Reston Recreation - Rinks

 After many weeks of highlighting businesses and former businesses in Reston, my next focus will be on recreational facilities, starting at the rink.

In today's age where most recreation complexes are owned and maintained by municipal governments, it is interesting to think of the days when they were privately owned. I suppose municipalities were busy with necessary pioneer needs - roads, health and education.  Recreation was not their concern so it was up to users to build and maintain the facilities. Natural ice surfaces like the Pipestone Creek and sloughs would have been the first spots used for skating, curling and even hockey. 

The Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) tells that the first location of a curling rink in Reston was on First Avenue just west of the future home of Wm Lockhart & Sons Garage. It was built in 1897 and was a ring of wood walls. The canvas top meant as much snow did not accumulate on the ice and at 46 x 140 feet it was lit with coal oil lanterns. Rocks for curling were privately owned or made of wood with lead filling for weight. Warm coats, often buffalo and flat caps looked to be a part of the needed equipment.  It was a men only sport in these days, probably until the 1920's or 30's.   

In 1905, there was a desire for something better so a group of interested locals bought shares in an enterprise called Reston Rink Co. They built the rink pictured at the top of this post on the west side of Second Street between First and Second Avenue. The Fire Underwriters' Map from 1928 shows it below. It was used for almost 50 years and would have been a welcome diversion during both wars, the depression and a popular gathering spot for all ages.

In 1954, community leaders like A.E. Smith and Dr. A. B. Chapman worked to get a new rink going at the present location on the west end of Fourth Avenue. I’m unsure of who was behind the financial investment but no doubt it was the community that held fundraisers and pledged funds to make it happen. Dr. Chapman was given the honour of throwing the first stone at the opening ceremony. It had 3 sheets of curling ice and a skating surface. It was also one of the first built with Dring Rafters. Dring Laminated Structures Incorporated was a Boissevain company that pioneered the lamination progress to make beams. Instead of nailing multiple layers together for strength, they began gluing them. Brothers George and Arthur Dring emigrated from England in 1922 and used their carpentry skills to open the company. At the height of the business in Boissevain, it employed 85 people. The company still exists and is known as Western Archrib.

Curling, hockey and pleasure skating were enjoyed by many here for almost a decade. Figure Skating Ice Shows were held many years and professional figure skater Vern Glass is remembered as creating wonderful performances.  Amazing costumes and backgrounds were part of his shows and the rink was packed with family and fans on Ice Show day.  Vern came to Reston as the caretaker and projectionist for the theatre from opening in 1948 until 1960.

As a result of the combination of the flammable glue in the rafters and faulty wiring, a disastrous fire occurred on November 23, 1963. Apparently, all that was saved were two curling rocks. What a shame to lose all the irreplaceable trophies, uniforms, equipment, backdrops and costumes that were stored there!

Fundraising Shares issued to Bill Lockhart to his garage W. Lockhart & Sons in 1964

In early 1964, work began on a new facility and it was opened that fall. What a hub of building the community of Reston was in during these years! In a short few months, people were justifiably proud of the 4 sheets of curling ice, skating ice, 73 theatre seats in the waiting room and new Public Address system. Charlie Cook had the honour of cutting the ribbon to open the rink. In 1967, a cement floor was poured for the curling side to allow for community gathering space and artificial ice installation. The skating side later became artificial ice as well. The main entrance was on the south side - stairs went down to basement dressing rooms or up to waiting room. An elevator was later installed for accessibility.

Fire again tried to destroy the rink in January of 1979 but all that was completely ravaged was the tractor to clean the ice. The building was back in use that night and repairs were quickly made. 

The Reston RecPlex has been home to the Fun Fair, fair dances, socials, wedding dances, grads, memorial services, reunions, pancake breakfasts and so much more for the entire community.  In the early 2000's, four main floor dressing rooms, a curling room, fitness centre and entrance were built to the east. Pews were installed for skating ice fans in the waiting room and updates to the canteen kitchen were made as well. The wide sills under the windows (with the pie plate ashtrays!) have been replaced with full height plexiglass to give the fans a view of the action.  The curling room was named the Caldwell Lounge in honour of Clyde Caldwell who was an builder of community in Reston for many years. the rink continues to thrive under the care of a volunteer board who take on fundraising and set policy for the user groups to follow. In the years to come, I hope that many more skaters will take their first solo glides and score their first goal on the ice and make their first take out on the curling side.  

South & East, Donnelly & Archer and Red & White

Postcard from collection of Verna and John Olenick WW1 era

The fourth corner in Reston’s main downtown is where we are heading today with this blog. Previously, the blog has featured Chapman’s Drugstore on the southwest corner, Berry Hardware on the northwest, and Reston House Hotel on the northeast. Today the southeast one is an empty corner but it has a long retail history.

In the early 1900’s, a Mr. White from Antler, SK built the building with large west facing windows to maximize light and E.H. Berry was the first occupant with his family and selling watches and jewelry before building the Berry Block in 1906. Everett and Harold Donnelly were next in that building with a gentleman’s clothing store. Harold is on the 1906 Canada Census living in Reston and both brothers can be found on the 1911 census with Harold’s wife Ruby (Winters) and their young son Lloyd.  A former Restonite shared some of his research from the archives of the Reston Recorder and found that the Donnelly Brothers were in business from August 1, 1906 until June 1909.   Thanks Kelly!

                        
This receipt must have a great story! 

Date? To Thos Boulton - Kindly pay to Donnelly & Archer the sum of Twenty Nine Dollars and charge to me. David Lockhart
I accept this order for $17.00 only. T.E. Boulton
Received on above order the sum of Twenty One Dollars and Fifty Cents. Donnelly Archer T.H.D.

                                               
                                 Dated June 5, 1916 (?) to T.E.Boulton for 2 pair of Brown Bells (?) $2.00


Postcard from Prairie Towns website taken in about the early 1920's 

Alfred Archer arrived in Reston in 1904 and had a clothing business on the west side of Main Street where the Credit Union now stands. He later worked for the Donnelly brothers making men's clothing and doing alterations. He upgraded his skills by taking a professional tailor course in Chicago in 1910. Archer was in partnership with Harold Donnelly in the Main Street store starting in July of 1909.  A short time later, Archer's name was lone on the building as is shown in the postcard above. In 1924, Mr. Archer moved into the former Photography Studio on Second Avenue (where the Drop In parking lot is today) where he was a tailor and dry cleaner until the early 1950’s. (Thanks again Kelly for these details!)  It has been said that his business suffered because of his dedication to the Reston Memorial Park. Link here to information about his home on Second Avenue and about the park here and here.

Back to the southeast corner, in 1926 the building became the home for Empire Family Outfitters.  Three years later the Harper brothers - Robert, Hilton and Preston purchased the building.  They were offspring of Thomas and Mary Rebecca Harper who farmed at 34-6-27 south of Reston for many years. Reston had another General Store with Robert and his sister Anna selling groceries and tobacco.  Little did they know the depression was about to strike and making a living would not be easy for anyone, including the Harpers.  

Picture from collection of Verna and John Olenick

In 1931, William John Abbey (1879- 1963) bought the store and lived with his family in the back. He and his third wife Selena Mae Reed (1890-1975) raised 4 boys (Leigh, Nelson, John, Edward) and 3 girls (Mary, Shirley and Anna May) in Reston. Shirley Abbey told me the store opened on her 6 month birthday. Will (her father) remodeled the store in 1946 and in 1956 it became a self service store. Awnings were installed to block the late afternoon sun streaming in those huge windows. He had a truck to sell his products from in the country and his son John took on this part of the business. The Abbeys were active members of the Reston United Church, Masons/Eastern Star and Chamber of Commerce. When Will died in 1963, Mae and her stepson John (1912-1974) ran the store in partnership until he died suddenly in 1974. John was also a community supporter and was a member of the Lions Club.

From page 172 in Sequel to Trails Along 2009 the Pipestone

 Henry (Harry) Willment began to work at the Red and White in 1971 and purchased it from Mrs. Abbey in 1974. He and his wife Ida (Fanthorpe) lived on Reston’s further east side on 9th Street. Fletch Manning wrote about their home in the Recorder here in 2004. Harry was the youngest son of a large family from England that immigrated to Saskatchewan to homestead in the late 1920’s. Harry and Ida had 1 son and 4 daughters.

October 1, 1974 Brandon Sun clipping 

The next owner was Gary Schiltroth who moved to Reston late in 1977.  He reopened Abbey’s store as Gary’s M&M in February of 1978.  The next year, he married a local girl, Barbara Birnie and ran the grocery at this location until moving across the street and north to the former home of Berry’s Farm Equipment.  In 2002,  the business was closed.  The old building was destroyed sometime in the 80’s. Besides the owners and their families, the businesses supported many employees over the years that made the Reston area their home.  

Picture from McKee Archives - Brandon University - circa 1964

Thinking about these owners and employees makes me pause to appreciate their contributions to early Reston.  Next time I pass by the empty corner, I will reflect about all the purchases that were made here over the years and may just hear echoes of the friendly greetings that were exchanged as well.

The Smell of Fresh Bread

 

Reston Recorder Clipping courtesy John and Verna Olenick

Fresh bread just out of the oven - what an unmistakable smell! Reston’s first bakery was in a small brick building between the grocery store and drugstore on Main Street in the early days of the town. With the population boom in 1906 due to a branch railway line being built to Wolseley, Munro moved the bakery to the Wilcox building, just south of the store as shown at the far left side in the clipping above. It would have been a busy spot with the bakery as well as an ice cream parlour, selling product made from local ingredients made in the basement. Barber services were also found in this building.  Joshua Kines Robertson was the head baker for many years until the unfortunate fire in 1934 when the building was destroyed and there was no local bakery for many years after that. Mr. Robertson then became the foreman in charge of the electric light plant and branched out into electrical repair as well.  He and his wife, the former Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bulloch, had two sons.  One of these, William Alan was killed in his role as an air gunner in 1942. 

                              

The Western Canada Fire Underwriters Map above from 1928 indicates the Butcher and Bank on Fourth Street are made of brick by the pink colour. The Restaurant is yellow, showing a wood frame construction.  The building had been rebuilt after the 1916 fire by A.E. Smith just to the north of his brick Meat Market. This restaurant was the home of the Canada Cafe owned first by George and Jim Soon and later the Sing family. George immigrated from China in 1907, according to the census from 1921. The cafe closed in the early 1940’s and apparently sat empty until the Lamonds moved to town.

Pete Lamond worked for A.E. Smith for a time at the Reston Meat Market until he decided to open his own business - Pete's Meat Market in the former Canada Cafe building.  Baking made an appearance in the 1960’s when Bernice Lamond began selling in her home baking in the shop . They lived in the second floor over the shop and left in 1968. 

Photo dated 1964 from the McKee Archives at Brandon University

In July of 1968, Jack and Edith (Flannery) Russell opened Russell’s bakery and it was a real family affair with their 2 sons and 2 daughters taking active roles in the business over the years. Faithful blog reader and carpenter Brian, remembers helping put in a cement floor to accommodate a large bake oven with Francis Giles and removing the top storey. Son John Russell took over the business in 1978 and next to own it were Larry and Patricia Wright in 1985. In 1993, a partnership of the Williamson’s and the Davis’s were next until 1998 when Vera and Terry Abrams ran the bakery. Brent Reid was next from 1999 to 2004 along with his catering and landscaping businesses. Doughnuts from Brent’s were a popular treat along with other baked goods, bread and buns. It was a sad day when Reston Bakery closed on December 31, 2004 and was later torn down in to make way for Tycoles Insurance - Four Corner Associates now Andrews Agencies moving in their building on Main Street.

Vintage 1994 Main Street thanks to the Olenick collection

All is not lost however. Murray Anderson carries the baked goods of a few local bakeries as well as McGavins breads on the shelves of his  Reston Fine Foods.  Patti Cakes Gourmet Foods owners, Bob and Connie McQuiston have brought back the smell of fresh baking to the downtown streets during their seasonal business. 

The Butchers in Reston History

Reston’s early citizens had a taste for protein and several local entrepreneurs stepped up to run Meat Shops. Farmers may have had access to home grown meat but customers like the Boultons paid for the services of a butcher for cutting and grinding their beef.  Beef Rings had a place in rural areas in the days before home freezers. Community service seemed to go hand in hand with running a meat shop in Reston.  This post will tell some of their stories.

Albert Edwin (known as A.E.) Smith was a meat merchant in Reston for an amazing 51 years. He opened a shop on Main Street in 1899 when he was 25 years old. He had organized rings and delivered beef from his farm in the Elm Valley district before deciding to open a shop.  His portrait hangs in the RM of Pipestone office as he was Reeve in 1918 and contributed to community life as on council for many years. He took special interest in the Reston Cemetery and is credited with planting the spruce trees around it. His shop on 4th Street burned in 1915 and unfortunately, the early burial records as well. He rebuilt in 1916 and included another space on the north side that became the Canada Cafe. Mr. Smith's name was prominent in early discussions of having a cenotaph and a park surrounding it to honour the WW1 fallen.  Apartments upstairs in the Reston Meat Market housed many people over the years. A. E. also sold insurance and he built the little concrete block building that was just north of his shop for this purpose.  He and his wife Ellie's house on 9th Street was featured in an article here written by Fletch Manning in 2004. A.E. Smith died in 1950 and his wife in 1972.  They had two daughters and two sons including Edwin Earl who died overseas while a member of the Royal Air Forcein WW2.

During the boom days starting in 1905, the Imperial Meat Market operated on the spot of the present playground under John Benjamin Ireland (1864-1925). He and his wife had 2 sons and 2 daughters and decided to leave Reston in about 1915 for greener pastures in the Peace District of Alberta. Norwegian Oscar Haugse can be found in Reston on the 1916 census working as a butcher and living with his wife Annie and two children Thelma and Melvin were born during his time here.  

Other names in butchering were James Sexton, J. Bray and Jack Matthews.  Some of these men ran the Reston Meat Market for A.E. Smith but others may have set up shops elsewhere. In the early 1940’s, Reston House proprietor R.V. Cusack had a meat shop on the east side of the hotel with a door to the south to sell meat.

Pete Lamond (1891-1977) came from Oak Lake in the early 60's where he learned the butcher trade with his father Jack. He had been born in Perthshire, Scotland in 1891, and followed his father in the butcher trade after serving in WW1.  He worked at Reston Meat Market for a time until he decided to strike out on his own in the part of the shop that would eventually become the bakery.  His wife Bernice (Schmidt) had opened a bake shop and confectionary in the same building. This picture from the McKee Archives in Brandon University dates to 1964. They left Reston in about 1968.  Pete died in Vancouver in 1977.

Leo Curtis was a Reston businessman and entrepreneur who purchased the Reston Meat Market from Smith and renovated to create a new storefront.  He also installed 400 freezer lockers where customers could store meat before home freezers were widely available.  The bill below for locker #272 shows he charged $3 for just over 2 months rental. Leo was also busy at the Massey Harris and Dodge Desoto businesses so the shop was operated by Don Graham, Al Owen, Bill Baird and Gene Traill and perhaps others before being sold to Henry Claussen (1932-2003) in 1961.

 

C. Henry Claussen came from Germany in 1956 to start life in Canada. He met his wife here, the former Helen Adamson who was a nurse.  The couple made Reston their home for the next 2 decades. They had 2 boys and a girl while here. He was active on the Theatre Board, Minor Hockey and Ball, Fort La Bosse School Division and Chamber of Commerce and Reston town affairs. Henry was the first president of the newly created Reston Lions Club in 1963. They lived on the southeast corner of 6th Street and 2nd Avenue.  They contributed greatly to community life until selling the shop in 1980. 

Myles Van Damme bought the shop and named it Reston Frozen Foods in 1980. Myles did custom meat cutting as well as retail sales of meat including a deli counter. He and his wife Bernice were also strong community supporters. They raised 3 sons in Reston in the former Mennie home. 

Dean Andon was the last owner in 1993. The two storey building with the front already removed in the colour picture below was Reston Frozen Foods with the bakery just north/left of it. The old original 1916 building was torn down in 1996. The photos and clipping below are from the collection of John and Verna Olenick.

Long silver trays of sausage and other products, sawdust on the floors and that indescribable unmistakable smell of the butcher shop are memories of the meat market of my childhood.  I'd be delighted to hear yours in the comments below. 

Prairie Landmarks in Reston - The Grain Elevators

Reston looking west - picture from Robin Lowrie here

Welcome to the first post of 2022 in Historic Reston Bricks and Boards! I’ve chosen to summarize what I can find about the history of Reston, Manitoba's grain elevators.  We all recognize the gradual disappearance of these prairie landmarks and the wooden traditional buildings are becoming few and far between. Gordon Goldsborough and the Manitoba Historical Society are attempting to record the history from these prairie giants before they are all gone and memories fade.  you can read more about the project here.   Most of the details for this post were found in the blue Trails Along the Pipestone from 1981 and corrections and additions are always welcome to ssimms@escape.ca .

The Western Canada Fire Underwriter’s Map below dated 1928, borrowed from the Reston Museum, is a helpful bird’s eye visual of the buildings on the streets in Reston at this time.  Elevator Row is shown in a green bar along First Avenue and then a closer view in the next 2 pictures. Coal and oil warehouses were also in the row to give ready access to the railway to get their stock. 

The first buildings the grain buyers used to store purchases from the farmers were flat warehouses where grain was shoveled in and then shoveled into boxcars or grain bags were transferred. Deyell, Mann, and Alex Dickie are names associated with grain buying in Reston in the early days before the turn of the century. Labour saving more efficient inventions were taking over everywhere as time went on.  This link takes you to a paper called The Architecture of Grain Elevators which gives clear explanations of how tall elevators work and great pictures of the parts of elevators.

Starting on the far west end north of the tracks was the Victoria Elevator Company’s 30,000 bushel facility. It was built in 1926 and was sold to Pioneer Grain, then McCabe and finally UGG before it was dismantled in 1948. 

About 1910 From Prairie Towns website here

The Lake of the Woods Milling Co had a 35,000 bushel space, and sat between Third and Fourth Streets. It was the first of the tall elevator buildings where grain was carried up on a belt of cups to be stored and gravity fed it down when it was time to load it in rail cars.  It was first built in 1893 and went from horse power to gas engine to electricity. Thomas Mutter was a long time agent and was followed by his sons Jack and Bert. The receipt shown is dated June 1943 and I assume it was for Five Roses Flour.  A 98 pound sack for $2.75? Baking bread and biscuits, cakes and pies at home would use a lot of flour.  The Lake of the Woods elevator was destroyed by fire in 1950 and not rebuilt. 

The United Grain Growers No 166 with a capacity of 28,000 bushels. It had been built in 1926 as a McCabe elevator and became a UGG in 1943. I'm not sure if this is the one below and I am not sure of the date of 1912 would be right when you see the power poles and wires.  The workers may be shingling and I can only admire their skill and courage to do that job!

 

Postcard from about 1912 at Peel's here

The Reston Cooperative Pool Elevator Association Ltd No 137 was built in 1928 enlarged over the years with annexes.  It is easy to identify in pictures having dark brown paint and a lot of white lettering.  Applying that paint would be another job not or he faint of heart!  The first manager was R. W. Trimble followed by Ted W. Ballance.  Next was local man, Charlie Caldwell who was followed by C.A. Guthrie, Ernie S. Westaway and John A. Williamson. Russ Ellis and Don Leadbeater also managed the elevator for a time.  The Cooperative Movement began in the 20's as a way for farmers to combat the low grades and prices they were receiving for their product and have a say in marketing the grain. 

 

In the late 1950's, a new United Grain Growers elevator was built at the end of Main Street. J.D. Bulloch was UGG manager in Reston for an amazing 38 years. W.E. Pierce, Oliver Chester, Wilbert Simpson, Bob Turnbull Sr., Gerry Clark, and Randy Boulton each spent time here as managers too.  

Seed, spray and fertilizer sales were added to the operation over the years.   This elevator was overseen by a local board of directors from 1916 forward. Annual company conventions were held and a delegate from Reston was sponsored to attend.  The buildings were demolished in a cloud of grain dust in 2001.

The picture to the right is from 1971 and more photos can be found here on the Manitoba Historical Society webpage. 

In 1976-77 the Pool elevator built a modern facility south of the tracks and is the only one still standing. My husband Randy was employed as a teenager on the crew to help build it!  Private owners -Elliott Brothers- purchased it to store their grain in 2001.  Local farmers served on the board and had decision making power to an extent but it gradually faded as small rail points were not part of new business models for the rail or grain companies.

In 1922, there was a thriving life going up and down the tracks and to the businesses on elevator row.  One hundred years later it is a very different picture but Reston continues to grow and adapt to the changing times.