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

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 --- Saturday, April 12, 1913

I know...I know...I told everyone that I was going to get caught up on Clem Dickson's diary. A few "issues" got in the way... We'll talk about that later!

Here's the entry for Saturday, April 12, 1913:

Henry and I left Edson at 8 oclock for McLeod Bridge to bring the work to Edson that we should have done the day before. got back to Edson at 11 oclock 8 miles

I wrote a letter to Jack Morrison

I had a bath and put my close to sock for the morning.

Let me re-emphasize that these pages are transcripts, meaning WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get! Clem's spelling was always creative! And this page is an example: "close" = "clothes" and "sock" = "soak" and others.

Here's the shot:
[caption id="attachment_901" align="aligncenter" width="235"] No mention of the weather![/caption]

Lest We Forget---Friday April 11, 1913

Another mention of the weather warming up. Cullerne makes a rare mistake!

Steve and I took the Local out from Edson to Peers to finish our work to Edson Left Peers at 9 0clock had dinner at Rosevior [?]and we found out that Cullerne gave him the wrong list and we could only work out for 10 miles then we Pump in to Edson 8 miles.

Weather fair and warm

Lest We Forget---Thursday, April 10, 1913

There's a few words here I can't make out...I may have to come back for an edit at a later time...

We left Leaman at 7.30 for Peers 22 Mileca Cullerne was moving the Outfit to Edson and he would pick us up as there is moo place to stay

Weather very warm all day I worked with coat off all day

Lest We Forget---Saturday, March 29, 1913

A little time to relax maybe??

We got up at 7 Oclock had breakfast the first thing was to have a game of pool, Then we went over to the High Level Bridge for to see Jim but I could not get. I left word to meet him at the Windor Hotel but he did not show up Left Edmonton at 12.15 for Edson train was late

[caption id="attachment_850" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Back to Edson[/caption]

February 8, 2013? 3 feet of snow.... February 8, 1913?

It's Friday, February 8, 2013 and we're getting up to 3 feet of snow. What did the weather bring 100 years ago on Saturday, February 8, 1913? As usual, Clem always gives us a brief weather report:

We got up at 6:30 weather very nice a little cold till the sun came up and then it was warmer. Steve and I left Otley for Edson at 8:15 and walked all the way 27 miles arrived at Edson at 5 o"clock a little tired.
Cullerne came in with the outfit on the local from Otley got here about 10:15 then Steve and I went to dreamland.

[caption id="attachment_542" align="alignnone" width="217"] Edson Joseph Chamberlin, President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. He took over from Charles Melville Hays who died in the RMS Titanic disaster[/caption]

Although I can't find a listing for Otley, there is a description of Edson, Alberta in Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edson,_Alberta] once again, mentioning an executive of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway:

The town was originally named Heatherwood, but the name was changed around 1911 in honour of Edson Joseph Chamberlin, vice-president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Local history maintains that Edson (Heatherwood) was built in its current location because it was the first level spot after Wolf Creek. (The land at Wolf Creek was quickly bought up after the announcement of plans to develop a town there, which rendered it uneconomical for the railway.) When Edson was declared the local rail centre, smaller communities such as Rosevear (abandoned), Wolf Creek, Carrot Creek and Niton Junction fell into a decline that continues today. In the 1950s, upgrading of Highway 16 caused a dramatic increase in private, commercial and industrial traffic. Today, the Yellowhead Highway carries some of the heaviest traffic flow in Alberta and has been officially declared the second Trans-Canada Highway.

 

So it sounds like there were a few areas Like Rosevear that were abandodned. Otley must have been one of them! It was certainly there in 1913...Clem Dickson walked there with Steve!!!

February 5, 1913....A Little Warmer!

There's a word or two in this post I can't figure out for a couple of reasons: 1) Clem's handwriting skill was atrocious and 2) Clem's spelling skill was atrocious! So, here's the best transcription I can offer based on the entry for Wednesday, February 5, 1913

The weather is much warmer but a high wind. And a little snow. Cullerne went to Edson this morning so Steve and I had the car to ourselves. Steve worked on nots [?] ahd I read Cradane [?] X all morning. This afternoon I went out and had to hunt for wood.

And Grampa, if you find the remote while your out there, text me!