Joseph Donaldson's Ltd. Food Market appears in the Henderson's Brandon City Directory from 1906 to 1929. Donaldson's main meat/butcher shop was located at 813 Rosser Avenue. A second branch was opened by 1914 at 228 Rosser Avenue but relocated to 654 Tenth Street by 1917. The branch relocated by 1921 to 662 Tenth Street where it remained until ca.1929. This address was referred to as the "Busy Corner" in the Henderson's Directory. In 1931, butcher Ted Hill appears to have taken over the Donaldson's establishments.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows George Pope sitting in a backyard. Standing next to him is Isabella Louise McGuinness (Pope). A young girl, perhaps Ruth McGuinness, is standing over a stroller. A wood pile and garden plants can be seen in the backyard. An advertisement for Joseph Donaldson's Ltd Food Markets can be seen on a business beside the residence.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: This is mum her uncle George Pope who came to Brandon in 1880 (I think) in the back yard of 708-10th Street. It looked like Ruth in the lower right corner. I was interested in the Donaldson advertising.
Mrs. Hilda Rosa Osmond (nee Bridgeman) was born in Hampshire, England in 1888 to parents Edwin Samuel Bridgeman (b.16 Jul 1852; d. 19 June 1922, Brandon) and Rosa Holkham (b. 26 Mar 1859; d. 27 May 1927, Brandon). Edwin was a sailor and Rosa was a dressmaker.
Following the death of her brother Edwin Frederick Bridgeman (1886-1890), the family immigrated to Canada in 1891. The Bridgeman's took the train to Griswold, Manitoba, and settled near Edwin's brother, Albert Bridgeman, and together they farmed the N 1/2 of 36-12-23. The Bridgeman's had three more children, Ellen Grace (b. 27 Jan 1893; d. 22 Feb 1893), Harry Volantine/Valentine (b. 14 Feb 1894), and Charlie Cuthbert (b. 03 Aug 1896; d. 25 Aug 1901). Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bridgeman retired in 1913 and moved to Brandon where they lived until their respective deaths. The couple are interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Hilda married William Arthur Osmond (b. 1867; d. 26 Oct 1943) of Baisingstoke, England, on 31 Jan 1913. They had a daughter Nellie who later married Glen Mossey. The family continued to farm the property on section 36.
Hilda Rosa Osmond passed away in 1980 at the age of 91. She is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery near Harding, Manitoba, where her husband and siblings also rest.
(Sources: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 [online]; Findagrave.com; Harding History Committee, Home to Harding 1879-1981 (Brandon: Leech Printing, 1981); Manitoba Vital Statistics Database)
Custodial History
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness by Burton Strange of Kenton, 25 Nov 1974
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a field stone house builty in 1901 by Edwin and Rosa Bridgeman near Harding, Manitoba. Edwin and Rosa Bridgeman are pictured on the right with Harry and Charlie, shortly before Charlie's death. Hilda sits atop the horse. Albert Bridgeman is pictured on the right with a horse team.
Notes
Photograph was published in the community history by Harding History Committee, Home to Harding 1879-1981 (Brandon: Leech Printing, 1981), 50
Photograph shows two women, a man, and dog, standing in a residential backyard during the winter. The women are wearing large hats and fur stoles. The woman standing in the middle is likely Isabella Louisa McGuinness (nee Pope), mother to Brandon Sun editor Fred McGuinness.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. View is of the backyard and laneway.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. The living room has brickfaced fireplace above which there is a large McGuinness coat of arms.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. This view shows an entrance to a possible den.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. This view shows a decorative panel, lamp, and upholstered bench.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Aerial view shows that neighbouring blocks have yet to be constructed.
Photograph shows the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Aerial view shows that neighbouring blocks have yet to be constructed and the backyard to the McGuinness home is completed.
Postcard is stained and ripped in the right hand corner. A label is taped to the front of the postcard. The postcard has been issued.
History / Biographical
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Alva/Alvery/"Alvie" Reddell/Riddell/Ridall Spafford (b. 15 Mar 1891, d. 23 Aug 1985) was born in Enterprise, Manitoba, in the R.M. of Turtle Mountain. In 1911, he married Francis Ethel Harrison (d. 1979) in Killarney and had three children. Alvie farmed in Bannerman from 1902 to 1936, after which he moved to Boissevain to work as a Rawleigh salesman. In 1942, the family moved to Brandon where Alvie worked as a conductor with the CNR until his retirement. Alva Spafford passed away at the age of 94 at the Brandon General Hospital. His funeral was held in Killarney, Manitoba. (Source: Obituary, Brandon Sun, 23 Aug 1985)
Scope and Content
Postcard is a group photograph of some of the members of the Spafford family standing on the front steps of a residence. The four women and four men are dressed in heavy coats and jackets.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Harry Spafford on left, Alvie Spafford in centre, Alf Spafford on extreme right, about 1910; The back of the postcard is addressed to Mrs. Alva (Francis) Spafford of Bannerman, Manitoba. Alvie Spafford has written at brief note to his wife, Francis. The postmark reads November 23, 1912, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The names Aunt Ida, -- --, Uncle Harry, Alf, and Alva are written in pen at the top of the postcard.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a family of six posing for a formal cabinet portrait. The father wears a three-piece suit and stands with his four children, two boys and two girls. The mother is seated in a tassled upholstered chair. The boys appear to be wearing the same suit jacket, both girls wear lace collars.
Notes
Advertisement on back photograph reads: Portraits in Oil, Water, Colors, Crayon, Pastel and India Ink. J.A. Brock & Co. Photographers, Brandon, Manitoba. Duplicates of all Photos to be had at any time. [Date range determined from photo studio period. The backdrop is consistent with another cabinet photograph in this collection, see 1-2015.56.]
A number of the letters are samples of "cross writing"
Physical Condition
Some of the letters are fragile, but generally the fonds is in good condition.
Custodial History
Ann Murdoch donated a copy of "My Dear Will" to the McKee Archives in February 2008. The formal donation of the Baker family letters occurred on September 27, 2008 at a reception in the Gathering Space at the John E. Robbins Library.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a collection of about 200 letters primarily written by William Baker (although letters written by other family members are also included), who left Liverpool and settled in Oak Lake, to his son William who remained in England. The letters offer insights on a wide range of subjects including the conditions of immigrants and the Riel "situation".
The fonds also contains a supplement to "My Dear Will: Reflections of Prairie Pioneer Life." This latter publication consists of transcribed copies of the letters in the Baker family fonds. The letters were originally transcribed by Ronald James Parsons and his wife Rita Olive Parsons (nee Blake) and published, along with some letters, photographs and other documents for family c. 1997. The booklet was updated in 2007 by Ronald and Rita's daughter, Ann Murdoch. The Supplement was prepared by Ann Murdock and her sister Dawn Powell.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry.
Finding Aid
My Dear Will booklet
Storage Location
2008 accessions. Booklets and family tree stored in Rare Books: RC 3399.B73Z495 2007 v.1 and v.2.
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