87 Years Ago In Nevard Farm History

November 28, 1936 Uncle Horrie went to town with wheat and Dad went with him. Prince and Dixie got scared by a truck loaded with furniture on 35 highway near the cemetery and tipped the wagon and load over into the ditch causing much trouble and delay. It was Dad's new box. If it had been one of the old boxes it would probably have been demolished. I hauled water and got a jag of dry wood home. Karl Miller re-elected councillor. Bud got the mail home. November 29, Sunday. Church service at Headlands. Mr. Hillary. Dad, Dick, Uncle Arthur and I all walked. Others attending were Tom and Ed North, John Leslie, Mrs. Binnington, Agnes and Bert, Cliff Barton and Paul Morrison. Uncle Horrie, Roy and Joy here to supper. Dick and Uncle A. stayed at Murphy Newton's. Bud fixing up a radio he bought somewhere.

Trip To Lipton January 1948

January 26: Roy came along in the closed in cutter about 8 AM and I went to Lipton with him. It was a cold day with a North wind blowing but with a fire on we were quite comfortable. The road was heavy and we could not make very fast progress. I went to the station and paid the freight. Then we put the two 100 pound boxes of fish out on the platform ready.
We went to the post office where I saw our new post master, Reg Waters for the first time as it was my first trip to Lipton since July 30, 1946.
We went to Charles Brinkworth's cafe for dinner (55 cents). Then I went to the bank, had my book fixed up and put $100 into a savings account. I hunted up where Fishers live and paid them a visit. Mr. Fisher showed me his encyclopedia and Mrs. Fisher gave me some tea and cake. Philip Fisher has two youngsters, both girls, and Kenny has a son. Will Lutz and Malcom Bordass were in town with Ed Miller's closed in cutter. Oshowey also in town. And Charlie Hook.
I went into the barber shop and pool room for the first time and saw pool being played. Charlie Bull was playing with another guy. Bill Miller and Robert Senft at another table. Jack Goff, Joe Kelsey and others in there looking on,
When we left town little Henry Schmidt rode with us to Jack Mintzler's. He was after a horse for his foxes. He has an 8 year old mare he is willing to trade off for an old horse.

January 27: Dick and I got two loads of wheat straw home this morning and put it in the loft. In the afternoon I went for a tank of water. In Uncle Arthur's pasture I got stuck as the sleighs cut off. Bud came along with the scoop shovel and dug some snow away so I could get started again and managed to get home. Bud was screening barley out of his straw pile.

Jack Goff in the 1940s

Late Harvest and Municipal Election

November 12, 1946
Bud came along before daylight this morning trying to start the tractor so he could take the outfit up to John Senft's. He couldn't get it started so he asked me to come out and help and eventually he had to put a fire under it to warm it up before he could start. Then he went down after the separator. He succeeded in getting it to the yard but the radiator was freezing up on him so he had to give it up as a bad job and went up to John Senft's. They both came back with John's team to haul the separator but when they started off one of John's horses was scared of the separator behind him so they had to take him off and borrow Roy's horse, Duke, before they could get away.
I got a tank of water and then turned the team out and did some fencing. They got John's oats threshed. Bud running the machine and John Senft, Kreutzer and Donald having racks. John Senft and Bud brought the separator back at night with the John Deere tractor. They threshed about 15 loads of sheaves.

November 12, 1946
The great municipal election day. Robert Senft and Mike Engel came after Uncle Arthur in a car and took him to Hobetzeder's  to be D.R.O. I went and did a bit more fencing on the East line of 13. John Senft hauled a load of wheat for Bud. and while we were having dinner he came along to haul a load for Dad. So I went to the bin with him and helped load up. Dad went off to Lipton with him. They didn't get back until nearly 6 pm and Edwin Senft came along in a car right behind them to take them back to Balrobie to vote. They only just got there in time. Bill Senft brought them and Uncle Arthur back. Manuel Miller won the election.

Bud Nevard on a newer tractor (Ford 9N). Not the one referred to in the above journal entries which was a McCormick Deering 15-30.

Election Day 70 Years Ago

June 11, 1945.
I plowed in the morning and in the afternoon Dad, both Uncles, Bud, and I went to vote at Balrobie in the democrat with Gleam and Embers. Mrs. Ernest Senft was D.R.O. and Bill Peake was polling clerk.
We saw Sid Phillips and his family there . Also Mrs. McCullough, Sam Smith, Bernice and their 2 children, Jack Mintzlar, Howard Van Luven, Robert Senft, Charlie Huber and Red Schmidt on the way home. Lutzs' overtook us and Bud went with them.
Didn't have time to do anything much after we got home. There was a letter from Dick in the mail. We were listening to election returns on the radio and heard that the Liberals are returned to power with a smaller majority.

This is actually a photo of Kate Hobetzeder in a "democrat" since I do not have one of the Nevard's conveyance. Chances are good that some time that same election day that Kate and family showed up at Balrobie to vote.

January 28 1946, Hogs to Market

January 28: We loaded up four of our young hogs in the sleigh and I took them to Lipton, Uncle Horrie going with me. Not too bad a day but a cold wind developed making it somewhat unpleasant. The sleigh seemed to drag heavy but we got down in plenty of time. Our pigs being the first stock there. John Fleming was right behind us with a steer loaded in his sleigh. After unloading our stock and putting the teams in, John Fleming, Uncle H. and I went to Joe's restaurant for dinner. I went to Andy Gray's after dinner and gave him the certificates to fix up. Mrs. Gray is much better now.
Quite a bunch of teams in at Kellsey's. I saw the train come in but Dick was not on it.
Blowing harder and snowing a bit on the way home. Bud took Carol to Lipton in the cutter about 9 p:m.
January 29: Snowing today so I didn't do a lot. Uncle Arthur went up to Winstanley Grove to feed Bud's pigs. Uncle Horrie and Donald came down in the afternoon with our rack and took their sleigh back and their groceries. Uncle Arthur brought the mail down with two letters from Dick who thinks he will be home in February. Bud came back tonight and told us that he and Carol are the proud parents of a son born at 9 o'clock this morning.

 A somewhat unrelated photo but it shows how deep the snow can get some winters in Sask. Centre is Margaret (Daisy) Nevard when she worked at a farm near Pense in about the winter of 1912-13.

Arthur Nevard January 11 1965

When Dick got home this evening from work he received a phone message from Regina General Hospital that Uncle Arthur was in serious condition.  While we were having supper Bud phoned Birns and told us that Uncle had died.
January 12: When I got through my work I drove to Lipton calling in at the San on the way where Dick told me that Mr. Ellis could hold the funeral either Thursday or Friday. When I called at Buds he wasn't home from Regina. He had to go to sign a release before the hospital would let Uncle Arthur go.
I then called at Walton's to see about the grave plot. Then to Mrs. Goff to see if she had any suggestions as to pall bearers. We were expecting Bud to call in on his way home but he never showed up. As we had been up late the night before we went to bed fairly early. Hannah (undertaker) phoned up Birns and they got Dick out of bed to provide the necessary information so he could put a death notice in the Leader.
January 13:  Dick phoned Bud from work and found out that he couldn't start his car when he got back to the Fort last night and had to get a ride home. Bill  Lindsey let me off work at 8:30 and I went home, started the car and drove down to Lerat's home in the Fort. He wasn't ready, told me to come back in an hour so I went home, kept the fire going and went back for him about 10:30. We drove to Lipton and he stopped at the hotel for lunch while I called at Bud's where Mary told me that Bud had got a ride back to the Fort to get his car.
I went to the municipal office and Walton told me where we could dig.  I picked up Lerat and we drove out to the cemetery. We had to  shovel some snow at the entrance where the snow had drifted. I made a couple of rounds with the car and Lerat started digging about 11:45 and I went home to dinner.

December 16 1947-Winter and Winstanley Grove

Got another two loads of wood in and after dinner we went and chopped a bit.
Donald went off on Rusty to phone the doctor. John Fleming and his family went
to Lipton in the morning. Charlie Huber brought the doctor up as far as his place,
then Donald and Joy went down with the team and sleigh and fetched him up to
Winstanley Grove that night. But Bud and Carol had become the parents of a baby
girl before the doctor arrived. Richard Supple brought a Mrs. Tom Berner there.
She was an English war bride and a nurse. Joy stayed there while Bud drove the
doctor back to Lipton. He never got home until about 5 a:m .

December 17: I went up to Silver Birches and heard the particulars of last night's
events. Dick and I put in the morning cutting wood in the bluff and cleaned up the
manure after dinner. Blowing and drifting quite a bit with a nasty cold wind so we
did not bother to get water.

Today In Bill's History

On his day off from working at the Fort San Bill Nevard walks the approximate 20 miles back to his farm home.
October 16, 1948
A miserable day. I walked most of the way home but Henry Meyer's two daughters overtook me with a car and gave me a lift for 3 miles. I had dinner with Uncle Arthur and afterwards went on up to Silver Birches where I saw Aunt Alice , Roy, Joy and Donald. Bud has gone to Calgary with little Eric. I collected a bag of stuff then headed back South. I had to walk all the way to Lipton getting there just in time to catch the bus. My first bus ride.
Oct. 17: Sunday. Got my first beets ready this morning. A messy job with beet juice all over the floor of the vegetable room making it look  like a slaughter house. At night Dick and walked down to the Fort to an Anglican service. Bill Levey gave us a lift in his car. It was a nice moonlight night.

Lipton main street in the late 1940s.

Narratives 16 To The End of WWII

On August 9th of 1944 a thunder storm worked it's way up from the West and brought hail with it. Some of the stones were as big as a turkey egg. 144 filled a pail. Bill collected 3 pails of it for soft water.
In July of 1944 I arrived in Keliher for embarkation leave prior to leaving Canada. I went to the post office and asked Mr. Eric Stevens if there was anyone in town from the South country so I could get a ride. He said, I will get you a ride. Last year I got stuck down your way and your brother pulled me out with his team of horses. Mr. Stevens would not accept any payment. I offered him money for smokes but he said he did not smoke. I said , for beer then, and he said he did not drink. Mr. Stevens just wanted to pay back my brother's good deed and he hired Hector Thompson to drive me home that day.
I believe my embarkation leave ended on cousin Donald's 17th birthday. Anyway, it was a Sunday and Sandy Goff drove us up to Leross to catch the train for the East coast. It was the same Model T Ford that his Dad had met Aunt Alice and Uncle Horrie with at the train station in 1919 when they arrived in Canada. It was now 25 years later. While I was home on embarkation leave, cousin Bud came home having been discharged from the army.
I went over to England on the troop ship Empress Of Scotland. Before the war this ship was named The Empress of Japan. While in England, besides my many duties, I visited most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. They all made me welcome and I had an enjoyable time.
On the 26th of January, 1946, we set sail for New York on the world's largest ocean liner, the Queen Elizabeth. We ran into some very rough seas with waves 20 feet high but we never felt it as it was such a large ship.

Dick Nevard with the relatives in England, 1945.

Narratives 15 WWII

In 1944 the Reverend Tingey took the Church services at Headlands school. He came from Cupar. Up til then we had been having the rector from Ituna.

Anglican congregation at Headlands school in later years. 1951.
In the summer of 1941 Cousin Bud joined the Canadian Army and went to England later that year. On January 19, 1943 Bill drove us to Lipton with the team and sleigh  . It was a cold morning with the temperature dipping down to 40 below zero. I took the train to Regina to begin my life in the army. The saddest part of my life came in September of that year when I got a letter from my brother Bill informing me of the death of our mother. My Major granted me ten days compassionate leave so I caught the midnight train from Wainright, Alberta where I was stationed at the time. I arrived the next morning in Ituna at ten a:m. I did not stop for anything to eat there figuring I would reach Keliher by dinner time. I headed West on what is now the grid road not realizing that Keliher was further North and I would not pass it. It took me 12 hours to walk home. Towards the end I sat down for a rest every now and then. I was hungry, not having eaten for 24 hours. 

Narratives Ten

That year Dad had a large steer butchered for beef. Charlie Gregory came to do the job. He shot Goliath (the steer) and the beast went down but did not stay down. Dad was standing close by and Charlie said , "jump on it". Dad was close enough but did not think they could have held down an animal that size. Goliath headed north for the bushes.  Charlie had a high powered rifle and used it. I think they used Tom, the horse, to drag the carcass back to the yard. Dad had the hide of Goliath tanned and lined and made into a robe.
That same fall we had a severe frost in early October and the potatoes were frozen in the ground.
In 1920 Uncle Horrie built his house and Dad helped. I was up there one day with Aunt Alice. The men were building the rafters when I asked, "Aunt Ack, is that where your children are going to play?"
That was the summer that the first plane flew over the district. Aunt Alice and Uncle Horrie were working on the house and were used to seeing planes fly over in England. Aunt Alice waved and called out, "have you any mail for us?"
Gordon Lawson came out and worked as hired man for Uncle Arthur. Dad had sciatica that year and was layed up for most of the summer. The sciatica never left him until he went to Regina and had all his teeth removed. He was never bothered with it after that. Dad never got dentures until many years later. He would cut the food up fine and was able to eat his meals faster than the rest of us.
Christmas day of 1920 the family gathering was at our house. The day after Christmas, boxing day, being Aunt Daisy's birthday, we all went to her house. Uncle Horrie and Aunt Alice stayed there.  On New Year's day of 1921 my cousin Roy was born. First child for Uncle Horrie and Aunt Alice. They got Dr. Hall from Fort Qu'appelle. Kelsey brought him up by car. Kelsey caught a coyote at our gate. Uncle Horrie held the coyote up to the window for Aunt Alice to see.
After a short stay at Winstanley Grove Uncle Horrie and family went to live in their new home which they called, "Silver Birches".

Alice and son, Roy Nevard in front of "Silver Birches"

In 1922 Dick Winstanley came out from England to work for Uncle Arthur. In the winter of 1922 there was a concert at Shawlands School. One item on the program was a play entitled "The Entomology of The Black Beetle". Thought up by Dick Winstanley. Bill watched them practicing and also saw it at the concert. I never saw the play but Bill related it all to me and it did not take long for me to have it memorized. The results, when Dick Winstanley came along I repeated the play to him. Mother said she did not think Dick was very pleased. He thought I was making fun of him, but such was not the case.
In the 1920s there was not the amount of entertainment that there is today. I remember hearing Aunt Daisy remarking to Mother that the Chautauqa had been in Lipton and May and and Annie Fox had gone to see it. She used a tone of voice that indicated this was a great society event.
One Sunday afternoon Harry Creaser came for a visit and entertained us with some of the popular music. He played some of them on my harmonica. "It Aint Goin To Rain No More" had sharps and flats and could not be played so he sang it instead.
In the fall of 1922 the Goffs and Nevards dissolved the partnership in the threshing outfit which had begun in 1910. We took over the portable engine and bought a smaller separator in 1923. That year we threshed for Bob Grainger and Syd Fox.
In the spring of 1924 cousin Bud (Sherwood Eric Holmden) came to make his home with Aunt Daisy and Uncle Arthur at Winstanley Grove.

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

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)

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.

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.