Apologies in advance for the quantity and often poor quality of the pictures in these 3 posts. The experiences and the emotions, though, were real and better than words can describe...
After months of research, dead ends, doubts, and then help from so many people in Saskatchewan --- the dream of a family reunion where our ancestors arrived in Canada was coming true. Ten descendants, spanning 7 decades in age and 4 generations in time, came together to honour and celebrate where we came from. You'll see Tracy, Rick, Pat M., Pat W., Karen, Jan, Christina, Matt, and Gavin on a pilgrimage to ourselves...
The big white Chevy van took us from Saskatoon airport to North Battleford and The Western Development Museum. The awesome indoor displays and outdoor village showed Saskatchewan in the 1920's, when our first family members arrived. Each of us had favourite or most moving spots. A row of rusting tractors and implements lined up like a used car lot --- what would you offer for a 1925 Massey, complete with PTO? Lifelike Ukrainians beckon in the kitchen aromatic with steaming cabbage rolls. Hold me back!
We amazed at the details and history of the church, the school, and the firehall. Here's a telephone switchboard, the lifeline of the community. My fave?---a B-A gas station with a 1922 Model T in the mechanic's bay. (I offered to do an oil change!) Pat found a link to old-tyme curlers, both for her hair and on the ice. An interesting diorama/video dramatically told the story of conflict between Metis natives and the waves of new settlers. But by 1929 Saskatchewan began to be consumed with 10 years of the Great Depression. The worst time to arrive, but our family somehow survived.
To see where, and some of how, they survived, have a look at Day 2....
After months of research, dead ends, doubts, and then help from so many people in Saskatchewan --- the dream of a family reunion where our ancestors arrived in Canada was coming true. Ten descendants, spanning 7 decades in age and 4 generations in time, came together to honour and celebrate where we came from. You'll see Tracy, Rick, Pat M., Pat W., Karen, Jan, Christina, Matt, and Gavin on a pilgrimage to ourselves...
The big white Chevy van took us from Saskatoon airport to North Battleford and The Western Development Museum. The awesome indoor displays and outdoor village showed Saskatchewan in the 1920's, when our first family members arrived. Each of us had favourite or most moving spots. A row of rusting tractors and implements lined up like a used car lot --- what would you offer for a 1925 Massey, complete with PTO? Lifelike Ukrainians beckon in the kitchen aromatic with steaming cabbage rolls. Hold me back!
We amazed at the details and history of the church, the school, and the firehall. Here's a telephone switchboard, the lifeline of the community. My fave?---a B-A gas station with a 1922 Model T in the mechanic's bay. (I offered to do an oil change!) Pat found a link to old-tyme curlers, both for her hair and on the ice. An interesting diorama/video dramatically told the story of conflict between Metis natives and the waves of new settlers. But by 1929 Saskatchewan began to be consumed with 10 years of the Great Depression. The worst time to arrive, but our family somehow survived.
To see where, and some of how, they survived, have a look at Day 2....
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