CAPE

Description: BLACK RUBBER RAIN CAPE. HAS A TURNED DOWN COLLAR WHICH IS TRIMMED WITH RED PIPING. FRONT CLOSES WITH FOUR STEEL LATCHES, THAT ARE PAINTED BLACK. INSIDE OF CAPE IS LINED WITH A STIFF YELLOWISH MATERIAL. INSIDE EACH SIDE OF CAPE IS A RUBBER STRAP THAT IS HELD IN PLACE WITH A BLACK METAL SNAP. STAMPED INSIDE RIGHT OF CAPE IS "C.P.O. 1932". ABOVE THE STAMP THE MATERIAL IS WORN AND DISCOLOURED. WRITTEN INSIDE BACK OF NECK IS "M4 GM MAY 1932 M".

History: CAPE WAS USED BY CANADIAN POSTAL WORKERS TO HANG OVER SHOULDER, THEREBY COVERING MAILBAGS. CAPE BELONGED TO DONOR'S FATHER, GEORGE MASSON, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SIX POSTAL WORKERS IN LETHBRIDGE. GEORGE CAME TO CANADA FROM SCOTLAND IN 1910 (HIS PARENTS HAD SETTLED IN LETHBRIDGE SHORTLY BEFORE). HE WORKED FOR THE C.P.R. AND IN CONSTRUCTION, AND WHEN POSTAL JOB CAME UP HE GOT IT. GEORGE WORKED FOR HIGINBOTHAM BEGINNING IN 1913 AND DELIVERED MAIL UNTIL THE OUTBREAK OF WWI. GEORGE WAS AMONG THE FOUR POSTMEN WHO WENT OVERSEAS (OTHER THREE WERE HIS BROTHER ALEC, BILLY BRENNAN, AND ANOTHER UNKNOWN). GEORGE AND HIS BROTHER ALEC SERVED WITH THE 39TH FIELD BATTERY, RCA. GEORGE SERVED WITH THE MILITIA BETWEEN THE WARS, AND WENT BACK TO POST OFFICE. IN WWII HE JOINED UP WITH THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY, BUT HAD TO GIVE IT UP DUE TO AGE; COULDN'T GO OVERSEAS SO HE WENT INTO ADMINISTRATION AND INSTRUCTION. AFTER THE WAR HE WENT BACK TO THE POST OFFICE UNTIL 1952, WHEN HE WAS ADVISED BY HIS DOCTORS TO TAKE AN EARLY RETIREMENT (AT AGE 62). ACCORDING TO DONOR, THE POSTAL SERVICE AND THE MILITARY WERE GEORGE'S TWO GREAT LOVES IN HIS LIFE. DONOR WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LETHBRIDGE; WENT TO FLEETWOOD-BAWDEN SCHOOL BEGINNING IN 1934. HAS LIVED AND WORKED IN CITY UNTIL RECENT MOVE TO COALDALE. DONOR ALSO HAS A LOT OF FAMILY THAT LIVE IN LETHBRIDGE.