Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1978

Fonds

Pioneer Researchers Association Oral History Project

Creator

Pioneer Researchers Association

Physical Description

4 cassette tapes; digital copy

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Pioneer Researchers

Scope and Content

Tape 1 Side 1 - Biographical information: Born in Lethbridge 18 April 1896, one of 10 boys. His father and 3 of his father's brothers came to Lethbridge from Nova Scotia in 1885. His father was head blacksmith for AR& I. - Information about early cemetaries: St. Pat's, Protestant (adjacent to St. Pat's) and the Chinese Cemetary. - His father worked for AR&I until it was taken over by CPR, then he went to work for the City of Lethbridge. Talks about his father's jobs. - His grandmother was a half sister of William Stafford. She married Allan Kerr and they came to Lethbridge in 1888. Information about the Kerr family. - George Watson's parents, Robert & Janet "Jessie" Kerr were married in 1890 (Dec 1889 according to Lethbridge News index). They had 10 sons: Jim, Bill, George, Tom, Bob, Allan, Jessie, Andrew, John, Harry. Information about each one. Tape 1 Side 2 - Continuation of family information. . - Kerr Family information. - George Watson biography: residences, schools he attended and the teachers he had, the school system (instead of grades 1-12, there were standards). He graduated in 1915. During his summer holidays he worked for Hyssop Brothers Ranch. Tape 2 Side 1 - Homesteaders in the Eight Mile Lake area: W A Hamilton (superintendent of schools), Charles Van Home (moved the old Presbyterian Manse out to his homestead). - Describes working on the ranch. - Early teaching career: Joe Morgan asked him to teach at School 215 east of Milk River, even through he had never taught before. He boarded with the Eber family. After teaching there for 4 months, he attended Normal School. Following graduation he taught at Sleepy Hollow, 4 miles east of School 215. Homesteaders in the area: Joe McKnight, from the McKnight Dairy, Lethbridge; he boarded with the Cornwalls whose daughter became Mrs Lois Duff; Pauline Watkins, later taught in Lethbridge; Makalus(?) girls; Hudsey family, one daughter married Tom Otto. His first teaching position paid 720/year. He later made 840-1200/year. -1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corp. Describes training in Ontario. He served 18 months before returning to Lethbridge. - Next teaching position was at a Consolidated School near Writing-on-Stone. Explains the consolidated school system. Describes the life of a country school teacher. - In 1919 he got the job of Principal at Coalhurst school. Tape 2 Side 2 - Continuation of Coalhurst. - One of his students, later Mrs. Lois Bartlett, went into nursing and eventually became the head nurse at St. Michael's Hospital. - Duties of a Principal: expected to teach all day. - Residences in Coalhurst. - School burned down in 1920 and the classes where held in the old Presbyterian Church and the Miner's Hall. - Mentions the Morrison girls, Catherine and Francis. - Entertainment: often played 500 (card game). Prohibition was in effect, but they managed to get beer. - From 1925-1930 he was principal of the Coaldale Consolidated School #9. Salary was about 2000/year with a free house and telephone. In 1926 a large number of Mennonite families settled in the Coaldale area. Few spoke English and the school could not handle all the students, so new classrooms were developed. - In 1930 he took the position of Vice-Principal of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute (LCI) and remained there until his retirement. In the 1930s teachers salaries were cut. - Coaldale residents: Charles Houlton, married Grace King; Dave King. Relates a story about them. - Circa 1927 a blizzard resulted in the students spending the night in the school. Tape 3 Side 1 - Continuation of blizzard story. - Students were brought to school and taken home in a horse drawn van. - LCI reunion was held 1 July 1972 for students post 1935. The event was planned by Bus Murdock and George Watson. Other members of the planning committee were ? Phillips, Mr & Mrs Don Wilson, Kay McLeod, Mr. Kyle and others. Describes the program. - Country schools: rules and regulations, subjects taught, how each grade was handled. The school inspectator would check the teachers daily time table and the students' notebooks during his visit to determine whether the teacher was doing a good job. The students were more self taught in a one room country school. The Christmas concert was the most important student activity. - The Alberta Teachers Assoc was formed around 1917. Information about the creation: John W Barnet was a driving force behind it. Information about the pension plan. Watson is an honorary member of the Assocation and is on the rotating honorary member's schoolship. - Recesses: Student activities Tape 3 Side 2 - Continuation of recess activities. - The Coaldale schools had an annual fall fair competition. Events included: sports activities and vegetable, animal, and school work competitions. - George Watson met and married Jessie Robison in Coalhurst in1921. She is the daughter of Mr & Mrs George Robison. They have 4 children: Jean, Robert, Helen, George. - Story about Clancey Brandlow advocating for a playground in the 9th Ave and 11 th Str S area circa 1932 (Kinsmen Park). Lots in that area sold for $25 for a 25x150'(?) lot. - Children's Shelter was located on the corner of 20th Str and 7th Ave S. It later became the Isolation Hospital. - Continuation of family information: George and Jessie celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1971 at Sven Erickson's Restaurant. - General information about CA Magrath and the Gaits. CA Magrath owned the land that LCI and Hamilton Schools are located. Discussion about acquiring the land and locating the schools there. Tape 4 Side 1 - Continuation of Magrath Family information. Mentions Boulton Magrath visiting Lethbridge a couple of times a year on business (still has property in Lethbridge) - Hyssop Brothers information. They came to Lethbridge from Kingston, Ont. Strong Presyterians and Conservatives. They ranched and farmed on the Oldman River east of Hardieville. Abe had 2 daughters: Peggy married Dunlop, head warden at the jail; Mabel taught and eventually became Principal of Fort Macleod school. Bill also had 2«daughters, Charlie had one. General information about the Hyssop ranch. - Roy Davidson. Teacher at Central, Principal of Westminster School, then articled under Conybeare and became a lawyer. - Harold Long. Taught in Regina before coming to Lethbridge to teach. Was principal at Westminster and Central Schools until 1911 when he joined the Herald Staff. Continued with the newspaper until his retirement circa 1960. - Van Haarlem's: Came to Lethbridge around 1905 and took out a homestead. Mrs Van Haarlem was a nurse in the old country and carried on her profession here. They opened the Van Haarlem Hospital. Tape 4 Side 2 - Continuation of Van Haarlems. Describes the house they built at the corner of 15th Street and 9th Ave S. When the house came up for sale the Watson's bought it. - Kate Andrews: nee Brodie (Brodie Block and farming). Kate's first teaching job was at Warner. Participated in various sports activities. Married Bill Andrews, building inspector with the City of Lethbridge. She served on the school board. Kate inherited the farm, so the family moved out there. Her brother became a Doctor in Calgary. - White School District renamed McNally after Deputy Minister of Education of Alberta circa * 1945. Kate Andrews served on that school board. - Dr. Thompson lived on the north side and was a member of school board #51. His son Ivan was killed in a plane crash in Lethbridge circa 1932 along with W L McKenzie's son. Another son, James, lived in Helena for a number of years, and his other son was lost overseas in WWII. - Miss Dainty was the school nurse for many years. When she passed away she left over $100,000 to the Lethbridge School Board. - Street car system in Lethbridge: George's father worked for the transit department. The Red Line cars were smaller than the Blue line cars and they were equipped with a coal stove and a hand brake. Alfred Hubbard had an old street car on his farm.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921008024

Collection

Archive

Less detail