George Alexander Grieve was born on January 11, 1902 in Newstead, Melrose, Scotland. His family immigrated to Canada in June 1910, and settled in the Virden area of Manitoba. George attended school in the Montgomery, Pacific and Arawana districts. George married Mary Dorothy Walker (1917-2012) on November 17, 1937 and together they raised two sons, Alex and Robert, as well as Mary's brother from infancy, Lloyd Walker. From 1942 to 1972, George served as a councillor for Ward 2 in the RM of Wallace. During this time he helped develop a network of roads. George was a member of the Arawansa Seed Club and a director of the Elkhorn Agricultural Society. Avid dancers, George called quadrilles for many years in Arawana and surrounding districts. He also enjoyed curling and playing cards. Due to his arthritis, George was confined to a wheelchair for the last fifteen years of his life. George Grieve died on June 14, 1990 in Virden, MB. He is buried at Virden 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 Grieve about Scottish immigrants, his life and early road building in Manitoba. Interviewer is Elmer Armstrong.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the local history "Hometown Virden" and Grieve's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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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
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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.
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)
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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.
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.
Photograph was taken in front of the George T. Richardson Centre sign at the dedication of the building. L to R: Ron Helwer (BU Foundation President); Dr. Anges (Richardson) Benidickson; George T. Richardson; Tannis Ricahrdson; Kathleen Richardson; Dr. Dennis Anderson (BU President).
Notes
Photograph appeared in the June 1995 issue of Alumni News.
Taken at the opening and dedication of the George T. Richardson Centre. Photograph shows (L to R): Ronald Bell, George Richardson, Tannis Richardson, and President Dennis Anderson standing outside of the Centre on the wheelchair ramp.
Taken at the opening and dedication of the George T. Richardson Centre. Photograph shows (L to R): President Dennis Anderson, Tannis Richardson, George Richardson, and Ronald Bell standing outside on the University campus with the Centre in the background.
