Winnipegosis Museums

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Pauline Riley passed away January 19, 2021 in London, England surrounded by her family. Those of you who ar...e familiar with our museums’ stories will recognize this outstanding woman and her contribution to our community. Pauline Riley came to our little village through the Oliver family in 2008. She was invited for a visit and in Pauline’s words fell in love with the area, the people and the lake. She purchased a home here and became truly intertwined with village life. Pauline accepted the presidency of the Winnipegosis Historical Society in 2010 and she gave the rest of the board the courage and stamina to undertake the restoration of the museum. Under her guidance, determination and courage and with her as the point person, the board signed on to raise over $300 000 so the former CN station could be raised, the foundation replaced and the interior redone! Pauline gave so much to this project! She gave time, money and many sleepless nights. Without her I am not sure if we could have done it! What a gutsy, determined lady she was! She lead by example and that powerful smile. Sure we can. was her motto. It took five years but having it ready for the Village’s 100th anniversary as an incorporated Village, was the goal she set and we did it. She searched out grants, spearheaded a Lottery, a Talent night, pie sales, yard sales, and every other fundraiser she felt would have a good return. Remember we had to raise over $300 000! Any friend or relative of Pauline’s who came to visit was put to work helping at the latest fundraiser. It gave us an opportunity to get to know her friends and relatives. All you are now our friends! Pauline was a mover and a shaker. In the years she was here she touched so many people’s lives. Hydro came out with a window replacement plan. Pauline helped many fill out forms. She served on the New Horizons Senior Centre board. She became a councillor and was constantly on the alert for ways to promote this area. She loved the afternoon coffee at the centre. Enjoyed a good game of Scrabble and liked the evening entertainments at the centre and at times willingly took part in silly plays to help us all laugh! Her Halloween costumes will never be forgotten. She was missed by everyone here when she chose to move back to England to be with her family. How she loved her family and it brings us comfort to know that in her fight with cancer she was surrounded by those she loved most. Pauline; dear friend, mentor, example of living life full on, Rest In Peace! You will always remain a part of this community.

Steve Solomon served as Postmaster of the Fork River post office from 1968 until his transfer to Strathclair,MB in 1976. Unfortunately at this time I was unable to find a picture of Steve but I found one of his wife Mary (nee Hucaluk). Steve was my step father’s nephew. My memories of Steve will always be of a man with a big smile and welcoming presence. ... The Solomon and Hucaluk family stories are examples of the hardship our early pioneer families had to endure. Panko Solomon and his wife Pearl (Steve’s grandfather) came to Canada from the Ukraine in 1899 and homesteaded near Fork River. Alex Hucaluk immigrated from Poland in 1927 to the Cork Cliff area near Winnipegosis where he met and married Annie (Procyshyn). They purchased a farm three miles east of Winnipegosis. Steve married their daughter Mary. Our Winnipegosis museums continue to preserve these histories for future generations.

Buying and selling or trading are an important part of the development of any community. As we trace the early commercial ventures of Winnipegosis and area we see how the natural resources drove the businesses that became established here. Salt, furs, fish, grain, lumber, dairy and livestock all played a role in the types of businesses that thrived. Winnipegosis was a busy port and the businesses that sprung up on the riverfront were developed to serve the existing market a...nd take our resources across Canada. The coming of the railway in 1897 increased the ability for trade and business as well as travel and helped open many ventures. The Armstrong trading Company pictured below was a subsidiary of the Booth Fisheries Co. Did someone in your family work at the Armstrong Trading Company? The museum would be delighted to get your story. We know it had a butcher shop and an early butcher was Joseph Mossington. Ruth Moyer remembered him as a kind hearted man who often sliced off a piece of bologna for a little girl who came to the shop to buy some meat for the family meal. It’s these stories that bring our history to life!!!

Many of you may remember Jack and Suinn Turner. They were both so active in our community and volunteered their time to many events and organizations. Jack came to this area in 1930 when he began teaching at South Bay school. He also taught at Bicton Heath and then in Winnipegosis at the Big School. Jack married Suinn Johnson in 1932. He joined the RCAF in 1941 and was overseas until 1945. Suinn operated the telephone exchange until 1958. She worked 88 hours a week as ope...rator while busy with her household chores and raising five children! Suinn made the best vinatarta! She kindly send my family one every Christmas! Jack returned to teaching but then became Postmaster from 1949 until he retired in 1972. Suinn and Jack raised 5 children in Winnipegosis, Corrine, Joan, Jack Jr, Dawn, and Fred. I remember as a young bride being in awe of this vibrant and caring couple. They were at every dance twirling on the floor ( Jack would even jig on the occasion), enjoyed playing bingo. They were at the hockey and curling rinks frequently. They participated in so much of our community life. They believed strongly in promoting the Village!

The Winnipegosis Historical Society would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We would also like to thank all our many volunteers for their help in keeping the museums safe and welcoming places for the many visitors. We are so fortunate to have such an unique collection of artifacts in our Museums. Once again I want to give a big shout out to Edna Medd. It was her foresight and vision that is the bases of the collections. Though Edna died in 2008 we ...still are using her comprehensive and detailed notes! I know she would smile that quiet little smile of hers and humbly deny having done anything important. (But she did!) Also please note the little Christmas tree we planted in 2015 as a memorial of Winnipegosis’s 100th Celebration. We were so worried about it this past spring but Foxy gave it some tender loving care and look how it has grown! We have wonderful volunteers!!

Sometimes it pays to rummage through old things. Today I found a box of my mother’s things tucked away in my storage area. I had forgotten about it and as I perused the contents I laughed, cried and blessed my dear husband for storing this for me. One of the interesting things I discovered was this picture. These were the school children at the Mowat school in 1949. It may not be a picture of the concert but it gives us a glimpse of the students in winter time. A rural schoo...l typically went from Grade one to Grade eight. Do you see yourself? Can you help identify these children? There could be Bashams, Brezdens, Carrieres, Caruks, Gowers, Harasyns, Johnstons, Kochalyks, Maruks, Millers, Mullens, Munros, Readers, Rudkewichs, Ruzas, Terins, Toporowskis or Waters. Those were the families that attended Mowat school between 1949- 1968.

Last week I talked about Christmas concerts in our rural schools and asked if anyone had pictures of former Christmas concerts as they would add greatly to the museum’s collection. I did get one reply with pictures taken several years ago at the South Bay School’s annual Christmas concert. The South Bay School has been designated a provincial historical site and every year several events are held there a Father’s Day picnic in the spring and an old fashioned Christmas Conc...ert in December. Those of us who attended rural schools will remember the excitement of these concerts. This may have been the only place you saw Santa or, your one opportunity to shine on stage. But most importantly it was a time to bring a community together. This year we have to do things so differently. There will be no concerts. But, maybe this will be the year you will pull out old albums and share stories of past concerts. Maybe you will write down your memories for your children and grandchildren and, just maybe, you will remember the joy of finding a Christmas orange at the bottom of your brown paper bag of peanuts and Christmas candy that was given to each child on this special night!

Do you remember school Christmas concerts? They were the highlight of the year for some students and, occasionally, days of dread for others. For teachers, this was one of the busiest times because a rural teacher’s reputation could be made by the originality of the concert. My mother, Muriel (Waters) Solomon taught at Mowat school in 1949-1950. I remember the hours spent practicing for the big night. All school concerts had some items that were consistently presented; ca...rolling, the Nativity story, recitations. All the girls hoped to be chosen to play Mary and though many boys wouldn’t admit it, they wanted to be Joseph. These were the stars! I remember there was also the pride in being chosen to be the leading angel or one of the kings. However, parts were often assigned according to who fit the costumes. My mother would order books of plays and skits and often took popular songs such as Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and made it into a play. I have some hilarious and somewhat embarrassing memories, of audience roaring with laughter when a red nose fell off or antlers slipped down the actor’s face. Concerts required hours of practice and costume making. Sometimes we would get really giddy and excited as we watched others practicing their parts, but somehow it always came together. The school would be packed with people, even people standing around the walls. Probably broke a few fire regulations! Do you remember the lunches after? Cookies, cakes and sweet drinks for the children and hot coffee and tea for the adults! The museum is looking for pictures of these early rural Christmas concerts to add to our school stories. If you have any please contact me. ([email protected])