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 A - Biographical information: Born in Priddy, England, March 1885. His father was an army officer, who following his retirement worked on an estate. George's father passed away when George was 11/2 years old, and his mother when he was 11. He attended school until his mother's death, at which time he went to live with his brother in Wales. At age 12 he went to work alongside his brother in the mines. Missionaries in Wales converted them to mormonism and convinced them to migrate to southern Alberta. George, his brother, and his brother's family left Liverpool in 1902 aboard "The Dominion". He describes the trip. - The steamer was carrying 500 Dr. Bernardo kids. SideB - Continue with Dr. Bernardo's kids (orphans shipped to America or Australia). - The steamer docked in Portland, Maine. The family travelled by rail to Lethbridge via Montreal. Describes the trip. - First impression of Lethbridge: small village, remembers RCMP prisoners working on sidewalk construction. They stayed at the Immigration Hall until friends arrived to take them to Stirling. - Stirling: Hotel was full because of influx of Mormon settlers. He stayed with the Baker family. - Mormons in southern Alberta: working on the irrigation canals, farming. - Christensen family hired him to work on their farm. He received room, board, and clothing in exchange for his labor. - Jessie Knight and his business interests in southern Alberta. - George got work with the canal construction crew. He details the work. Also worked on the rail line when it was converting from narrow to standard gauge. The workers were given the old ties and many used them to construct fences and buildings. Tape 2 Side A - Mr. Christensen (later his father-in-law) found work for George on a ranch. He did not like cattle ranching so hired on as a herder with the Knight and Harker sheep ranch. It cost him $80 to outfit himself for winter. He was one of six herders, each in charge of 2000 head. Describes herding in the winter and lambing season. Recalls the 1903 storm which resulted in large losses. He spent 2 years herding sheep. - Spent one winter working for the railroad at Jaffray, BC. - Went to work for the coal mine at Coal Creek (5 miles from Fernie). SideB - He and two other men worked a mine near Fernie in 1905. Miners made good money, but were out on strike too often. - Worked in the copper mine at Rossland, BC until it closed in 1907. - Winter of 1907 he spent in Spokane, Wash. - Returned to mines in Fernie: took first aid, linesman, and fire boss correspondence courses. - Transferred to the Hosmer mine, remaining there until 1917. - Hillcrest mine explosion: he was a member of the rescue crew - they were asked to make out a will before entering the mine. Describes the interior of the mine and the rescue procedure. Tape 3 Side 1 - Moved to Coalhurst circa 1918: information about mine. Lethbridge school students were given tours of the mine. - Compares the Coalhurst mine to mines in Wales. - General information about miners: no pension plan - he remembers seeing men in their 70s still working. - Employment agencies during war: Man shortage and anyone could get work in the mines. He recalls the hardships of trying to train men who couldn't speak English. The mines did try to i hire only those that had experience working in mines. ' - Fernie Fire, Aug 1908: Mines were idle at the time because of an accident which killed 4 men. Side 2 - Continue Fernie fire: evacuating people by rail to either Cranbrook or Michel. Families received a lumber ration to rebuild their homes. Donations were received from all over. - Prohibition and bootlegging: relates story about Picariello. George lived a few houses away from him and remembers him as a kindly man who collected empty liquor bottles and sold ice cream. Picariello lived in Fernie for 2 years before moving to the Crowsnest Pass. It was here he was involved in a shooting and hanged (see pages 772-774 in Crowsnest Pass history book). - Prairie fires: moving livestock away from the fire; using cow hides to extingish the flames; law stated all able-bodied men had to assist in fighting the fires. Tape 4 Side 1 - Continue prairie fires. - Moved to Magrath in the 1920s and purchased a home on 2 1/2 acres. Expanded his farm to 80 acres. Discusses his farm. - Discusses trees in southern Alberta. He helped plant the trees in Stirling. - Irrigation in southern Alberta. Mormon migration. - In the 1950s George visited his son in Salmon Arm. Discusses his visit. Side 2 - Continue with Salmon Arm. During his visit a forest fire in the area burned for 3 or 4 days. Approx 10mins long.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921008028

Collection

Archive

Less detail