Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

LETHBRIDGE EXHIBITION

Date

1913

Materials

SILVER, WOOD

No. Pieces

2

Height

29.7

Diameter

32.5

Description

SILVER PLATED CUP ENGRAVED "PRESENTED TO LETHBRIDGE EXHIBITION BOARD BY FRED DOWNER. TO BE AWARDED AS A PREMIUM FOR CHAMPIONSHIP HOLSTEIN BULL 1913 WON BY", AND ENGRAVED ON THE BASE IS "G.H. WATSON". THE IMAGE OF A COW'S HEAD IS ENGRAVED ON THE CENTRE ON THE FRONT OF THE CUP. CUP IS MOUNTED ON A BLACK EBONIZED BASE, BUT THE TWO ARE NOT ATTACHED. WELDED TO THE FRONT OF THE SHAFT OF THE CUP IS A ROUND ENAMELED CITY OF LETHBRIDGE CREST MARKED "LETHBRIDGE EXHIBITION BOARD". CREST IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS WITH A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SECTION. SILVER CUP HAS A LARGE ORNATELY DECORATED HANDLE ON EACH SIDE, WITH A THIN NECK AND A WIDE BASE THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE WOODEN BASE. STAMPED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE WOODEN BASE IS "A61". THE TROPHY IS IN GOOD SHAPE BUT THE SILVER PLATING ON THE SURFACE OF THE CUP IS WEARING OFF, THE SILVER IN THE GROOVES OF THE CUP ARE TARNISHING.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

COMMEMORATIVE

History

GEORGE HERB WATSON, RECIPIENT OF THIS TROPHY, CAME TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1885, AND MOVED TO A DAIRY FARM NEAR THE 6 MILE COULEE IN THE EARLY 1900'S. WHILE LIVING IN LETHBRIDGE HE LIVED ON 6TH AVENUE AND 13TH STREET IN THE RED BRICK DUPLEX, AND HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, JOB REED LIVED IN THE OTHER HALF. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REED FAMILY. THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHY OF JOB REED WAS DEVELOPED WITH INFORMATION FROM AN ARTICLE ON THE REED FAMILY AND FARM FROM THE DECEMBER 30, 1985 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, REED'S DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT FROM 1906, AND THE GALT ARCHIVES. JOB REED WAS BORN IN SOMERSETSHIRE, ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 12, 1841. WHEN HE WAS 14, HIS FATHER DIED, LEAVING JOB THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING FOR HIMSELF AND HIS WIDOWED MOTHER. HE WORKED FOR THE BRITISH POSTAL SERVICE AND COMPLETED HIS TEACHING CERTIFICATION. HE MARRIED MARY ELIZABETH HOBBS IN 1869, AND IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1873, MOVING FROM NEW ORLEANS TO TEXAS AND THEN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE REED OBTAINED A DEGREE IN MEDICINE. THE COUPLE RETURNED TO ENGLAND, BUT REED'S MEDICAL TRAINING WAS NOT RECOGNIZED THERE, AND IN 1882 THEY CROSSED THE ATLANTIC AGAIN, MOVING WEST ACROSS CANADA IN STAGES, FINALLY ARRIVING IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1886. THE FAMILY HAD SEVEN CHILDREN: RICHARD, HENRY, ELIZABETH (WHO MARRIED GEORGE HERBERT WATSON), JOB JUNIOR (KNOWN AS BUDD), GEORGE, ANNIE, AND ELLA. REED PURCHASED TWO LOTS ON WHAT IS NOW 6TH AVENUE SOUTH. THE FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED A MARKET GARDEN ON THE PROPERY, AND BUILT A STONE DUPLEX THAT STILL STANDS ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF 6TH AVENUE. REED WORKED AS A COAL MINER TO EARN MORE MONEY TOWARDS INVESTING IN FURTHER LAND, AND RAISED PIGS WITH SCRAP FOOD FROM THE NEARBY RCMP BARRACKS. IN 1901, REED PURCHASED 2.5 SECTIONS OF LAND NEAR PRESENT-DAY GRANUM WITH HIS FOUR SONS AND ONE SON-IN-LAW; HIS SON BILLY LATER TOOK OVER THIS RANCH. REED WAS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN LETHBRIDGE AND A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. IN EARLY 1906, HE PURCHASED EDGEHILL FARM, NEAR SIX MILE COULEE, BUT HE DIED LATER THAT YEAR ON APRIL 25. MARY REED LIVED AT THE FARM FOR YEARS AFTERWARD, AND DIED IN KELOWNA, B.C. IN 1932 AT HOME OF ONE OF HER SONS. BOTH JOB AND MARY REED ARE BURIED IN MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY IN LETHBRIDGE. SEE PERMANENT FILE P19980031006 FOR HARDCOPIES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, AND PERMANENT FILE P19920001001 FOR RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY AIMEE VIEL FOR A GALT MUSUEM EXHIBIT ON THE REED FAMILY..

Catalogue Number

P19960082001

Acquisition Date

1996-09

Collection

Museum

Less detail