Good Times

Thunder Creek people had their hardships and tragedies but also had prosperous and happy times. As far back as 1895, Mr. Chas. Taylor has stated in an article of his that in 1895 there was a wonderful crop. Grace Northam stated that she was on the homestead around 1883 and come Friday night everyone gathered in some settler's home for an evening of cards, singing and dancing. She said Cairns' shack was most popular as they had an organ and so had good music for dancing. Her mother would play the organ and the Cairnsmen played the violin and mouth organ.

In 1914, the spring was good and summer ideal for crops and all had a bountiful harvest.

One big event of the early part of the century was the annual picnic. For several years the event was held in Harold Welchman's pasture, not far south of the old school. There was a grove of trees under which board tables and benches were set up. Everyone took food and a delicious supper was set out and enjoyed. Men played baseball. There were races for kids, tug-o-war, etc. Lets not forget home-made ice cream made in a hand-turned freezer.

About the 1920's, this event was held in Uncle Alfred's pasture because horse racing had been added, Uncle Alfred[Moore] had a very good race track laid out to practice his horses on. As there was no shade no supplies were set out and it soon became an evening event called and ice cream social. Either Nottingham, a ball team from the north or Empire, the team from the south would be invited to play ball. Some local lads brought their horses and a horse race was run.

One time they had a slow horse race. Everyone brought the slowest horse they had on the farm. Each contestant rode someone else's horse trying to make it beat his own. Russell's old school horse came in last and so won the race. Nobody could make "Old Ginny" go faster than a good walk.

Home-made ice cream was still made in an old hand-turned freezer. One item a lady was mixing the ice cream up and put in salt in place of sugar that freezer of ice cream was not popular. The lady was Mrs. Eddy but anyone can make mistakes.

All the eggs, cream and milk was donated for making ice cream. One time Ted Stovin was out collecting this material driving his horse and buggy and he called on a neighbour, Mrs. Gordon. When he told her why he had come she told him to go to H--l. He simply replied that it was ice cream they wanted, not custard.

One of the big events of school days was the School Fair. This excelled the agricultural fairs in the average town today as far as hand work and baking is concerned. Carievale and all districts schools competed in writing, wreath making, relief maps, colouring, drawing, sewing, knitting, tatting, baking of all kinds, raffia work, racing, basketball dodgeball, singing, reciting, and many others.

It was something we worked on all year and so Lizzie Gilchrist was our teacher and urged us to do extra good work as one of our biggest rivals was Carievale school where her sister Mary taught.

The Fair was held in the fall and everything was ready the night before and Miss Gilchrist took all the exhibits in to Carievale next morning. The same morning the old school pony was replaced by a better driver and horse and buggy and excited the kids took off on the long journey to Carievale about 12 miles distant, instead of the 2 miles just across the prairie to school.

Those who competed in the evening program of singing and reciting stayed overnight at a friends home. Some of us Thunder Creek ones stayed with Mrs. English (later Mrs. Patterson). She had only one bed so shake downs were made on the floor. Maybe no one got much sleep, but a good time was had by all with pillow fight and quilt snatching. We were up in good time to get our horses, that had bedded down in Hodge's barn, hitched and out to school on time. In later years, cars were running and Russell and Joe Moore went home with Miss Gilchrist and stayed overnight in their big new home. Believe it or not, Oliver took first prize for crocheting. I took it for candymaking. Florence Taylor always took it for bread making. This was little surprising to us as kids. One thing always a a wonder to us was how Mrs. Taylor (Florence's mother) ever got make bread out of the oven it was so high. Dad always told us she had to lift the top of the stove to get it out, just like Dad.

Thunder Creek was always able to supply music for dancing. In the homestead days, Edith Young was available for piano playing. Later Jim Muldoon and Russell Wruth contributed music for dancing. The district also had it's share of actors and actresses. A three act play was put on nearly every winter. The first one I remember being in was in the old school during the winter of 1020-21. Dances were held in the old school. When the new one was built and opened some rate payers and particularly the teacher would allow no dances in the school. Dad and Mother opened their home for community dances and entertainment. A good many pie socials and basket socials, dances and parties were held at Delbert Wruth's. Even today many folks talk of the good times they had there. The Eddy girls remarked once that it was not like Christmas if there was not a dance at Wruth's while they were home for holidays.

There was no drinking allowed. In those days people could have a good time without it. One time a sleigh loaded with young folks came from Alida the worse of liquor. Dad went out and told them they would have to leave. He also told them there would be a dance in two weeks and they would be welcome to come without liquor. They came back in two weeks and scarcely missed a dance afterwards.

I said there was no liquor. But there was always a bottle of brandy in our house to be used in sickness. It was behind the old tin bread trunk in the pantry. On dance nights after lunch, Dad invited the fiddles into the pantry for a drink. That was their treat for providing the music. All ladies brought lunch to dances. A hat was passed around during the evening among the men. This collection was turned over to the ones who played music. The room they danced in was about 14 feet by 16 feet. Most times three sets of quadrille were danced at once and at times four sets. Average attendance was 80 to 100 people. They danced from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. About the early Thirties, dancing was allowed in the school. Card parties were held in homes. Skating parties were held at Wm.. Muldoon's. They were on the bank of the creek beside a nice pond. Many a night after skating and lunch the music started and we danced 'til the wee small hours of the morning.

Thunder Creek was not without Square Dance callers. Oliver Wruth called for many a quadrille. Everyone went to the dances. Men played cards and grandmother's knee was always a soft bed for babies.

The ladies of Thunder Creek always had a Community Club meeting every month. During World War I, Mother, like all the other women knitted socks, helmets, etc., for the soldiers. They packed large boxes of supplies for the Red Cross. During World War II, everyone made quilts and knitted articles for overseas. Every month in winter a quilt was quilted each month at their meeting. On these days both men and women gathered at someone's place early in the forenoon. The men spent the day visiting ad playing cards. The women quilted and had their meeting. Everyone returned home early enough to do the evening chores before supper On those days everyone took food and had a pot luck dinner.

One time a quilting was held at Howard Hubbard's that day everyone took pie. No one had to settle for just pie for dinner. Mr. Hubbard brought in a big roast of beef and put it in the oven. The men were forced into peeling a pot of potatoes. A good meal of mashed potatoes, brown gravy, roast beef and pie was enjoyed.

Fowl suppers were held in the school. Tables were set up in the basement. Every family was to take 4 roast chickens, a large kettle of potatoes, a kettle of vegetables, buns, butter, pickles, salad, 4 pies. After supper a programme was held upstairs.

One program I distinctly remember was about the year Earl Potts was about six. He recited a poem entitled "Down Where the Vest Begins". It was a poem about him having eaten so much that his vest would not come over his stomach to meet his pants. A hunk of white shirt showed out. He did so well he brought the house down and stole the show.

Thunder Creek was always noted for its good Christmas concerts especially when Miss Gilchrist was teaching. One of the earliest recollections I have of the programs is of the candles being lit on the tree. At that time there was no electricity so there were little candle holders with candles in them snapped all over the tree. The holders were like little tin clothes pins with candle holders on one side to holds a small birthday size candle. Just before Santa cane in someone lit all the candles. It was a beautiful sight. In those days as many as possible gifts were hung on the tree and this added to it's beauty. One year a great big baby doll hung on the topmost branch. It was for Beryl. That is the same doll Beryl is holding in the family pictures some of us have.

All in all it seemed the people that lived in Thunder Creek district had the ability to make good use of any talent available to them to maker the district an enjoyable and pleasant place to live.

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