War Is Over

Dick Nevard wrote this letter to his dad just a day or so after WWII ended.
No. 12 Inf. Trg. Bn
G.C.I.T.R CA Overseas
May 12th 1945
Dear Dad
Well since last week there has been a little more in the way of ordinary happenings to record. For peace has now been signed and as a result we had two days holidays.
I got a letter from Bill and hear that Bud has come to an agreement with Uncle Arthur and that he and his wife have now moved up onto the farm. I am not really surprised to hear that as Bill had told me that indoor life did not suit Bud's health. Then I kept hearing of his visits to the farm so I had a pretty good idea what it would lead to.
We heard on Monday evening that peace had been declared. That evening the staff sergeant came through the hut and told us that the following day would be a holiday and that we could sleep in til nine o'clock. Next morning we were marched out onto the parade square. After the usual dull ceremony of stand at ease, stand easy had been said enough to please the powers that be, we were given the command to stand easy. Then the padre said a prayer. After that the Colonel gave a speech fitting for the occasion and added that there had been a lot of silly talk about going home very shortly. But he cheered them up by saying that we would not be going home for many months. First over, first back, which is only fair. As for yours truly is having a good time over here and the longer he stays over here the more he will see of England and after all, a fellow has quite a bit of fun in the army.
Tuesday evening some of the soldiers put on an entertainment program for us. They had a radio there and we listened to the King's speech. Then they lit a bonfire over on the hillside. They had a trench mortar firing parachute flares after it got dark which lit up the surrounding scene like day. Various colors sent up at intervals during the program. The program consisted of music and some plays. Some of the men were quite good. Over to one side there were three stacks of grain. The flares were not shot off in that direction but the wind caused the flares to drift in the direction of the stacks. The stack was built so steep that it took several minutes for the boys to climb up. So the fire got too much of a start and they were unable to put it out. All three stacks burnt down. More expense for the Canadian government.
After that we lined up for sandwiches and donuts. We were allowed three pints of beer but I didn't bother going for any.
Lieutenant Shami said I was the best batman he had ever had but there was an excuse for that.. He was drunk!
The next day should have been a holiday too for the evening before, Armstrong gave the Colonel's batman a lacing so we had cause to feel jubilant. Jackson had been throwing out challenges and whatnot to the other batmen for some time. That one hook of his kind of held us back from accepting those challenges.
The following morning Jackson called Armstrong outside to settle matters. They were settled alright. Jackson ended up with two black eyes. He has been more docile since.
If all goes according to plan this time next week I will on my next nine day leave. I bought 300 cigarettes which I will divide up among my relatives.
Well its ten o'clock and guess its time to sign off.
Your loving son
Dick.

1942 Letter From L.G..

My dad was stationed somewhere in England in the Canadian army when he wrote this letter to Dick Nevard
             
                                                                              March 15, 1942
Dear Dick: Just a few lines hoping this finds you all in the best of health. I was very glad to hear from you. Hows everyone getting along? You must have had a mild winter. Well we are having some pretty good weather over here at times but it sure gets chilly at nights. Them open fire places ain't much for heat. Do you ever hear much from Bud? I haven't seen anything of him or Phil Fisher? Of course you never know when you are gonna run into someone from home. Most of the boys in the 18th are from Sask., Regina, Indian Head, Cupar, Grenfell. A good bunch of guys.
Well we travel around quite a bit on schemes. Sometimes we move to different billets. We are living in houses right now. We are on the outskirts of a small village. Two picture shows a week, a dance hall, two pubs and canteen. Some place eh? Well I don't bother much about dances. They also have a snooker table so we have a pretty good time but we were out on a scheme yesterday about ten o'clock and a thunder storm came up so it wasn't so good pushing a gun through mud and water to our positions. But we have quite a bit of fun out of them even if it takes a couple of days to get the gun cleaned and equipment. Me and a few of the boys were on the coast for a week. It was quite a change.  I thought Canada was cold but that place was plenty breezy. We were on duty for twenty four hours and then off twenty four.
Have you seen much of Sandy?. I hear from him quite often. Some guy eh?. What do you think of this war? I could hear the bombing the time them battle ships left Brest and every now and then we hear firing in that direction. Welll guess I"ll have to sign off. Hoping to hear from you soon and wishing all the best of luck and health. I guess it'll be pretty well summer by the time this reaches you. Remember me to all.
As ever, a friend,
L.J. Goff

1942 Letter From Overseas

Bud Nevard had joined the Canadian Army and was stationed somewhere in England at the time he wrote this letter to his cousin, Dick Nevard in 1942.

May 23, 1942

Dear Dick:

Just a few lines to thank you for your letter. How are things going, ok? Everybody up and doing eh? Well so are we . Say , if you want to see flowers etc. you should be here. Everywhere you go is just like a picture card. All colors of the rainbow and it sure is pretty. You'd get a great kick out of it I can't tell you where I am but I have cycled to Windsor Castle and up around London and all around the big shot's places here. There are some great old places too, Churches etc. I went and saw Winchester Cathedral one day a while back but I think you heard of that before now.

This would be a nice place if the weather was dry but it is anything but. Just now it is raining and yesterday it was raining and going by past experience, it will be raining tomorrow. It fact its nearly always raining. You see my point don't you? Although we had some dandy weather for a few days. If I stay in this land very much longer they'll have to carry me off. Boy do my knees ache, all the time hurting. And I've still got the cough that I started with last year when I got here. It was raining that day too .

The boys are getting rather fed up just sitting around and I think that some lad is going to get real sore some day and cut these balloon barrage cables and let the place sink. But I guess we will soon be at them (I hope). that's if the Russians leave any of them. It might not be long before this thing is all over. What I don't know what I'll be doing after the war. Right now we feel more like 6 months rest or something like it. Say a holiday at Patrick or Palm Beach.

What's this I hear about L. Goff being in the army over here? What did he join? And send me Sid North's address will you?

Well I think I'd better quit and go have a shower etc. Bed time so they tell me. Cheerio old duck , best of wishes to all. Your Cousin Bud.

One thing the army sure has improved is my writing, don't you think?

 

Building Goff's House

Ernest Nevard, Mary Goff, Grace Hobetzeder, Les Goff, Horace Nevard

Ernest and Horace Nevard took on the job of building a new house for Tom  and Mary Goff in 1951 in the village of Lipton. Here are a few details as written in the journal of Bill Nevard.
Dec. 5, 1950 Mrs. Goff and Sandy came down to see Dad on Sunday about building a house for them with cement blocks as they are buying a lot in Lipton.
June 29, 1951 Sandy Goff came in the car and took Dad up to Lipton this morning to put in the footing for Goff's house and brought him back tonight.
July 4, 51: Dad went up to Lipton on the bus this morning and stayed there.
July 13, 51: Dad came home tonight. He has put Goff's cistern in.
Aug. 3, 51: I headed north on my bike this morning. Dad, Uncle Horrie and Les Goff busy working on Goff's house. I didn't stay long but hit out for the farm.
Aug. 4, 51: Roy came through with his car on the way to Lipton so I went with him and bought a few groceries at Jampolsky's store. Very windy but they are working on Goff's house.
Aug. 9, 51: Raining. I had given up the idea of heading back to Lilac Grove when Bud came along in his car on the way to Lipton so I came down with him. Stopped at Fisher's for dinner and after that I went over to Goff's house but no one was there so I went to Jack Goff's for a while. As I was heading up town Dad and Uncle Horrie came along with Sandy and Les Goff in the car. So I left my bike with Fishers and went down to the San with Sandy and Dad as they wanted to get some of our bricks to finish the chimney.
Aug. 16, 51: I went up and saw Bud this morning and he drove me to Lipton in his car. We were going to fix up a lease but Walton was not home. I saw Dad and Uncle Horrie working on Goff's house.
Oct. 4, 51: Dad came home from Lipton on the bus tonight to get his best clothes as he is to be a pall bearer at Sam Wheale's funeral tomorrow.
Oct. 15, 51: Dad went up to Lipton on the bus but came home tonight. He is through at Lipton now.
Nov. 18, 51: Sandy Goff came along tonight to ask Dad to go back to Lipton tomorrow and help them fix up their furnace so Mr. and Mrs. Goff can move into town.

Goffs house complete

Bill Leaves The Farm

Not forever but in September of 1948 Bill got a job working at the Fort Qu'appelle T.B. sanatorium where his brother, Dick, had been working since the spring of that year.
A few entries from his journal from that time...
Sept. 29, 1948:Dick came home after I got to bed tonight and told me that there was a job waiting for me at the San.
Sept. 30:This morning, after doing my necessary chores I went up to Silver Birches and told Roy I was going down to the San so that he would come and do my chores. I packed Dad's valise and started off walking but only had to walk to the gate as August Zielke came along in his truck hauling a load of wheat for Sam Wheale. Sam was with him so I got a ride all the way to Lipton. On arrival I walked down to Jack Goff's and found out that Dad and Uncle Horrie were working at Bailey's so I went there and saw them before starting out for the San. Once again I was in luck for a truck belonging to the San overtook me before I had got very far and gave me a lift right to the San. I went into the stores and saw Mr. Skinner. Then I was taken to Miss Biden , dietitician , who told me what I would have to do and as it was nearly dinner time, took me to the assembly room. After waiting there a little while I went in to dinner. It is quite a large dining room with 18 tables I think, seating 180 people. Bill Binnington was there at dinner. After that I walked pretty well all around the grounds and at 1:30 pm I was taken to the admitting office where they took a test and after a wait I had an x-ray of my chest. Then a longer wait before I was examined by Dr. McPherson and afterwards another x-ray. Then John Bailey, the head orderly, took me to the men's quarters and shew me my room. Dick got back about the same time and we went to supper. After supper we walked around a bit then went to the Grandview Lunch with Walter Underwood who comes from Northants.

New House For The Nevards

After working at the Fort Qu'Appelle tuberculosis sanatorium for a few years, Dick Nevard and his brother , Bill, decided to build a new home nearby at Lilac Grove by Echo Lake. Between his dad, Ernest, and Uncle Horrie, they had it built in the late summer of 1950 using cindercrete blocks for the structure. Here are a few excerpts from Bill Nevard's journal.

November 10, Dick and Stan Kereluk went up to the farm in Steve's truck and got the rest of the wood Dick had cut. After supper Stan took the wood down to our place and I helped him unload it. Later on Bill Miller came with the Booker furnace and we got that unloaded and put down the basement.
November 11. Uncle Horrie went back to Lipton on the bus. Dad and I spent the day putting the furnace together but did not finish.
November 13, Dad doing some more fixing to the new furnace.
November 18: I borrowed Bob Smith's wheelbarrow and got 4 bags of coal from Bill Woitas. Then we got the Booker furnace going. It went ahead fast and smoked a bit at the start but quieted down after a while. Dick and I helped dad move the bed and other necessary things from the shack to the house and Dad spent his first night in the new house.

 
The new Nevard house at Lilac Grove.

70 Years Ago On The Nevard Farm

Nov. 7, 1943

Dear Dick, It is now Sunday evening, more than eight days since you went away so I thought you would be waiting to hear from home and I am consequently writing this letter. Although no letter came from you in this week's mail. Probably it didn't have time.

How do you find it in B.C.? We hae a blanket of snow here now. About 4 or 5 inches so you wouldn't have done much more land work even if you had stayed home longer. After you left on the bus Saturday I went and did what business I had to do. I went to Andy Gray's and got the scoop shovel and he told me that he had room for wheat in the elevator. I did'nt see Mr. Brinkworth about the tiller as he went on the bus with you. We got home about 2:30 pm and after I had my dinner I went in the pasture and cut a load of wood. The books which came from the library were "Poland the Unexplained and Tramp's Sketches".

On the Sunday I let Gleam and Embers out for a while but got them in again at night planning to take wheat to town in the morning but on Monday morning it was snowing when I got up so I did not go. It didn't snow a lot and I went out in the pasture and cut two more loads of wood that day. Dad was making preparations to build a cement cupboard outside our bedroom. On Tuesday Nov. 2 I helped Dad mixing the cement for him and doing chores. Donald was here to supper and listened to Fibber McGee. On the 3rd Uncle H. and I each took a load of wheat to Lipton. I had Gleam with Embers. As I guess you know it was her first trip to town. Dad thought it would be a good idea if someone went down with me in case of having trouble at the elevator. Uncle H. was behind me until we got past the German Church , then he went ahead. He gained on me some but not a great lot. Gleam hesitated a bit going over the bridge at the big coulee but they were trotting and she got on the planks before she could check herself. When we got to the elevator Andy Gray was home to dinner. Uncle H. had his load on the scales when I came along and I drove up right behind him into the elevator. He was there but he didn't have to lead Gleam and she didn't give me any trouble on the scales either. On the way home I met 13 cars, 1 truck and 1 tractor and neither Gleam nor Embers showed any concern about them. There had been a sale at Henry Schmidt's that day which was partly the reason for so much traffic. When I got home it was snowing fast and everything was covered with a white blanket.

The next morning I had the job of driving the chickens into the new hen house. I did it too, all alone. There is just one pullet who is still living in the pigpen. We have 48 hens and chickens altogether and 11 turkeys. I got a load of gravel home and Dad made a new trough for the little pigs as they have outgrown their old one.

In the afternoon I cut another load of wood in the pasture. Uncle A's cow Diamond is the mother of twin calves. On Friday, the 5th it was snowing and blowing most of the day. I went and cut wood for a while but the snow was making my smock wet so I came home and cleaned out the old hen house. We got Pansy, Sunshine and calves in dinnertime. In the afternoon I got a jag of oat straw on sleighs. Quite a bit of the oat straw has been spoilt by the rain.

Yesterday I cut some more wood. I have 9 loads cut now. Roy brought the mail down in the morning. Today was a quiet Sunday at home. Dad went up to Silver Birches for a while after dinner. I think we are all about the same as usual. Don't see anybody much but able to keep busy and find life quite interesting. Weather tolerably mild but dull and snow not going very fast. Lighfoot and Roundhead send their best love and hope you find the mice in B.C. tender and toothsome. Hoping you are in good health I am your loving brother
 E.W. Nevard.

 

Late Harvest

I was a little late finishing the 2013 harvest on Winstanley Grove on October 29 but it was later in 1942 . As seen here in excerpts from Bill Nevard's daily journal.

October 23: We ran into more trouble and the engine went on the blink after we threshed 3 loads. It was a miserable day with one snow storm after another although not much snow fell.

October 24: Uncle Horrie took Dad and Dick in the democrat to Lipton and caught the 9:00 am bus to Regina. Dad took the magneto and radio with him. He got new tubes for the radio and a new magneto for the engine.

October 25: Sunday at home. Dad and Uncle Horrie busy with the engine but couldn't get it timed right yet. Dick walked to Goffs and bought 6 pounds of butter. Bill Smith's outfit is at Goffs . Several people around including Mr. Fisher, Fred Engel, Reinhold Kirsch and Hobetzeder are not threshing yet and don't know when they will be.

October 28: Threshing on 25. Snow on the stooks this morning. We finished my wheat after dinner and moved to 30 starting to thresh Uncle Horrie's oats which was no snap as we picked up the stuff that wasn't stooked. It was scattered all over the place and the snow had to be shaken off.

October 31: We hauled the outfit to Winstanley Grove and had dinner at Silver Birches. We did not thresh in the afternoon as a fresh fall of snow made it too tough.

November 3: Snowing and blowing hard this morning. Dick, Roy and I went up to Winstanley Grove and helped Uncle Arthur shake up some of his oat sheaves, none of which are stooked.

November 5: We threshed some more of Uncle Arthur's oats but it was tough and stopped the machine so we left the rest and moved down to our place for dinner. Threshed some of dad's oats in the afternoon.

November 9: Threshing dad's oats today. In the evening the engine developed a knock and dad found that a crankshaft bearing had broken.

November 10: I took the first load of wheat to Lipton today. Got Cohen to send for a new bearing for the engine.

November 13: Finished threshing the oats this morning and finished the last wheat in the afternoon which winds up threshing for this year. The weather is much improved.

The "Winstanley Stove" as it sits today in 2013.

The Passing of Mary Nevard

While harvesting recently near "The Poplars", the original homestead of Ernest and Mary Nevard, it occurred to me that we were near the 70th anniversary of the passing of Mary Nevard. Here is an account of the sad time from the letters of Bill Nevard.
Sept. 2, 1943
Dear Dick, I think it is just a week since I last wrote to you and now another week has gone by, both eventful and troublesome.
 On Friday the 27th, both Uncles went to town for new ration books and Roy went down with John Fleming so he could get home quicker. Dad cut the little barley fields around the yard and rain stopped him from cutting the Thatcher wheat. On the 28th Dad cut the Thatcher and I finished stooking the Renown. At dinner time Uncle A came down with the mail and Mother read your letter. Aunt Alice had a letter from Aunt May so in the afternoon she walked down to have one of her usual talks with Mother. Dad was cutting and I was stooking when we saw Aunt A go home. About an hour later we quit and when we went in the house found that Mother was feeling bad again. She was sitting in Dad's chair so we put her to bed.
The next morning before breakfast I walked up and got Aunt Alice. She came and sat by the bed but mother was unconscious and I don't think she recognized her. Donald went to Schmidt's on Rusty and phoned for the doctor. Doctor Ford came about 1:00 pm. He had his sister with him. He said that mother had had a stroke and would have to be taken to Balcarres hospital. The doctor took her there in his car. The next morning Donald went to phone again but could get no news. In the afternoon Joy went and heard that mother was no better.

By Tuesday it was raining and made the roads very muddy. I walked to Schmidt's and Mrs. Schmidt phoned for me. They told her that mother was worse. Yesterday morning Uncle Horrie and I went to Schmidt's in the cart and heard that there was no change in mother's condition. In the afternoon Tom North came to Uncle Arthur's after a pup and he offered to drive Aunt A to Schmidt's and phone but things were just the same. This morning Aunt A and Joy went in the cart to phone. Dad was trying to finish cutting and I was stooking when they came back with the sad news that our mother had been taken from us. I know this will hit you hard Dick but it had to be told. We will just have to buck up and be men. Millons of people are having worse troubles and I feel sure that mother will be happy where she is going and she won't feel like a stranger when she is with Grandfather, grandmother and Aunt Emily, Annie, and Daisy.

We would have sent a telegram but at such a time a telegram is a pretty brutal thing and dad thought it might be too much of a shock to you. He didn't think that you would be able to get home in time anyway. He and Uncle H. are going to make the necessary arrangements this afternoon. Uncle H has to go and be a pall bearer at the funeral of Tom Bordass who died suddenly Monday night. Well I guess I haven't time to say more now. I'll tell you the rest when you get home or in the next letter.

Goodbye for now old fellow

From your loving brother, E.W. Nevard

P.S. we think the funeral will be held on Saturday the 4th.

Mary Nevard, lower left.

Arthur Moves To A New Home

The little house at Winstanley Grove may have been a little crowded by the fall of 1945. With his son, Bud, home from the army with his new bride, Arthur had been spending more time at "The Poplars", brother Ernest's home by day. At some point the decision was made that Arthur would begin living in the "shack" at the Poplars full time. It was a small building of log construction, originally intended to be a new chicken house but with a few improvements it became a fine dwelling. Here are excerpts from Bill Nevard's journal chronicling the renovations.

Oct. 29. Dad plastered one of the inside walls of the hen house. Uncle A and I helping.

November 12 We heated water and gravel and put some of the cement floor down in the shack.

November 19. Today being mild Dad, Uncle Arthur and I got to work and put some more of the cement floor down. Uncle Horrie and Uncle A got some lumber from an old bin to make a ceiling for the shack.

Nov. 24. Uncle Arthur was down to breakfast. As it was nice and mild we did some more plastering and so forth.

November 29. Finished plastering the shack today.

Dec. 11. After dinner I went and got a tank of water. Only about 60 pails this time. Brought Uncle Arthur's heater down on the tank.

Dec. 12. Dad and Uncle Arthur have got the heater fixed up in the shack.

Dec. 14, 1945. Decidedly colder today and a nasty Northeast wind. I cut my eleventh load of wood. Dad and Uncle Arthur putting up the ceiling in the shack.

Jan. 14, 1946 I went with Uncle Arthur in the sleigh up to Winstanley Grove and brought his bed and some of his stuff down so that he can start sleeping in his shack now and won't have to take his nightly walk.

Arthur with his dog in front of his new home at "The Poplars" 1946.

New Separator For Nevard Farm

In August of 1939 the Nevards purchased a Huber threshing machine (separator) from a local machinery dealer, L.D. Cohen. Here is the account from Bill Nevard's journal.
August 9, 1939

Louis Cohen was here with an agent from I.J. Haug trying to sell us a separator.

August 30

I finished stooking today. Dick hauling water. Dad, Uncle Horrie and Bud making the rack. In the afternoon a big truck brought the new separator from Regina and we unloaded it near the old sod stable.

August 31

Much activity in preparation for threshing. Dad, Uncle Horrie and Bud fixing up the engine. Dick and I blocked up the red bin and put it on skids. Then we pulled the bin from up the hill down to the 15 acres on 13 using Topsy, Gleam, Firelight and Violet with Glory and Barney in the lead.

After dinner Dick went to Goff's on Glory to phone Cohen and tell him to bring out gas. Bud helped me to move the red bin with his team. Dick got water after coming back. Cohen came along after dark with two drums of gas.

Tractor Farming at the Nevard Farm

After World War II ended there was a new air of optimism in farming. Tractor farming seemed like the way of the future and the Nevard's old McCormick Deering 15-30, previously only used for belt work, was put into field duty pulling a "tiller". Ernest and Bill Nevard had purchased a new Cockshutt tiller originally intending to pull it with horses. Bud Nevard, returning to the farm from the military wanted to farm with the tractor so here are a few excerpts from Bill's journal chronicling the ups and downs of early tractor farming.

July 11: Bud started off for Lipton with the tractor this morning but he only got as far as Bill Miller's, having considerable difficulty with it and returned home. John Fleming went to Lipton with his tractor in the evening, Bud going with him, and they brought the tiller home.

July 12: Dad and helped Bud get started with the tiller. He started on the basement 15 acres but didn't do much before dinner as the engine didn't go good and they had to do something to the magneto. After dinner I helped him get the lands all set out and he got on better. Dad helped him get the tiller adjusted and after supper Bud worked until almost dark.

July 13: Bud tillering today. He would probably have finished but hit a stone and broke a spool on the tiller.

July 14: Bud went to Keliher with Bartons this evening and got spools for the tiller. Bartons went to see a movie and Carol went too.

July 15: Bud put the new spool on the tiller. Dad and I went to Goffs in the afternoon in the democrat. Sandy is working for Van Luvens.

July 24: Bud tillering today but in the afternoon the tractor went on the blink so he got me to haul it up to the yard using my four horses so he could take it to pieces. Some of the bearings were gone. Bud and Carol down at our place tonight.

 A photo of a McCormick Deering 15-30 tractor like the Nevard's.
(This one is mine)

Dick Nevard Goes To England

Pte. Nevard R.A.
L154284, RCAMC
August, 1944
Canadian Army Overseas
Dear Bill
Well, the unexpected has happened and I am now on the high seas bound for the land of your birth I guess. I think from now I will give up trying to predict the future. That stiff medical at Debert never materialized. I guess that two or three weeks before you get this letter you and dad will get a telegram to say that I arrived overseas safely.
I expected to be quarantined on the ship for a week or two because Lambier broke out with measles yesterday but we have heard nothing so i guess nothing will be done.
(Next day)
Lambier's measles turned out to be something else so don't worry, I won't catch measles.
Our beds are three tiers high. They are of canvas stretched across an iron frame and I find them comfortable. The berth we are was reserved for corporals. When the corporals arrived they turned out to be privates. So in that manner we get better beds than some of the officers.
We only get two meals a day but they are pretty fair meals. We can buy chocolate bars and oranges quite cheap here on board ship. Oranges are seven for 25 cents so we have nothing to kick about. We wear life belts or preservers as a safety measure although there is no danger.
Well I have landed overseas and am quite ok. I had no sea sickness. I am in a camp but am not allowed to say where. We were told that we will get no leaves so there is no prospect of seeing our relations in England for a while. I will write to   Aunt Louie and tell her I am in the land of your birth.
The countryside was pretty and I admired everything. We would wave to men standing near the trucks and they would give us the thumbs up. I got a five dollar bill changed into english money and got a one pound note and a florin and a penny. We have quite a time talking about and figuring out the english money. Lambier is good at it but I think he is getting kind of annoyed because the boys kept coming over to him this afternoon when he wanted to sleep and asked him how much was such and such an amount until he got sick of it. Still I don't think it wiill take long to get used to once one forgets about Canadian money.
I was going to send a telegram but then they said that letters get there just as fast sometimes so I thought I would write instead. The quickest way is by air graph but I couldn't get any forms so that was out of the question. I sent my iron home because the current is different over here and so it would not be any use.
I think I will like it over here because I will feel I am doing my part in a more necessary spot than back in Canada. The meals are good and they are better prepared than most camps that I have been in in Canada. We had mutton and what do you think? We had peanut butter. That is something I never had in the army in Canada. I hear that we can buy bars two at a time for three penny which is as cheap as in Canada.
Well everything is alright so don't worry. My letters will be as long as usual because in the interests of security we must not mention anything about what we are doing. Just our personal life.
I wrote about six letters on the voyage so I am well up with my correspondence. I just have to post them.

Cheerio, your loving brother, Dick.

Dick Nevard with Uncle Will Hall, , cousin Muriel with her son Gifford Harrison.

High Water On The Qu'appelle Lakes

In spring of 1955 Bill Nevard was living just a stone's throw from the shore of Echo Lake. Here is Bill's account of a few days in May when he helped some of his neighbour's protect their property from the rising lake waters.
May 6: The rising waters of Echo Lake are getting close to his house so Tony Paidel moved all his stuff out today and stored it with his neighbours who helped him lay sandbags to try and keep the waters back. The Paidels will stay at Birns until they can get a place.

May 8: The neighbours are busy sandbagging their property trying to save it from the lake. Dick went down to help them at Bye's after he came home at 2 and I went down 2 hours later. Bye's have lost about 45 feet of their lake shore property they reckon.

May 9: I went to do some more sandbagging this evening. Dick had already been helping at Bye's. I went with others in John Strudwick's truck down to Regan's where they got the boat out of the boat house as the waves were washing in and threatening to wreck it. Then we went down to Ruddy's. A bulldozer was tearing out the side of a hill and banking the dirt around a house near Ruddy's which was pretty well awash. We came back and went to Hutchings and put a few sandbags down there. Frank Hutchings had come from Regina to help his father.


May 10: I went down to the Fort this morning and did some digging for Rev. Corkhill. I cashed Dad's pension cheque at the bank and got a ride most of the way home with Bennet. After dinner I went to help with sandbagging at Huber's and Bye's. The lake was not so rough as Monday but bad enough. Went back again after supper but did not do much.

Dick Nevard and my dad enjoying quieter times on the shore of Echo Lake in July of 1971.

Changes At Winstanley Grove

Arthur Nevard's son, Bud, came home from the army in January of 45 returning to Winstanley Grove farm , to be joined later by his wife,who he had met in England. Further details transcribed from Bill Nevard's journals.
April 18, 1945
I got a load of oat straw and hauled away cow manure in the morning. John Senft took two more loads of oats to Lipton for Jack Binnington. Uncle Horrie and Donald went to Lipton in the wagon and brought Bud home and a load of furniture for him. In the afternoon I put a tinful of gopher poison out on 13.
April 19
We sawed some of Uncle Horrie's wood today. Bud and Uncle Arthur busy house cleaning. Bud came along before dinner and helped us a bit but in the afternoon there were only 4 of us. Dad, Uncle Horrie , Donald and I. Joy rode over to Headlands post office and asked John Fleming to bring Bud's wife out as she is supposed to come from Regina tomorrow.
April 20
Sawing wood at Silver Birches. A little snow on the ground this morning but not to stay long. Binningtons went away today. John Fleming drove them to Lipton and Bud's wife came off the train from Regina and John Fleming brought her up to Winstanley Grove. Bud and Uncle Arthur busy getting the house ready. Joy went for the mail in the evening.

Springtime 69 Years Ago

 
Spring time 69 years ago
A letter from Bill Nevard to brother Dick in the army, April 1944.
Dear Dick, I am writing this letter by lamplight while eating my breakfast. It is just 5:20 a:m. Pretty well light enough to see outside but not indoors. I got your letter with the money orders and $5 war savings certificate. I don't know how soon this will get posted as everybody is busy on the land just now but I will send it on at the first opportunity.
On the 17th both uncles, Roy, Donald and Malcolm Bordass all went to Lipton in the wagon. Roy and Malcolm didn't come home with the others. They stayed to a dance. Fred Allen's daughter got married and they gave a free dance to celebrate the happy event.
Dad took 12 dozen eggs to town with him for which he received $2.60. I started picking stones off the fallow. I didn't waste much time on the small ones and I finished on the 18th.
On the 19th we chopped oats for ourselves and for Uncle H. It took longer than it should have because dad had to fix one of the valves
On the 20th dad killed our young sow with Uncle H. and I to help. Roy brought a boar home from Richard Supple's. Donald started disking Uncle Arthur's summerfallow. I brought a jag of hay home from the stack on 13. Dad has 3 hens set on 30 turkey eggs and one hen on hen's eggs.
On the 21st I went to Lipton with a jag of barley, the company being anxious to get their share (31 bushels). I sent them a storage ticket for that amount. Fred Engel has a new tractor which he got from Brinkworth's. The road to town has dried up good. Helen Wheale is working in the bank now. I brought home 4 bushels of registered Thatcher wheat and 3 bushels of Ajax oats which Uncle Arthur had bought and were waiting at the Pool elevator for him. Uncle A was disking and Uncle H was spring tooth harrowing. Uncle H was spring tooth harrowing.
On the 22nd I started cultivating summerfallow with Gleam, Embers, Firelight and Frank.
On the 23rd I found a turkey's nest with 7 eggs in it just behind the cement place.
On the 24th I was cultivating fallow on 13. I saw 16 planes that day which smashes all previous records.
On the 25th I was cultivatiing in the morning and cross harrowing in the afternoon as it was drying out pretty fast.
On the 26th both uncles were fanning wheat in Uncle Arthur's bin in the valley.
On the 28th I took the wagon up to the wheat bin and dad pickled some wheat ready to seed and in the afternoon dad started to seed. Uncle H had to go to Lipton as their seeder had went on the blink so he took one of the wheels down with him to get it fixed. Dad got 22 acres seeded by night time.
Got a letter from Aunt May who is now in Winnipeg looking after Aunt Flo who well down some stairs a while back. She was told by the doctor to go to bed but she didn't , and afterward, had a heart attack.
May 4th: I think I wiill be able to post this letter today as Roy figures on going to Lipton with Rusty and the cart.

                                        Arthur Nevard

November 28, 1943

Headlands P.O. Sask.
November 28, 1943
Dear Dick
Well its Sunday night again and as I am likely to go to Lipton again tomorrow I may as well send you another letter and keep you up to date on the latest local events. Before I forget it, Dad was suggesting that I should take a pair of your rubbers and felt socks to Lipton and leave them in Andy Gray's office for you to put on when you next come home and he wanted me to ask you if there was anything else you might want left there in the way of wearing apparel as it may be pretty cold when you come home.
This past week has been my town week as I made five trips with grain going every day but Friday. As the wheat quota has been raised again to 7 bushels per acre I may make four trips this coming week if the snow holds off. On Tuesday the 23rd I took a load of Dad's wheat to town. Andy Gray was filling a car with barley and he advised me to bring barley as he said he had plenty of room for wheat but only a limited amount of room for barley. So on Wednesday I took down a load of Dad's barley and had it stored making out the ticket to Osler-Hammond & Nanton as it was for the company's share of the crop on 25. Uncle Horrie went down too with a load of wheat. He overtook me on the way down. Donald was with him as he wanted to go to Lipton to get a sweater but he did not go all the way to town with his father as he got a ride in with a grain truck. On Thursday I took down another load of dad's barley but I could only deliver 100 bushels as the barley quota is 5 bushels per seeded acre and the rest of the load I sold for Dad.
Gleam was pretty sluggish on that trip as it was her fourth on successive days and the roads are hard and rough so I decided to let them have a rest and stayed home Friday doing chores .
Uncle Arthur went to Lipton with barley that day and brought home word that the quota has been raised from 5 to 7 bushels. He has arranged to have August Zielke take some of his wheat to Lipton by truck. On Saturday I went to Lipton with wheat and Uncle Horrie took a load of barley. Quite a lot of grain seemed to be going in to town owing to the quota having been raised. Fred Engel took a load down and broke the tire of his wagon at the big coulee so he had to borrow a wagon from Jack Mintzlar to get in with
Tehse, Red Schmidt's boy and Prairie Schmidt's boy are all hauling with wagons behind tractors. No less than 30 cars, trucks and tractors passed me on the way home so you see everybody are doing their best to save gas.
Today was dull but snow still holding off. Dad baked a cake. I went and cut holes in the slough on 13 for the animals. Fred Engel and Wm. Miller were trying to drive home a calf of Fred's that insists on being with our cattle but they didn't have any success then. Pat Neil came this evening just before dark and fixed our four little boars so that job is out of the way. They sure made a racket and the sow broke out of her pen and was rampaging around until we drove her back. I saw Bill Senft in town and he said that Arnold is alright again now. I never read your letter until I got home on Saturday night. Glad to hear that you are getting on ok.
The open weather is fine for the animals giving them a chance to clean up some of the food laying around. We haven't had any really cold weather yet although the wind is often a bit unpleasant when you're on the road. I paid up the taxes for Dad last week so they won't be able to turn us out of house and home for a while yet. Well I guess this is all for now Dick. Goodbye from your loving brother....
E.W. Nevard.

Letter from London 1916

My grandfather, Horace Nevard wrote this letter to Alice Hall in 1916.

November 22, 1916
My Dear Alice
As you will see by this letter I have arrived back to camp alright. It was very foggy just before we reached London. We reached Liverpool Street at 12:00, went to Lyons and had our dinner. Steak pudding, and started to walk to Charing Cross but found it too far to walk so took the motor bus. By the time we reached there it was nearly time to go. We reached camp just before 4 and we had to sleep in tents last night but have a hut today.
Had a real good sleep last night, went to bed at 8:00 and did not get up until 7:00 in the morning. I hope that you arrived home safe and also had a good sleep. You must tell me all about it when you write. I received two letters from you this morning. One was from Camp Hughes so the address that you put on the last one was alright.
We have had another medical inspection today and I hear that we may be going to France this week but not sure. If that is so I shall not be able to get home for Xmas but we shall be there quite a time training I suppose. Am hoping the photos will turn out well and hope you will send me one as soon as you can.
It was raining when we reached camp last night but is nice and fine today. Don't forget to tell me all the news when you write will you. Hope that this will satisfy you as I cannot think of anything more to say. Love to all and my best, truest and fondest love to you my dearest Alice. Hope this will find you quite well as it leaves me. Your ever loving Horace

Horace Nevard, back row, far right.

News From Camp Shilo

You will recall that Dick Nevard joined the Canadian Army in Regina, Sask. in January of 1943. He kept a constant flow of letters coming and going between his brother and parents. This is one written on his arrival at Camp Shilo , Manitoba

April 3, 1943.

Dear Bill', I guess you are wondering where I am now. We arrived at Camp Shilo last Thursday. I knew we were going when I last wrote but thought I shouldn't say anything. Most of the fellows went down to the station and rode on the train but I and six or eight other fellows were paraded over to the sergeant's quarters and we had to swab and scrub the floors. Then we rode in an open truck to Shilo and it was a cold journey. A jeep with an officer in it drove in front all the way. One place the jeep looked as though it would be submerged in water. You ought to see it skim through water.

As we drove to Shilo I could see planes taking off and landing at a nearby airdrome.

We reached Shilo in due course and immediately went into the kitchen for supper. After that to our huts. There is quite a change as we have to go to another building about a hundred yards away where we wash and shave. These are summer huts but according to some of the dates I have seen written by former residents they were occupied in December. The huts have three stoves, one coal and two wood burning.

If I remember correctly I only introduced Dad to one fellow at the train station, George Macknack from Cupar. The other one's name I could not remember.

The fellows in camp speak about the labour situation. One said that half the crop was not threshed in his district as they could not get teams. They will be threshing and seeding at the same time this spring. They said farmers had been protesting about the labour shortage and there would likely be quite a few released for spring work.

So Bartons and Wheales want me to visit them on my next leave. It looks as if my next 96 will be taken up by visiting as Mr. Binnington said they wanted to see me too next time I am home.

Hoping you are all in good health

Your loving brother

R.A. Nevard

 Dick Nevard at right in photo.

Cecil Reports On The War

                                                                            Corder Road
                                                                                     Ipswich
                                                                               29 Sept. 1940
My Dear Horace
You are naturally wondering how we are getting along during these terrible times. Well, thank God, up to the present, fit and well. We of course get Nazi bombers over most nights and as an air raid warden I have to report at the post and then wait for the bombs to drop. Fortunately none have fallen in my sector. For although I have passed a course in first aid, well I should be rather sorry for my patients. We have had a number of bombs dropped around the district and some in the town. One broke most of the stained glass windows on the South side of our Church but no structural damage.
Four people only have been killed altogether. 3 on one occasion and then one. One chiefly from shock.
England has not yet been invaded and no attempt made. Believe me if Hitler and his crowd attempt it he will have a warm reception for the vast majority of people will fight to a man. We haven't got the wind up, neither have the people of London. I speak from my personal experience for Ethel, Daphne and I spent a week with Ethel's father in London. The barrage is terrible and not pleasant but you can live through it.
Leslie came home this weekend. He is quite fit and still working at the same place.
Louie and all her family are still the same. Poor old Louie misses her treatment and her poor legs are as bad as ever. Muriel has been moved to Nayland and she cycles over to see us occasionally when she has a day off. Its 13 miles from here so quite a good ride.
I have not yet heard from you since I wrote about Emily. Its hard to part with your mother and sister but considering all things one cannot but feel that they are better off. For when the air raid alarm goes it is advisable to get downstairs and when you are aged or unwell that is far from pleasant and as likely as not get a chill.
As to food, there is plenty in the shops. I can see no difference from pre-war times and prices have gone up but very little. The only thing I personally miss is sugar. I wish we could have more than half a pound pe person per week. This is for cooking and everything. Butter goes down next week from 6 ounces to 2 ounces per person per week, but there is plenty of margarine to make up for it.
I went to Lexden yesterday afternoon to see Horace. He is now a full time special constable doing clerical work in the Chief Constable's office. He misses Mother and Emily very much but is still carrying on the house at Lexden. He will not have to go into the army and Ethel (Hall's) husband is exempt for some time..
Can now hear a German bomber going over but its very dark and cloudy. He is up so (3 miles I expect) so he doesn't know where he is fortunately.
Well, have no more news so must conclude with fond love from all the family to all the clan of Nevards.
Your affectionate brother Cecil.
P.S.
So you listen to Lord Haw Haw on the German radio? I would'nt advise you to for he is a deliberate liar and makes me feel I'd love to sock him on the jaw.

Cecil and Ethel Nevard

A Difficult February in 1933

80 years ago this month was not a happy time for the family. The extreme cold weather only added to the suffering. As seen in Bill Nevard's journal.
February 4 :Dad and Bud went to Goff's to bring the bull home. Young Tommy Goff had just died of pneumonia that morning.

February 6, 1933: It was 46 below zero this morning and I skied over to Goff's to see if they would be holding the funeral on such a cold day and heard that they were. Dad , Uncle Arthur and Bud went.
Aunt Daisy hurt her leg this afternoon by falling over a stoneboat in the stable.

February 7: A whist drive at Winstanley Grove. It was 56 below zero when Dick and I came home at 4 a:m.

February 10: Another rotten day. I went up to Winstanley Grove at night. Aunt Daisy in bed and Bud gone to Barton's to phone up North's.

February 11: Weather better. Martha North came to nurse Aunt Daisy.

February 12: Sunday. Bud went to phone for the doctor.

February 13: Doctor Stewart came to see Aunt Daisy and stopped in here to see mother on the way back. Martha came with him.

February 15: Milder. Mr. and Mrs. North came to see Aunt Daisy. Moved her into the other room.

February 17: Nancy down in the stable unable to get up. I cut some green wood.

February 20: Uncle Horrie went to Lipton. Dad had to shoot Nancy today. Uncle Arthur's big bay, Paddy, was likewise gathered to his ancestors. I went to see Aunt Daisy in the evening.

February 22: Aunt Daisy died of a heart attack this afternoon.

February 23: Dad and Uncle Arthur went to Fisher's to arrange the funeral. Nonsuch Woodland Seeker of Rockhaven calved today.

February 24: John Senft and Uncle Arthur went to Lipton to fetch Uncle Eddie and the coffin.

February 25
The funeral was held in Lipton town hall. It was a beautiful bright day.

Cold Days On The Farm

It was -30F this morning. Warmed up to -25 by the time I went out to check the cattle. It was actually not bad in the sunshine and protected from  what little wind was blowing. I let the cow and calf out of the shelter and they headed out to where the rest of the herd were at the hay feeder on the south(sunny) side of the bush. A little while later they all showed up back at the barn for chop and water. Turning on the hydrant and filling the trough is so easy compared to how it was done years ago, as seen in Bill Nevard's  journal entries from 1942.

February 16
30 below zero this morning and a cold Nor-west wind blowing. We let all the horses out but they would not go down to the well and consequently never had a drink. The cattle did not drink much.
February 17. As it was still cold this morning I decided to try and melt snow for the animals. It took quite a while to get ready and quite a while to melt but we managed to give them all a drink. It was nice and bright today. Roy and Joy were here this evening.
February 23. Snowing and drifting the roads up. Quite a bit of fresh snow has fallen so I melted snow again. We seemed to get through with the melting quicker today. We let all the stock out. Uncle Arthur was down here this morning. Not a bad sort of day on the whole.

Some Nevard cattle on the trail from the big slough.

Louisa's Wedding 1905

Ernest Nevard along with brother, Arthur, had been in Canada two years when he received this letter from his sister, Louisa Nevard back in their old home of Lexden, Essex, U.K.

November 2, 1905

36 Straight Road, Lexden, Essex

Dear Ernie

I have just been writing to Arthur, now I want to write you just a few lines to tell you when I am to be married. We have fixed it for the 20th of this month at 12:30. If its later I will let you know. The Canon will be away and he would like us to wait until he comes back but Mr. Briggs says he will do it if I like so I no doubt he will.

I have been to the Chrysanthemum show this evening. I have always wanted to go and never have been able and tonight I ought to have been at home doing my dress but mother said she should go if she was in my place as I may never have such a good chance. I enjoyed myself very much. The band was simply lovely.

I have had several presents and have some more to come yet. They are as follows: Misses C..... Queen Ann tea set, plated. Nurse Winstanley, sideboard cloth. Mrs. Clayden , glass cake stand. Nellie CLayden, china jam dish. Nurse B....., glass cheese dish. Aunt Annie and Uncle, bread knife and trencher. Winnie, a tea cozy. Annie is going to give us a cruet, Alice a tablecloth. Mrs. Hall, the cake and a pair of blankets. Then I have some more coming. Mary has given me the tea set which I like very much. Mother has given me a nice white quilt and Emily, a colored one.

Willie would have liked to have gone to London but I don't suppose we shall go as I have so many things to pack up afterwards. I like the house where I shall live very much. They are large rooms 18 feet wide and 19 1/2 long upstairs and down.

Mr. Wooltorton? gave Willie a nice present, a red glass sugar basin with silver edging and handle and sugar tongs. I expect we shall muster up a good few altogether but I must let you know afterwards. Grandfather has given me 5 shillings too which is wonderful isn't it. I am sending you a pattern like my dress. Emily's is a blue with a hat to match and Alice's too. I have a white chiffon hat. I will save you and Arthur a lump of cake if I can for Mary to bring out so I should like you to have a taste. I will write again later on when I am Mrs. Hall but I have heaps to do.

With love from your ever-loving sister, Louie.

Letter From Sister Emily 1905

Another Christmas letter , this one to Ernest Nevard from his sister, Emily. Ernest and brother Arthur had been in Canada since April of 1903 working and trying to raise enough money to go farming in what would eventually become Saskatchewan. The young Ernie mentioned here was Ernest's son, (Bill) born in February of 1902 so it is doubtful if he would even remember his father who had left for Canada in April of 1903. The family would be re-united in May of 1906 when Mary and Bill came to Canada.
36 Straight Road
Lexden, Essex, England
Dec. 26, 1905
My Dear Brother
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you, yesterday, Christmas day, just in time to wish us all a happy Xmas. Thank you very much for all your good wishes but I am so sorry you won't have one letter from home soon enough to wish you a happy Christmas although you know we all hope you are well and happy.
Mary couldn't write soon enough as she was expecting a letter from you to say you was going up country. Louie sent to me for your address as she wanted to write to you for xmas but we told her she had better wait until your next letter came when we found you were still at Winnipeg. I sent her word. I expect you will soon have it now.
Thank you very much for the sending of the order. Mother says you didn't want to send it. She hope you haven't wronged yourself as we should manage alright. Mother sends her love to you and hope you will send more news about yourself. You never say if you are ill or well, in work or out. Of course we know you have done some work or else you wouldn't have any money.
We are very anxious to know about you. Your son is standing looking at me writing to you. He say, send my love to my dear dada, tell him how I used to go and call Aunt Louie in to dinner. We have been having fine fun with him this Xmas. We told him on Saturday Grandfather Xmas come with nice presents for good little children at Xmas time. And if he was a good little boy and go to sleep perhaps Grandfather Xmas would come. He had only just gone off to sleep when the postman brought a nice large book from Mary's cousins at Leiston, Mary and Daisy. It is a nice book all about birds and animals, illustrated. A very nice book for him to read when he gets a bit more advanced in his education. Mary took it upstairs and put it on the bed so when he woke up Sunday morning he said, "did grandfather Xmas come?" Mother said yes he came. When he undone the parcel he said I wonder if that is from my dear dada. When he saw what it was he said "Oh its a book, a beautiful book, " Mary had hard work to dress him. He wanted it on the table during breakfast. We were having bacon for breakfast of which he is very fond but when Mary told him he couldn't have it on the table as it would get greasy he said, "give me something else to eat then, I don't want the bacon.". We told him on Sunday night if he was good and went to bed grandfather Xmas would come and fill up his stocking. So Cecil got one of his socks and put some sugar mice and other sweets, biscuits, nuts, apple, orange , etc he bought at the shop and a bonbon sticking out at the top of course.
We were all at Church on Xmas morning as Mary and Cecil went at 7 o'clock and Horace and I went at 8. So Ernie and Mother were all alone so when he woke up he said "grandmother, wake up, get up, did grandfather Xmas come?" So when they got up he found the sock. When Mary got home he was just discovering the treasures. He was so delighted so he had to have another one this morning, only on a much smaller scale as grandfather Xmas had exhausted nearly all his store.
Mrs. Lester has given him a mechanical toy. It is a fireman going up a fire escape. She told Mary it was for him to take to Canada but I doubt if much of it would go............

Cigar Box Letters

 

Letters from an old cigar box reveal more Nevard history.

Probably written about 1905 from Arthur to Ernest Nevard.

                                                                                   Forestry Station
                                                                                   Indian Head

My Dear Brother

I was very pleased to hear from you. I am staying on here for another month and I would like to stay all the summer if it was not for losing my place as the money is up to $44.00 a month now so it is $30 a month and board now and that is as good as most of the farmers pay.

I have asked Mr. Godfrey to see John Hunter for me and find out about work for you and shall see him tomorrow night and then I will post this so you will know early. In the meantime I had let Mr. Smith the teamster at our place know I wanted to see Hunter or had casually mentioned it and he met him on the sidewalk and he spoke to him about you and he promised you a job as soon as he starts up and he has got a good sized job at the power house so I will let you know what Mr. Godfrey says.

I have got an order for $2 for you but I will send you another $5 and when you get working you can let me have it back if I want as I expect I shall.

I have written to Emily and told her that Horace will lose ten or twelve weeks work by putting it off so late. I think it is a pity as he could be getting some money for the winter. There is a brick building going up in town soon. The bricks are already on the spot Joe tells me. And one man has about 20 houses to put up so there seems to be plenty of work to be done. I hope you will both have a good summers work but it will not be so late as in the Peg as they start earlier up here and finish earlier, but whats the odds? You may as well be brick laying two months in the spring as walking about in Winnipeg paying your board when you may earn just as much money and get on the homestead as soon as it freezes up instead of working the two months that you lose in the spring.

Perhaps Mr. Lochead will put up the team til I come up as I expect brick laying will start up as soon as the weather breaks up enough but I shall know tomorrow night. You might tell them to keep my mail til I come up as I have changed my address. There will be a Family Herald and Nor'West Farmer and Canadian Thresherman. I sent the change of address notice last week so they will likely be up there from this time.

You had better look me up at the Forestry when you do come down. I will ask Mr. Godfrey to look you up a lodge if you like as I guess he knows plenty of people by this time.

Dear Earn. I have seen Mr. Godfrey and he tells me J. Hunter will give you a job as soon as you get here and will give you .50 cents an hour and I have sent you $7.00 so you can come as soon as you are ready.

Goodbye A.W.N.
Arthur William Nevard

Working Off The Farm

The crop years of 1911 and 1912 were not too successful. Hail caused serious crop damage on the Nevard homesteads. There were mortgages on the farm land and equipment that needed paying so two of the Nevard brothers went to work in Regina, probably during the fall and winter. Arthur and Daisy went to live there and Arthur worked for the parks and public works department. Ernest also went to work in construction working on the jail, the normal school and the General Hospital as seen in this photo taken on top of the General.. Ernest is second from the right in the back row.