John Tully McKenzie was born on August 17, 1903 in the Tremaine district near Rapid City, MB. He attended Tremaine School, Rapid City School and then completed a diploma in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba in 1923. Tully married Ethel Marion Bridge (1906-1977) in 1930 and together they had four children: Lois, Marjorie, Ken and Beth. The McKenzie's farmed for the next 30 years. During this time Tully was active in the community, serving as a secretary treasurer and chairman of the school board, elder and trustee of Hunterville United Church, secretary of the Mantioba Pool Elevator Board, the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture, Rapid City Agricultural Socieity, was founder of the local 4-H Club, formed the Rapid City Film Council, and was a charter member of the Minnedosa Credit Union. In 1960, Tully and Ethel moved to Brandon, where Tully was employed with various agricultural service organizations.
In 1970, Tully served as the chairman of the Centennial Pioneer Committee, that was formed to honour pioneers of the Westman Region. He also was a charter member of the Assiniboine Historical Society and contributed significantly to the establishment of the Daly House Museum. He and Ethel also researched, wrote and published a book entitled "It's Time to Remember, 1874-1974," a history of the Tremaine community. Tully was also a founder of the Mantioba Agriculture Hall of Fame, calling the intial meetings and serving as the first chairman of its Provisional Board. In 1990, he was inducted into the Hall for his contribution to agriculture and the preservation of Manitoba heritage. Tully McKenzie died on March 28, 1992 in Winnpeg, 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 interview with Tully McKenzie about family history and community life. Interviewer is Effie McPhail.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Manitoba Agricultre Hall of Fame website and McKenzie's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
Media missing or recording not available.
An unexpected error occurred.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to update your
browser to a recent version, or update your Flash plugin.
Photograph shows a group of nine people surrounding an elderly man, likely A.E. McKenzie, who is wearing a black suit. The group appears to be photographed in residential yard.
According to G.F. Barker (Brandon: A City, 1977, 291), William (Billy) Muir worked at Coombs & Stewart's on Pacific Avenue until he opened his own grocery store in 1888. The shop was located at 143-6th Street, Brandon, and was demolished for a parking lot in 1952.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the "Wm. Muir General Grocer" building on 6th Street. Two men pose in the doorway of the store. The man on the left is likely William Muir. Barrels are lined on the boardwalk in front of the store. Apples and mason jars can be seen in the shop's windows.
Notes
Front of photograph reads: Sixth Street between Rosser - Princess. Back of photograph reads: Billy Muir's Store, 143 6th Street Brandon - 57 years in business in this location. An address label affixed to the back of the mat reads: Mrs. James Strath, Box 421, Souris, Man.
Photograph shows the midway at the 1913 Dominion Fair. Attractions include California Orange Juice stand and Patterson's Animal Trainer Show. The Dominion Exhibition Display Building II can be seen in the background.
Notes
Photograph appears to be a part of a sequence of photographs, see 20-2009.30 to 20-2009.40
Negative shows a residential living room with a woman (Hazel Spellmeier) seated in a chair holding a Siamese cat. Standing on her left is her daughter (Bobbie). A man (Sgt. Wilf Spellmeier) is seated on the arm of a couch while he attempts to photograph the women. The interior of the residence is consistent with 1960s furnishings.
Notes
Negative was stored in a Medicine Hat News envelope with the following typed on the front: Sgt. Wilf Spellmeier, wife Hazel and daughter, Bobbie.
Photograph shows a banquet room in the Prince Edward Hotel. Rectangular tables are organized in an U-shape layout. The tables are covered in white linen table cloths and have place settings.
According to the Brandon Daily Sun (07 May 1913), the first three street cars (Nos. 10, 9, and 7) arrived in Brandon on the evening of May 6, 1913. The cars were shipped via Canadian National Rail to Brandon from Winnipeg and stored at the railway siding on McTavish Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets. The daily paper (15 May 1915) reported that a test run for the street cars was scheduled for May 16, 1913. The City Clerk published a public notice in the paper (29 May 1913) announcing the formal opening of the "Brandon Municipal Street Raily" for on Monday, June 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at city hall where the cars would be displayed.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts three municipal street cars parked on the 10th Street tracks in front of the Winter Fair Building. In front of the cars are a group of men wearing suits, hats, and top coats. Two automobiles are parked alongside the street cars. According to Archivist Emeritus Tom Mitchell, the group of men are members of the Brandon Municipal Street Railway Committee. The chairman of the committee, Harry Cater, can be seen in the center-left of the group wearing a watch fob. The committee had assembled for a test run of the street car service, which the Brandon Daily Sun reported to have occured on Sunday, May 16, 1913.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: First Street Car in Brandon in front of Winter Fair building 1910.