Eva Blanche Roddick Davis was born September 20, 1900 at Linkwood Lodge farm in the Brandon Hills area of the RM of Cornwallis. She was the daughter of John Hardy Roddick and Ida Johnson, and spent her childhood on the home farm in the Brandon Hills, which had been settled by her grandfather, the Rev. George Roddick, a pioneer who came to the are in 1879 from Nova Scotia. Eva attended Brandon Hills school and Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI), before graduating from the Brandon Normal School in 1920. From 1920-1921, she taught at Little Souris. Although her parents moved to Brandon that year, she returned to the Brandon Hills to the Davis family farm, Glenwood Farm, after marrying Meredith William Davis (1897-1968) on February 28, 1931. The Davis family came to the Brandon Hills in 1879 from Palmer, Massachusetts. The couple sold the farm in 1940, and moved into Brandon, where Med worked as a motor mechanic. The Davis' had three children: Georgina, Shirley, and Bill. Eva was involved with the family farm and on a committee for planning the Brandon Hills district centennial in 1979. Additionally, she was a member of the Brandon Hills Busy Bees, the Women's Missionary Society, the UCW at Knox United Church, the Canadian Lady Foresters and the Court Princess Mary L2. Eva Roddick Davis died in Brandon on December 20, 1986. She is buried at Brandon Hills 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 Eva Roddick Davis about the pioneer years in the Brandon Hills and her family history. Interviewer is Effie McPhail.
Notes
History/bio information taken from the Brandon Hills local history "The Brandon Hills Story" and Davis' obituary. Transcript by Jaclyn Matchullis (2014). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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Clarence Benjamin Graham? Spurr, was born in on February 13, 1891 in Bancroft, Ontario. Spurr began working for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1914 as a station agent at Rocanville, SK and spent many years as an agent in various communities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba before retiring in 1955. In 1923, he married Elizabeth Wallace Lindsay (1893-1979) and they raised three children, sons Ewart and Delbert and adopted niece Verna Spurr. Clarence and Elizabeth moved to Brandon, MB following his retirement. Spurr joined the Canadian military in 1915, and was initially sent to Camp Hughes. A signaler and runner, he spent 1916-1918 overseas. Clarence Spurr died on December 21, 1982 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Clarence B.G. Spurr about his experiences during World War I. Spurr discusses and reminisces about details of the Great War and some of the major turning points within it from Vimy Ridge, Lamont, Mons, Neuville-Saint-Vaast and the Armistice that ended the war on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in November from the perspective of a Canadian soldier. Interviewer is Delbert Spurr.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Spurr's obituary. Transcript by Whitney Hodgins (2017). Description by Christy Henry.
Access Restriction
Content Warning: Some of the material discussed in the interview is sensitive in nature, dealing with the war and some of the gruesome acts that go with it. Listener discretion is advised.
Language Note
English
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Edward John "Jack" Blatchford was born on the family farm near Bradwardine, MB on July 1, 1904. He remained at home to help with farm duties after attending Bradwardine School. In 1930, he rented a farm, but also worked odd jobs plowing the town gardens, hauling frieght and coal, taking care of the rink and butchering for the mink ranch in Hamiota and the beef ring. Jack married Jessie Bowyer Mawer on August 6, 1931 in Winnipeg.
Jessie was born on July 14, 1910 in the Tarbolton district of the RM of Daly and attended schools in Spring Valley, Tarbolton and Bradwardine. Her nursing training at the Brandon Mental Hospital was not completed when she married in 1931. After the marriage, the couple farmed north of Bradwardine before moving into the village in 1944, when Jack changed his occupation; he started a trucking business hauling grain for farmers and also working for Good Roads. Jack was also employed with Canadian Comstock at Rivers, Brandon and Carberry-Portage before being hired in the C.E. Section of the Department of National Defence at Rivers CFB. He held this position from 1959 until his retirement.
Jack was an avid sportsman, playing hockey, footbball, broomball, curling, baseball, softball, as well as speed skating. He also enjoed hunting. In Bradwardine, Jessie provided care for the sick, as well as maternity care, but also worked in the local gorcery and hardware store, and was Postmistress from 1969-1972. Jessie was active in her community as a member of the United Church, Forerester's Lodge, Hospital Guild, and 50 Plus Club. The couple moved to Hamiota in 1984, and then Rivers the following year. Jack and Jessie Blatchford had no children. Jack Blatchford died on November 7, 1992. Jessie Blatchford died on May 16, 2008. They are both buried in Saint Matthew Anglican Cemetery in Bradwardine, 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 Jack and Jessie Blatchford about early schooling and home nursing in the 1930s. The interviewer is Mrs. K. Cochrane.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Bradwardine local history and Jessie Blatchford's obituary. Transcript by Michyla Turnbull (2020). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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Edward Peter "EP" Boyle was born on January 7, 1887 in Watertown, Minnesota. After training as a creamery operator with Hutchinson Produce Company for five years, EP bought the Shellmouth Creamery near Russell, MB in 1913. He married Rose Mary McHale (1887?-1973) in 1915. The couple had six children: Jack, Irene, Winnifred, Robert, Kenneth and Forrest. In 1916, EP his second creamery, the Laurentian Milk Company in Neepawa, MB, which became known as the Neepawa Creamery & Produce Company. In 1933, EP bought another non-functioning plant, Central Creameries of Brandon, which was renovated and successfully managed by his brother Neil Boyle. EP retired in the late 1960s after incorporating his business in 1958. EP was active in the Roman Catholic church in Neepawa, served as president of the local Board of Trade and the Manitoba Diary Association. He was a charter member of both the Neepawa BPOE and the Neepawa Golf Club. Edward Boyle died on February 4, 1990 in Neepawa, MB. He 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 Edward Boyle about buttermaking in Neepawa, MB. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.
Notes
History/bio information taken from the records and Boyle's obituary. Transcript by Simon Richard (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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John Stanley Henry was born April 19, 1909 on the home farm at Oak River, MB. He attended Oak River school through Grade 11, then took agriculture at the University of Manitoba for one year before having to withdraw due to financial hardship. Stan then returned to the farm, where he remained for the rest of his life. Stan married Jean Elizabeth McCrindle (1916-1992) in 1942. Together they had three children: Cameron, Lynn and Leslie.
As a farmer, Stan was a Select Seed Grower, and with his son Cam, developed the J.S. Henry and Son Seed business. In 1981, he was elected a Roberson Associate of the Canadian Seed Growers Association. In his early years, Stan also raised purebred Shorthorn cattle. Stan enjoyed restoring and refinishing furniture, gardening and loved sports, especially baseball and curling, including coaching. In the community, Stan was an active member of the United Church and was a trustee on the local board and then the Rolling River shcool board for 23 years. Stan Henry died on October 15, 1986 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Oak River 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 a narration by Stan Henry about the Henry pioneers in the Oak River area.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Henry's obituary. Transcript by Marshall Northam (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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John Duncan McDonald was born on April 30, 1893 in Brandon, MB. He attended Winterton and Basswood schools. John married Margaret Emily Greer (1894-1980) in the Greer home in the Moline district in 1917. Together they had four children: Sadie Julia Elva, Robert James, John Elmer and Roy Peter. From 1919-1965, he farmed at Basswood, MB on SW 36-14-20. John McDonald died on January 11, 1989. He is buried at Basswood 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 John MacDonald about pioneer farming. Interviewer is Gordon Shanks.
Notes
History/bio information from the records. Transcript by Desiree Glover (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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