The Infamous Reston Siren

The locals of Reston today barely blink at the sound of the siren daily at 12:00 and 6:00 pm. Out of town visitors often ask - what’s that about?  I’ve been asked if I’d run across anything about it in the papers, and here’s what I found.  More information is welcome, as always. 

The early days describe the school bell as being used to get the town’s attention so I’m sure it was used for fires as well.  It was suggested in September 1906 that the school bell be rung daily at 7 am and 6 pm. The young town of Reston got serious about the need for fire protection after the disastrous fires of 1906 that destroyed the bank.  In 1910, a brick building was constructed on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Thirds Street.  Arriving by train in September that year was a pair of fire engines, ladders and a curfew bell.  A tower for the bell was part of the design along with a night watchman’s quarters and a jail cell.  You can see it in the picture below taken from the roof of the stone grocery store in 1940.   

According to a news story in a September 1910 edition of the Reston Recorder, the brave firefighters filled an old stable full of dry straw, wood etc. was lit ablaze with the help of  coal oil to demonstrate the apparatus to the townspeople/taxpayers. When the hoses quickly extinguished the fire, it was relit with some holes punched in the building to get it roaring.  Again the flames were doused and the expense to the town was approved by the attendees. The December 1910 paper says the town bell is rung 15 minutes before the afternoon and evening church services on Sundays as well as for daily curfew at 9:00 pm. The Curfew Bylaw Number 461 is printed below. 

Apparently the more rapid the ringing, the worse the fire was. It was used to ring in the New Year as well as having some unauthorized use for Halloween tricks. The bell was replaced with an automated one on top of the Municipal Office.

Stories of fires in town are sprinkled throughout the years and in 1947, there were no fires according to an article.  It goes on to say that for 1948 - Jack Cuthill was Fire chief.  The committee included L. Armstrong, Les Parker, J. K. Robertson, Reg Berry, E. Robertson, C. E. McMurchy and F. R. Manning were reappointed for the following year and the following notice was printed in the paper.

Once the local telephone service was sold to MTS in 1954 for $1.00 the duty of sounding the siren went from Pipestone Municipal System employees to those from the Manitoba Telephone System as noted in this advertisement.  The local company made a profit from its beginnings in 1906 until the 30’s and was a liability to the RM after that. Those long term valued employees mentioned include Edith McDonald, Florence Holton and Les Parker as troubleman. 

 Reston remains famous for its siren still ringing twice a day, noon and six pm. Firefighters are paged through their phones now but it still rings when more members are needed. The doors to the old fire hall faced north onto Second Avenue but it was later remodeled to have the doors looking west onto Third Street. It was torn down in 1968. Vehicles grew more modernized and larger, new space was needed and the firetrucks were stored where the municipal shops are now. A new firehall was later built with several bays and training and meeting room.  The siren rings loud and clear from the Municipal Office twice a day.  In fact, it's my deadline for this story so...

1954 Car Raffle Winner Was Numb All Over

 A look back at the online Reston Recorders from almost 70 years ago gave an interesting story I'd like to share with you today.  After many years with the old skating rink, the community of Reston attempted to build a new one starting in the summer of 1954.  I have written a bit about the history of the winter recreation buildings in our community here.  At a meeting on December 8, 1954 it was reported that $29,500 had been raised by debentures but the project was expected to cost $43,000. Alex Mennie was chair of the meeting and Reg Berry was secretary.  Harry Winch of Reston Lumber Co was the largest creditor but he expressed confidence that the liability would be met.  The committee decided to work hard to sell as many tickets as possible before the opening date of December 17.  The cost of the Chevrolet car had been recovered by ticket sales as of the meeting date and hopes were high. Almost every issue of the Recorder gave updates of progress and appeals for volunteer help.  The editorial published on the week of the opening is below. 

December of 1954 must have been a warm one like the one we experienced in 2023 since discussion about having to delay the opening was mentioned in the paper. The concern was that it not possible to make natural ice.  Someone came up with a unique solution though!

A newspaper story indicates in the end that $3864.25 profit was made on the car raffle.  I can't find confirmation but wonder if tickets sold for 25 cents each? Lucky winner Arlene McIver (now Hamilton) generously donated $100 back to the rink.  

I've known Arlene and her family since their days at Oak River in the 1970's.  She indeed did go on to become a nurse as well as a friend to many.  I'm glad I ran across this and think it couldn't have gone to a more deserving winner!

Recorder with the Answer Again!

 

Today's New Year's Day 2024 post tells my blog readers about a mystery solved recently by browsing archived issues of the Reston Recorder online. The surnames listed on the bronze plaque pictured above on the Archer Gate in Reston Memorial Park are ones I've run across while writing about the Reston area with the exception of one - Klingbel.  

Arthur Fredrick William Klingbeil was born December 18, 1907 in the RM of Brokenhead near Beausejour, Manitoba.  His parents, William and Matilda were Polish immigrants, arrived in Canada in 1892 and started out farming.  On the 1911 Census, the family of 3 boys and 2 girls can be found running the general store in Beausejour.  Just five years later, William is working as a machinist for the railway and continues this work for the next 22 years of his life, moving to Transcona.  The 1931 Canadian Census shows the 23 year old son Arthur living with his parents and working as a crew clerk for the steam railway. In June of 1933, a marriage record is created for Arthur and Juanita Jane Irwin in Winnipeg. The surname is spelled Klingbell sometimes but Arthur seems to go by Klingbel in his adult life.  I hadn't found much more about his life except being on Manitoba voters lists from the 1930's forward.  Arthur died at age 80 in Winnipeg on October 26, 1988. He is buried with his parents in Beausejour Cemetery. But why is his name on the Archer Gate in Reston 

 due to a contribution to the Park of $1000? 

 

It was the spring of 2022 when the RM of Pipestone finished digitizing the Reston Recorders and made them available free online.  I've spent many hours since then reading up on people and events from 1905 to 2018. The link to the archive list of issues to browse is here: https://www.rmofpipestone.com/p/reston-recorder-archive  The January 18,1989 issue has the rest of the story at the top of the front page!  I can't help think that times have certainly changed.  I am picturing a friendly Reston citizen or perhaps Alfred Archer himself making Arthur Klingbel feel welcome enough in our Park that he left a gift to it in his will 3 decades later.  The inscription "A Friend to All" was written on his gravestone and his generosity is now remembered here as well. Thank you, Mr. Klingbel.