Material Type

Recording

Date Range

July 1991

Physical Description

2 audio cassettee tapes 46 minutes

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Sir Alexander Galt Museum

Scope and Content

2 cassette tapes. Length: each tape is 45 minutes, for total of 90 minutes.interviewee: George kirkham.interviewer: lori jarokosky, museum program leader.date: tape 1 - 12 July 1991. Tape 2 - 18 July 1991. - Grandfather, T. F. Kirkham, came to Lethbridge in 1885 . He had been living in Winnipeg where he was married and first child was born. He was a tinsmith by trade. - In 1926 or 1927 George's father, James, obtained a liquor license and convened the Kirkham and Southard Blocks into the Garden Hotel. A bar and Chinese cafe were on the main floor and the rooms were located on the second and third floors. - The T.F.'s first family home was located on 6th Street South. - After T.F.'s death [1905], his sons Earl and James changed the tinsmith shop into Kirkham Bros China Store. - Talks about early roads in southern Alberta. Paving of highways wasn't done until the late 1930s. The first road in southern Alberta to be gravelled was the one between Cardston and Waterton in about 1928. - Talks about Premier Aberhart revamping the education system by consolidating country schools. Because school kids had to be driven to school country roads were paved and gravelled. - Talks about his grandfather's business. He would go on buying trips to Winnipeg and brought the first curling stones to Lethbridge. He also brought the first cocker spaniel. - Talks about the locations of the first and second curling rinks. - Talks about other animals his grandfather brought to Lethbridge - tumbler pigeons and a small crocodile. - Talks about how adults were always addressed as Mr. & Mrs. In some marriages even the spouses called each other Mr. & Mrs. His grandmother and Mrs. Charles McKillop were close friends and addressed each other as Mrs. McKillop/Mrs Kirkham. - Talks about lacrosse. He played for the team that won the National Championship in 1933. - Talks about the mischief he and his friends would get into. They would load 22 or shot gun shells with gun powder and put them on the street car tracks. - Talks about the mischief his father and his friends would do - shoving wet sacks down the chimney of the Chinese house next door, handing set mouse traps to the Chinese. - Relates a story about plugging a jeweller's front door keyhole with Limburger cheese. - Talks about Don Wilson getting shot in WWn. - Relates a story about 2 hoboes stopping at a bakery with hopes of getting some bread,and the sales clerk yelling at them . and throwing them out of the store. He remembers feeling very bad for these 2 hungary and cold men. He descibes the typical hobo dress. - Relates a story told to him by close family friend, Mrs. McNally. Her husband, Dr. McNally, was called out one night during the depression to deliver a baby. While getting a glass of water, he noticed jars of pickled gophers in the cupboard. This was common during the depression, although people did not discuss it. - The second family home was built at 316 13 Street South in 1909. The home remained in the family for 70 years, after which time it was sold and moved to Magrath. - Talks about the hoboes riding the rails during the depression. He says there were thousands of riders. When a train stopped in Lethbridge the men were hop off and go from house to house for food. George said that he and his sister counted 105 men knocking on their door in one day. The Kirkham's ordered extra bread and eggs during this time and tried to provide anyone who came to the door at least a fried egg sandwich and cup of tea. - Talks about the war years as a time when everone had a job or doing their part in the war efforts, but that times were tough because families were seperated and many young men were killed. - Out of the two events, George says that the depression years haunt him the most.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19971068005

Collection

Archive

Less detail