Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1991

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

The interview was done in conjunction with the Galt museum's video production depression years. Irene mccaughtery appears in the video.

Acquisition Source

Sir Alexander Galt Museum

Scope and Content

1 cassette tape. Length: 35 minutes.interviewee: irene mccaughtery.interviewer: lori jarokosky, museum program leader.date: 10 October 1991. Side A - She was born in Hardieville in 1914 and lived there until 1926 when her parents purchased a 5 acre plot in south Lethbridge. She walked 2 miles to attend Fleetwood School. - Talks about the Depression years and how everyone seemed to be in the same financial situation. Mentions meal times and school lunches. - Every Sunday the children in the area would gather for a game of baseball. - Talks about earning money picking potatoes in the fall. - Following her marriage she moved to the D Bar O Ranch. In 1936 when the leased land on the Blood Reserve expired, the cattle were sold off. Cows sold for $11-12 per head and the calves sold for $5-6 per head. - Talks about the social gatherings her parents had - the children always participated in the activities. Her father played the mouth organ and sung Irish songs. New Years was always celebrated in their house with family and friends. The family had a piano and her mother sold eggs to pay for her brother George's lessons. Talks about her 16th birthday party when the Boulton brothers played the violin and banjo and Amil Laughlin?? played the violin. - Talks about her mother working around the house and garden. Once a week the neighborhood ladies gathered for tea. The gathering was hosted by a different woman each week. - Irene attended Garbutt Business College for 5 months. She learned to type and has typed almost every day since. - Moving to the ranch following her marriage was an adjustment after town living. She sewed her first child's baby cloths and diapers, as well as her maternity clothes. - Talks about entertainment during her school days specifically Friday night dances. Music played an important part in everyone's life and even today she loves to listen to music while sitting at her drawing board. - Talks about the men who rode the rails during the depression and how her family tried to feed anyone who came to the door. - Talks about her mother's family, especially about her Aunt Margaret. Her mother was born in Scotland and came to Canada when she was 16. Irene had 3 brothers. - Irene talks about when she interviewed Lethbridge oldtimers, specifically "Smoothy" Wallwork. - Talks about food prices in the 1920s. - Talks about their Chinese neighbors, and Natives Jim Snake and his wife stopping in for tea. - Talks about her family life, her parents, their home, farm, root cellar, and the family car. - Talks about her work. SideB Approximately 8 minutes. - Irene reads some of her poetry - The Land Rewards its Keeper, Homesteaders, The Land, Water.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19971068008

Collection

Archive

Less detail