Lawn Bowling in Reston

An amazing picture but... It was taken in Winnipeg is 1918.  I'd be glad to replace it with a picture of Reston local lawn bowlers if anyone has one!  This one is in the Foote Collection at the Manitoba Archives in Winnipeg. 

Another recreational pastime for locals in the past was lawn bowling. A week’s free subscription to newspapers.com helped me find out a few things about its history in Reston. The Trails Along the Pipestone history book written in 1981 gives more details including where it took place.

Free Press Evening Bulletin April 27, 1926 The annual meeting of the Reston Lawn Bowling club was held last week with a  good attendance. The club is in good financial standing. Jas F. McLaren has been appointed to look after the green. The following officers were elected: President, F. Manning; vice- president, Joe Sibbald; secretary-treasurer, Andy Ready.

Free Press Evening Bulletin --August 1, 1927 Two rinks of Virden Lawn Bowlers visited Reston Thursday afternoon and evening. The home team won both games with total of 88 points against 19 by the visitors. The rinks were: Virden: Hammond, Patterson, McKnight. Capt. Smith, skip. 6. Reston: Wynn, Caldwell. Wilkins, McLaren, skip, 22. Virden Squires: Hand, Fitzpatricks, Dickinson, skip. 13. Reston: McDougall, Perie. Groggan, Water, skip, 16. In the evening the visitors were entertained at the Reston Hotel by the local club.

The green in the early twenties was located on the west side of First Street near just south of where it meets Third Avenue. In 1932, it moved about a block south, just opposite Second Avenue. This spot was harrowed, levelled and smoothed down before being seeded to grass.  

There are no pins in this style of bowling but instead players try to get closest to a white ball about the size of a pool cue ball called the jack. It seems much like Bocce except the Bocce Ball is round whereas the Lawn Bowl is round in only one direction and elliptical in the other, giving it a bias and causing it to curve. Originally, makers of lawn bowls would insert weights in one side of the ball, creating a weight bias to produce the curving effect. More differences in the two games can be found here. 

Winnipeg Tribune - April 30, 1938  At the annual meeting of the Reston Bowling club. Thursday, officers elected were; President, O. C. Thornborough; vice - president, Mrs. C C. Campbell; secretary - treasurer, J, Sibbald. The club plans a tournament May 24.

In 1940, a green was created in the Reston Memorial Park. Jack McMurchy and John McIvor created a square green so games could be played in either direction. Today this spot is the flat location where audiences sit facing the bandstand for Music in the Park. It was lit by electric lights and watered from the nearby dugout, presumably to the east. It doesn’t seem to have carried on for long.  The bowls (balls) have survived though so maybe someday there will be a resurgence!

50th Anniversary of Reston Park - 1972

Am I the only one who has to do the Math to believe that 1972 was 50 years ago?  Today's post is a throwback to a special anniversary for Reston Memorial Park and its marble cenotaph.  We can all look forward to celebrating 100 years this summer.

Photo of Cenotaph in Reston Park dated 1960

 Brandon Sun Clipping from June 26, 1972

RESTON (Special)--The annual decoration day was held recently in Reston Memorial Hall; sponsored by the Elizabeth Legion. Rev. Donald Hester of Melita addressed the gathering. The parade of veterans and members of cubs paraded to the hall and to the Cenotaph, led by the Rivers Pipe Band. Parade Marshall was Lorne Watt. Rev. E. Schurman assisted in the program. Others on the platform were Legion president, Jim Morrison; chaplain, L. L. Ludlam; zone representative, John Borreson. Lorne Watt the read roll of honor at cenotaph. One of the pipers played a lament. 

It was 50 years this month since the Soldiers' Memorial Monument (now known as the cenotaph) was unveiled--the exact date June 30. 1922. Lieutenant-governor of Manitoba, Sir James Aikins perform the unveiling ceremonies. The monument is topped by a soldier and is made of Italian marble.

 It was purchased from donations and cost $3600 in 1922--a lot of money. There was $336 left after fixing up the monument and this was turned over to the park committee.

 Originally the names of those who died in the First World War were inscribed in two sides of the granite base but after the Second World War, bronze plaques were installed on the north and south sides with names of those who paid the supreme sacrifice on them. Money for those was also raised through voluntary subscriptions. 

The late Alfred Archer was the man responsible for the planning of the park and did a tremendous amount of work in it. In his memory a memorial gate with a suitable engraved plaque was installed. Mr. Archer signed the guest book for the first and only time August, 1967, the day he left Reston to reside in a home in Little Britain, Ont., his birthplace. He died the next year and was buried beside his wife who died in 1967. His contribution to the development of Reston Memorial Park cannot be underestimated. He was made a life member of Manitoba Horticultural Society at the annual meeting of the society held in Brandon in 1965--an honor he greatly appreciated. 

According to Mr. Archer's original notes, the site was bare prairie in its natural state. It was purchased from the CPR for a very reasonable price and consists of about five acres of land. The town paid for the labor that wasn't volunteered and at first the tax amounted to $350, for the local improvement district. In 1972 this has been increased to about $2.000. 

Among the speakers at the first service were Col. J. G. Rattray of Pipestone and Col. Geo. Clingan of Virden.

 At that first service the late Dr. A. B. Chapman read the names inscribed. Dr. Chapman, although overage, managed to enlist in the First World War and was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery under Fire. He came here in 1900 and made his home here until his death at the age of 98, on May 12, 1961, except for his four years service with the medical corps overseas. He was first chairman of the park board. 

There are 25 names on the roll of honor for the First World War and in the Second World War 17 names are inscribed. 

The guest book has been signed by Visitors-from as far away as South America, England, Italy, Germany and New Zealand.

You can read more from this blog about the park here https://ssimms644.blogspot.com/2021/11/reston-memorial-park-from-oats-to-roses.html

and here https://ssimms644.blogspot.com/2021/12/mr-archers-park-history-notes-1965.html

Reston Recreation - Golf

Map showing locations of three Reston Golf Courses over the years

This summer will mark 96 years since the first citizens set up a local golf course. Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) says it was  July 3, 1926 when a board chaired by Reston - Wolseley CPR Roadmaster Dave Livingston and secretary treasurer Elmer McMurchy began the club. Elmer was the son of community builders Colin and Agnes McMurchy and was employed as a bookkeeper. Their 3 hole course was more bush than fairway and could be found south of the tracks and east of the roundhouse. Fees charged were a quarter a game. In 1939, local man Reg Berry had the first hole in one. In the late 1940’s the land was sold so golfers needed to find a new spot to play. 

A three hole course was then set up on a tourist park where the school and rink sit today. A "Tourist Park" was likely an overnight camping or stopping spot although it's not a term often used today.  It was decided that spot was too small and fell out of use.

In 1952, the doctor’s wife, Winnifred (Wilson) Clark, led a charge to reestablish a golf course. Her son-in-law C.S. Campbell chaired a committee with Larry Robinson as secretary treasurer to find a suitable spot. They studied a location north of the highway in the fair grounds area but nothing was found that would work so the matter was dropped for the time.

Photo from McKee Archives at Brandon University about 1963

Finally in 1959, the present spot was leased and three holes were ready for play in June of that year.  The course was expanded to nine holes and grass greens replaced sand as the years went on.  Trees were planted and members were always willing to help with upgrades and changes. 

Presidents over the years up to 1981 have been community businessmen and leaders Al Owen (meat market), Larry Robinson (insurance), Lew Trail (meat market and cafe owner), Bill Isles (school custodian), Bruce Marlin (CPR station agent), Wayne Morrow (pharmacist), Les Isles (CPR maintenance worker), Bill Hume (mechanic) and Ross Tycoles (credit union manager and insurance). Many members served on committees to make their course a better place. Some of these committees included tournaments, lunch, membership, grounds and equipment.

Moving former Legion to golf course for a clubhouse -June 1994

In the beginning, hole #1 was located along the highway.  In 1994, that clubhouse was relocated farther south and was used for mower and equipment storage. That spring, the former Legion clubhouse was moved across town to give a larger space.

 Renovations over the years added a large deck and updated washroom and kitchen space. A new clubhouse is under construction this winter and the Empire Advance story here says it will be a 2500 square foot space attached to a screened deck and large canopy area with views of the Reston Lake. Recreation for citizens and visitors alike continues to be a priority 96 years later.  

Reston Recreation - Theatres

Following with the current theme of recreation, today's post looks at the movie theatres in Reston.  Live performances - musical and dramatic - have also occurred over the years in these same spaces. 

The first movies were shown in Reston in 1915 at a former warehouse by Alex (1879-1966) and George Greig (1886 -1979). They had an Imperial Oil and Fuel and draying business but the war years meant their warehouse was empty. They decided to make some money out their building so called it the Empire Theatre.  It stood at First Avenue and Fifth Street with a few planks on wooden crates for seats and a projector and they were able to charge 15 cents to view a silent movie. Ted Bushby (son of Louisa and Arthur) and Robert McKay (nephew of the Grieg brothers) took over the theatre in 1920. William Lockhart was next but he relocated the movies to the Manitoba Hall (later Berry Hall) on 4th Street in 1922 where Reston Drugs is today. His wife, the former Lauretta Maude Kendrick, played the gramophone for background sound during the silent movies. This hall was also home to live performances and dances. 

Breaking ground on the northeast corner of 3rd Ave & 4th St

In August of 1945, a public meeting was held to gauge interest in building a hall to honour the veterans of the wars. Fifteen citizens were appointed to what became the Memorial Hall Co. Ltd. under a returned WW2 veteran chair Russell Manning and local pharmacist secretary-treasurer Lyall McMorran. To this day, active community volunteers have worked hard to continue movies being shown and renting the facilities to other groups and individuals. Upkeep and modernization projects, like air conditioning this past summer, keep the building modern and in top shape. Community user groups have also taken on fundraiser projects to be able to buy special items.

Sod turning took place in April of 1947 and many volunteers repurposed the lumber from the old UGG elevator and built the Reston Memorial Theatre. The official opening was held on April 18, 1948. Smokey  starring Fred MacMurray was the first show. 
These wonderful old photos of the theatre were found on their Facebook page here.  Thank you! 

Vern Glass was hired to manage the theatre until he moved away in 1960.  A wood floor was installed in the basement in 1952 and it became a dance hall and social gathering spot.  Delwyn Bulloch and John Pearson were later projectionists, according to Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) where the majority of this information originated.  Delwyn ran the shows in the Melita Theatre for a time too.

The modernized marquee in the early 2000's with the soldier medallion reminds a passersby that it was indeed built as a Memorial Theatre. The walls are adorned with framed certificates with names of local soldiers who served in the wars and those who gave the supreme sacrifice. It is amazing to read all the names and I suggest you go early for a show to be able to do it. 

Digital projection and surround sound equipment was the next improvement in 2013-14 along with refinishing the beautiful wood floor and making the space more accessible.  Gray exterior paint replaced the mustard colour and the interior paint was refreshed. The building has seen so many uses - Christmas and talent concerts, dance and piano recitals, Santa shows, community drama productions, Remembrance Day Ceremonies and more.  One episode of the Season 3 of the CBC show Still Standing which aired in the summer of 2017 was filmed in the theatre.    

So many fond memories are held for so many in these walls.  We are proud to have it in Reston!