Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1983

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Hackett, Albert

Scope and Content

2 Cassettes. Approximately 85 minutes. Interviewee: Albert Hackett. Interviewer: Sheila Petherbridge. Date: 04 March 1983. Tape 1 Side 1 - Biographical information: Albert's grandparents migrated from England circa 1890. His father was 15 at the time, and only stayed for a few years before returning to England. In 1900 his parents were married and decided to honeymoon in Canada, but once here they never returned to England. His father worked at No. 3 mine until the 1906 strike, at which time he moved to the Taber mine His 2 older sisters were born in Lethbridge and Albert was born in 1907 in Taber. In 1910 Albert's father took out a homestead at Retlaw. He farmed in the summer and mined in the winter. - The family moved back to Lethbridge in 1923 and both Albert and his father worked at #3 for a short time before moving to #6. Albert remained there until it closed in 1935. - In 1931 Albert married Emma Distonic. She was born in Alberta to parents who had migrated from Czechoslavakia. - In Sept 1940 Albert and Jim Carpentar were hired by the Lethbridge City Police, increasing the force to twelve members. - Information about the force: During WWII the servicemen were disciplined by the Army- ^ lil^a" / Police. Patrol was done on foot as the force only had one vehicle. There were 4 beats and the men were rotated weekly. - Chinatown: doesn't recall much discrimination. They would check the gaming rooms, businesses, recalls Chinese New Year. Side 2 - Depression and the increase in the transients: The Hungarian Hall was built in the 1930's and there were a number of flophouses operating. The YMCA and Salvation Army also offered assistance. - The officers on the Lethbridge Police Force were mostly British. - He feels there was more public respect towards the police and it wasn't until the 1940's officers had to have formal training. - General information about patrolling a beat. It took 3-4 hours to walk the beat. - General information about Julia Fisher & her boarding house and restaurant on 3rd Street South between 3rd and 4th Aves. - Various Lethbridge characters: Molly Bull Calf, Ben Calf Rope, Percy Two Guns, Ben Strangling Wolf. - Bootlegging, Alcohol laws. - Relates a story about apprehending 2 robbers in 1942. - Saloons and hours of operation. - Describes a raid. Tape 2 Side 1 - Continue raiding procedure. - Red Light district and call girls. - Chief Harvey. - Juvenile problems: money, drugs, cars. - Ranks in the police force. Names a few members of the force. - Local Police Association and the Police Commission. - Changes in crimes from 1940-1970. - Impact of computers.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921057000

Collection

Archive

Less detail