Reston Train Station

Crowd waiting on the platform at Reston Station - Picture from Reston Museum

Today's topic reminds me how important trains were to Reston’s early residents.  Practically everything they needed and used was delivered to Reston by train - lumber, automobiles, farm machinery, cattle, horses, food, and all manner of supplies. Before the days of truck transportation, it all came by train. Before the highway networks and reliable vehicles, people routinely took the train to visit family, shop in the bigger centres, attend medical appointments, and so much more. Looking at the faces, my favourite picture of all time above, I wonder where they were off to after posing for this picture.  Many a homesteader made Reston their final stop with a carload of settler effects and their families to begin a new life here. Reston counted on the railway the same way we see Number Two highway now. 

 When the first passenger train arrived in Reston almost 130 years ago on December 2, 1892, a boxcar set alongside the track at the end of Main Street/4th Avenue served as a station. Cleland Jones was the first agent who sold tickets, kept track of freight in and out and generally operated the station. At some point a more permanent structure replaced the boxcar to serve as a station and a home for the agent. Arthur Bertram Stuart lived on the second floor with his wife Hattie (Andrews) and infant son Noel in the early 1900’s when a rail snow plow went off the track and came crashing through the station destroying it.  No one was hurt but were very startled, I'm sure! It was determined this location was a wet spot in those days and more room was needed around the station for freight. A new station house was built in about 1907, three blocks east at the end of 7th street, south of the present Memorial Park.

Postcard from Prairie Towns site dated about 1913

In July of 1929, the station house was struck by lightning but by necessity it was quickly put back in service. Two east-west passenger trains arrived and departed every day and at times 18 trains passed through town in a day. Troop trains pulled out of town during both wars with some hometown boys seeing Reston for the last time the day of their departure.  Happy reunions with returning soldiers also happened on the station platform for the lucky ones.  Reston was also the turn around point for a mixed train on a branch line that left Reston for Wolseley, SK three days a week and returned the next day. This steam train was called The Peanut due to its whistle being reminiscent of that of a peanut vendor on the streets in England.  Steam engines were replaced with diesel units as time went on and fewer men were needed to operate this type of machine. 

Reston was truly a railroad town and many of its citizens were employed by the industry.  Aside from track maintenance crews, railways hired men to keep the water tank full and fill the steam engines, the coal docks were needed to fuel the trains and the Roundhouse had a whole crew of men to service the engines and maintain the huge turntables.  The crew to operate the train included the conductor, engineer, fireman and brakeman. I have been contacted by the daughter of Elmer Avery who became the assistant agent in 1926, at the tender age of 18. He would have learned what he needed to know, including Morse code, from his father, James Avery who was the agent at Goodlands Mb for many years.  He boarded with a couple named Brown and they remained friends for years after he left Reston (not sure how long he was there).  She remembers visiting them in the early 1950s.  Thank you, Joan!

Train Crew in front of station in 1909

Besides the station agent, a helper and a night operator were hired to work at the station. There may have been up to 3 passenger cars along with a mail car and express car for goods that were destined for businesses or individuals in Reston. There were no trains on Sundays, which gave everyone a day of rest.  The receipt below from 1912 shows CPR freight charges of 249 pounds at 21 cents/pound or $52.29 perhaps for the Boulton plow purchased that spring to use with their Hart Parr engine.

CPR 5234 at Reston dated June 1955 - Photo by Bill Hooper on Flickr here

In researching about the station, Adam David Anderson’s name comes up as being a long serving agent from 1919 to 1954 but also for the kindness shown to many by him and his wife Bertha (Pollock). Known as Dave, he was a talented horticulturalist and the station became a place of beauty and won awards. Dave also had a fur farm where he raised chinchilla rabbits and silver foxes just south the the station house. In retirement, he was involved in the Reston Memorial Park. Other former agents were Joe Cavanaugh, John Linklater (namesake of Linklater siding between Reston and Sinclair), Jack Anderson, George Hooper and the man who locked the door for the final time in 1969, Bruce Marlin.

By the 1960’s change was in the wind when private automobiles and trucking took over the movement of people and goods. The 105 mile Peanut Line to Wolseley was torn up in 1961 and by 1969, there was no longer a need for a station house in Reston. It was demolished in 1969 and the small building left served as a section headquarters and bunkhouse for the railway maintenance crew. My husband Randy worked out of this bunkhouse for a time in his CPR career. It was removed in the 1990’s when Reston was no longer a section territory on its own but combined with a larger one. The two elevators in Reston were deemed too small for the railway to continue to service and were closed in the early 2000's. After this, the railway was still used for grain movement from Redvers. The flood in 2013 took out the track and it was never rebuilt.  The track and rails were quietly taken out shortly after, signaling the final days of the train in Reston. Something I'd bet the people on the platform in the picture at the top of this post could not have imagined.

 

Mr. Archer's Park History Notes 1965

Picture from a 1959 Birthday Calendar sponsored by Reston Chamber of Commerce

Today's post features the writing of Mr. Alfred Archer as a follow up to a previous post with minute books and scraps of paper loaned by the Reston and District Museum. This post was transcribed from Mr. Archer's handwritten notes which the Park Board Committee requested in the mid 1960's as he was stepping back from his role as Park Supervisor.  His final sentence is my favourite!  Even in his wildest imagination, I'm sure he would have never thought his notes would be available to the world online.

After the First Great War it was decided to get a memorial. It was discussed which to have a monument or a memorial hall. Mr. A.E. Smith asked me what I thought but I thought a monument as it were purely memorial. No source of pleasure or revenue.

At a public meeting of the community in 1921 it was decided to have a memorial monument. A monument was decided on being more suitable than a hall. A committee of J.R. Duncan, William Watt, N.H. Ready, J.R. McLean, W.A. Brady, Dr. Clark, and E.H. Berry secretary. They were to collect donations from the district around Reston purchase a suitable monument and erect it.

The town of Reston was to provide the site with the site committee of Dr. Chapman president, A.E. Smith secretary, W.A. Brady and John Guthrie. There were no donations the village provided the park for the site of the memorial statue by taxes. Later Mr. Smith asked me about the best site. Suggestions from the four corners on Main Street to different small town lots. I suggested a small park and a number of places were considered. I thought the best place was in the present grounds as we had no water and the ground was the most suitable for growing shrubs etc. and fairly central. I suggested vacant ground on the east side of town this was decided on and property bought from the C.P.R.

The property was bought from C.P.R. was two blocks on east side of Reston. Prairie in the natural state except a knoll in the south east corner which was scraped off by the C.P.R. to fill a slough at the station ground. There were a number of shallow sloughs, no trees except a few small native poplars at one slough and small native shrub usual to the prairies. The ground a shallow black loam with clay subsoil except a small piece of shallow gravel subsoil on the east side. No water.

In the year 1921, J. McMurchy, a willing volunteer worker and have good taste, was asked to fix up or supervise the work on grounds. The scrub was cut off, the west half was leveled - that is the high places were scraped in the sloughs and leveled black earth not saved but put in sloughs and high places. Left with a clay topsoil which was bad at planting time. Later the ground was fenced with page wire and one strand of barbwire on top with wire gates. A small neat well built building was built with public toilet with basement pit on east end and small tool house on west end with lattice screen on east and south covered with vines. The prairie grass could not possibly do as lawns. In 1921, ground was broke and backset by a farmer J. I. Bulloch. In 1922 Mr. Bulloch sowed a cover crop of oats, brome and rye. Grass was sowed and both done well. This was done before I was on the committee. The Park committee was: Dr. Chapman, W.A. Brady, John Guthrie and A.E. Smith (all have passed away except Dr. Chapman who took an active role until his death in 1961.)

Alfred Archer 

I (Archer) was not on the committee but was asked to attend the meeting of the committee to help on the planting in 1923. They had a plan from the Manitoba Agricultural College drawn by a person that was not acquainted with the park site or the nature of the soil. It did not consider the walks in park or the planting stock suitable. I made a rough plan on the back of the blueprint which was accepted and followed with some additions until present time a little done each year. I was added to the committee at this meeting in 1923. Surplus money collected for the memorial $236 turned over to the park at a later date.

Special trees when we first planted the shrubs in 1926. We tried 4 Koster Bluespruce. $2.50 each. Followed planting instructions, very close. All four grew good and beautiful trees today. They were inclined to grow crooked when young. We braced them and put on pieces of wood to keep them straight. In a few years they were straight and braces were removed. These all done fine large trees today. Six Scotch Pine - rabbits ate them in winter - destroyed. Six Spruce these died for want of proper care.

In the late winter or early spring of 1928, the weather was warm and very little snow and the trees budded out. Then the cold weather came and killed a number of golden willows and double lilac. I noticed the bark on the willow trees turned black. Mr. Broderick was in town often attending a meeting I had him go to the park with me he examined the trees he said they had started in growth in the cold zero weather later killed them. We lost the Golden and Laurel Willows also Elm trees. It also killed some of the tops of the white double lilac.

In the 30s we try different evergreens at different times. Bought a few spruce from a man that had 10 left from a truckload. Did not have much prepared ground. He advised placing them close as they grew that way in nature. We done this and they done well when small but when they got large in dry seasons some died for want of moisture they did not winter good. A little later we got more from a truckload these did not do as well we had to make holes after we got the trees think the trees were out of ground too long. They had sod, original soil around trunk but soil was off the roots below. Think they had been dug in light soil which shook out while being handled. The trees that lived are good today, but too close together.

In 1939, we took a lot of iris and some other perennials to the gardener Mr. Leans at Clear Lake. He asked me what he could give us in exchange. I said we had nearly all the perennials he had but would like some Spruce. He said he could not give us them but would see the right authorities. The next time I saw him he said he had seen the right authorities and he could fill our truck - a panel delivery - from trees that were to be removed to make a road. We got around 50 trees including 8 Siberian Larch he had in his nursery. The Spruce have done well. The Larch have done extra well all living and admired by all visitors.

I think it was in the early 40’s there came a heavy frost in the fall before the leaves had fallen and the wood reopened on the Spirea - Vanhouttei and Arguta. The next spring had the wood all dead to the ground. New growth all came up and the following year had the best bloom we ever had. I think the old growth should be all cut out every year immediately after blooming, but we have not done it. Mock orange suffered badly but came from roots. Mock oranges don’t do well here - the tops kill every winter. I got one from A. P. Stephenson for my own property which did not do well. After the park started, I took it there. There are two or three growing and bloom but suffer badly every winter. In 1946 I got some double ones from Morden Experimental Farm. They make good growth every summer but winter kill just have a few flowers at the bottom of the bush. We have had no damage from floods. No bad hail damage. We had a heavy wind storm about 1947 blew over a number of poplars and one Koster blue spruce. We dug out the ground on the uprooted side, pulled it back with tractor, covered roots good and watered and placed a guy wire to hold it and today you would never know it was blown over. I don’t remember ever being discouraged.

Mr. Archer's hand drawn map - unknown year 

The park committee at this time did not have any money to buy trees and shrubs so we obtained them from other people who had a surplus. I raised shrubs and perennials in my own back garden, brought some from the Assiniboine Valley, and exchanged plants and shrubs from people in other places. We lost some trees on the start as we had no water. I made no charge for my time for a number of years. Afterward I was given a donation not for the work I had done, but in appreciation for what I had done. The ratepayers moved that I be given $200. Later this was increased to $400 which I have received every year since and have been given praise every year. For labour, expenses and my donation, a grant was made every year by the municipality from the Local Improvement District. This was $350 at first and raised as required. The last number was $1200.00. We tried to keep this for labour. I’ve also raised bedding plants, cut flowers, sold perennial plants and shrubs which brought in money. Herbaceous perennials and peonies were purchased later. A few others that could not be raised were bought. Most of the perennials were donated and then multiplied. I also donated tools and materials I did not need. This last year we stopped raising bedding plants, when I could not go to the greenhouse, the distance of 1/2 mile twice a day, and to have a man do it would not pay.

In the 30s bought from Skinners six Juniper from the Badlands of Dakota. We lost three for lack of attention but the other three are nice. In the 30s I bought some pink cherries from the Assiniboine Valley these grew well lots of bloom but never any berries.

Double flowering plum we got in 1925 is a beautiful bush. Got more in the 30s but planted them where there were too many other shrubs.

About this time Skinner’s nursery of seedlings had a special dollar collection of seedlings: 1 Juniper, 1 Morgan’s Pine, 1 Colorado Spruce and 1 Cedar. I got 4 collections planted them in nursery. Planted where we wanted later. All done well. We tried a couple of cedars earlier but they sunburn in winter and finally died. The ones we got later planted on the north and east side of shelter and have been doing good.

In 1942 Dr. Chapman donated six selected blue Colorado spruce, six green Colorado spruce, and six Scotch pine - all these trees are doing good.

Dr. Chapman also brought in from the wild in his car trunk, 10 Jack Pine which we planted among the shrubbery as the trunks don’t to well so hide the lower part and Black Spruce which done well. But some died four years ago. Think they did not have enough moisture in the fall.

1942 Mr. McMorran (Souris) donated some Balsam and Native Tamarack and Mountain Maple. The Balsams still growing but not Tamarack died from drought a few years ago. They were planted in wrong places and not given any attention. The Mountain Maple lived a few years but did not do well finally died. This was also in wrong place and paid no attention. Mr. McMorran gave us another Mountain Maple fall of 1956 and balsam. I gave this Maple good attention in planting and situation.

In 1953 Dr. Chapman donated a pyramid Cedar. We planted this on north east corner of grove and this is doing good. At the time of planting I noticed a root that looked like new shoots were starting. I gave this special attention and last spring I moved out from this three small cedar. They were looking good at freeze up last fall. Kept them well watered in a shady place.

1955 bought two Globe Cedar and one Juniper. These appear to be doing good - had no setbacks.

Buffalo berry also brought some from nice bunch south of Miniota. These grew well but never any berries. I found some more from south of Bradwardine. They are bearing berries now. I also got some from Morden in 1952. Had berries in them this last year. I did not know there were the two sexes. So now if I am digging wild plants get them different places if possible to ensure a better chance of getting both sexes and good fruit varieties.

Paper birch - took some young shoots from an old stump in the Assiniboine valley in the 30’s. Very little root but they grew good. The borer killed some later but they came from bottom. Lilacs we have Skinner’s different varieties - Vellum, Hybrids, Persian, Amur and Japanese. These all do well excepting the white Persian which just done well one year. Possibly it is not pruned enough.

Native Saskatoon - have a nice clump planted in the early 30s. Look very good. Foliage nice green in summer and colours good in the fall.

High bush cranberry planted about 1925 still living but too crowded. Planted more in 1955.

Russian Olive very desirable planted in 1927 done well had them 30 feet tall. Lost one which came from an old stump in 1952 - expect it was the early frost.

Weeping cut leaf birch planted in 1925 done well but it is done now think it has run its life.

The gardeners which have looked after the park - Mr. Tom Caldwell 1928, Alf Anderson 1930, Maurice Ludlum 1942. Up until this time the work was done by hand and a one horse cultivator. A small tractor and cultivator was bought in 1942. Mr. Paul McCartney was next in 1956. There were a number of persons after that and the dates not recorded, Tom Nash, Tom Lockhart, Earnie Johnston, Jim McGregor, Raymond Kendrick, Louis Chaskie, Earnest Scott, Mrs. Tom Lockhart, and John Pickett. There were others who did casual labor. Flowers were sold by Lyall McMorran, R.C. Bulloch and Mrs. Archer.

The knowledge of the park will soon be forgotten if some younger person does not care to learn about it.

The Era of Sharp Dressed Men

Randy and Russell Boulton May 1966

In the world of online shopping, parents of today might wish for the days when you could run uptown for a new shirt rather than wash the soiled one, stitch the ripped one, or get a bigger size for the outgrown one.  Actually, since kids have closets and drawers full of clothes, maybe not. I'm thinking of the days of "Sunday Best" like the Boulton boys are posing in out by the car.  They were likely off to Sunday supper with relatives or hosting a houseful themselves. 

Parents in the 1960’s in Reston had that option at Bea’s Style Shoppe owned by Beatrice Donald. The store operated in the south side of the Berry Block on 4th street from about 1964 to 1971. It was a "ready to wear" shop rather than made to order, as had been traditional. Bea's husband John had died suddenly in 1957 and she had been hairdressing in her home on 338 - 3rd Street in Reston from 1956 to 1962. She saw an opportunity to sell ladies and children's wear and set up shop in the former home of E.H. Berry after his death in 1963.

Clipping from Reston Recorder 2006

Edward Hanlan Berry first came to Reston from Ontario in 1898 on the harvest gangs.  He went back east and returned with his bride Bertha (Davis) and set up a jewelers. The Berry Block was built in 1906 of frame construction and was later faced with brick in 1914. Reston was booming with the construction of the Reston-Wolseley branch railway.  Ten children of Bertha and Edward were born and shared their home with the retail shop.  E. H. bought the Manitoba Hardware and Lumber Store down the street in 1924 and moved his jewelry and watch business there. 

Watches were important to the railway men and having top quality was vital. Checking and repairs were part of his business as well as checking the clocks in the train station daily for accuracy.  E.H. received a annual free pass on the C.P.R. for performing this duty daily.  Fletch Manning's article from the March 2006 Reston Recorder tells the former retail shop was made into the family dining room where many happy meals were shared. Renters occupied some of the nine upstairs rooms and over the years as well. 

In 1964, their son Edison Berry converted the former home to apartments and Bea's Style Shoppe was created where the jewelers originally operated. His son Larry Berry was landlord for many years until 2007 when Bryce Campbell bought it and renamed it Main Street Inn & Suites. The suites have been updated and modernized and the historic building recently became the home of Reston Chiropractic Centre and Dr. Shannon Gervin D.C. The building looks great for 115 years old.

I'm unsure if any other business ran out of this space after Bea closed in 1971 but would be glad to hear from any of my readers with further information, memories or pictures. ssimms@escape.ca

Preserving the Past for the Future

According to the minutes book, it was the spring of 1966 when Joe Ashley and his brother Charles approached the Reston Memorial Park Board with the idea to create the Reston and District Museum on their grounds. At that exact time, President Maurice Ludlam and the 9 board members were busy preparing for the imminent departure of long time park volunteer Alfred Archer. Planning for 1967 celebrations of Canada's centennial year were also forefront in everyone’s mind.  The former Stonehill School was offered to move to the Park to house antique and pioneer items. The Ashley brothers were not in favour of this building and they then approached the Reston Lions club with an offer of $1800 if they would supervise construction of a new steel building with a cement floor. Luckily, the Lions agreed to take on the project even though they were heavily involved in building the Alstone Lodge at the time. A location on the north east corner of the Park beside the tennis court was decided on for a museum following a study by a committee of Edison Berry, Lew Trail, John Abbey, Doug Watt and Art Smith. Community support was strong with monetary donations and volunteer labour both generously supplied.

Beaver Lumber Company was given the contract to supply material to build a 30’ X 60’ building under the supervision of Bob Moore. Natural light was part of the design with translucent fiberglass panels. A receiving and scrutineer committee of Alvin Lazenby, Reg Berry and David Braddell were charged with evaluating donations but the history book says they accepted "practically everything offered" .  The Ashley Brothers donated their parents' living room furniture as well as many, many other items, according to an article in the Brandon Sun written by Helen (Manning) Ready in 1976. This clipping and the Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) history book were the main reference sources for this post. 

After much work, the museum opened to the public on Centennial Day celebrated on June 20, 1967. The museum operated through Provincial grants, bequests, donations and sale of memberships.  The same continues today under the direction of a volunteer board. 

Joseph and Charles Ashley were two of the five children born to John Joseph and Rebecca (McGuire) Ashley. The family had relocated from Ontario to the East half of 12-8-27 in the Lambton district, northeast of Reston in 1904. The brothers were innovative thinkers and first in the district to embrace the use of tractors and automobiles. Conversely, they also had a love of antiques, Aboriginal relics, petrified wood and rocks. 

The Ashley farm was just a few miles west of Oak Lake Indian Reserve, now known as Canupawakpa and the people were greatly respected by the family. Joe died in 1969 and his brother Charles in 1975. They are buried in Pipestone Cemetery.  The community of Reston was the benefactor of their philanthropy, both the museum and the United Church received bequests after they died.

This spinning wheel was purchased at an antique store in Brandon circa 1940 – 1950 by Fletch Manning. It was never used in Reston for its purpose, but was often used as an eye catcher in many displays and backgrounds. It was donated to the Museum by Fletch Manning on August 21st, 2013

Dr. A.B. Chapman's black satchel and his medical instruments are on display in the museum.  Chapman was a long serving doctor in Reston from 1900 until his death in 1961.  His colleague, Dr. F. H. Clark's medical library is also part of the museum's collection. The former town bell, used to alert residents of fire or other emergencies as well as to alert children it was curfew time is housed here. Mounted animal heads and team sports uniforms each have a place as do pictures and items from the former Masonic Lodge. A handsome photo of WW2 casualty Gregor Birnie and the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) uniform of Bessie (Reid) Armstrong remind visitors of Reston and the district's contribution to the wars overseas.  

  

In 1973, the first summer students - Rhonda Russell and Melanie Heath began the annual tradition of youth input and it became the first job for many Restonites over the years including our son Scott. (Pictures and captions with italics are his work from the summer of 2013.) In 1977, a four month curator and historian was hired - David Braddell and much cataloging and research took place.  Besides that, the museum runs on community volunteers. 

This picture from the Reston Museum shows a group of men posing with 56 geese. A caption on the picture identifies the group as Left to Right – Colin C. Campbell, Andy Sutton, Dr. A.B. Chapman, Howard Jackson, Jack Ludy, and Frank Manning. This picture was donated to the museum in 1985 by Doris Robinson.

An annex was built across from the museum to the east and it houses the large agricultural equipment, vehicles and tools. A mezzanine on part of the structure contains many more interesting items donated by local families and businesses.  A mural depicting The Peanut was painted by local artist Whitney Paul-Joseph and brightens up the wall and shows the stops along the railway line from 1906 until 1961.

A third building was added in 1998 when the former home of Peanut conductor Angus McDonald and his family was moved into a location south of the museum. The house was built in 1896 for the R.J. Douglas family and was purchased in 1906 by Mr. McDonald at its former location just south and west of the railway.  Work is ongoing at McDonald house and there are hopes it can be transformed as a location to keep archives in a climate controlled environment.   

Volunteers have always been the life blood of the organization. Dennis Smith was responsible for tuning up the 1929 Ashley Brother's Plymouth and drove it in the Reston Fair Parade for many years. His wife Mabel was a niece of Joe and Charlie Ashley.  Their son Bert Smith continues as a long time board member.  In 1975, the Case steam engine was included in the parade with the work of Leonard and Ken Ludlam among others. Bert Stratford spent many hours making wooden frames to display the collection of pioneer photographs.

This photo from the Reston Museum shows the A.K. Cates curling team from 1922 after winning a trophy at the Souris Bonspiel. W.C. Bulloch was third, W. Mutter was second, and F.C. Guthrie was the lead for this team. Notice the wide brooms that they used then. The large trophy on the table is surrounded by individual prizes for the men. Perhaps they were candy dishes?

Over the years, strawberry socials were held as a fundraiser and a chance to showcase the museum and its items. This past year, the summer student workers set up an Instagram account here to share pictures and information on that social media channel. Great thinking to engage the next generation in keeping our museum interesting and relevant going forward! I hope you will make time to visit in July and August of 2022.  I have it on good authority that the Museum Board is always looking for members too! 😉 

 The caption under the picture says ”A Sample Catch 165 fish Reston July 17, 1913”. A few names are listed on the back of the picture. First in the back row on the left is William McDougall, 4th is Tom Mutter. Seventh person in the front row is Jack Ludy. This picture was donated to the museum in 1967 by Joe Ashley. The bottom right of the mat says “Boynton and Eaton, Reston, Man”. 

Over Half a Century of Independent Living

Early days of the Alstone Lodge - Move in day was June 1, 1969

Same view on a windy afternoon in November 2021

Sitting along 5th Street in Reston, Manitoba between 2nd and 3rd Avenues sits a building with an important place in our community for over 52 years. Independent living suites for singles and couples aged 55+ have created a well loved home for many of our community’s seniors.  A safe and affordable place with friends, family and community nearby also allows independence in self contained suites. 

It would need forward looking citizens to have a vision for the project and detemination to see it through. Mr. Lorne Watt was first to present the idea of such a place to the RM of Pipestone council in 1960. Talk and wishing continued over the next few years. Society was changing and seniors were looking for an alternative to their family homes to lessen yard work and upkeep. Social norms previous to this had often seen aging parents move in with their children but changes in the 1960’s meant more women working outside the home and less able to be elder caregivers and companions.

The Reston Lions Club formed in 1963 and in 1967 they championed the cause of creating a Lodge. A delegation of local men visited various government agencies and were able to secure grants as well as a $69 000 long term loan from through Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  Varied community fundraisers took place like a Walk-a-Thon from Reston to Sinclair and back a distance of 35 km!  A board was formed in February of 1968 and the name Alstone was chosen to combine the municipalities of Albert and Pipestone. A total of $128 000 was spent on the building and common room furnishing with strong community support making it possible.

A lot was purchased from Mr. Peterson, one from Keith Clark, and two were donated by Leo Curtis.  Leo's mother Nettie Curtis and his brother Lawrence were two of the first residents a few short months later.  

The suites were complete by June 1, 1969 with 2 double suites and 12 singles. Miss Elizabeth Guthrie moved into Suite #1 first and after a night alone she was soon joined by many more happy renters.  The official opening took place on October 21, 1970.  Suites were all filled and a waiting list established. In 1973 the board approved an addition of 6 more suites and 4 single suites were renovated and made into 2 larger ones. (Fun fact -that explains why there is no suite #2 or #13 in the building now.) In the spring of 2008, three more double suites were added to the north end of the building.

An engraved plaque in the dining room recognizes the Founding Alstone Board members as being John Williamson, Art Smith, Wilbur Thompson, Frank Patmore, George Fotheringham, Wilson Skelton and Doug Watt.  Other men and women of the community who took their turn volunteering time for the betterment of others are also recognized.  

 The Reston Collegiate yearbook for 1972-1973 was the source of the group photo below and tells the rates in 1972 were $58.50 a month for a single room and $73 for a double. Maybe someone can help me with the lady in the back row in the middle, her name seems to be missing. 

** Update - A few short hours after the post went online, the answer came from Helen B. from Winnipeg.  Miss Elizabeth "Lizzie" Guthrie previously mentioned as moving in first is the lady in the back row with the light coloured dress.  Thanks so much, Helen!  

Social activities including group meals have played an important part for the residents and today Congregate Meals are available to eat in or take out 5 days a week. This service started with one day a week but has grown due to its success and value.  The Alstone Notes in the Reston Recorder in the past kept the community in the know about the comings and goings at The Lodge. Seniors Helping Hands organize activities and musical entertainment. The residents themselves gather to socialize, a benefit of living in the Lodge that Covid has made so difficult. 

The solarium at the west entrance and kitchen upgrades as well as regular suite renovations keep the building fresh.The piano in the lounge bears this engraved plaque.

The trees show the passage of time over 50 years. We hope it is home for  men and women in our community for another 50. 

Reston Memorial Park - From Oats to Roses

It was just about 100 years ago that the community of Reston decided to honour those from their town and area who made the supreme sacrifice in WW1. This cenotaph became the cornerstone for the creation of Reston Memorial Park in the southeast corner of the town.  Our park would not have had the success and fame it has attained without the dedication of one man - Mr. Alfred Archer. 

 

The essay below titled ‘From Oats to Roses’ was prepared by Mrs. E.A. Wilkins and Mr. A.D. Anderson of the Park Board and read at the dedication of the main west gate on July 27, 1970. Mr. Alfred Archer had passed away in Ontario in 1967 and the Board felt it important to remember his many contributions to the Memorial Park. The gate was constructed and the dedication plaque installed for a grand total of $549.14 from community collections to the A. Archer Memorial Fund. The committee at the time consisted of Maurice Ludlum, Iris McMurchy, A. D. Anderson, Bert Pierce, Laura Lockhart, Flora Scott, Hazel Rainnie, Elmer Duncan and the caretaker was John Pickett.  Mr. Archer was granted a Life Membership to the Horicultural Society of Manitoba in 1962 and was honoured locally with a presentation for his leadership and hard work. 

From Oats to Roses 

No doubt many of those here today have been visitors to Reston Memorial Park as have hundreds of others who have recorded their names in the Guest Book. They have come from as far away as Italy, Germany, Australia and South America to admire and often wonder how this Park began.

In 1921, after the 1st World War when so many Reston boys lost their lives, a community meeting was held when the decision to erect a monument instead of a hall was made. A committee was formed – J.R. Duncan, William Watt, N.H. Ready,  J.R. McLean, W.A. Brady, J. Guthrie, Drs Clark and A.B. Chapman with E.H. Berry as secretary. These men asked for donations, purchased and erected the monument in the spring of 1922 on property purchased on the advice of Mr. Archer from the C.P.R. by another committee composed of A.E. Smith, A.D. Anderson, R.C. Bulloch and others. This prairie land with a few shallow sloughs, had only native poplar and prairie growth but a good location, popular even in 1917 as a tennis court. The soil, shallow black loam with clay subsoil, a small gravel area but no water supply, required breaking and leveling so in the spring of 1922 J.I. Bulloch broke it and planted a crop of oats, rye and brome. The area - 5 acres - was also fenced.

The plans drawn up in the Agricultural College where no one knew the terrain or soil were rejected in a 1923 committee meeting. Mr. Archer was then asked to join the committee and draw up new plans which were accepted.

Over $200 had been left from the purchase of the monument and provided the funds for the first plantings.  6-12 special trees and shrubs in 1926 also 4 Koster Blue Spruce at $2.50 each which are still good. Also six Spruce which died and six Scotch Pine later eaten by the rabbits. In the dry 30’s, 10 Spruce were bought from a truck. On advice to plant closely, trees died because of lack of moisture. Drought, inexperience, rabbits, wind, insect pests and frost all took their toll through the years but 

Mr. Archer records -

“I don’t remember ever being discouraged“

Through the years, donations of perennials were made. These multiplied and were sold. Flowers were sold and many wreaths etc. made by Mrs. Archer. New plants and trees were obtained by exchanging with other gardeners. Mr. Archer himself collected Pincherry, Paper Birch, Willows and Buffalo Berry from the Assiniboine Valley and was always on the alert for new plants. The supervision and work in the park was his life.  He accepted no pay until later years when he was given a sum yearly in appreciation of his untiring efforts. His pride and joy since 1965 was the rose garden, some 50 or 60 roses. This bed was started with 18 roses donated by Wilbur Pierce in memory of his father. With an abundance of water now, these plants are thriving and well worth seeing. Perhaps, if you have not already visited here, you may plan a group or a family picnic and enjoy the beauties of trees, shrubs, roses and flowers surrounding the equipped picnic area provided with barbecue, the children’s playground and now the museum. Hundreds of birds congregate and nest in the houses Mr. Archer provided since he always cared for his feathered friends carrying food to them in the coldest weather. 

The late Mr. Archer signed the Park Guest Book for the first and last time on August 16, 1967 when he left Reston. However we have a living memorial to him our beautiful Park, now being well cared for by the committee in charge. Do come and see it anytime from the tulip and blossom time until the leaves fall, it is a riot of color.

 

Thanks to Dana from the Reston Museum for lending me some fascinating Park memorabilia from their Archives, including From Oats to Roses.  Keep an eye on this blog for more as we lead up to the day marking 100 years since the original dedication of the cenotaph. 

Telephones in Reston

Finding the receipt below surprised me to see that over 108 years ago in June of 1913, eligible bachelor farmer Thomas Boulton requested telephone service! Twenty-two dollars a year in 1913 converts to over $600 in today's money and I only wish that was the same as my cell phone bill now! The opportunity to connect with family and friends and do business without leaving home must have been an amazing and very welcome concept to the pioneers.   

Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone in 1876 and a short 2 years later, a local telephone service was being made available in Winnipeg.  To start with, it was a wire connecting two locations but grew steadily until 1881when a switchboard was installed to connect 26 subscribers.  

In 1905, Pipestone Municipal council discussed the idea of a telephone system that would be publicly owned and it was met with enthusiasm.  In fact by 1908, $30,000 in local money was raised by debenture to cover construction costs and work began in the townsites of Reston and Pipestone under contractor John Reid. Poles, wires with insulators and the actual telephones needed to be installed and this would have meant work for many. 

John and Verna Olenick were kind enough to lend me their most interesting copy of the Pipestone Municipal Telephone Directory for the exchange from July 1916.  The final sentence on the opening page reminds subscribers to not use their telephone during a thunderstorm! Customers were also asked not to have their calls go longer than 5 minutes and profane or improper language was strictly forbidden.  The use of the phone is not to be lent to anyone, instead direct them to the nearest pay station.  They knew how to market their service - don't let the neighbour use yours but encourage them to get their own. 

Page 4 of the 1916 Pipestone Municipal Telephone System Directory which includes Thomas

Listings include over 500 business and resident subscribers in the Pipestone, Reston, Sinclair and Virden exchanges.  Rural and town homes were indicated. (The abbreviation "do" stands for ditto - same as above.)  The local doctor - A.B. Chapman - is listed as the Agent during these years. On the numbering system to the left of the name, Thomas was assigned 13 ring 21 so I suppose that's what you told the operator to connect you to their phone.  Let me know if there is a better explanation!

  

Repairs were first made by Troubleman Fred Reeves and later Andy Rutherford.  Unfortunately, he was killed on the workplace in 1926 by a load of poles rolling off a railcar.  Les Parker took over the job and continued for several decades until his sudden passing in 1967.  Thanks to the Olenicks for the pictures of Les below.  Troubleman duties included replacing the dry cell batteries in the phones and attending to wire and pole problems.  

Les Parker with repair car

Les Parker with a snowplane used to be able to fix lines during and after storms

Two operators were on call during the day and one at night to connect calls to the right house. They were also tasked with dispatching fire or emergency services as needed. Miss Edith McDonald was noteworthy for working as an operator for over 37 years. The switchboard was located at Chapman's Drug Store as well as upstairs at the RM Office for some time. Women were the main workforce apparently due to their polite and pleasant voices but a man , Wes Morris,  was hired for the night shift at one time.  Apparently in the 1930's, operators were paid $45 a month and they needed to work every day, including holidays. 

Long distance charges for the month of October 1952

The telephone system paid its way for many years but increasing costs in the late 1940's meant it needed support from a tax levy.  in 1952, Council asked the Manitoba Telephone System to take over the utility and it did so in 1954.  

Correspondence after being taken over by Manitoba Telephone System in 1954

Punch card bill from 1955.  Automation at its beginnings!

The punch card system was the first step to having a computer able to read your billing information when the bill was sent into Winnipeg with payment. 

The first local dial system came into use in 1955.  There is an interesting audio file here from the Manitoba Archives that teaches how to dial properly.  Go to the bottom of the page and click the arrow to play the file.  Avoid whipping your finger and forcing the dial back! 

 By 1969, the utility was burying wire and cable rather than running overhead lines.  In 1976, this area was able to direct dial long distance calls instead of going through an operator. The service building below stands near the north end of Main Street.  Home phone must make up only a small part of their business today.  All in 108 years. Does it make you wonder what will be next? 

No Need for Running on Fumes

Photo from McKee Archives at Brandon University

In the late 1960’s the focus of Reston seems to have changed to #2 Highway from the railway. The Peanut had its last run in 1961 and citizens were much more mobile than in generations that came earlier.  Reston House owner and community supporters Ed and Rita Gulas decided to build a hotel on the highway and add a service station to the east as well. The official opening of the Reston Esso Station and the Reston Motor Hotel was held in February of 1966.  Reeve Carl Wedow cut the ribbon and Father Currie of Souris dedicated the structures. Ed later operated it as a Texaco station and had bulk plant with Ed as well as his son Greg driving the fuel truck until 1970. The garage did oil changes and sold tires.  I found the following article in a December 1971 Brandon Sun that details the taxidermy that graced its walls.  Sounds like an interesting place that I'm sure sticks in the memory of some of my readers! 

Gary and Barbara Watt were next to own the shop beginning in 1977 and continuing for the next 30 years. Being a licensed mechanic, Gary operated a general repair shop and sold Texaco gas.  Over the years he was a dealer for different fuel companies including Gulf and Co-op and he operated a CAA Roadside Service and did towing. It was a family affair with Gary’s dad Alex involved at the beginning and his children Marc and Ashli working there as well.  Several young men worked and learned with the Watts before going into mechanics for themselves.  Gary and Barb looked after Randy and I well for the years we were driving many miles in opposite directions to work when we were first married. I for one seemed to flirt with driving on fumes as long as I could.  I still remember his good-natured chuckle with me when I ran out of gas with a list of Things To Do on the dashboard that began with "Get Gas". They sold the business in 2007 and it became the home of Caldwell Customs for a while. It is not used now but the building is well maintained and remains as a welcome to Reston for highway travelers and residents alike. 

Taken from The Sequel (2009) page 46