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]

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 for January 7, 1913

The sign reads: "SUMMIT of YELLOWHEAD PASS and WEST BOUNDARY of JASPER PARK ALTA."  Each corner has the name of the railroad, "GRAND TRUNK PACIFIC RAILWAY".  Clem Dickson, arms folded, stands just above the word "TRUNK" over the upper right hand corner.

The left side of the sign reads, "PRINCE RUPERT 498 MILES" and the right reads, "WINNIPEG 1045 MILES".  It looks as though the team heading west out of Winnipeg was making better time than the eastbound team out of Prince Rupert.  That makes sense as the Prince Rupert team had a much more difficult job!



Here's Clem's diary entry for Tuesday,January 7, 1913

Left north yards at 9³⁰ for Story Plan (sic).  Arrived at Stony Plain 11 oclock had dinner at the hotel.  The weather a little colder.  The wind was very high and cold.  Snowed a little all day. Weather about 23 below.  Cullerne went to town was in all day came out on the 11¹⁸ train.