Museum – Page 6 – Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

Waiting for Santa

December 23, 2023January 14, 2024 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

STOCKINGS & EARLY RISINGS

Seasonal exhibit now on display in the Cut Knife Library, 113 Broad Street.

“The Santa sock in depression years was a man’s gray work sock. An orange and an apple filled the toe and heel spaces, nuts still in their shells and coloured hard candy filled the rest of the foot – one gift occupied the leg.” ~ Ruby Sleath, page 56

“Before bedtime, us kids would each nail up one of Dad’s wool socks onto the stair railing. We each had our own spot, arranged of course by age.” ~ Cheryl Rowswell, pg33

“Some of my earliest Christmas memories involve hanging stockings for Santa to fill. We usually got an orange, some nuts and candies in our stockings and we always used Dad’s socks because they were bigger.” ~ Norman Rewerts, page 30

“Valerie remembers the anticipation as a small child, waking at 3:00 a.m. wondering if Santa had yet paid us a visit. Bev says if we came downstairs too early, Dad would send us right back upstairs to bed.” ~ Bonnie Ramsay, page 27

“6:00 a.m. finally came – the legal time to wake Mom and Dad. Along with me, my siblings waited “patiently” at the top of the staircase waiting for Mom and Dad to accompany us. It was the rule in our home – no one could make a step downstairs without Mom and Dad.” ~ Cheryl Rowswell, page 33

“I was 10 years old. It was about 2 o’clock in the morning of Christmas Day and my brothers and I were wide awake and holding a discussion in their bedroom… Would it be OK to go downstairs at this hour and check out the Christmas tree? Perhaps we had better wait another hour because remember last year Dad had been mad and roared “Get back to bed!” 3 a.m… we’d better wait another hour because last year Dad had been really mad. 4 a.m… we were still nervous about upsetting Dad. He’d been REALLY mad at us last year… 5 a.m… 6 a.m… we heard Mom getting up to stuff the turkey… it was safe to rush downstairs…” ~ Jean Lawes, page 14

“As Sheila recalls, we’d waste no time crowding down the stairs one behind the other, trailing our blankets. She remembers us peeking around the corner at our bulging stockings, and that our excited jabber of “He was here! He was here!!” would be answered by Dad’s ‘Go back to bed, it’s too early.’” ~ Amy Singh, page 43

If you have any memories of early Christmases in the Cut Knife area that you’d like to share with our readership, please email or add to the comments below. We’ll put them all together in a final blog post in early January.

All excerpts in this Prairie Christmas blog series will have been taken from Prairie Christmas: A Collection of Stories and Recollections published as A Clayton McLain Memorial Museum Project, Cut Knife, Saskatchewan 2006 – 2007. Remaining copies are available for purchase for $10. See the website’s Gift Shop page here.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Museum, Our Stories

From Tinsel to Electric Lights

December 22, 2023January 14, 2024 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

LONG DISTANCE PACKAGES, CHRISTMAS CARDS, GLASS ORNAMENTS

Royalite seven light indoor multiple set

Seasonal exhibit now on display in the Cut Knife Library, 113 Broad Street.

“Each year before Christmas, a large parcel would arrive in Quill Lake, Sask. on the train or in the mail in later years, from my Grandma and Grandpa Payton in Victoria, B.C… Finally after supper the opening revealed a box loaded with many parcels carefully wrapped in various colourful Christmas wrapping papers. On top would be a sheet of writing paper on which Grandpa had written our names. Beside each name was glued a small rectangle of one of the different wrapping papers. One knew that that particular pattern of paper wrapped their gifts.” ~ Lucille Bullerwell, page 6

“Every year we would receive a wooden box (previously filled with oranges) from my father’s parents in Chilliwack, B.C. It was filled with hazel nuts or filberts. That was our Xmas present from our grandparents. Grandpa always told me they came from Nut Mountain, which I presumed was close to their acreage, but I am not sure to this day if there is such a mountain called this near Chilliwack.” ~ Marcella Pedersen, page 20

“Mom made special treats for Christmas. Bev remembers Mom and Dad packaging up frozen farm chickens to send to Dad’s sisters in Calgary on the train.” ~ Bonnie Ramsay, page 28

“Remembering our friends at Christmas with cards and letters was our way of keeping in touch; we did not call them on the telephone. Our Christmas card list was long! Christmas cards that we received were displayed in the house by hanging them up with string in long rows on the wall. Everyone enjoyed reading the cards. It only cost 3 [cents] or 5 [cents] to send a card.” ~ Mona Wade, page 68

“Christmas cards were hung on a string across the kitchen wall and we decorated a live tree which needed water on a regular basis. Some of us still treasure and use the delicate glass ornaments from our tree on the farm.” ~ Bonnie Ramsay, page 25

“Dad and Granddad would go north just before Christmas for a load of trees to be cut for firewood. They would bring “Christmas” trees back with them. We put the tree up on Christmas Eve and decorated it with homemade bells of paper etc. and crepe paper red and green streamers. The rooms were decorated with red and green streamers and bells of crepe paper as well. In later years, ornaments were purchased from the Eaton’s catalogue and some were received as gifts.” ~ Joyce Hewson, page 11

“Christmas trees were brought from the Loon Lake area by team and sleigh. The large ones were for the school and they cost $1.50. The smaller ones were for people’s homes and they sold for $1.00.” ~ Irene (Stonehouse) Petovello

In 1950 I married Ralph Hewson. Our first Christmas tree was decorated with coloured glass balls, silver streamers and “icicles”. In 1952, power came to our area so our tree had a string of electric lights on it. The trees then were bought in town. The tree was kept in a pail with water so it didn’t get too dry!” ~ Joyce Hewson, page 12

“It wasn’t until the fall of 1952 that our lives changed and rural Saskatchewan lit up with electricity in our immediate area. The Christmas tree now had electric lights!” ~ Mary Biggart, page 5

Previously: Santa Claus Day & Shopping Local | School Concert to Christmas Concert | The School Concert, Part 2 | The School Concert, Part 1 | Intro to Prairie Christmas.

~ Debbie M.

plastic santa in sled pulled by one reindeer

Archives, Museum, Our Stories

Santa Claus Day & Shopping Local

December 21, 2023January 14, 2024 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

THE THEATRE, THE TREE & SANTA

Seasonal exhibit now on display in the Cut Knife Library, 113 Broad Street.

“Santa Claus Day in Cut Knife brought a huge amount of excitement for we children. After viewing a show at the theatre, Santa usually arrived at the huge Christmas tree set in the center of Main Street. After speaking to Santa and receiving our candy bags, we children were then taken to Margot’s Store where we proceeded to do our Christmas shopping.” ~ Cheryl Rowswell, page 32

“The Christmas tree stood in the center of town and was cut from the old Dunn farm. Trees escaping the annual choosing remain standing west of Veikle’s.” ~ Lorna Sayers, page 35

“We seem to recall it being at the south end of Main Street in front of the train station in early years, but in the middle of Main Street later.” ~ Amy Singh, page 39

“For many years, Bob McInnis played a major role in Cut Knife’s annual Santa Claus Day… I remember an event that took place a few days after Santa’s visit. Our daughter, Marj was about five years old. She was with me shopping in Bruce Douglas’ bake shop. Bob McInnis came into the shop and picked up Marj and said “How are you today, young lady?” Marj just looked at him and said ‘You sound just like Santa Claus’.” ~ Joyce Levere, page 15

“In the early 1950’s, one did all their Christmas shopping in Cut Knife. The general stores, Dion’s and Margot’s provided all kinds of gift ideas for the season. The hardware stores, Finley’s and The Brackenbury Brothers, did as well.” ~ Lorna Sayers, page 35

“There wasn’t the variety, quality or quantity in local village general stores to meet all shoppers’ requirements. Shopping for a day in our closest cities, the Battlefords, proved expensive for a car and cafe meals put a strain on the family purse, so the only alternative was mail order shopping from catalogues put out only by the T. Eaton and Robert Simpson Companies. In most cases they gave satisfactory service.” ~ Ruby Sleath, page 55

“Christmas was an exciting time at our house. Mom shopped by mail through Eatons’ or Simpsons’ catalogue and parcels from Margot’s and Dion’s came home wrapped in brown paper tied with red or green string.” ~ Bonnie Ramsay, page 25

“Trips to North Battleford were rare, but there would always be one before Christmas. All dressed up, we would crowd into the car, excitedly counting our pennies and planning how to spend them to get the gifts we needed. With five kids to ride herd on when we arrived, Mom’s threat, as Kathi recalls, was “If you aren’t good, you can’t come next year!” This was a dire threat indeed, as Woolworth’s, Kresge’s and the Metropolitan stores with their dazzling array of inexpensive goods was too wondrous an experience to jeopardize, so we would all be on our best behaviour.” ~ Amy Singh, page 37

Previously: School Concert to Christmas Concert | The School Concert, Part 2 | The School Concert, Part 1 | Intro to Prairie Christmas.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Museum, Our Stories

School Concert to Christmas Concert

December 20, 2023January 14, 2024 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

JINGLE BELLS & THE NIGHT SKY

tinsel and catalogue — Christmas tree tinsel

Seasonal exhibit now on display in the Cut Knife Library, 113 Broad Street.

“The concerts in the mid-thirties (which I recall the best) were a bit different than they are today. The day of the concert, preparations were made earlier in the afternoon, such as putting bricks in the oven to warm up, as we used them for foot-warmers, blankets were folded and ready to go. Chores, like feeding the cows and horses were done early, along with the milking and separating. The old cows must have wondered what was happening as the milking was done much quicker than usual. When supper was finished, the horses were harnessed and hitched to the open sleigh, but one must never forget to attach the bells to the harness.” ~ Dorothy MacDonald, page 15

“Somewhere in the 30’s when money was scarce and mostly disappeared on the necessities of life, a system was set up by the school board and community ensuring a gift for all pre-school children and students. A list of children, including age and gender was sent to Eaton’s. The company filled the order well. The big boxes that arrived at Gallivan station had to be sorted and labeled. There were such items as games, books, gloves, and wallets. There were toys for the younger children. The appropriate gifts were of excellent value and much appreciated.” ~ Dorothy (Hardy) Stewart, page 58-59

“Usually the last item on the program was the beauty and reverence of the nativity. In this the young performers were taught the true meaning of Christmas – Christ’s birthday was the reason for the season. It was often in the form of a pantomime with a narrator. The stage was dimly lit with a lone bright star placed above the stable.” ~ Ruby Sleath, page 55

“I was five years old when I first remember going to the concert with the family with a team and sleigh. It was a clear, warm evening and the bells on the horses’ harness jingled as they trotted along the road. Dad loved working with horses and no doubt the horses were “dressed up” too with braided tails and shiny harnesses… As we returned home, I was fascinated by the dancing northern lights.” ~ Mary Biggart, page 3

“Elsie remembers one year when she was about 11 years old… While her twin baby sisters rode in the cab with her parents, Elsie clearly remembers standing between the cab and the truck box in a narrow space with her brother and sister. She recalls the clear sky filled with stars as they drove the mile home after the concert.” ~ Elsie Sawatzky as told to Bonnie Ramsay, page 34

“I remember going to my older brother’s Christmas concert at Euclid school near Neilburg. I clearly recall my brothers, Stan and Les Christensen, rushing in to tell me, their little sister, that not only had they seen Santa and his eight reindeer (Rudolph hadn’t joined the team yet) land on the porch roof, they had also watched him climb back into his sleigh and drive off into the night sky.” ~ Alice Ramsay, page 25

“The men would assemble the stage from planks fastened together, and hang the curtains well ahead of the concert so we could practice in school hours, during those years that the school was still in use. After it was closed, the people of Wardenville bought it for a community centre and continued to hold an annual Christmas Concert. In later years Ross remembers standing in front of the stage on little white benches trimmed with red, to give his recitation.” ~ Amy Singh, page 38

“For several years Georgie Gallivan and I organized a Christmas concert at the Gallivan hall. This was after both schools had closed. We had quite a time inveigling children to perform, but they reluctantly participated. Riding Hill and Rockhaven people came as well… The seniors really looked forward to this old time concert with coffee and lunch served afterwards. Edwin Armstrong always looked after the fire in the old coal furnace. Finally we pretty well ran out of young children and the Rockhaven community did one at Rockhaven for a couple of years.” ~ Vilda Laing, page 14

“For a few years after the Wilbert School children were bussed to Cut Knife (1957), our Wilbert Homemaker’s Club sponsored a Christmas party for the children at the Wilbert School. There would be a program performed by the children and Santa would come with candy bags for the children. It was a very pleasant evening for all.” ~ Verna Veikle, page 66

Previously: The School Concert, Part 2 | The School Concert, Part 1 | Intro to Prairie Christmas.

~ Debbie M.

Archives, Museum, Our Stories

The School Concert, Part 2

December 19, 2023January 14, 2024 Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

COSTUMES, NEW DRESSES & PERFORMING

homemade decoration, cardboard and paint — Homemade Christmas tree decoration donated by Ray and Florence Grant

Seasonal exhibit now on display in the Cut Knife Library, 113 Broad Street.

“In the 1920 to 1930 period in my community of Riding Hill… Parents played a large part in program preparation. They made costumes and for the draw curtains for the stage, often they dyed and used old cotton bed sheets. They designed attractive drill costumes from crepe paper for grades one and two. In a variety of colours. that age group made delightful fairies as they flitted to and fro from one end of the stage to the other. Red and green crepe paper clad elves added to the charm of gift giving when, at the end of the program, Santa needed helpers.” ~ Ruby Sleath, page 54

“Keith recalls the exciting day when the stage was brought in from the rafters of the barn, where it was stored throughout the rest of the year. It was set up between the cloak room doors. Due to the storage of the stage in the barn, the sweet, pungent aroma of horse manure permeated the air, as the stage was assembled in the school, and gradually became less noticeable as concert day drew near!” ~ Audrey (Brebner) Waters, page 69

“Our concert was always the last day of school. One of the trustees would bring a tree, which was set up and decorated after we went home earlier that day. One year, when I went at night, there was this beautiful, big tree, all shining with tinsel and new decorations. It completely filled the corner of the room.” ~ Hazel Inkster, page 13

“Vivian and I got new dresses at Christmas. Mine was red satin and hers was always blue. Mother made them and when we’d get to the concert and take our coats off we were so proud to show our new dresses. Sometimes they were pinned if Mother hadn’t got time for the buttons and button holes. All girls enjoyed the excitement of seeing what each one wore. I don’t suppose there was the same excitement in the boy’s cloakroom. There was probably grumbling over having to get dolled up.” ~ Doreen Taylor, page 65

“Somehow Mom would manage to sew us new dresses every year in time for the concert. With five girls this was no small task. The hum of the electric sewing machine with Mom bent over it was as much a part of our Christmas as the tree and stockings.” ~ Amy Singh, page 39

“One recitation I especially remember was a German one which I said in the Danzig School (three miles east of Waldheim, Saskatchewan) when I was in grade two. I was dressed in a Santa mask which was very artificial looking and much too big for me. It didn’t move very much when I moved my head inside of it. I guess make-up paint hadn’t been discovered, at least not in our rural school. The mask muffled my speech so that I had to be especially articulate and loud.” ~ Orval Ens, page 10

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for School Concert to Christmas Concert. Previously, The School Concert, Part 1 and Intro to Prairie Christmas.

~ Debbie M.