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.
What an amazing story! We were so blessed to have Mr. Archer and his dedication to horticulture. I remember seeing him walk past our house on his way to the park and planting those wonderful petunias! I have so many fonnd memories of Reston and the people I grew up with. Thank you for your research and this great blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you for restarting the blog. I enjoy it so much and really appreciate your research and writing.
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Days Gone By was my favourite part of the paper, mom's too. The Recorder held so much history! Mom once found an article that stated that there were orphans in Reston (I believe they survived a fire) and a town meeting was to be had to see what to do with them. Mom never found the answer as to what the town decided in the papers. I hope someday I come across it on your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amber. I will have to keep an eye out for that story!
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