolumeoftheRussell and Area History Book.Thisvolumefocused on the lives of families.A second volumeis inpreparation. Itwill concentrateon thehistoryof businesses, churches and organizations. ANewHorizonsgrantofover $16,000willhelppayproduction costs with a publication deadline of 1September.TomeetthisdeadlinethebookneedstobefinishedandsenttoprintbymidJune.Thedeadlineforsubmittingmaterialis1May.Submissionforthesecondvolumemaybesenttocommittee’swebsite,[email protected]

The Prairie Mountain Regional Museum,adjacent to Highway 16 between Shoal Lake andStrathclair,highlightsrurallifeandtheimportanceof horsedrawnvehicles along the FortElliceTrailand throughout the Prairie Mountain Region ofsouthwesternManitobafrom1870to1940.Lastyear,volunteers installed siding, soffitand fasciaon themainwoodframedmuseumbuilding,knownastheCleggBuilding.Crossroads, thelocalweeklyjournal,reports thatplumbing,heatingandelectricalworkmust bedone at a cost of about $114,423 but only$77,200hasbeensetaside.Fundraisingfortheprojectisongoing.Anadditional$121,215willberequiredtocompletewithvolunteer labour the fourthstageof the project. The museum will house the CleggCarriagecollection,whichwasinitiatedbyRollieandGladysCleggofArrowRiverin1975.Thecollectionof antique horse drawn vehicles is recognized inManitobaandthroughoutCanada.Thisisacollectionof over 90 fully restored horse drawn vehiclesincluding a First World War ambulance, summerandwinterhearse,stagecoach,surreywithafringe,sleighs and cutters, andmanymore. Expansion oftheexistingheritagevillage isplanned.Oneof themostpopularbuildingsistheOlhaSchool.ThisyeartheMenzieOrthodoxChurchwillbemovedtothePMRM.ThePMRMBoardhopes that the regionalmuseumwillbecome“ahuboftourismandculturalactivities”intheregion.Formoreinformationvisitwww.shoallake.ca./prairiemountainToviewphotosoftheCleggcollectionvisitwww.virtualmuseum.caandsearch”APrairieMountainPromenade.”

W.Fraser

TacheHallattheUniversityofManitobawillsoonbeundergoingmajorrenovations,eventuallybecominghometotheFacultyofMusicandSchoolofArt.



ThehistoryofthetownofShoal Lakecomesaliveon a website created by Shoal Lake resident andwriterReidDickie.Thesitehas77storiesandfeaturearticles and over 100 photographs. The Crossroadsweekly newspaper reports that Dickie welcomesothers to add new and fresh material. Describedas“avirtualShoalLakeHistoricalSociety”,DickiehopesthatpeoplefromOakburnandKelloewillalsosubmitmaterialontheircommunitiesforthesite.

TheBrandon Research Centrewillcelebrateits125thanniversary on 11 August. There will be an openhousefrom1:00to5:00PM.Thecentrewasoneofthe original five experimental farms set up by thefederalgovernmentin1886.Todayithas17researchscientistsandatotalstaffof77.

RM of Cartier is planning a history book for themunicipality’s centennial celebrations in 2014. Aprevious 858 page history , Treasures of Time; The Rural Municipality of Cartier 1914–1984 wasoriginallypublished in 1989. Volume 2 will be basically acontinuationthroughthenext25years,possiblywiththeinclusionofanynotableomissionsfromVolume1.Peopleinterestedinhelpingwiththeproductionofthisbookareaskedtocontactthemunicipaloffice.

At the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in BrandonPremier Greg Selinger announced a $450,000grant for the refurbishment and renovation of theDominionExhibitionDisplayBuildingII,anhistoricdome building. Selinger said, “This building is acultural treasure that holds historical significanceto Manitoba’s agricultural heritage” ProvincialExhibition President Neil Thomson said that thegrant will enable completion of phase 1 of therenovationprojectandtoworkontheexteriorandinteriorprojectsplannedforphase2.

The huge Taché Hall residence building at theUniversity of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus hasclosedafteronehundredyearsofoperation.Anopenhousewasscheduledfor6and7Maytoprovidethelast chance to see the old residence. The buildingwillberenovatedandwillbetransformedoverthenextfewyearsintothenewandmagnificenthomefortheMarcelA.DesautelsFacultyofMusicandtheSchoolofArt.StudentswillmoveintothebrandnewPembinaHallResidenceinthefallof2011.

OnSaturday,11June2011atGrant’sOldMill,1pm,2777PortageAve. therewillbea specialunveilingceremony of the new Cuthbert Grant historicalpainting commissioned by famous visual artist Jill

Sellers.ThiswillbethesecondonlyknownpaintingofCuthbertGrantJr.,thefirstleaderoftheManitobaMétispeople.Coffeeandbannockwillbeserved.Themedia,specialguestsandmanyofCuthbertGrant’sdescendantswillattend.Everyoneiswelcome.IfyouhaveanyquestionspleasecontactSandraHoryski,Cuthbert Grant descendant and board memberof the St. JamesAssiniboia PioneerAssociation [email protected]

Congratulations toMonique Olivier who receivedtheAspiring YouthAward fromManitoba Travel.Theawardispresentedannuallytosomeoneunder30 years of age for contributing to the Manitobatourist industry. Olivier, currently site directorof Riel House, has held positions in historicalinterpretation for more than a decade. She hasbrought history to life at Festival de Voyageur,Riding Mountain National Park, the ManitobaMuseum, Lower Fort Garry, and the Forks. In anarticleintheLancecanstarcommunitynewswriterArielGodboutnotes thatOlivier’s goal is tomakehistorymoreinterestingandmoredynamic.InherpositionatRielHousesheimplementssomeofherideasinprogramsforyoungpeople.CurrentlysheisworkingonaprogramwherestudentswillexaminepoliticalcartoonsoftheRieleratodevelopagreaterdepthofunderstandingwhentheybecomeawareofRielandotherfiguresastheywereseenbyothers.

W.FraserGrant’sOldMillat2777PortageAvenue.

Canada Day at Ross HouseRossHouseMuseumopensforthesummeron1 June. The annualCanadaDay celebrationstakeplaceon1July.



Volunteers WantedTheSocietyisseekinganumberofvolunteerstoprovidesupportandassistanceformuseumandgeneraloperationswithavarietyoftasksincluding providing guided tours, assistingwith programming, special events, venuerentals, gift shop operations, and receptionandclericalassistance.Pleasecall204-943-2835or 204-947-0559 or email [email protected] [email protected]

Save Our JailInan articleintheWinnipeg Free Press,writerCatherineMitchell has expressed concern that the VaughanStreet Jail building (444 YorkAvenue) constructedin1881isnowin“rottingdisrepair.”ItisprobablyWinnipeg’s oldest public building. The Manitobagovernment has announced no plans to save it. Ithas housed notorious criminals, demonstrators inthe1919GeneralStrikeandchildrenasyoungasfiveyearsofage.ItwasthesiteofthelastpublichanginginWinnipeg.ItwasapopularattractionforHeritageWinnipeg’sDoorsOpentoursuntilitwasclosedtothepublicforsafetyreasonsfouryearsago.

“With cables bracing some walls, holes pockingan upper floor where pipes once ran and secondstoreywindowsboardedup,”Mitchell states. “It’sasymbolofhowanundisputedhistoricalgemcanfall into disrepair andultimately disappear.Whileespousing its place in the history of the province,the government has not designated it a heritagebuilding under its own Heritage Resources Act,whichprohibitsdemolition,neitherhasthecity.”

W.Fraser

TheVaughanStreetJailonYorkAvenueinWinnipeg,oneofthecity’soldestbuildings,needsattention.

2010 McWilliams AwardsOnManitobaDay (12May), recipients of the 2010MargaretMcWilliamsAwardswere announcedbythe Manitoba Historical Society, for excellence inwritingaboutManitobahistory.Wecongratulatetheauthors and publishers of all books short-listed inthisyear’sprogram.

The Selfish Genealogist byGordonGoldsborough

AsWebmasteroftheManitobaHistoricalSociety,Iget lotsof email. Someof itposesquestionsaboutsome obscure aspect of Manitoba history. Otherstakeissuewithspellingorothererrorsonpagesonour site.And still othersofferadditionaldetails to

ScholarlyHistory:

Manitoba Premiers of the 19th and 20th Centuries

editedbyBarryFergusonandRobertWardhaugh

Canadian Plains Research Centre

LocalHistory:

The Mosaic Village: An Illustrated History of Winnipeg’s North End

byRussGourluck

Great Plains Publications

PopularHistory:

Winnipeg’s Great War: A City Comes of Age

byJimBlanchard

University of Manitoba Press



• Renewalinvoicesaresenttomembers,andarepayableonreceipt.Membersareencouragedtohelpusreducecostsbycheckingtheirlabelsandsendinginrenewalswhendue.Renewalcan be done by mail or phone. Paymentscan alsobemade inperson at the reception

counterat theDalnavertVisitors’Centreduringregularoperatinghours,WednesdaytoSunday.Cash,cheque,VisaorMastercardareaccepted.

• Your donations are needed to support ongoingwork of the Manitoba Historical Society. Taxreceiptsareissuedfordonationsover$10.

Important Reminders

roundoutourexplanationofsomeareaofhistory.Virtually all of the latter entail details about thenoteworthy people of the past featured in ourMemorable Manitobans collection (www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people).

Yet, surprisingly, most of these additional detailsare in one specific area. Do they offer additionalhighlightsinthecareerofahard-workingindividual?No.Dotheyfillinmissinggapsinourunderstandingoftheireducationorsocialinterests?No.Invirtuallyallcases,theytakeissuewithmissingdetailsinourlisting of the family connections: parents, siblings,spouses,andchildren.Thistellsmetheseinquiriesarise,forthemostpart,fromgenealogists.

Don’tgetmewrong:Ifindthepracticeofgenealogyfascinating,akintodetectivework,andmany(most?)genealogistsaresincerelyinterestedinhelpingothersreconnectwithpeopleintheirpast.ButIhavealsofoundthat,forafairlylargenumberofgenealogists,itismerelyanumbersgame.Theywanttofindthemostnumberofancestors,pushingbacktheirfamilytreethemostnumberofgenerations.Andtheyreallyare not very interested in finding outmore aboutthehistory of those ancestors: the historical places,eventsandpeoplethatshapedthecircumstancesoftheirlives.

Genealogy need not be merely a numbers gameof interest only to thosewith a genetic connectionto the results. It is possible to make genealogycompelling, by integrating history at an intrinsiclevel.Anexampleofhow this canbedonewell isthetelevisionseries“WhoDoYouThinkYouAre?”thathasBritish,Canadian,andAmericanversions.Herewehaveaseries thathighlightsgenealogyofB-listcelebrities.IrecentlybeganwatchingthelatestseasonoftheAmericanofferingtoseewhatwouldmakesomeonewatchashowaboutsomeoneelse’sfamilyroots.Ifoundthatwhatmadeitcompellingwas a focus on the significance of those ancestors.In the case of singer Lionel Ritchie, the producers

did not merely flesh out holes in his family tree,focussing on the long-lost former husband of adivorced grandmother, but showed how he hadbeenactiveinthenascenthumanrightsmovementin the US. It made captivating television that wasinterestingtoanyone,notjustMr.Ritchie.

WhatmakesmethinkofthistopicisthattheMHSiscurrentlyworkingonacollaborativeprojectwiththe Manitoba Libraries Association, the ManitobaLegislativeLibrary,andtheUniversityofManitobaArchives & Special Collections to digitize localhistory books, andmake them freely available onthe Internet.ThesebookspreserveessentialdetailsaboutdailylifeinruralManitobayet,invirtuallyallcases, it isnearly impossible tofind information ifyoudonotapproachthebooksasadescendantofoneof the families featured inabook,because thebooksareusuallyarrangedalphabeticallybasedonsurname.Ifyouarelookingforsomethingotherthanfamilyhistory—forexample,toknowmoreaboutaone-roomschooltowhichmanyofthefamiliessentchildren—this is oftenmentioned in the course offamilydiscourses.Butitisscatteredthroughoutthebooksand,becausemostof thebooksdonothaveanindex,itisahugeundertakingtofindviamanualpageflip.Therefore,ourdigitizationproject servestwo important functions. First, it will make thesebooksfarmorereadilyavailable,tofamilyhistoriansall over the world with roots in Manitoba. Butperhapsjustasimportantly,itwillmakethesebooksmore useful as a resource for historical researchbecause these digital books now make it possibleto focus on the history, and not just themundanedetailsofbirth,marriages,anddeathsthathavebeenthemodus operandiformostofthesebooks.

Inshort,genealogyneednotbeaselfishundertakingthatfocusesonthedetailspertinenttothosesharingafamilylinktothepast.Localhistorybookstakeonfarmoreresonancewhentheybecomeinfusedwithan appreciation of thepast fosteredby the events,places,andpeoplethatmakeitrichandfascinating.



Red River Heritage FairDalnavertcuratorJennyBisch,RossHousemanagerVictor Sawelo, andMHSmembers Bev Smith andGordonGoldsboroughservedasjudgesatthe2011Red RiverHeritage Fair, held at theUniversity ofWinnipegon5May.TheHeritageFair,attendedbystudentsingrades4to11,focussedonallaspectsofCanadianhistory.

Forthepastseveralyears,theMHShasselectedthebestpresentationsrelatingtoManitobahistoryand,thisyear,winningentrieswereasfollows:

• RuthannaLewis (Grade4, SargentParkSchool)forherdisplayonNellieMcClung

• Cameron Marcelino and Jerico Nieves (Grade6, Holy Ghost School) for their display on theWinnipegGeneralStrike.

Jefferson Highway Association FoundedWith the completion of the Provincial TrunkHighwayNo.75inManitoba,acontinuousroadwaywas created betweenWinnipeg andNewOrleans,Louisiana,knownasthePinetoPalmHighway,orthe Jefferson Highway in the United States. Sincethat time, two motorcades from Winnipeg havetravelledtheentireroute,stoppinginallmajorcitiesandtownsalongthewaytopublicizetheexistenceof thehighway.Thefirstcavalcade, ledbyLt.Col.

New Book for Teachers and Students on Life in the Red River Settlement

Arichly-illustratednewbook,aimedatstudentsingrades4,5and6,and their teachers,describes lifeintheRedRiverSettlementduringthe19thcentury.EntitledA Visit With The People of Red River - A Young Person’s Guide and Resource Book, this 175-pagebookexaminesallaspectsofpioneerlife,includingfarming, natural disasters, fishing, home activities,occupations,thepeopleofthesettlement,weapons,

G.Goldsborough

RuthannaLewisofSargentParkSchoolwontwoawardsattheRedRiverHeritageFairforherdisplayonNellieMcClung.

RalphWebbandofficialsoftheWinnipeg Tribune,leftWinnipegon23January1926.ThesecondcavalcadeofvolunteerWinnipegcitizens,ledbyMayorStephenJuba,departedfromnearthisspoton3April1957.Duringthissecondtrip,municipalofficialsalongtheroutewereinductedintotheManitobaOrderoftheBuffaloHunt.AmonumentalongPembinaHighwayin Winnipeg commemorates the starting point ofthosemotorcadesonthePinetoPalmHighway.

AnewassociationhasbeenestablishedtopromotegreaterawarenessoftheJeffersonHighway/PinetoPalmHighway.Inthefirstyearofoperation,anyonebecomingamember in theassociation, fora feeofUS$20,canlayclaimtobeinga“foundingmember”.

Formoreinformationortojointheassociation:

JeffersonHighwayAssociationc/oScottV.Berka,TreasurerP.O.Box294Colo,Iowa50056www.jeffersonhighway.org

G.Goldsborough

DalnavertcuratorJennyBischchattedwithayoungparticipantaboutherprojectintheRedRiverHeritageFair.



New Book on History of Winnipeg BeachDuring the first half of the twentieth century,WinnipegBeachproudlymarketeditselfastheConeyIslandoftheWest.LocatedjustnorthofManitoba’sbustling capital, it drew 40,000 visitors a day andserved as an important intersection point betweenclasses, ethnic communities, and perhaps mostimportantly,betweengenders. InWinnipegBeach,DaleBarbourtakesusintotheheartofthisturnofthecenturyresortareaandintroducesustosomeofthepeoplewhoworked,playedandlivedintheresort.Through photographs, interviews, and newspaperclippingshepresents a livelyhistoryof this resortareaanditssurprisingroleintheevolutionoflocal

courtship and datingpractices, from thecommoditization of thecourting experience bytheCPRailwaythroughtheir “MoonlightSpecials,” through thedevelopment of anelaborate amusementarea that encouragedpublicdating,andtoitseventual demise amidthe moral panic oversexual behavior duringthe1950sand’60s.

maps,travel,games,andmore. It also includes acomprehensive glossaryof terms, a list ofadditional reading, andsuggestedwebsites.

Thebookwasresearchedand written by Judyand Barry McPherson,active members of theManitobaLivingHistorySociety,whoalsowroteThe People of Red River - A Costume Guide on historically authentic clothingfrom thisperiod.Copiesareavailable for$20each(plusGST)from:

JudyandBarryMcPhersonTelephone:204-256-6869Email:[email protected]

Newsletter MailingsMembers are reminded that Time Lines isavailable on our website www.mhs.mb.ca/info/pubs/timelines. Members have theoption of opting out of receiving themailedcopyofournewsletterorreadingitonline.

Ifmemberswish to place their name on our“DoNotMailNewsletter”list,pleasecontactus by calling 204-947-0559 or emailing us [email protected]

Our journalManitoba History isalsoavailableonlinetoMHSmembersingoodstanding,bygoingtowww.mhs.mb.ca/members.

Former Manitoba Premier Publishes MemoirsHoward Pawley, Pre-mier of Manitoba from1981 to 1988, has pub-lished a volume of hismemoirs entitled Keep True: A Life in Politics,with the University ofManitoba Press (ISBN9780887557248).Amongthe topics Pawley dis-cusses are his govern-ment’s involvement inthe debate over FrenchlanguagerightsinMani-toba, negotiations overthemaintenance contract for the CF-18 fighter jet,implementationoftheCanada-USfreetradeagree-ment,andtheMeechLakeconstitutionalcrisis,alongwithalookattheinnerworkingsofgovernment.

MHS Annual General MeetingRememberthattheAGMwillbeonSaturday,4 June, at the Dalnavert Visitors’ Centre,61CarltonStreet,Winnipeg.Afterabusinessmeeting starting at 10:30AM, therewill bea light lunch followedat 1:00PMby awardpresentations and a talk on themappingofhistoricsitesinManitoba.



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Time Lines,Vol.43,No.4,2011

ISSN1715-8567

Time Lines isthenewsletteroftheManitobaHistoricalSociety,©2011.Itscontentsmaybecopiedsolongasthesourceisacknowledged. Time Lines is published bi-monthly andsubmissionsarewelcome.Copydeadlinesare:1February,1April,1June,1August,1October,and1December.

Membership fees for the Manitoba Historical Society are:Individual $40, Family $45,Youth/Student $20,Non-profitInstitution $50, andCorporations $275. Rates toUSA andothercountriesareslightlyhigher.SeetheMHSwebsitefordetails.

Manitoba Historical Society,est1879www.mhs.mb.ca

President:Dr.HarryDuckworthChiefAdministrativeOfficer:JacquelineFriesen

Time Lines Editor:BillFraser,[email protected] Lines Layout:SalixConsulting

Office & 61CarltonStreetDalnavert Winnipeg,Manitoba,R3C1N7 Office:204-947-0559,[email protected] Dalnavert:204-943-2835,[email protected]

Ross House 140MeadeStreetN,Winnipeg,Manitoba 204-943-3958,[email protected]

Mail to:Manitoba Historical Society 61 Carlton StreetWinnipeg, MB R3C 1N7Telephone: 204-947-0559Email: [email protected]

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Forupdatesandmoreinformation,seewww.mhs.mb.ca/news

9May MHS BookClub pot luck dinnerto choose books for next year, atDalnavertVisitorsCentre

12May ManitobaDay,DeadlineforentriestoYoungHistoriansCompetition

28May 1–4:30p.m.WatercolourworkshopatDalnavertVisitors’Centre

28&29May DoorsOpenWinnipeg

1June RossHouseMuseumopensforthesummer.

4June 10:30 am. MHSAnnual GeneralMeetingatDalnavertVisitors’Centrefollowedbylunchandspeaker,Dr.GordonGoldsborough

1July CanadaDayfestivitiesatRossHouseMuseum

Documents

MHS Annual General Meeting Saturday, 4 June, 10:30 AM · MHS Annual General Meeting Saturday, 4 June, 10:30 AM Dalnavert Museum Visitors’ Centre (61 Carlton Street, Winnipeg) docs/sites)