William Wallace was born in Scotland around 1859. In 1881, when William was twenty-two, he emigrated to Canada with his father and brother. Once here they settled near what is today Forrest, Manitoba. The following spring they moved to the northwest margin of settlement in Manitoba, homesteading in the Shellmouth area. Wallace remained a resident of the region for the rest of his life. William Wallace was active in community affairs. He was appointed to the post of Secretary-Treasurer of the Shellmouth Municipality in 1887, and he held the position until 1904. In 1909, Wallace was injured in a railway accident, and he had to give up farming. He moved to Shellmouth and took up the position of postmaster, which he held for twenty-seven years. He died in 1945, and is buried at Shellmouth cemetery, Manitoba.
Custodial History
The letters contained in the fonds remained in the possession of Margaret Wallace, who was the original recipient of the correspondence. She emigrated to Canada in 1904. At some point the letters passed to William Wallace who kept them in his possession in Shellmouth. In 1941, William contacted Professor E. J. Westcott of Brandon College regarding the fonds. He offered it to the College for safekeeping. Westcott accepted the letters. Westcott passed the letters on to various officers and staff at Brandon College and then Brandon University. Since 1982, the collection has resided in the S. J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of hundreds of letters that William Wallace and his brother, Andrew, wrote to their sister, Maggie, from 1881 until 1904. The first letter, dated 22 March 1881, was written by both William and Andrew aboard the S.S. Prussia as they sailed to North America from Scotland. The last letter was written on 4 January 1904 by William. It was written to inform Maggie and her husband that William had reserved a homestead in their name. This letter marks the end of the fonds. Later that spring Maggie and John emigrated to Canada to be with her family.
William was keenly interested in everything going on around him; his letters and Andrew's reveal what life was like for inexperienced settlers on the Canadian agricultural frontier in the last years of the ninteenth century. Fonds touches on a variety of social, political and economic themes.
Notes
CAIN No. 202641. A partial accession of the Wallace collection was completed in 1992 by Eileen McFadden.
Hood and ladder fire engine was built by McKenzie & Russell of Brandon in 1882; Engine scrapped in 1931
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon Volunteer Fire Brigade with first fire engine, in front of original fire hall.
Notes
Standing L to R: J. Richards, T. Taylor, B. Trotter, N. Field, J. Maywood, E. Wiswell (chief). Sitting L to R: J. Reid, J. Burchill, T. Speers, W. Taylor, A. McLean, J. Canning, W. Campbell, E. Stanley.
The vertical wheel at the front of the wagon raised the telescoping ladder.
The horizontal wheel at the rear was used for steering the wagon.
This unit, with a small motor truck tractor, remained in service until at least 1942.
One of these horses was sold to a local deliveryman. Every time a fire brigade passed, the horse went to the fire - whether [the deliveryman] did or not! (Info: BFD driver Ted Harden - "Squeek"'s uncle)
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Three-Horse Ladder Wagon [in front of new Fire Station]
Notes
Additional information provided by the Fred McGuinness collection (20-2009).
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon Fire Department in front of new (1911) Central Fire Station. From L to R: Chief John Melhuish; Capt. Alex Mowatt; Lieut. I. Adams; Lieut. Bain; Private Jim Ward; Frank Stock; Alf Granger; Jim Selbie; Friesen; Frank Metise, Mechanic; Art Hayes; Bill Carey; Bob Cameron; Frank Elburn; Frank Benson; Jack Sedran.
Notes
Showing four motor vehicles
Names provided by Amanda Dupuis, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services. Her copy of the photograph indicates that the photo was taken in 1922 or 1923.
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