Remembering King Edward VII in 1910

Today's post originates from a church service folder that has survived since May of 1910 to help tell the story of a small town on the Manitoba prairies remembering King Edward VII of England.  Edward VII was the son of Queen Victoria and came to the throne upon her death in 1901. After one day's illness, he died on May 6, 1910.  Word quickly spread around the world and as one of the British colonies, Canada was in mourning. It was the end of the Edwardian Era. 

An announcement in the May 19, 1910 issue of the Reston Recorder told citizens that a memorial service for the late monarch was set for Friday May 20th at 2:30 pm.  Businesses were to be closed from 1:00 on and the school children would march as a body from the school. The Citizens Band and a Union Choir would provide musical accompaniment. It was reported afterward that the church was filled with citizens showing their loyalty and respect.  

Picture postcard from Peel's here  - Built in 1902

The Memorial Service folder titled "The King Is Dead" below was printed for each person in attendance including the school children.  Thanks to the Olenicks for saving this one in their collection of Reston pictures and memorabilia. What an interesting quest to track down the names mentioned taking part in this service over 112 years ago!

I assume that Rev. A. J. Tufts was the man in charge of the Reston Presbyterian Church where the service was held.  The Methodists had their own building that still stands as a cozy home on the corner of Second Street and Third Avenue until they combined with the Presbyterians and worshipped in the current Reston United Church.  

The reader of the scripture was E. B. Groulx who was the minister of the St. John's Anglican Church, also known as the English Church.   

The address was read by A.E. Smith, a man prominent in local municipal affairs along with being a businessman.

Reston Citizen's Band 1910 - Picture from Reston District Museum

George Sumner who gave a solo appears in the above picture of the band in the back row behind the drum with the moustache.  He  was a tinsmith in Reston for a short time, working for the Manitoba Hardware Company. 

Rev W. Reid was pastor of the Reston Baptist church.

The service ended with The Dead March in Saul, written by Handel in 1738.  You may recognize the tune here played on an organ the way it would have been in 1910. Miss May Jackson was the 20 something daughter of Thomas Wesley Jackson who was a prominent businessman in Reston's early days. 

George V King 1910-1936

Son of Edward VII, George V was now the new King and the following quote was found in the Recorder. 

Rev. Tufts spoke briefly on the new King and the bright prospect of his being a worthy successor to Edward VII

He would lead the Commonwealth through World War 1 and he along with his wife Queen Mary witnessed the rapid changing of times for almost 3 decades.  On the death of George V in 1936, his son Edward VIII was King for less than a year until he abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson. His brother Bertie, known as George VI took the throne in December of 1936.  His daughter Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 for the next 70 + years.  Quite the change from 112 years ago - her passing wasn't marked with a local memorial but we could all tune into as much coverage as we wanted through the media.  King Charles III is now the monarch and the anthem played at Remembrance Day services was once again - God Save the King.