Day Off From The San December 1950

From the journal of Bill Nevard Dec 1: Payday. Eleven members of the North Regina Badminton club came to the San and played against 8 of our members. Dr. Reilly, Dr. Trasi, Frank Froh, Jack Bogart, Mrs. McKenzie, Mrs. McPherson, Miss Gore and Miss Healy. After which we all went up to the assembly room for lunch. Dec 2: I decided to go out to the farm on my day off. Caught the Regina bus at the lodge and rode to Lipton. Irene Zerr was the only other passenger. I had my new parka on which had only come the day before. I visited Jack Goff's and Fishers. Called in at Segal's Cafe and got a box of chocolates as a Christmas present for Silver Birches. Started out walking to the farm at 9:30 and was about 4 hours making the trip. Only a sleigh trail most of the way. Everybody at the farm reasonably well. I got some stuff together for the boys to take to Lipton in the sleigh but couldn't find Dad's parka. I went up to Silver Birches and had dinner there. Gave Uncle Arthur two months payment and started back about 3:30 pm. I called in at Charlie Huber's place and managed to get a car ride with his son Leonard. We got to Lipton about 6:45 and I had to wait about an hour for the bus.

Visitors From The City

From left: Roy, Alice, Horace at back. Front row Donald and Joy. Seated on the running board?Arthur? Ernest Nevard?

Notice the "HSD" patch on Donald's overalls which stood for Headlands School District.

As seen above, my Nevard grandparents, mother and  two uncles. As none of the Nevards owned a car at the time, approximately 1937,  I'm guessing the occasion was  a  visit from  the Regina relatives, Uncle Eddie and Aunt May Edwards. May was a sister to Arthur Nevard's wife, Daisy. I don't even know if they owned a car but they always had a neighbour drive  them out to the farm for a  visit each summer. Here is an entry from Bill Nevard's journal which describes the day,or one much like it.
August 3, 1937: Dad left off cutting the pasture 20 acres and started on the basement 13 acres. Uncle Arthur and Roy went to Lipton and Uncle got his wagon wheels fixed. The Normans and Billy West came up from Regina in their car bringing Uncle Eddie and Aunt Flo with them. They arrived about dinner  time and had dinner here, going up to Silver Birches (H. Nevard's farm) after dinner for a visit. After they had left Dad went back  and cut wheat for about an  hour.

V.E. Day

Yesterday, May 8, 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of victory over Europe day. It was a momentous day and mention is made of it in a letter home from Dick Nevard who was stationed in England at the time.
Bill Nevard makes reference to the event in his journal on the 13th of May.
May 13, 1945: Sunday, a special Victory celebration service at Headlands school today at 2:00 pm. Dad and I went in the democrat. Bud and Carol rode with us. Uncle Arthur walked but we caught him up before we got to the school. Uncle Horrie, Joy and Donald went in the cart.  Mr. and Mrs. Tom North and daughters. Ed, Ethel and Bill Dodd. Mr. and Mrs. Millward and Ivadelle. Mr. and Mrs. Radwell and Mrs. Bowman and John. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Barton and Geoffrey. Mrs. Bordass, Mamie and Malcolm. Mrs. Wheale, Mary and Shirley. Mr. Tingey and the same man who was with him the last time.
Roy was home for a while. He has been working for Tom Heggie and now he is going to work for Rudolph Hiske.
I finished writing my letter to Dick. In the evening I went and caught Firelight and Frank, who were both in Uncle Arthur's land, ready for work tomorrow.
Dad went up to Silver Birches.

. A photo of a Church service at Headlands school a few years later in 1951.

January 13, 1965 Continued

I drove back home for dinner. In the afternoon I went back to Lipton, called on Mrs. Goff. She phoned Joy to let them know I was going to see Uncle Horrie. I drove out to the cemetery again and gave Lerat a thermos of hot coffee. He thought he might be finished about 4:00 pm.
I drove out to the farm, parked by the gate and walked in to Silver Birches. They were not surprised to hear about Uncle Arthur. I did not stay too long as I did not want the car to get too cold to start. When I got back to the cemetery about 4:00, Lerat still had an hour's work in order to finish. I drove into town to see Bud but he had gone off again. So I called around at Mrs. Goff's for a while. Then drove back to the cemetery, waited til Lerat had finished, then drove him home. Hannah came along this evening with a few boxes of Uncle's things including the Waterloo stick.

January 14:Dick and I both off work today and we left home in good time going down to the Fort to pick up Lerat. Inclined to snow a bit but much milder. We drove right up to the cemetery as Lerat wanted to make sure everything was ok. Then going back to Lipton and we left Lerat at the hotel. Then went to Mrs. Goff's where Les, Joy, Ralph, David and Ivy Hobetzeder were there. . Uncle Horrie and Don soon arrived. The service was delayed as Mr Ellis got his car stuck near Jim Potter's and had to be pulled out so we went to Bud's place next door and waited.
Nothing else untoward occurred and at the close of the service most of us went to the grave side. Pat Neil, John Senft, Tom North, Philip Fisher, Manuel Miller and Melvin Grainger were the pall bearers. Then we came back to Goff's for a while. When we thought Lerat had time enough to fill in the grave we went back to pick him up. He wanted to go into the hotel for one quick beer so we left him and went to Our Store to buy a few groceries. We talked a bit with Tom North and Philip Fisher and then Dick went to look for Lerat. Met him coming back from the hotel. We drove back to the Fort and I paid Lerat with a cheque for $25.

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.

Late October 1949

October 22: I left the San and started for home on the bike but there was such a strong wind I walked nearly all the way. I found Dad at Jack Goff's. Also Hobetzeder. I bought bread , butter and chocolate bars and then headed for the farm, When I got there Uncle Arthur had just finished his dinner. I went up to Silver Birches and gave Joy Dick's camera. Then went down to the gravel pit and threw out 1000 shovels of gravel. Roy fixing the fence at the diversion , It was broken down.

Jack Goff as seen in the late 1930s.

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.

Art and Writing

Bill Nevard was pretty handy at writing and drawing . Given a lead pencil and any old piece of paper he could (and did) produce some interesting art work. Like this one from April 16 1942.

Bill's journal entries from that time.........
April 15 We finished wood sawing today. Finished at Silver Birches before dinner and cut Uncle Arthur's in the afternoon.
April 16: Pig killing today. Uncle Horrie came and helped. John Senft called in dinner time.

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.

 

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.

Christmas Letter Dec. 43

Headlands P.O.
Dec. 19, 1943
Dear Dick
I didn't write my usual epistle to you last Sunday as I had finished my last letter only two days before and had it posted on the Saturday so now I have 9 days news to tell you.
Roy went to Lipton with John Fleming on the Friday although I didn't know it until afterwards.
On Saturday the 11th Dad and both uncles went to Lipton in the democrat taking King and George. Uncle Horrie brought the mail down with him as he came and I got your last letter written from B.C. Pleased to hear that you are able to make a little extra money. Hang on to it as you will find it very useful later on. I don't think you need furnish any more towards the tiller as I will have enough accumulated to pay for it when it comes I expect. Of course there is always the possibility that the company may not be able to fill my order.
I got another load of wood home while the men were away in town. Uncle Arthur rode back from Lipton with August Zielke in his truck and August took a load of barley back to town for him.
Sunday was quite a bit colder, 10 below zero in the morning and Monday was quite cold but nice and bright and I managed to get 2 more loads of wood home. August Zielke took two loads of wheat down for Uncle Arthur who rode to Lipton with him the first time and sent away the final payment on the separator. On Tuesday the 14th I got 2 more loads of wood home which makes 20 loads piled in the yard and ready for the saw and I guess that should make a year's supply although I still have a little to get in.
In the afternoon I hauled away manure and got a jag of oat straw. Dad baked a Christmas cake. We are getting all the cattle in now. On the 15th I went on 25 and got 50 green poles for a new hen house. The weather was turning milder again. On the 16th I went again and got another 50 poles. I guess I will have to get a third load to have enough. Part of Uncle Arthur's big slough has had the snow cleared off with a fresno and there is a bunch come and skate or slide there every Sunday now. Wheales, Bartons, Suppples, Berners and so on. On the 17th Cliff Barton came to Silver Birches to help Uncle Horrie kill his turkeys and Dad went up to help. I think they killed 32 altogether. Dad is sending one of them to Regina and Uncle Horrie is going to have a gobbler from Dad. The Herrings went to a dance at Headlands. It was a farewell affair for Billy Bordass who is going overseas.
Yesterday we chopped oats both for ourselves and for Uncle Horrie. It was a mild day , hardly freezing but too windy for comfort. Donald brought the mail down in the evening. Besides your letter Dad got one from Uncle Cecil. I think he is going to live in Colchester when he can get a house. Today has been reasonably nice without any outstanding events to record. I have composed 4 new songs in the past week. Dad will take your rubbers, felt socks, mitts and overalls tomorrow and leave them in Andy Gray's office for you when you come home. If you are coming home for New Year's celebration I guess I'll probably be seeing you before I write any more letters. Anyway I'll wish you a merry Christmas and ask you to convey the compliments of the season to Uncle Eddie and Aunt May from us. I think thats all the news I've got just now so goodbye Dick
From your loving brother E.W. Nevard

Bill and Dick Nevard by poplar logs about 1922.

Bill's Trip To Town January 1944

  Headlands P.O.
Sask. Jan 9, 1944
Once again I'm writing to you on Sunday night as usual. I don't know just when it will be posted. Uncle A said a few days ago he would have to go to town soon, either Monday or Friday on account of getting in the bank but Dad was up at Silver Birches this evening and he never said anything about going tomorrow.
After you left on the train Tuesday I went over to the elevator but Andy Gray wasn't there. Jake Huffman was in with a load of wheat and I talked with him for a while, then went over town and posted the letters. Then I bought the lumber Dad wanted. Willie Wilson told me there was some freigtht over at the station so I went and put that on the platform ready to pick up. It was for Uncle A. Then I went to the elevator again and saw Andy Gray. He told me he had room for wheat but not for oats and barley just then. I can't haul until we get more snow anyway.
I asked him about salvage paper. They are not doing anything in Lipton about it yet. The last time they collected salvage paper there it was kind of a washout. They had a whole lot of it stored in sheds and were going to have it trucked out but they were told that the expense of hauling it out would be more than it was worth. So finally , needing the sheds for other purposes, they paid somebody $6 to take it out and burn it.
I got home alright on Tuesday night and on the fifth I hauled away manure and got a load of wheat straw. In the evening Tom and Ed North came along in their covered in cutter after the parcel. They came in and stayed for a while.
On the sixth I got a jag of last year's hay home from 13 for the cattle and on the seventh I got a load of good hay home for Raspberry and the team. Yesterday being a nice day I went up the hill for a load of wheat straw and brought the mail home with me including your letter to Dad. Uncle A. has heard from Bud at last, he is in Italy.
I had two more books from the Open Shelf, "52 Years a Policeman, and Commentary on the Bible". The latter is a big book containing the text of the first five books in the Bible. There is about 675,000 words to read in it so it will keep me busy to get through the two books in the time I'm allowed.
Well I guess its bedtime again and five o'clock will be here before I'm ready for it so goodbye Dick.
From your loving brother............... E.W. Nevard
Aunt Alice wishes me to thank you for your letter to her.
                                                                    
Bill and Ernest Nevard 1946.