School Days in Calgary, Alberta, Canada ~ Mary Elizabeth Thomson

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 36 (SCHOOL DAYS)

This week I share with you my grandma's school days in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.


The inspiration for this week's blog is a tea mug that my grandmother brought home with her from the 75th Anniversary of Hillhurst School in 1987. 


Grandma loved this mug, and it is still in perfect condition after 32 years. Grandma cared for it until her death in 2005. My father cared for it until he gave it to me several months ago. Grandma was born in Scotland, and took her tea very seriously.The lack of stains suggests Grandma never used this mug.  I too take my tea seriously -- this mug will never be used because it just doesn't hold enough tea. This mug has a special place in the heart of my kitchen - as the base for our Google Home Mini beside the glass canister holding the tea bags. 

Hillhurst School is now an elementary school, but when my grandmother attended it was a middle school.


All of the schools grandma attended are still standing, and in use as schools  today.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Grandma attended Sunnyside School for her Elementary years.

Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with her doll and stroller

Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with
her older sister Marion Isabelle (known as Maisie) Thomson

Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with
her older sister Marion Isabelle (known as Maisie) Thomson

Mary Elizabeth Thomson (elementary school age) with
her father Thomas Thomson, and older sister Marion Isabelle (known as Maisie) Thomson

Sunnyside School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Sunnyside School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Click the link to view the CELEBRATING 100 YEARS at SUNNYSIDE
https://www.btcalgary.ca/videos/sunnyside-school-turns-100/

~

JUNIOR HIGH (AKA MIDDLE) SCHOOL

Grandma attended Hillhurst School for her Middle School years.

Mary Elizabeth Thomson, about middle school age

Grandma attended Hillhurst School for her Middle School Years. 

The present day elementary school once served as a junior highschool. 

Hillhurst School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Hillhurst School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

~

HIGH SCHOOL

Grandma attended Crescent Heights High School for her High School years.

Mary Elizabeth Thomson, about high school age

Crescent Heights Highschool was built in 1928, and opened on January 7th 1929. Grandma was still in middle school when the highschool opened so wasn't one of the first students to attend.

Crescent Heights High School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The first day she attended Crescent Heights High School she would have walked under the sign labeled as the GIRLS entrance that had been carved by her father, Thomas Thomson.

1 "There were two separate entrances, one for girls and one for boys."


Thomas Thomson was a well known stonemason who traveled all over North America for work. He carved many monuments in the Calgary area. Grandma told me stories of her father carving the BOYS & GIRLS entry signage for a school she attended. Only Crescent Heights had that signage which leaves me to conclude those signs were carved by my great grandfather Thomas Thomson.*  Thomas was well known for his Gargoyle carvings. There are many carvings all over Canada and the United States that were carved by Thomas. 

Crescent Heights High School Calgary, Alberta, Canada  2

*Not to be confused with the famous Canadian Artist Thomas Thomson - who may be a relative, but whether that is true is currently unknown. 

                                    ~

Grandma enjoyed her school days. While I was growing up she told me many stories that included her sister, cousins, and school friends. Grandma told me that wished she had pursued journalism. She was a great writer, and wrote many poems. She would be pleased that I am writing the family stories.




Historical information & artifacts bringing stories to life!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***







Sources:

1 Calgary Public Library, historic, Crescent Heights High School, Retrieved September 4th 2019 from 
https://web.archive.org/web/20021221213418/http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/calgary/historic_tours/corner/chhs.htm

2 Alberta Heritage Markers, Way Marking, Crescent Heights High School Calgary, AB, Retrieved September 4th 2019 from 
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZAP2_Crescent_Heights_High_School_Calgary_AB




Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

Crescent Heights School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/CrescentHeights/Pages/default.aspx

Hillhurst School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/Hillhurst/Pages/default.aspx

Sunnyside School
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/sunnyside/Pages/default.aspx



Somehow Related Previous Blogs:

Somehow Related Blog Spot, Remembering - Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, and politics,
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/02/remembering-thomas-elizabeth-young-nee.html

Somehow Related Blog Spot, 3 Bricks in the Wall ~ Thomas Thomson (Stonemason, Brick House, Genealogical Brick Wall),
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/3-bricks-in-wall-thomas-thomson.html

Somehow Related Blog Spot, Elizabeth & Thomas - Together Again, 
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/05/elizabeth-thomas-together-again.html

Somehow Related Blog Spot, School Autograph Books, Calgary: 1927 to 1932 ~ Marion (Maisie) Thomson, 
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/06/school-autograph-books-calgary-1927-to.html

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

_____________________________________________________________________

Adam Slicer ~ Not a Slicer!

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 35 (AT WORK)

In golf the phrase SLICE refers to a poorly executed golf shot. I imagine that my X2 great uncle, Adam Slicer, enjoyed a lot of teasing about his last name since he was employed as a Golf Pro.


This census record was the first evidence I found that Adam was a golf pro.

1935 Vancouver Voter's List, Adam Slicer, Golf Professional
 with wife Mary (nee Graham)

I was intrigued by this because I had never heard that anyone in my dad's family had ever played golf. 


When trying to find more information about Adam and his golf career it was very difficult. All the sites with Adam, Slicer & Golf brought up slicing as a golf shot. 


It wasn't long before I discovered that part of Adam's career had been very close to my own hometown.

 "Our investigation of the Mission G&CC began with an
announcement in the Vancouver Daily Province, April 11, 1925.
“Adam Slicer, formerly the assistant professional at the Calgary G&CC
and latterly attached to the staff at Shaughnessy Heights,
has been appointed professional at Mission G&CC."

By May the club had 6 holes open for play and invited the Chilliwack golfers
to join them for a match. Unfortunately the mighty Fraser appeared
stronger than the dykes erected to protect the course. On June 13, 1925
the course laid submerged under six feet of water.

“Not to be undaunted by this set-back officials of the club proceeded to
look for new ground. Through the energetic efforts of the President R.P. King
a lease has been secured on the property known as the Morton estate.”
This tract of land occupied Lot 165 (see map). The club constructed the course
on the high ground adjacent to the CPR line. Adam Slicer described the new site
“as an ideal one, and when the regulation 18 hole course is completed next year, Mission City will have a golf course equal to the best in the province.”  1

Adam was one of 11 children born to: 
Peter Slicer
BIRTH 23 OCT 1852 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 10 MARCH 1910 • North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
and
Marion Jack
BIRTH 4 APR 1857 • Whittinghame, East Lothian, Scotland
DEATH 1917 • Craigielea, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

8 of their children lived to adulthood, and are pictured in the photo below with parents Peter & Marion.

SLICER FAMILY
 (Adam up front third from right)
BACK: Jane, Peter, Dave, Lizzie (my great grandmother)
FRONT: Eva,  Peter, Jimmy, Adam, Marion, Mary

The three who passed away before reaching adulthood were: 

Harriet Jack Slicer (1883-1884, age 1 - unknown) 

Eva Bruce (Edie) Slicer (1889-1897, age 8 - Diptheria)

James Wright Slicer (1892-1898, age 6 - Diptheria)

It seems that golf skill is a trait from both sides of my dad's maternal family line.  Adam Slicers's sister was my great grandmother Elizabeth Young Slicer (known as Lizzie). She married Thomas Thomson. Their daughter Mary Elizabeth Thomson is my grandmother. 

Thomas' uncle (my grandmother's great uncle) Jimmy Glass was a golf pro in New Jersey (1908) before returning to North Berwick, Scotland in 1911. 

Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers.html#glass

Jimmy's grandson was Leslie Brownlee the golf pro from Arkansas & Oklahoma. 

Retrieved August 30th 2019 from http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers.html#brownlee

North Berwick is a small seaside town. In 1871 the population was less than 1500. Both sides of my dad's maternal family tree lived side by side. They shared many interests and activities. I knew many of my ancestors were fishermen, builders, and stonemasons. I now know that Golfing was legitimate employment for my ancestors.

"With a population of just under 7000, more and
more families move to the area each year, while sailors, 
rowers and paddleboarders enthusiastically float
around waters which are rich in wildlife." 2

It seems paddling is in my blood!

     

Me, Dragonboat Medal, April 2019

Me, Paddleboarding, August 2019

Maybe golfing is in my blood too. I had decided to wait until retirement to try golfing, but maybe I need to reconsider. 



Discovering your family's unknown traits & talents!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Citation:

1 Golf In Mission is at least 90 years old, Early Golf in Mission, BC Golf House Society,  October 12, 2015 by bcgolfhouse_admin, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.bcgolfhouse.com/early-golf-in-mission-bc

2 North Berwick named best place to live in Scotland, Edinburgh Evening News, Published Friday 17 March 2017, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/north-berwick-named-best-place-to-live-in-scotland-1-4394313

Sources:

North Berwick, Club Makers, Professionals and Course Designers, North Berwick's Golfing Pioneers, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from 
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/clubmakers_2.html

Roland, James. Golf Slice Definition. Golf Week. Golf Swing Tips. Quick-Fixes. Retrieved Aug 30th 2019 from 
https://golftips.golfweek.com/golf-slice-definition-1864.html


Royal Burgh Of North Berwick, Retrieved August 30th 2019 from
http://www.northberwick.org.uk/story.html






Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/





Related Previous Blogs 

3 Bricks in the Wall ~ Thomas Thomson (Stonemason, Brick House, Genealogical Brick Wall)
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/3-bricks-in-wall-thomas-thomson.html

Elizabeth & Thomas - Together Again
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/05/elizabeth-thomas-together-again.html

Remembering - Thomas & Elizabeth Young (nee Slicer) Thomson, and politics
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/02/remembering-thomas-elizabeth-young-nee.html

Searching Far & Wide ~ Found Across Town
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/04/searching-far-wide-found-across-town.html

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

 _____________________________________________________________________

Charlotte (nee Watson) North ~ Dying Alone at the Lewisham Workhouse

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 34 (TRAGEDY)

Searching through my family tree for just one person to share about for this week's TRAGEDY prompt was difficult. There are many tragic tales to tell in my bramble bush.

Lewisham Workhouse, circa 1898

The person I chose to focus on for this blog is my 4th great grandmother, Charlotte (nee Watson) North.

Charlotte Watson
BIRTH 1 DEC 1822 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH 24 MAR 1903 • Lewisham, London Borough, England


Charlotte was the youngest of 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls) that I could find records for. They were born to:

George Watson
BIRTH 1779 • Stratfield Saye, Hampshire, England
DEATH 1824 • Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire, England
&
Mary Ann Mayers
BIRTH 1781 • Kingsclere, Hampshire, England
DEATH 7 MAY 1860 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England



When Charlotte was 25 years old, on October 11th 1848,  she married
William North
BIRTH 1822 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH 29 MAY 1880 • Abode, Battersea, Surrey, England

The marriage took place at Saint Mary's Church in Reading, Berkshire, England. 


I found records for 8 children born to Charlotte & William - 3 girls and 5 boys. 


Their first child (my X3 great grandmother): 
Jemima Jane North
BIRTH SEP 1851 • Hartley, Wintney, Hampshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their second child:
William North
BIRTH 1853 • Heckfield, Hampshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their third child:
Eliza North
BIRTH 1854 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH Unknown

Their fourth child:
Edward North
BIRTH 1855 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1922 • Lewisham, Kent, England

Their fifth child:
Mary Ann North
BIRTH 2 JUN 1857 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 12 MAR 1927 • Croydon, Surrey, England

Their 6th child:
George North
BIRTH 10 JAN 1859 • W Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1940 • Lewisham, Kent, England

Their 7th child:
Obed Job North (known as Job)
BIRTH 24 MAR 1863 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1946 • Bexleyheath, Kent, England

Their 8th child:
Joshua North
BIRTH 1864 • White Waltham, Berkshire, England
DEATH 1937 • Camberwell, Surrey, England




I haven't researched the children of William & Charlotte (nee Watson) North in depth. I do have death years for the last 5 children. I have no death dates for their first 3 children. 


William died May 29th 1880, and Charlotte died almost 23 years later on March 24th 1903.  

The year after William died Charlotte is recorded in the 1881 census living with sons, Edward & Job. Also residing with them is Charlotte's granddaughter, and my X2 great grandmother, Amy Baker (daughter to Jemima Jane North & Alfred A Baker). Where Amy's parents were for the 1881 census is a mystery.


In 1891 I find that Charlotte was living with sons William & George. Living with them is Charlotte's granddaughter Mary Baker who was the sister to my X2 great grandmother Amy Baker living with grandmother Charlotte in 1881. In the 1891 census Amy is living with her mother along with brother Alfred Augustus and sister Edith Jemima. Why their younger sister Mary was with grandmother Charlotte is a mystery. 

Lewisham Workhouse

In 1903 Charlotte died in the Lewisham Workhouse in a London Borough in England. The tragedy for this week's blog is Charlotte dying in Lewisham Poor Law Union's workhouse when she had 8 children who appear to have been alive and living locally.


When I think of 80 year old Charlotte living and dying in a workhouse in 1903 England I can only imagine scenes from Oliver Twist.


How is it that Charlotte didn't have any family to care for her when she had 8 children. Granddaughter Amy immigrated to Canada in May 1903 with her husband and children. Amy was still living nearby in England when Charlotte was in the workhouse. 


As often happens in families whatever happened to break this family carried forward to the next generation.  


Grandchildren Alfred Augustus and Edith Jemima were in the care of Bernardo's, and already sent to Canada by the time grandmother Charlotte died. I can't find any record of granddaughter Mary who lived with her in 1891.
Click for more about British Home Child - Alfred Augustus Baker & family


The workhouses in England were a tragedy that impacted future generations of the family. It's only in current times that British Home Children are being recognized for the travesties against them when they were put on boats and shipped away from their families and homes.



More about the British Home Children at the links below:

'It's like they never existed': Toronto monument will honour mistreated British Home Children. Many of the 115,000 who came to Canada over 8 decades provided cheap labour and suffered abuse
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/british-home-children-farms-abuse-1.4314384

History Spotlight: British Home Children
Canada declared 2010 the year of the British Home Child to commemorate the thousands of poverty-stricken children sent here from Britain between 1869 and 1948.
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/settlement-immigration/history-spotlight-british-home-children

Collecting broken branches of my fractured family tree!







This is why I search - 



Cause ... 





You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!















***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***



Sources:

Before welfare: True stories of life in the workhouse, Express, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from  https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/475994/Before-welfare-True-stories-of-life-in-the-workhouse

England and Wales Census, 1891, Charlotte North, Page Number: 39, Registration Number: RG12, Piece/Folio: 403/ 88, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from FamilySearch.org
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QCNC-CMM

Alfred Augustus Baker, British Home Children, A Virtual Cemetery, Find A Grave, Retrieved February 5th 2021 from 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222328905/alfred-augustus-baker?fbclid=IwAR1SzKI3L1zLtPfJAdY4RYoaFsJeOLjPAkbl_MRwDob1d_sMPGvu3Vjbwxw

Edith Baker Zarn, British Home Children, A Virtual Cemetery, Find A Grave, Retrieved February 5th 2021 from 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111283305/edith-zarn

Google images, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
https://www.google.ca/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ogbl

The Rise and Fall of the Workhouse, History Extra, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-workhouse/

Workhouse, Retrieved August 21st from
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/victorians/workhouses.html

Workhouses, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
workhouses.org.uk

Workhouses, Lewisham, Kent, London, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lewisham/

Links:

British Home Child - Alfred Augustus Baker (age 12), and his siblings, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 12 (12), Somehow Related Blog, Retrieved August 21st 2019 from
http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/03/british-home-child-alfred-august-baker.html

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/


*

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!