Lest We Forget---May 25, 26 and 27, 1913

Back to my grandfather's diary.  In review, my grandfather was Clement Elexis Dickson, born in 1888 in Williamstown, Glengarry County, Ontario.  Williamstown is a small area outside of Cornwall.  Sometime in the early 1900's he went to work for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad.  I never spoke to him about it; he died when I was 2 1/2 years old.  I never talked to my grandmother about it; I wasn't aware of the diary until years after she died in 1962.  I was probably in my early teens when I "discovered" it.  One of my aunts described it to me as just something that grandpa kept with him when he worked on the railroad.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the diary.  Thus, my motivation to get the story it tells out there. It's certainly not a "page turner"; it's not "War and Peace" or any other classic.  It's just my grandfather's thoughts...that's it!

My original intent was to post the entries one day at a time as the year 2013 went by.  Well, the only thing that "went by" was the time!  I've fallen WAY behind!  But, here I am , trying to make good on my original effort.

OK...back to it!

Lest We Forget Sunday, May 25, 1913

[He mistakenly entered Sunday's entry on Monday and had to enter Monday's entry on Sunday.  That's why the dates are crossed out]

Weather fine and warm
This is washing day but Dick had no washing.
[-?-] and I played shorse [sic] shoes with Richie and Bob in the morning
we beat out 6 to 7.
Rill and Raynold went away this morning
Rill coming back but R is gone for good

[caption id="attachment_1019" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Washing day but no washing to wash![/caption]

Monday, May 26, 1913

Weather is cold with rain
Worked on bridge all morning tightening nuts nearly al morning just killing time.
Came in at noon to have supper and played shorse shoes till bed time.
A little rain after supper
We worked at the bridge east of here this after This after a big game of horse shoes
a while [-?-] Bobie and Stefan and I won 4 to 3

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="223"] Killing time[/caption]

Tuesday, May 27, 1913

Weather cold and a little rain in the morning
worked on bridge west all morning
Killing time in afternoon
the pile driver came up and we drove five piles and worked 2 hrs over time the first over time this year for we worked till 9 ock
night was very short

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="240"] The pile driver arrives![/caption]

 

 

Lest We Forget---May 19, 20 and 21, 1913

Today, Clem gives us his semi-regular weather report. Seems to be a few great spring days this week.

Lest We Forget

Monday, May 19, 1913

Weather a little warmer and a little rain in the morning.

No work. Can't get west big slide at On [-?-] 31

This afternoon we got water for the cook.

After supper had a game of base ball till it started to rain.

[NOTE: The other day, I was going to comment that "baseball" was called "base ball" in the 19th century. Clem had used "baseball" and my comment was going to be that the combined words were already being used in 1913. Then, along comes my grandfather and honestly, I'm not sure if he used "base ball" because that's how it was spelled in 1913 or because, as we have seen, his spelling left a lot to be desired!
[caption id="attachment_1074" align="alignright" width="225"] Sunny and warm, a "big slide" and a little base ball![/caption]





Tuesday, May 20, 1913

Weather fine and warm

sun out nearly all day did nothing but sleep all morning

In the afternoon R Johnson and I played base ball for a while in the afternoon

After supper Gilbert and I went for a walk up on the hill

we took two guns with us but saw nothing

[caption id="attachment_1075" align="aligncenter" width="236"] Sleeping, base ball, walking and hunting...[/caption]

Wednesday, May 21, 1913

Weather fine and warm all day. Outfit left Yellowhead Pass at night

after dinner got to Lucerne at 1 30 fot to work at 2 oc

walk till 6 on bridge 1 mile from siding

after supper Alaban Fill [-?-] went to bridge to fish but got nothing

only fish about an hour

[caption id="attachment_1076" align="alignleft" width="232"] A little working...a little walking...a little fishing[/caption]

Lest We Forget --- May 16, 17 and 18, 1913

In the last "LEST WE FORGET" post, Clem had just gotten back to work. We pick up the posts on May 16th 1913:

LEST WE FORGET

Friday, May 16, 1913

Weather was wet and cold till 9 30

We work only thru his line

Track came in with all the tools and it stopped raining

it rained and snow of [sic] and on

all did not work work in the after noon.

Wrote 5 letters

one home to stat [-?-] Dad C. Gertrude and Ollie

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Rain...snow... Time to write some letters home![/caption]


Saturday, May 17, 1913

Weather fine and warm

We did work all morning

in the afternoon we went out and got a little water for the cook for tomorrow that took us about 1 hr.

Train was 5 mins ahead of time ttonight the first since we came up here

We went out after supper and played quater [-?-] till bed time

This afternoon I wrote two letters one to Agatha and one to C B Laclair

[NOTE: Agatha was Clem's older sister. He named his first daughter, my mother, Beatrice Agatha, obviously after his older sister.]

[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="206"] Better weather, more work, but still time for 2 letters![/caption]


Sunday, May 18, 1913

Weather fine and warm.

I took a little walk about 2 miles in the morning

After dinner I took a walk about 4 miles

after supper we all went out a had a little sport jumping and baseball

[NOTE: The term "dinner" was specifically a reference to what we call "lunch" while "supper" is what we call either "supper" or "dinner."]

I wrote one letter to Maud [Clem's oldest sister] just in time to catch the train

[caption id="attachment_1066" align="aligncenter" width="230"] Dinner, supper, "sport jumping" and baseball[/caption]

Lest We Forget---May 13, 14 and 15, 1913

BACK TO WORK!! I think that getting back to some hard manual labor after several days of "relaxing" may have caused a few aches and pains. As you can probably tell, there are more illegible words here than usual.

If you can figure out the questionable parts of the entries, let me know! I could use the help...

Lest We Forget

Tuesday, May 13, 1913

All night on the train did not sleep

arr at the pass at 11 30 had dinner [-?-] gang Jackson gang and went out to work in the afternoon

work all after noon in a little rain and now [-?-] and had a [-?-] of quarter after supper with W. H.

Went to bed at 9 oc.

very tired



Wednesday, May 14, 1913

Got up at 6 oc and weather fine sunshine

went to breakfast and then it started to snow

snow and rain of [sic] and on all day a little cold all day

My first hole day on the job

work went fine

a good bunch of lads

We worked on the bridge East Yellow head





Thursday, May 15, 1913

Weather fine and a little warmer worked on the bridge east of here all day.

Had a little snow and rain this afternoon

Saw St J Mac [-?-] this evening on the passover going east was not talking to him.

[caption id="attachment_1031" align="aligncenter" width="215"] Clem must have been exhausted after getting back to work---Handwriting is small and he didn't fill the page as usual.[/caption]

More Grand Trunk Pacific and Yellowhead Pass Photos

Here are a few of the photos that I've posted before, but since the diary seems to be mentioning some of these events, I'm putting them up again. Comments are welcome!!



[caption id="attachment_343" align="aligncenter" width="188"] Clem is above the sign wearing a hat[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_379" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Some of these men must be the "Steve" or the "Cullerne" referenced in the diary[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Modern day Entwistle, AB, the Diamond Capital of Canada[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_621" align="aligncenter" width="170"] Jordan Spreader, possibley very much like the one used in construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad[/caption]

Lest We Forget May 10, 11 and 12, 1913 and Yellowhead Pass

Clem gets some good news later this weekend, late though it is!


LEST WE FORGET

Saturday, May 10, 1913

Weather fine and warm

first summer weather we have had in Edmonton.

I did not receive the pass yet I guess there is nothing doing

I did nothing but hang around town

Harry did not come in yet




Sunday, May 11, 1913

Ah Ah good news

this morning A E Came in and told me the job was good. Pass was sent on Tues but did not reach here over to come down tomorrow

A. E. gave me one in case the other one does not come.

A. E. left on the 10 oc train with Harry MacC.





Monday, May 12, 1913

Weather fine and warm I started about 10 oclock to get ready for to go to Yellowhead Pass

start on a bridge gang

after dinner I went with Dank MacDonald to see if he could not get on a bridge gang or the C. M but no chance

we cane back and I bough [sic] all the things I wanted and left for Yellowhead Pass



Below is a photo taken around 1950, many years after my grandfather's time with the Grand Trunk Pacific. There is at least one picture from his album that I'll post tomorrow that might very well be the bridge this train is crossing. Yellowhead Pass is on the border of Alberta and British Columbia. I also have a picture I'll post tomorrow of the crew standing around a large "billboard" somewhere in Jasper Park, the location of Yellowhead Pass.

[caption id="attachment_1020" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Courtesy of the British Columbia Archives Collection, Image H-02911[/caption]

Lest We Forget, Wednesday, May 7, 8 and 9, 1913

Cold? In early May? That's what Clem reports!

The "Merry Widow"?? See the entry for the 9th. It's an opera as far as I know... I never figured my grandfather as a fan!



LEST WE FORGET

Wednesday, May 7, 1913

Weather as cold as ever. K & J went out to ath. [?] Landing this morning to work in the E.D.B.C.

Then left at 9 30 I am left all alone in the city.

I met J

Wake at 8 30 we put in the evening together









Thursday, May 8, 1913

Weather much colder

I did not hear from BB yet St J did not come in.

I did nothing but hang around town all day J McD stay with all night last night

I did not see him tonight









Friday, May 9, 1913

Weather a little warmer today

I was alone all day

This evening I went to the Empire to see Marry [sic] Widow

good show

got back at 11 oclock

Lest We Forget May 1, 2 and 3, 1913

Just a reminder as these diary posts go up to the blog. The diary was written during the year 1913, one hundred years ago. Since this is the 100th "anniversary" of the diary, I wanted to post one a day as the year went on. But, as always happens, life gets in the way! That's not necessarily a bad thing, but life does get in the way!

At any rate, I wanted everyone to also understand that Clem's handwriting and spelling skills leave a lot to be desired. There are many words that I try to figure out based on context. I'm probably right about half the time. As to various locations, I frequently resort to Google or Google maps. Also, this is a "transcription" meaning that I try to stick to "WYSIWYG" or "What you see is what you get". I write what he wrote, what I see on the pages, warts and all! Capitalization, punctuation...who needs it!

I've found a few pictures that are in the public domain which means I can save them to my hard drive and post them. I haven't found a picture of 1913 Edmonton, but 2013 is a large, major, thriving city in Alberta. What would Clem think of it today? For that matter what would anyone from the early 20th century think of flat screen TV's, smartphones, hybrid cars. Actually, when you think about it, you could buy and electric car in 1913...

Back to the diary. Here are 3 more days in May of 1913.

Thursday, May 1, 1913

Donald and I did not get up till 10 30 this morning. We met K & J at 12 00 had dinner. Donald bought a ticket for Moose Jaw he is going down to work on the CPR
he left at 10 oc to night we all went to [-?-] to see him off

Friday, May 2, 1913

I was al (sic) alone in town to day K & J were working all day. I met Henry at 11 oc this morning. he left town tonight but coming back sunday I may get work then
weather fine and warm

Saturday, May 3, 1913

Weather cold with a little snow fall in the afternoon
K & J work in the morning but lazed of this afternoon.
We three play pool all afternoon.
There was nothing this evening so we went home early
I met Jim and Donald from Lancaster tonight.

[caption id="attachment_985" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Thursday, May 1, 1913
Still nothing going on![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_986" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Friday, May 2, 1913[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Saturday, May 3, 1913[/caption]

More Grand Trunk Pacific Photos -- 1913

I'd really like to be able to give you a description of the exact location of these photos or even better, who's in them... But it's all a mystery! All I know is that they came from my grandfather's album of his days working with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Western Canada in 1913. I never heard of any stories from any family members, so I'm pretty lucky to at least have the album and the diary!

Lest We Forget April 29 and 30, 1913

These days must have been tough on Clem and the other Grand Truck guys. I can just imagine what it must have been like for him; 2,000 miles from home, no work, no income... At least it was getting warmer! He's given us enough weather reports, that's for sure.

Let's see what's going on in the last 2 days of April:

Lest We Forget

Tuesday, April 29, 1913

Weather fine and warm this evening was a little colder with a little wind.
I went over to the Edmont Hotel to see if I could get this man but he was not there
K & J did not work this afternoon
Donald came to town this morning
He stayed with me

Wednesday, April 30, 1913

Weather was very cold no sun all day a little rain fall and snow
Had word from A. E. and there was nothing doing I had a letter from Gertrude Purcell

[caption id="attachment_974" align="alignleft" width="231"] Quiet days in Edmonton![/caption]

Lest We Forget April 25, 26, 27 and 28, 1913

Not much going on these days. It seems that work has run out for now and some of the men had to go out and look for jobs to keep themselves busy and make some money. The tone is almost a little depressing. At least Clem was not the only one in this position.

LEST WE FORGET

Friday, April 25, 1913

This morning Kenzie and Johnson went out to 21st (?) to see about some work. I was in town all day. I went to see Bille Callaghan and met Young Brady from Lancaster

Saturday, April 26, 1913

Weather very cold in Edmonton. I did nothing but walk around town all morning. I went over to Edmonton to look for a fellow to see if I could get work but there was nothing doing.

Sunday, April 27, 1913

Weather about the same with a little sun shine
A.E. came in this morning K.J & I met him on the corner of 1st and Jan (?)
we all romed (sic) around all day. A E was to go out tonight but he did not go.

Monday, April 28, 1913

I was in town with A E all day
J & K went out to work we all had dinner to gather
A E went to Edson tonight
Weather fine and warm
I went to aslo [a show?] with A. E. P. Pelsen

Photos from Clem Dickson's Grand Trunk Pacific Album

Unfortunately, there are no notes to go with these pictures and they are GLUED into the pages of the album. So I can't even see if he wrote on the backs of any of them. And that's why some are shown 4 to a page...I don't want to just rip them out.

I can identify my grandfather, Clem Dickson, in some of them. He is always pictured wearing hat but I don't see him in any of these. In one of the shots, he's reading the paper and in others he's standing with his co-workers. Tomorrow, I'll post the one showing the bear that they chained to a large crate. The camp "mascot" maybe??

Here are 4 of the 22 which I'll post over the next few days.

Lest We Forget April 22, 23 and 24, 1913

Lest We Forget

Tuesday, April 22, 1913

Weather very wind (sic) with a little rain
it was bad to work with the sand blowing
did not go out all day

Wednesday, April 23, 1913

This morning Cull came at 6 ocl and told me I had just a hour to get ready to go with Franks outfit to the brand.
In the hour I had my time and ready for Edmonton
arr Ed. at 5 30 and got a room [Clora st.]

Thursday, April 24, 1913 [NOTE: 65 years later, my first son, Matthew, was born!!]

All day in town with Johnson and Kenzie both broke
we [past?] around all day the evening we went to a show call the Prince of Pilsum [?] a very good play

Lest We Forget April 16, 17 and 18, 1913

The following are the next three days as recorded by my grandfather, Clement Alexis Dickson, as he worked on the construction of the Grand Truck Pacific Railway in western Canada. After reading these pages, I'm beginning to wonder how hard this job really was! Playing ball, staying in the car all day, going to "the show"...







Wednesday, April 16, 1913

I went up the branch with Bill Bob & Gordon to measure a pit it took us about 1/2 hour
We left at 9 oclock and got back at 12 just in time for dinner. 20 miles
In the afternoon we lazed around the car In the evening we all went up to do again nothing

Thursday, April 17, 1913

Weather a little cold
I did not work. I was to go out with [-?-] but Cullerne did not tell me so I did not go out at all stayed in the car all day with Election all over now.
Cross elected in Edson 173 to 128

Friday, April 18, 1913

Weather fine and warm nothing all day we stay in Frank outfit all day Cullerne pretty sore because I did not go out to work. He did not speak to me all day He told me about 11 oclock the (sic) we would go west to do more

Lest We Forget April 13, 14 and 15, 1913

I'm hoping to get caught up before the end of the year! So, beginning with this post, I'll put up 3 days at a time.

Sunday, April 13, 1913

Our day of rest started in early this morning with the washing to finish in time for the games of ball.
Stan came down from the front
We all had a big time all after noon.
I wrote to C. B. D.

Monday, April 14, 1913

We all stayed in the car all day. We should have gone west but Cullerne changed his mind
Weather was fine a little east wind.
After supper we all went out and played ball till dark.

Tuesday, April 15, 1913

Today was the same no work all day weather fine We have nothing to do but eat three meals a day. The boys all went to the show I stayed and wrote letters.

Well, that's it for these three days...not much going on once the "washing" was done! At least it's not the dead of winter. Who would want to sit in a freezing "car" all day with no work to do. At least early spring in that part of Canada must have been breathtaking! All I have are black and white photos which I've posted a while ago, but maybe I'll do a separate post to put them up again. You'll just have to use your imagination to add the color!