George Thomas was born on December 24, 1888 in Birmingham, England. George married Beatrice Maud Taylor (1890-1970) on May 12, 1913 in Birmingham, England. The left for Canada a week later and settled in Neepawa where George's sister Alice already lived. In 1917, George started with the Canadian National Railway (CNR) as a Locomotive Foremans Clerk. George retired from the CNR in 1954, and promptly began a successful greenhouse. In his early days in Neepawa, George was Captain of the Neepawa Soccer Team, President of the CNR Recreation Association and also played cricket. He won numerous awards for his flowers in Neepawa, Brandon and Minnedosa, and was a life member of the Neepawa Horticultural Society, which he joined in 1916. He served on the Neepawa Parks Board for eighteen years and was made an Honorary Citizen of the Town of Neepawa in 1973. George and Beatrice had five children: Beatrice, Stanley, Jack, Mary and Roy. George Thomas died in 1985 in Neepawa, MB. He is buried at Neepawa 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 George Thomas about his life, especially his work with the railroad and in horticulture. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Neepawa local history "Heritage," Ancestry.ca and the Billion Graves website. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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 the exterior of the Royal George Hotel located at 142-6th Street, Brandon. Striped awnings cover the second and third storey windows of the hotel. Dogs roam the sidewalk in front of the hotel. Advertisements cover the fence adjacent to the hotel and include: Fort McMurray town site settlement; Mortgage sale for city property; Starland Theatre featuring Miss Amy Lawrence, Soprano; Sherman Theatre; 15th Annual Horticultural Exhibition
Notes
Date ascertained from 15th Annual Horticultural Exhibition advertisement posted on fence adjacent to hotel. Address obtained from Henderson's Brandon City Directory for 1913.
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness by Helen Turner
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a man - George Porterfield - dressed in a three-piece and hat sitting at the reins of a horse drawn buggy. The buggy appears to be parked on Lorne Avenue beside the bandstand at Stanely Park.
Notes
Note attached to the back of the photograph reads: This George Porterfield, who lived on a farm 4.9.19. Delivered eggs, cream & milk in Brandon by this method in the early 1920. Maybe he was out courting Mary, he looks pretty dressed up.
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness by Helen Turner
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a man - George Porterfield - and woman - Mary Porterfield - posing with a vehicle on a farm property.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Taken in the Summer at one of the neighbour homes George & myself. Note attached to the back of the photograph reads: George & Mary got married on June 6th 1923 and lived on the farm. This is their first car.
The City of Brandon (by decree of the Province) went to a ward system of government with the civic elections of October of 1971. Ten aldermen, who had to reside in their wards, were elected by the people of their wards. The Mayor was elected by the city at large. The previous committee system was abolished and individual aldermen henceforth had no specific responsibilities.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
William George Flay was born on March 7, 1909 in Bampton, Devonshire, England. He came to Canada with his mother and sister in 1916 to join his father, who had immigrated three years earlier. After living and farming in serveral southern Manitoba communities, George joined the army in 1941, and saw service in England and the continent with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. He returned to Canada in 1946. George was employed with the Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC) for five years, then worked as secretary-manager of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 3, where he served until his retirement in 1974. He worked closely with the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to promote veterans' rights. The Legion honored him with the Meritorious Service Medal and life membership for his work. George was also involved with many community services, including serving on the board of the Children's Aid Society for over thirty years. One of his greatest pleasures for over twenty-five years was the Majorette Coprs he founded, which provided entertainment at many functions and parades in surrounding areas. George married Mary Olive Gwyer in 1939 and together they had five children: Robert Bruce, Charles, Morgan, Eva and Lois. George married his second wife Jeanne Greenlaw (1918-2013) in 1962, and together they created J&G Ranch, where they gardened, appreciated nature and did a lot of entertaining. George Flay died on November 13, 1991 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 George Flay about the history of the Royal Canadian Legion in Brandon, MB. The interviewer is Jeanne Flay.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and obituaries for George Flay and Morgan Flay. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
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.
Gordon Irwin (1878 - 1968) was a long-time barber in Brandon, Manitoba. Irwin was born in Allenbank, Ontario. He married Elizabeth Jane Rollings (b. 04 Dec 1880, Napanee, ON; d. 24 Jul 1976, Brandon, MB) in Malton, Ontario, on January 11, 1905, and the couple moved to Brandon shortly thereafter. According to Henderson's Brandon City Directories, Gordon Irwin worked as a barber, for more than 49 years, in various establishments throughout the city. Notable shops include: the Imperial Hotel (1906), the CPR Barbers (1913-1923), Heise's (1929-1935), Kidds (1930-1941), and Robert Fowles (1949-1955). The Irwins celebrated their diamond anniversary in 1965, which was photographed and profiled in the Brandon Sun (14 Jan 1965, 8). According to his Brandon Sun obituary (19 April 1968, 12), Gordon Irwin passed away in Brandon on April 17, 1968, and was interned in the Rosewood Cemetery.
The decorative ceiling and border are consistent with another photograph of a tobacconist's shop in the McGuinness collection (see 20-2009.1). According to Henderson's 1909 Brandon City Directory, Gordon Irwin - a barber - and tobacconist J.S. Rosby shared at storefront at 919 Rosser Avenue. This address is situated on the north side of Rosser Avenue, adjacent to a laneway. It is possible that the back of the shop overlooks the Grand Union Hotel on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 10th Street.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of a barber shop. Three barbers are posing by their chairs and two customers are receiving a shave. The barber in the centre has been identified as Gordon Irwin. A display for Rudolf's Patent Pipes is in the foreground. An ornate tin ceiling and elaborate border are visible in the photograph. Framed pictures hang above the mirror, including an advertisement for undertakers Vincent & Macpherson (1901-1906).
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Dave Dick says centre barber is Gordon IRWIN, location may have been about 813 Rosser. May have been Kidd's Barber Shop. Harold Tackaberry confirms IRWIN. McGUINNESS.
Photograph of the Brandon College Literary Society Executive 1911-1912.
Back Row (L to R): F. Freer ’15 (Editor of Critic); H.E. Green, Theo. (Pres.Deb.Soc.); W.Wilkin ’13 (Reading Room Com.); J. Robinson ’13 (2nd Vice Pres.); and H. Wilson (Treas.).
Front Row (L to R): M. Reid ’14 (Pres.C.H. Lit.); K. Johnson ’14 (1st Vice Pres.); J. Evans ’13 (Pres.); and W. Speers ’13 (Sec.).
Photograph was taken at the dedication of the George T. Richardson Centre. The ceremony was held in the link between the John E. Robbins Library and the A.E. McKenzie Building. Front Row (L to R): George T. Richardson, Nina Coldwell, Tannis Richardson.
