Mrs. Hilda Rosa Osmond (nee Bridgeman) was born in Hampshire, England in 1888 to parents Edwin Samuel Bridgeman (b.16 Jul 1852; d. 19 June 1922, Brandon) and Rosa Holkham (b. 26 Mar 1859; d. 27 May 1927, Brandon). Edwin was a sailor and Rosa was a dressmaker.
Following the death of her brother Edwin Frederick Bridgeman (1886-1890), the family immigrated to Canada in 1891. The Bridgeman's took the train to Griswold, Manitoba, and settled near Edwin's brother, Albert Bridgeman, and together they farmed the N 1/2 of 36-12-23. The Bridgeman's had three more children, Ellen Grace (b. 27 Jan 1893; d. 22 Feb 1893), Harry Volantine/Valentine (b. 14 Feb 1894), and Charlie Cuthbert (b. 03 Aug 1896; d. 25 Aug 1901). Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bridgeman retired in 1913 and moved to Brandon where they lived until their respective deaths. The couple are interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Hilda married William Arthur Osmond (b. 1867; d. 26 Oct 1943) of Baisingstoke, England, on 31 Jan 1913. They had a daughter Nellie who later married Glen Mossey. The family continued to farm the property on section 36.
Hilda Rosa Osmond passed away in 1980 at the age of 91. She is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery near Harding, Manitoba, where her husband and siblings also rest.
(Sources: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 [online]; Findagrave.com; Harding History Committee, Home to Harding 1879-1981 (Brandon: Leech Printing, 1981); Manitoba Vital Statistics Database)
Custodial History
Photograph given to Fred McGuinness by Burton Strange of Kenton, 25 Nov 1974
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a field stone house builty in 1901 by Edwin and Rosa Bridgeman near Harding, Manitoba. Edwin and Rosa Bridgeman are pictured on the right with Harry and Charlie, shortly before Charlie's death. Hilda sits atop the horse. Albert Bridgeman is pictured on the right with a horse team.
Notes
Photograph was published in the community history by Harding History Committee, Home to Harding 1879-1981 (Brandon: Leech Printing, 1981), 50
Photograph shows a baby being pushed in a stroller. A Livery Feed and Stable can be seen in the background.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: taken Aug 14-21 at Virden, Man. 6 1/2 mo old. weight (still gaining). Mrs. Bridgett giving him an early morning stroll thinking he would go to sleep?
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 shows a number of snapshots of the McGuinness family. Members include: Fred's grandmother Mary Darroch; Fred's parents Isabella Louisa and William Frederick McGuinness; Fred's sisters Mary, Ruth, Dorreene, Orma, and Carol, and the McGuinness home at 337 - 17th Street.
Photograph shows two young women wearing coats seated on the front porch of a home.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Dory & I, PS. She doesn't like these. Look at the stupid expression on my face, May 24/20. Photograph is stamped: Jerrett's Photo Service, Brandon Mar 25 1940.
From the back of the photograph: Members of the Wolsley expedition were quartered in the house in 1885 (Northwest Rebellion) and the Hessons moved into the house behind (roof just showing). It had 1882 carved under the front gable.
Custodial History
Donated to the Brandon College Library by Hilda Hesson in 1967.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Hesson home and family in the 1880’s. The house was located on First Street just north of Rosser on the east side. The man in the buggy was known as Joe.
Photograph shows two women, a man, and dog, standing in a residential backyard during the winter. The women are wearing large hats and fur stoles. The woman standing in the middle is likely Isabella Louisa McGuinness (nee Pope), mother to Brandon Sun editor Fred McGuinness.
Photograph shows a man, woman, and small child standing on a front porch. The man and woman are wearing heavy fur coats.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: "Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Darroch and their son Stuart, visiting the Brandon Winter Fair from Carievale, Saskatchewan.
Fred McGuinness is popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years. Many of McGuinness’ Morningside essays were autobiographical in nature. He often reported about life on Christmas Tree Farm, a section of land where he and his wife, Christine, built their dream home in the late 1970s. The couple planted a Christmas tree farm on the property and Christine maintained an extensive kitchen garden, while Fred tended honey bees. Life on the farm made its way into radiobroadcasts, Neighborly News columns, and the book "Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays" (Winnipeg: Great Plains Publishing, 1999).
Scope and Content
Contact sheet shows scenes from Christmas Tree Farm including: honey jars, the McGuinness personal library, home, and planted trees
Fred McGuinness is popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years. Many of McGuinness’ Morningside essays were autobiographical in nature. He often reported about life on Christmas Tree Farm, a section of land where he and his wife, Christine, built their dream home in the late 1970s. The couple planted a Christmas tree farm on the property and Christine maintained an extensive kitchen garden, while Fred tended honey bees. Life on the farm made its way into radiobroadcasts, Neighborly News columns, and the book "Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays" (Winnipeg: Great Plains Publishing, 1999).
Scope and Content
Set consists of 27 negatives showing different views of the McGuinness property, Christmas Tree Farm, Section 17
Photograph shows a western view of the residential area along Lorne Avenue from St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church. Roof-tops of Central School, First Baptist, Brandon College, Manitoba Power Plant, and Old City Hall are visible.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Lorne Avenue, looking West from St. Augustine's R.C. Church, Brandon, Man. Writing on the back of the postcard reads: The Valentine & Sons Publishing Ltd., Montreal and London, Printed in Great Britain. A cancelled George VI purple Canada 3 cent stamp has been postmarked: Brandon SP 11 52.
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