Guy Masson "Bay" Smith was born on June 7, 1899 in Glenboro, MB. He graduated from Glenboro High School and then relieved his father in the post office while the latter served on a Military Tribunal. Bay enlisted with the Royal Air Force in 1918. For a short time he was the manager of a cream buying station in Glenboro before moving to Corning, SK in 1924, where he was an agent for Imperial Oil. In 1929, Bay returned to Glenboro to take over the Post Office duties from his mother, Elizabeth Alice Smith. Smith was appointed postmaster in 1950, and continued in that position until he retired in 1965. Under his leadership, a new post office was built in 1954; upon his retirement he sold the Smith Block and Post Office building. Smith married Mayme McKnight (1899-1977) in December 1923 and together they raised two children: Tannys and Robert.
Bay was active in community life. He was a charter member of the local Kiwanis Club and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He served long tenures on the Rink Committee, the Glenboro branch of the Red Cross and the Glenboro Board of Trade. He was a past president of the Junior and Senior Bands, was Secretary of the South Cypress Centennial Committee, and treasurer of the annual Fun Fair. He was a founding member of and helped design the local course at the Glenboro Golf Club. Bay Smith died on September 16, 1997 in Glenboro, MB.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Bay Smith about his family history, his life and career and his community involvement in the town of Glenboro. The interviewer is Irene Brown.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Glenboro local history "Beneath the long grass" and Smith's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
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Margaret Winnifred Smith (nee Scarrow) was born November 7, 1902 in Rathwell, MB. She took her schooling at Rathwell and became a telephone operator. She then went to Vancouver and then back to Winnipeg where she received comptometer instruction at Success Business College. Following her studies, she worked at Speirs-Parnell (which became Westons). Whilie in Winnipeg she joined the United Church Central Congregational Choir and the CNR Choral Society. She met Henry Bernard "Harry" Smith (?-1974) at Speirs-Parnell and they were married in 1928. They had no children.
When Harry joined the RCAF in 1939, Margaret went with him to Vancouver and then Saskatoon. They were living in Ladner, BC at the end of the Second World War. While in Saskatoon Margaret was president of the Airmen's Wive Group, and a member of Knox United Church choir. In ladner she was choir leader in the United Church. In 1945, the couple moved to Neepawa, where Harry started a business with Fred Anderson called Smith and Anderson Radio Electric. In Neepawa, Margaret joined the United Church choir, was president of the Missionary Society and the Business & Professional Women's Club, and a member of UCW. Margaret Smith died on January 26, 1999 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Riverside Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Margaret Smith about her life story and that of her husband, Harry. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Neepawa local history "Heritage," and Smith's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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Vella May Smith (nee McLean) was born on November 25, 1900 in Golden Stream, MB. She attended Golden Stream School. She was briefly employed as a stenographer for the Bank of Montreal before marring Guildord James Smith (1887-1961) in Gladstone in 1922. The couple lived in Gladstone until 1924, when they moved to the Lidstone district. On the farm, they raised four children: James Alexander, Nina, Sheila and Irene. In 1957, Vella took a position as a cook in Flin Flon, then in 1959 she began working as a cook for the CNR. She remained in that position until 1961. Vella retired in 1965. Vella enjoyed music, particularly playing the piano, gardening, sewing, and was a skilled horsewoman. In her early years, she acted as a community nurse. She was a member of the Lidstone Women's Institute and the Merry Mixers senior's group. Vella Smith died on December 31, 1991 in Swan River, MB. She is buried at Birchwood Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Vella Smith about growing up in the Village of Golden Stream. Interviewer is Betty Gibson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Smith's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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Robert Alexander Smith was born on March 25, 1901 at Madford-Ingelow, MB. He attended Matheson school and farmed in the Ingelow district. The family farm, 2-12-17, was sold in 1951, and Robert moved to Winnipeg where he was employed with the International Harvester Company and Triange Auto Supply. Robert met Martha Buchanon Thorburn (1917-2010) when they were both Scout leaders and actively involved with Chalmers United Church in Winnipeg. The couple married in 1955, and together they had one son, Alexander. Robert and Martha retired in 1971, and moved to Douglas, MB. Robert Smith died on November 30, 1983 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Carberry Plains Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Robert Smith about the early days at 2-12-17. Interviewer is Blair Loree.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Douglas local history "Echoes of A Century," and the obituaries for Robert and Martha Smith. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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