95th Anniversary
Tomorrow would have been, although I would rather say will be, the 95th anniversary of my Grandparents Edna and Edgar Dixon.
I cannot help but wonder about the happy bride and groom as they planned the modest wedding and family reception. There seems that I once saw a picture of them sitting in a horse drawn cutter to be whisked away to their home on snow covered prairie ground. I am not sure if they had their house already built by then but if not it was soon finished as by the following September my father was born in the family home.
It must have been so exciting to finally have gotten married as they were sweethearts even before Grandpa went overseas to participate in World War 1. They were neither of them yet 23. Young and in love with hopes and dreams and plans the same as any young couple today starting out.
All in all they had a pretty blessed marriage. Three children were born and three children lived to adulthood. Many grandchildren...16 in total-- called them Grandpa and Grandma and all lived for most of their lives within 15 minutes of their home. Great Grandchildren were born as well.
The farm prospered. As new machinery became available combines, tractors, and automatic grain auger's were purchased and horses, binders, and thrashing machines were put to the side. Gardens were planted on the top of the most clay soiled hill in the yard and water was hauled and weeds were scraped away by diligent hoeing.
Snakes sunning themselves on the back steps were annually tolerated as one carried milk pails and clothes from the line into the house.
The cattle were 'let go' on the suggestion from the doctor after Grandpa had a 'heart' scare.
The living room tube radio was upgraded to one with transistors-- although the 'new' car...a Ford Comet did not have a radio but it did have a clock with a minute hand instead.
Grandma could afford to have new dresses tailor made by the lady in town and did so for years although the tradition was affected somewhat with the predominance of women wearing fortral pants from the Eaton's catalogue. There were a lot of whispers and giggles of 'Come see. Grandma is wearing pants." the first time she stepped into the porch in sharped creased black slimming slacks.
Dishes on the farm were washed in a washbasin on the kitchen counter and water was boiled on the stove. Rinse water was poured directly onto the dishes and special tea towels were used for blackened pots and pans from the wood stove. Clothes were hung out to dry or freeze as the weather would allow. Water was collected in the cistern for washing clothes and drinking water came from a well by the barn and kept in a pail in the porch with a dipper and brown stained cup beside it. Baths were taken in a tin tub and water from the cistern was pumped from a hand pump in the bathroom.
The coal furnace in the basement was changed to one that used oil. The cook stove was switched to electric. The wringer washer was never swapped over for an automatic even after the move to Town, although for their 50 anniversary a clothes dryer was purchased by the family and installed while anniversary celebrations were taking place in the church basement. For their 40th anniversary the family bought them matching electric lamps for their bedrooms, There had been a small gathering of just the three children and their spouses going over for an evening of visiting.
Black and white television became a reality after about 30 years and then a colored set was finally purchased upon moving off the farm.
Grandpa upheld the family tradition of acting as the Secretary Treasurer of the local country school as did his father before him until its closure in 1964.
They attended whist drives, box socials, school dances, church services, and went to town once a week on a Saturday--often picking up this granddaughter who had the duty of buying the groceries from the carefully written and exact list supplied to her from her mother, Groceries could be charged at that time so sending cash along with a child was not necessary.
Health and prosperity followed the young couple . Apart from some common ailments such as bunions, goutier, and high blood pressure both members of this faithful couple enjoyed a life of activity and general good health until they left left this earth
One trip to Winnipeg was made for a reason unknown to this granddaughter. Winters were a time to crochet or knit for new grandchildren and grandpa spent many hours down in his little 'shop' doing woodworking projects.
Their marriage on the farm lasted over 50 years. Grandpa left the family first and Grandma lived on in their town home for many years and finally moved to the nearby Seniors Home.
They no doubt endured disappointments in life. They may have actually argued with each other. Perhaps there might have been some serious worries and frustrations with finances, family worries, or neighbours, but if there were I have never heard anyone mention them.
To me they were simply Grandma and Grandpa. Their house was always a welcome and safe place to be and little did they know that 95 years after this special day in their lives there would be a granddaughter writing about them and sending the message about them out to whoever wished to read it.
November 10, 1922 was a very good day for Edna and Edgar but I would say that I too was blessed .
Tomorrow would have been, although I would rather say will be, the 95th anniversary of my Grandparents Edna and Edgar Dixon.
I cannot help but wonder about the happy bride and groom as they planned the modest wedding and family reception. There seems that I once saw a picture of them sitting in a horse drawn cutter to be whisked away to their home on snow covered prairie ground. I am not sure if they had their house already built by then but if not it was soon finished as by the following September my father was born in the family home.
It must have been so exciting to finally have gotten married as they were sweethearts even before Grandpa went overseas to participate in World War 1. They were neither of them yet 23. Young and in love with hopes and dreams and plans the same as any young couple today starting out.
All in all they had a pretty blessed marriage. Three children were born and three children lived to adulthood. Many grandchildren...16 in total-- called them Grandpa and Grandma and all lived for most of their lives within 15 minutes of their home. Great Grandchildren were born as well.
The farm prospered. As new machinery became available combines, tractors, and automatic grain auger's were purchased and horses, binders, and thrashing machines were put to the side. Gardens were planted on the top of the most clay soiled hill in the yard and water was hauled and weeds were scraped away by diligent hoeing.
Snakes sunning themselves on the back steps were annually tolerated as one carried milk pails and clothes from the line into the house.
The cattle were 'let go' on the suggestion from the doctor after Grandpa had a 'heart' scare.
The living room tube radio was upgraded to one with transistors-- although the 'new' car...a Ford Comet did not have a radio but it did have a clock with a minute hand instead.
Grandma could afford to have new dresses tailor made by the lady in town and did so for years although the tradition was affected somewhat with the predominance of women wearing fortral pants from the Eaton's catalogue. There were a lot of whispers and giggles of 'Come see. Grandma is wearing pants." the first time she stepped into the porch in sharped creased black slimming slacks.
Dishes on the farm were washed in a washbasin on the kitchen counter and water was boiled on the stove. Rinse water was poured directly onto the dishes and special tea towels were used for blackened pots and pans from the wood stove. Clothes were hung out to dry or freeze as the weather would allow. Water was collected in the cistern for washing clothes and drinking water came from a well by the barn and kept in a pail in the porch with a dipper and brown stained cup beside it. Baths were taken in a tin tub and water from the cistern was pumped from a hand pump in the bathroom.
The coal furnace in the basement was changed to one that used oil. The cook stove was switched to electric. The wringer washer was never swapped over for an automatic even after the move to Town, although for their 50 anniversary a clothes dryer was purchased by the family and installed while anniversary celebrations were taking place in the church basement. For their 40th anniversary the family bought them matching electric lamps for their bedrooms, There had been a small gathering of just the three children and their spouses going over for an evening of visiting.
Black and white television became a reality after about 30 years and then a colored set was finally purchased upon moving off the farm.
Grandpa upheld the family tradition of acting as the Secretary Treasurer of the local country school as did his father before him until its closure in 1964.
They attended whist drives, box socials, school dances, church services, and went to town once a week on a Saturday--often picking up this granddaughter who had the duty of buying the groceries from the carefully written and exact list supplied to her from her mother, Groceries could be charged at that time so sending cash along with a child was not necessary.
Health and prosperity followed the young couple . Apart from some common ailments such as bunions, goutier, and high blood pressure both members of this faithful couple enjoyed a life of activity and general good health until they left left this earth
One trip to Winnipeg was made for a reason unknown to this granddaughter. Winters were a time to crochet or knit for new grandchildren and grandpa spent many hours down in his little 'shop' doing woodworking projects.
Their marriage on the farm lasted over 50 years. Grandpa left the family first and Grandma lived on in their town home for many years and finally moved to the nearby Seniors Home.
They no doubt endured disappointments in life. They may have actually argued with each other. Perhaps there might have been some serious worries and frustrations with finances, family worries, or neighbours, but if there were I have never heard anyone mention them.
To me they were simply Grandma and Grandpa. Their house was always a welcome and safe place to be and little did they know that 95 years after this special day in their lives there would be a granddaughter writing about them and sending the message about them out to whoever wished to read it.
November 10, 1922 was a very good day for Edna and Edgar but I would say that I too was blessed .
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