CUFF

Description: TWO BLACK ELASTIC STRAPS. ELASTIC IS FOLDED OVER AT EACH END. ONE END OF EACH STRAP HAS THE MALE ENDS OF 2 STEEL SNAPS, OPPOSITE END HAS THE FEMALE ENDS OF SNAPS. ON OBVERSE OF EACH STRAP, IN RED, IS "DON'T TAKE CHANCES" FLANKED BY 2 CP RAIL SYMBOLS. ONE STRAP HAS SLIGHT FRAYING OF ELASTIC AT ONE END.

History: SAFETY CUFFS USED TO SECURE PANT CUFFS TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM MOVING PARTS. USED BY DONOR'S FATHER, GEORGE G. MCLEAN (AKA "BUD") AS AN ENGINEER FOR CP RAIL. BUD MCLEAN WAS BORN NEAR EDMONTON, ALBERTA IN 1930 AND GREW UP IN LETHBRIDGE, ATTENDING ST. BASIL'S SCHOOL. THE SON OF A RAILROAD MAN (GEORGE MCLEAN SR) AND ONE OF THE FIRST LADY CUSTOMS OFFICERS, (ELLEN MCLEAN - SEE OTHER DONATIONS IN COLLECTION), BUD STARTED WITH THE CPR IN 1946, WORKING HIS WAY UP TO ENGINEER IN 1955. HE WAS THE LAST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TO JOIN THE ROSTER. ONE OF HIS CHARGES IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT HERITAGE PARK IN CALGARY, ANOTHER IS AT THE HEALTH UNIT IN LETHBRIDGE. HE RETIRED FROM THE CPR IN 1986. BUD MET AND MARRIED HIS WIFE MARJORIE IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1952. THEY HAD 2 CHILDREN, DARLENE AND GRANT MCLEAN. BUD WAS DESCRIBED AS A FAMILY MAN, PARTY TRICKSTER, AND GREAT LOVER OF SPORTS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ELKS AND A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE MINERS' LIBRARY CLUB, SERVING ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HE PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE ON JUNE 14, 2003 AT THE AGE OF 73 YEARS.