Harper's Grove

http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/postcards/PC000876.html

Last week's post about Guthrie's Grove picnic spot has led to one this week about Harper's Grove.  Also, a recent blog post about the Reston Citizen’s Band mentioned a performance  put on by them at a Royal Templars of Temperance picnic at Harper’s Grove in 1909. I had so many questions! Luckily, blog reader and former Restonite Tom Dempsey messaged me with some helpful information.  More about that later. 

According to the Trails Along the Pipestone history book on page 814, SE 21-7- 27  was first claimed by J. McKinnon in 1885.  A. Wilson owned it next in 1889 but G. A. Harper owned the quarter from 1916 - 1947.  George Alexander Harper was born in Bruce County, Ontario and married his Scottish bride Isabella Farnie in Winnipeg in 1912.  He and Bella lived 2 miles north of Reston on the banks of the Pipestone Creek and were credited with clearing the picnic grove that bore their name and had a swinging bridge over the creek to access their land on both sides. Census returns over the years show they often had at least 4 people living with them to help work their land and with the housework. They garnered a reputation for being very generous and hospitable people over the 4 decades of their residence. A nephew of Bella, Arthur Kingsley Farnie came from Scotland to live with the Harpers while in school.  He later joined the Royal Canadian Airforce and was killed at age 20 overseas in 1942.  The Harpers had one daughter Lily who married a local boy, Jimmy Forman and they moved west to run the general store in Wells, B.C.  George and Bella held a farm auction sale in October of 1948 and moved to British Columbia themselves.  The sale ad is a large ones and includes everything - horses, cattle, poultry, equipment, furniture, the piano, home canned fruit, a buffalo coat and so much more.  

Next on the scene were newlyweds and locals, Thomas Leslie "Les" Dempsey and Frances May Pierce.  They farmed here for the next 2 decades. Their only son Tom was able to fill in some Harper's Grove details for me. He grew up on the farm and recalled the picturesque spot. 

The picnic grove itself was in the small "peninsula" of land, approx. 60 yards wide and 125 yards long formed by the Pipestone Creek, past the house, north, around the bend then south towards the barn and on eastwards to the bridge. When I was just a little fart, the anchor posts for the swinging bridge existed on the east bank of the creek approx. 80 yards north of the barn.

In June of 1967, the Dempsey family were honoured at their own going away event.  A clipping from the Brandon Sun tells the program included singing, recitations and duets put on by friends and neighbours.  They had been active community members in the church and curling.  Retirement in Kelowna were enjoyed for many years and both returned home, to be buried in Reston Cemetery.

Next to own the quarter was Melvin Watt who purchased the farm in 1969.  In 1971, he married Rosealine Ann Cop from Antler, SK and over the next several decades they both contributed greatly to community life with their work on various boards. Mel and Rosealine raised a family of two girls and a boy and grew pedigree seed for sale.  Their yard site was a showplace and you may recall seeing when it was featured on the Prairie Farm Report on TV. In 2005, the Watts had a partial farm equipment auction and semi-retired to spend more time in Arizona and doing things they loved.  They are gone now. Their family rents out the land and occasionally enjoy an afternoon relaxing along the creek as was done over 100 years ago. 

Each quarter of land can tell a story of its past residents and I've been glad to tell this one.  Any further details and photos are always welcome!