Material Type

Recording

Date Range

[1988]

Physical Description

1 cassette tape. Approximately 55 minutes

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

See attached for summary of the talks.

Acquisition Source

Sir Alexander Galt Museum

Scope and Content

Gait Museum guest speaker, Ted Bochan, talking about the history of the Lethbridge Fire Department, circa 1988. 30 minutes in length. - Ted Bochan has been with the department for 20 years and is currently Deputy Fire Chief. He and Alex Johnston have just completed Lethbridge: A Century of Fire Fighting. - Discusses how the town recognized the need for a fire department early on, and that JD Higinbotham organized a bucket brigade in 1886. Names some of the members of the brigade. The bell from the Alberta steamboat was mounted outside Higinbotham's Drugstore and rung to alert brigade members to a fire. - A fire in 1886 destroyed eight cottages owned by the AR & I Co. It was a windy day and the flames spread quickly. The bucket brigade was reorganized and the Volunteer Hook and Ladder Co. formed. H E Stanbury made and donated all of the equipment to them. - In 1891 the town purchased its first piece of equipment, a Lingren chemical fire engine, and town council proposed to raise money to build a firehall. The hall was completed in 1892 and also housed the town offices and police cells. - Talks about the fires in 1891 and 1892 and the first arson case. - In 1892 a Ronald No. 4 steam fire engine was purchased. It was known locally as "Clanging Billy". Also Henry Mossip was hired and became the first salaried member of the department. - Talks about building the water stand pipes and the underground water tanks. - In 1902 the department was reorganized, - In 1906 Fire Chief AE Humphries and other members of the department quit because of interference in the department by City Council. The department was again reorganized and became a full time paid staff department. The Chief reported to the chairman of the Fire, Water, and Light Committee who in turn reported to Council. - Talks about fire alarm boxes which were installed in 1907. The last one was removed in 1960. - In 1909 No. 2 Fire Hall was built. Chief Thomas Kilkenney was hired and the force increased to 12 full time men. - Talks about the water works and inadequate water supply. - Talks about the horse drawn equipment and the horses. - Talks about uniforms and badges of distinction. - Talks about the departments record keeping. SideB Galt Museum speaker, Flo Senda, talking about the Japanese in southern Alberta before 1930. Circa 1988 Approximately 20 minutes in length. - First Japanese person to arrive in Canada was a stow away who landed in Mission, B.C. in 1877. - Many of the early Japanese settlers were draft dodgers, or second and third born sons who would not inherit the family business or farm in Japan and who felt Canada would provide them with more opportunities. - Talks about the Japanese in southern Alberta and sugar beet farming. - Names some of the early Japanese setttlers in southern Alberta. - In 1907 about 200 Japanese men came to Alberta to work for the CPR. After fulfilling their contracts many settled in the area working in the coal mines or as farm labor. - Talks about the Higa family - 3 generations came to Canada. - Talks about Japanese families in the Raymond area. - Talks about her family. Her father, Yoichi "Harry" Hironaka, came to Canada in 1906. He worked for the CPR in Fernie for 2 years before coming to Lethbridge and obtaining a position at the Dallas Hotel. The hotel was owned by the Eckstroms and Mrs. Eckstrom taught "Harry" english. In 1912 he became a Canadian citizen. He sent his picture to Japan and ask his family to find him a wife. In 1913 Tsuki arrived in Canada to marry Harry. In 1913 they moved to Raymond where they owned and operated a restaurant. In 1914 they purchased a farm and in 1915 sold the restaurant. Talks about the the farm. In 1918 Harry's nephews came from Japan to help Harry run the farm. - Talks about the Buddhist Church in Raymond.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19971071003

Collection

Archive

Less detail