Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1983

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Johnston, Jeanetta

Scope and Content

2 Sony Cassettes. Approximately 120 minutes. Interviewee: Mrs. Jeanetta Etta Johnston. Interviewer: Sheila Petherbridge. Date: 16 December 1983. Tape 1 Side A - Biographical information: Her grandparents moved from the eastern townships in 1885 to Indian Head, Sask area where their son William was homesteading. Information about her grandparents: in 1898 they celebrated their golden anniversary; grandfather died at 96 and the grandmother died the year following his death. - Her father, Robert George Thompson, was the youngest of the 5 children. He followed in 1886 and took out a homestead in same area near Amernethy. - Her mother, Jeanette "Jenny" Dyck was born in 1876 in Ireland, one of 9 children. Jimmy Dyck brought his family to Canada where he was employed on the Bell Farm. Information about the Bell Farm: barn was declared a historic site. - Description of the dwellings. - Her parents were married in Abernethy in the first church built in the town. - She was born in 1899. - Recollections of her youth on the homestead. Description of prairies. Tape 1Side B - Continue with the Saskatchewan prairies: crops, berries, trails. - Her father became ill and could not work for almost a year. They had to sell the farm and live with her Aunt Mary-Anne (Thompson) Boyd. - In 1902 he opened a general store in Indian Head. Later he sold life insurance. - Etta started school at age 7: describes her first day. - General information about Indian Head: mostly German and English settlers; description of the town; church; visiting dignitaries. - Information about family members. Tape 2 Side A - Recollections about WWI. - Schooling: following graduation she worked on a neighbors farm assisting with a newborn and threshing crewbecause the Mrs was ill. - Flu epidemic. - In the fall she attended Normal School then summer school. Describes her first teaching job. - Archie Stewart Johnston family information: parents lived in the Ottawa Valley, which is where Archie was born, and moved to Saskatchewan circa 1906. Information about Archie's father's job. - Archie and Etta were married Jan 1921. They farmed along top of the Qu Appelle Valley, and Archie also worked in the elevators. Ogilvie Elevator Co. offered Archie the position of manager of the Spring Coulee elevator. - Etta descrbes Spring Coulee in the 1920's. There lived there until the Government Elevator at Lethbridge opened and Archie was hired as the grain cleaner/grader. She describes the grain cleaning process. Tape 2 Side B - Continue with Government Elevator. During the depression the employees worked a split shift- one week on, one week off. He did odd jobs on his week off. - Their children attended Lethbridge schools. - The purchased a 5 acre irrigated plot near 16th Ave and 15th Street S. Describes the area. When the area was later subdivided and the irrigation removed they built a home on 17th Ave and15thStr. - During WWII there was bus service to the airport and they could always get a ride to and from town. - General information: she was a member of the Red Cross; family attended Southminster Church; her daughters singing and music abilities; Etta's weaving and the weaving guild.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921047000

Collection

Archive

Less detail