The continuing story of one family who left south east London for Canada in 1913, told by Carol Spencer.*
"The first summer was spent in a tent until they got a log home constructed.
This was a small home with a kitchen, living room and two tiny bedrooms on the end. It was about 20 feet by 8 feet in size with a cellar underneath. The roof was covered with sod lifted from the ground near the house.
The logs were chinked with mud and straw to block the cold winds in winter. Later the inside walls would be covered with first newspapers and brown paper whichever was available.
Eventually Maude was able to add wallpaper and decorate but that was far into the future. A wood cook stove in the kitchen and a heater in the living room provided heat. Apple boxes and any wooden crates were used for storage and shelving as they became available.
The cellar was a dugout hole which you entered by a trap door in the kitchen. This was used to store the winter’s supply of vegetables and canned food Maude processed in the summer and fall. The first year the garden was a disaster.
Not having ever gardened Maude chose the spot where they had removed the sod(top soil) to make the roof. It seemed wise as it save plowing up the grass. Unfortunately all the nutrients plants need to grow are in the top soil. Her garden was extremely poor.
As well there were many berries growing wild around them some right at their door. These berries were saskatoons and blueberries and very plentiful through July and August. A bachelor came by and told them that the saskatoons were poisonous never let the boys eat them.
This incorrect information was most unfortunate as fresh fruit was hard to come by and these berries could easily have been canned and used all the next winter. They were a great addition to their diet in following years.
Edwin would supplement their diet hunting rabbits, prairie chickens, ducks, geese and deer. This supplied meat when they had no pigs or cattle to butcher.
Chickens were also raised to supply eggs as well.
Supplies such as tea, coffee, flour and sugar had to be purchased at the local store, Red Cross Store and Post Office.
It was about 5 miles away and when families were short of cash things could be purchased on credit. Very few luxuries such as candy or bought bread were bought.
The first year was very hard and lonesome. Maude thought there must be a bridge nearby as she could hear hooves pounding of a bridge quite often.
This sound turned out to be the sound of a prairie chicken flapping its wings in a mating ritual not a bridge at all.
They had to clear a certain number of acres of land and with all the stones and trees this was very hard work.
They managed to do this and Edwin used the stones to build fences, reminiscent of England’s, around his farmyard.
Things remained difficult over the years and many jobs were taken on to supplement their income.
Norman became a well-digger and dug many wells throughout the area. He and his boys were also very musical and they played at any local dances often for $1 or nothing.
He also became a justice of the peace as many of the other homesteaders were unable to speak or read English. He would help them with legal papers and letters.
Maude became a midwife in the area and delivered many of the babies as there was no doctor or hospital closer than 30 miles away.
She took on the job of caretaker at the school that was built and was proud of the desk she received as payment, a proper piece of furniture.
Maude and Edwin became good friends with their new neighbors a gentleman from Germany with a teenage daughter and son. These people could not speak English and Maude taught Nanny English using the Sears mail order catalogue. This family remained close friends over the years."
© Carol Spencer, 2013
Pictures; courtesy of Carol Spencer
*The Harland Family, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Harland%20Family
Next; a success in Canada, new farms and a growing family
 |
| The family in 193 with two unknown chilldren |
This was a small home with a kitchen, living room and two tiny bedrooms on the end. It was about 20 feet by 8 feet in size with a cellar underneath. The roof was covered with sod lifted from the ground near the house.
The logs were chinked with mud and straw to block the cold winds in winter. Later the inside walls would be covered with first newspapers and brown paper whichever was available.
Eventually Maude was able to add wallpaper and decorate but that was far into the future. A wood cook stove in the kitchen and a heater in the living room provided heat. Apple boxes and any wooden crates were used for storage and shelving as they became available.
The cellar was a dugout hole which you entered by a trap door in the kitchen. This was used to store the winter’s supply of vegetables and canned food Maude processed in the summer and fall. The first year the garden was a disaster.
 |
| Edwin, one of his sons and an unknown girl |
As well there were many berries growing wild around them some right at their door. These berries were saskatoons and blueberries and very plentiful through July and August. A bachelor came by and told them that the saskatoons were poisonous never let the boys eat them.
This incorrect information was most unfortunate as fresh fruit was hard to come by and these berries could easily have been canned and used all the next winter. They were a great addition to their diet in following years.
Edwin would supplement their diet hunting rabbits, prairie chickens, ducks, geese and deer. This supplied meat when they had no pigs or cattle to butcher.
Chickens were also raised to supply eggs as well.
It was about 5 miles away and when families were short of cash things could be purchased on credit. Very few luxuries such as candy or bought bread were bought.
The first year was very hard and lonesome. Maude thought there must be a bridge nearby as she could hear hooves pounding of a bridge quite often.
 |
| Maud |
They had to clear a certain number of acres of land and with all the stones and trees this was very hard work.
They managed to do this and Edwin used the stones to build fences, reminiscent of England’s, around his farmyard.
Things remained difficult over the years and many jobs were taken on to supplement their income.
Norman became a well-digger and dug many wells throughout the area. He and his boys were also very musical and they played at any local dances often for $1 or nothing.
He also became a justice of the peace as many of the other homesteaders were unable to speak or read English. He would help them with legal papers and letters.
She took on the job of caretaker at the school that was built and was proud of the desk she received as payment, a proper piece of furniture.
Maude and Edwin became good friends with their new neighbors a gentleman from Germany with a teenage daughter and son. These people could not speak English and Maude taught Nanny English using the Sears mail order catalogue. This family remained close friends over the years."
© Carol Spencer, 2013
Pictures; courtesy of Carol Spencer
*The Harland Family, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Harland%20Family
Next; a success in Canada, new farms and a growing family
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