Minutes from the Past

Mr. Alfred Archer had been the driving force and caretaker of the Reston Memorial Park since it was started in 1922. In 1966, he declared his intention to retire and a board was assembled to carry on his work. At his advice, a minute book was purchased and meetings were faithfully recorded in it for the next 19 years. I am so glad the Museum has kept it safe and loaned it to me to have a read through. Today's post is my interpretation of  a few highlights and events of note of Reston Memorial Park from 1966 - 1985.

 

The first board was chaired by Maurice Ludlam who stayed in this position until his death in 1984. Vice president in 1966 was Elmer Duncan and Jean Rainnie acted as secretary-treasurer. Other inaugural board members were Bert Pierce, Lou Traill, James Issac Bulloch, Wilbur Thompson, Gordon Hendon, Flora Scott and Laura Lockhart. (I must note that in the minutes, these ladies and gentlemen were formally named such as Mrs. T. Lockhart and I hope my research for their first names was correct!) Iris McMurchy later joined the board in after the death of her father, J.I. Bulloch. Dave Anderson and Lottie Harrison contributed their time as well.

John Pickett was hired as the caretaker in 1967, a job he continued in until 1978. In fact, in 1976 he was hired in a joint position to be caretaker of both the Park and the Museum with a helper hired to take over on weekends.  It seems to only be a one year experiment however.   Jean Moore was hired as the orderly for many years which I assume was to tend to the washrooms in the park.

Purchases over the years included lawn mowers, clippers and roto tillers.  Discussions were held about a possible invasive weed – Cypress Spurge and whether it had a place in the park. The trouble getting roses to overwinter was a common theme of the discussions and hardy roses were also tried.  The Minute Books records that in 1982, they decided to “forget them”. 

Money was collected for a Memorial Gate for Mr. Archer and it was purchased from Hamilton & Jones in Brandon and the dedication plaque was made by Rosewood Memorial Garden.  The feature totaled $550 and was dedicated posthumously to Alfred Archer in July of 1970.

Volunteers and other workers did their part to help the park stay a showplace.  In the 1970's, Terry Paul was hired at $2/hour but that included gas and oil for the mower.  In 1973, the student employment program, called STEP, saw Lloyd Benzie and Greg Birnie hired to help as well. Board members took on the task of fundraising over the years by selling cut flowers and perennials from the park, a tradition started by Mr. and Mrs. Archer.

Meetings were held at various locations in town in the cooler weather along with in the park when it was warmer. These meetings gave the board the opportunity to walk around to discuss changes that could to be made. Board members were sometimes hosts in their own homes and ended the discussions with a cup of tea and treats.  In 1970, it was reported that the old lawn bowling bolls had been located and talk about starting up the sport began but there was no further mention of it in the minutes. 

1975 was the 60^th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Memorial Park celebrated by planting 200 Golden Tulips around the cenotaph.  The local Legion made yearly financial contributions to beautification in the park.  

In 1978, the board appears to have shrunk down to 3 men – John Rainnie, Bert Pierce and Maurice Ludlam.  Reston Horticultural Society volunteered to plant the annuals each year and this saved the caretaker many hours of labour. 

There was a guest book on a stand at the gate along with a box for donations for many years.  In the summer of 1983, 250 names were recorded in the book. I wonder where the guest book ended up?  Damage to the park Guest Book was mentioned along with Halloween pranks that would require repairs.  Deer wintered in the park sometimes but no major damage was recorded. Hail storms are remarked on over the years too.

Community support was often noted for projects like painting, mowing and clean up.  Bird houses, picnic tables and benches were made and painted by community members. The Lions Club donated playground equipment – swings, teeter totter, monkey bars. Reston 4H Calf Club, Linklater Ladies, and many more contributed to park beauty.   The wooden merry-go-round (my boys' favourite) took a lot of upkeep to keep it safe and attractive.

In 1979 Sam Redshaw was caretaker which ended rather disastrously in the fall when he mistakenly tilled the cenotaph bed and pulled up all the tulip bulbs. Frank Ludlam was engaged in 1980 and continued until 1984 when Alvin Birnie was caretaker with Frank Ludlam’s help. 

The final entry in the minutes book book dated March 25, 1985:

We enjoyed a lovely pot of coffee brought down to Bert’s den by Mrs. Pierce for which we thanked her.  Signed John Rainnie

What a great ending to the record of community building and friendship by the board of the Reston Memorial Park.