RE; Meilicke Diary

I am not going to retype this item, but several pages will not convert with my available OCR, so I will email the whole thing to anyone who supplies me a email and a request. My email is fredtully at shaw dot ca, and you know how to fix that. OK

Meilicke Diary 8-9

We had kartoffel puffers for supper. Yes, we had coffee too. We thought they were

pretty good and decided we must have some more at some other time.

Jan. 9.

Gus came over to-night. He has been sawing wood down by Wanekville and is going

back again. Eddie was here too. He says our box is in San Gudo and has been all the

time. He is going down Tuesday and will bring it back.

-8-

Jan 10.

cold, very cold. 46 below and Jewell is working on the house.

Jan 11

Too cold for Eddie to go to San Gudo. 56 below. Jewell still working on the

house. I knew it was cold but l couldn't realize a temperature like that. Of course I was

very comfortable in the house. One nice thing about the cold weather is that we have

no wind. It was so cold that a crack in the ground about four inches wide extended from

under our log cabin south into the field.

Jan. 13

Warmer. About 15 below. Eddie went to San Gudo and brought home our

box.

Jan. 14.

Jewell and  I went to Eddies and got the box. Jewell went to Johnny Webber's

and bought his cook stove.

Jan. 15.

Saturday.

We moved into our house. We are as proud of our house as a little boy is of his first

pair of boots, even if the boots have tin toes and red tops.

Jan. 16.

Gus came down to dinner. It being Sunday we were to have a three o'clock

dinner. Mr. Rutheford came with Gus. Mr. Mahoney came just then to see Gus so we

had him come in to dinner too. Just after we sat sown to eat Mr. J. Duggan and Mr.

Trelford came in and before we had finished dinner Eddie and Mona and little daughter,

Ruth, came.

Jan. 17.

Mr. Thingstad and Eddie came over to grind some oats. Jewell and Gus

ground some too. Jewell brought the cow home.

(Written by Julius) Jan. 26.

Today is Sam's Birthday. And we had kartoffel puffers for supper.

Yesterday morning was very cold 54 below and about all I done was cut wood and set

by the fire.

Emma sewed a waist. And is working on her gray dress now. This morning I went over

to Patterson's quarter to cut some fire wood and pile it up. Will haul up enough so we

can cut it with the buzze saw.

The snow is about 20 inches deep on the level and it makes it mean to wade through

when one is working in the woods.

-9-

Day before yesterday I went over to see J. Duggan, He waters his cattles over at our

well and he hadn't brought them over for three or four day. He tried once before this

winter to break his cattle in to lick snow and I didn't know just what he could have been

trying to do, but I went over to see him and took his cattle over water.

Emma cleaned a fish is going to have fish for breakfast.

Jan. 27-

This morning is cold clear and bright, looks like it may warm up.

Emma is washing. She says the well water washes fine, so now that settled the water

question. Am doing chores and will work in the house after dinner.

Evening - Didn't do any thing in the house this after-noon I hauled some wood and a

few boards and then I got the big heater we had over at Andie's place and set it up in

the place of the little one we had.

Gus said it was 55 below this morning". It is still cold tonight.

(Written by Emma) Jan. 30

Sunday and we have been home alone all day. We

meant to go to Eddie Thingstad's but the wind was strong and blew the snow about too

much. We have had but two meals to-day. The first one about nine o'clock and the

other one about four. We had beef steak and French Fried potatoes for dinner. Jewell

says he wants a piece of cake and a dish of prunes now 8:15 I better get them for him I

guess.

At last we have a chair. It was Mr. R. Duggan‘s. It belonged to his father. Jewell says

tell you that we take turns about sitting in it and when you come up we will let you sit in

Notes: kartoffel puffers - potato pancakes  

A&A early school

http://www.whitecourtweb.com/community_advisor/issues/Advisor200912.pdf

North Paddle School District NO.2680
by Martha Kjorlein and Jack Donaldson
A meeting of the ratepayers of the North Paddle
School District was held January 8, 1914, to elect offi
cers and form a district. Members of the fi rst school
board were: Mr. G. Aisted, chairman; Mr. A. Van Ruyven,
secretary-treasurer; and trustees, Mr. P. Hawkinson, and
Mr. M. Havenstein.
A building site was selected on the SE 1/4 35-57-9
W5th, and Paul Neumann was hired May 23, 1914 to
build the school.
Miss Fern Wardlow was the fi rst teacher, and taught
from September 1, 1914 to July 1915. She was followed
by Miss A.J. Crosbie, who taught until June, 1917. Other
teachers over the years were: Mrs. Avis Sipherd, Harold
Canniff, Miss Agnes McDonald, Mrs. Lois Daniels,
Miss E.M. Edge, Mrs. E.M. Livingstone, Miss Alice
Marshall, Miss Nellie Sherratt, Mrs. Jane Montgomery,
Mr. T.B. Sullivan, W.A. Dinwoodie, Mr. D.T. Heald, Ernest
Abbott, Mrs. Doris Briggs, Miss Irma Soderberg, North Paddle School
North Paddle class, 1917
PAGE 20 Community Advisor DECEMBER 2009
V. Washburn, Miss Elizabeth Sinclair, Miss Kathleen
McKenzie and Mrs. Martha Kjorlein.
Other board members who served the North Paddle
School District were: Tom Hoban, Robert Mayer,
Graydon Coffee, Mr. H. Thomas, S.
Biggs, Luther McShane, George Carr,
Mr. V.A. Stockall, Nels Hawkinson, Eddie
Thingstead, Mr. J.A. Wade, and Mr.
M.M.Weber.
Those who served as Secretary-Treasurer
were: Mrs. Sangren, William Bray,
Peter Fryer, F. Coffey, Mr. J. Calder, Mr.
Potts, Arndt Kjorlein and Jack Donaldson. Students attending
the North Paddle School in the 1920’s were: Bertha
and Raymond Hawkinson, Jean and James Calder,
Kathleen, Joseph, and Michael Kelly, Alberta Meilicke,
Helen Bray, Pappy and Roy Jackman, Billy Calder, Marcille
and Biddy Thomas, James, Robert, Norman, and
Marjorie Cowley, Louise Bray, Virginia Burns, Andrew
Meilicke, Thomas, George, Jessie, Nellie, and Alice
Haines, Neil and Harold Hanson.
The North Paddle School closed its doors in 1948
and the children were bused to Mayerthorpe in an old
four- wheeled drive army truck with benches. The driver
was Billy Jewers.

greencourt school

from http://www.whitecourtweb.com/community_advisor/issues/Advisor200908.pdf
NEW GREENCOURT
SCHOOL NO. 4278
The fi rst rate payer’s
meeting was held January 7,
1927 in the Canadian Legion
Club Room in Greencourt.
The chairman was C.C.
Reay and the secretary was
H. Bailey. This was called
the NEW Greencourt SchoolDistrict No. 4278. Twenty-six rate payers were present and
elected the following to the Board of Trustees; C.C. Reay,
D.S. Rutherford, Tom Donelly and Phil Hawkes.
The school was situated on the NW 11-58-9 W5th,
where it remains today. There were twenty-nine children
in attendance. A total of $4500.00 was spent on the school
building and accessories. A grant was received from the Municipal
District of Kitchener No. 582 for expenses. The fi rst
teacher’s salary was $100.00 per month. The well was dug
by Mike Cierny in April, 1927.
The fi rst teacher, Mr. Page, contracted polio so sent
word that he could not attend for that year.
Miss Leila Chisholm, daughter of the Greencourt
Hotel owner, was hired and school began
on Saturday, October 8th. That particular day
was chosen because the school inspector, Mr.
Hutchinson, wished to visit on that day. Coal
for the furnace was purchased from the American
Coal Company at Evansburg for $5.50 per
ton. It was brought in by the carload to the
C.N.R. siding at Greencourt. This practice was
in force until 1947. During the winter months
school began at 9:30 a.m. because of the darkness
in the mornings. The time was made up by taking only
half an hour for lunch. A barn was built for saddle horses and
each family was responsible for cleaning and maintenance
of their own stall.


Mr. R. Shaul was the next teacher - in 1928. The School
Board visited the school twice that year. Subsequent teachers
were: Mr. A.G. Bayley (1929), Miss Hass (1930), Miss
Alberta Moher (1931). In 1932, with Miss Moher still teacher,
there was great diffi culty collecting taxes. The board decided
to carry on until no money was left to pay the teacher.
School closed for two months every winter and remained
open all summer.
History of Greencourt School by years.
1933 - Miss Alberta Moher as teacher
1934 - Miss Moher. Dr. Wolochow came to vaccinate
and innoculate the pupils at the parent’s expense.
1935 - Miss Moher. There was great discussion about
building a second classroom. Many people paid their taxes
by hauling stove wood to the school. This practice continued
for at least another ten years.
1936 - Miss Moher and Miss Betty Wilson were teachers.
Miss Moher taught in the school (junior grades) and
Miss Wilson taught the senior grades in the Legion Hall.
1937 - Miss Helen Moore and Miss I. McRae were
teachers. The school fair was begun at this time.
1938 - Same teachers. A second classroom was added.
1939 - Miss Helen Moore taught that year
but died that spring of appendicitis. Mr. John
David taught the senior grades.
1940 - teachers were John David, Miss
Roberts (part time), Mrs. Matschuk (part
time).
1941 - teachers were Ron Smith and Miss
May Sides.
1942 - teachers were Miss May Sides and
Mr. Val Roos, who built the teacherage which
is still in use.
1943 - Miss Sophie Blust (later Mrs. Norman
Taylor) was teacher. A horse-drawn van was hired to
bring the children from the east. The families thus served
were; Liwczaks, McMahons, Kos’, Melichers, Burns, Johners,
Pfannmullers and Wardlows.
1944 - teachers were Miss Sophie Blust and Mr. Sam
Slemko.
1945 - Miss Henrietta McMillan (later Mrs. Paul Tucker)
taught grades seven, eight, nine and ten. Mrs. Ethel Markle
taught grades four, fi ve and six and Mrs. Sophie Taylor taught
grades one, two and three. 1947 - Kitchener school building
was moved to Greencourt to be used as a third classroom.
West Paddle pupils were bused to Greencourt with NormanTaylor as bus driver.
1948-1950 - principal Miss Helen McDowell
1950-1952 - principal Mr. Percy Baxter
1952-1956 - principal Mr. Clarence Truckey
1956-1957 - principal Mr. L.O. Burger
1957-1962 - principal Mr. James Coffey
1962-1964 - principal Mr. Charles Wiese
1964-1965 - principal Mr. W. Shavchuck
1965-1967 - principal Mr. Clifford Lummerding
Teachers during this time were Mrs. Ethel
Markle, Mrs. Sophie Taylor, Mrs. Ina McNally,
Mrs. Jean Jones, Mrs. Jean Pfannmuller,
Miss Sonia Stamp, Miss Marie LeSeach
and Miss Ethel Geddes.
1953 - Lonira School burned down so
these students began attending at Greencourt.
Grateful mention must be made of the
people who gave their time and talent to assist
the teachers in festivals, concerts and other
community-oriented projects.
Mr. Phil Hawkes was Secretary-
Treasurer of the Greencourt School Board for twenty
years. His unfailing courtesy and kindness will always be
remembered.
Mr. Norman McLeod helped with drills, Highland
dancing and many concert items.
Miss Alberta Meilicke played the piano to accompany
singers in the Musical Festivals for many years.
Cliff Markle instructed the fi rst Industrial Arts class
at the Greencourt Garage, where he taught the senior boys
metal working.
1943-1948 - The horse-drawn school vans which served
the families to the East, beyond a three-mile limit, ran during
this time.
1943-1944 - driver Myrtice McMahon
1944-1945 - driver Dorothy Kos
1945-1946 - driver Teddy Majer
1946-1948 - driver Mr. George Milburn
This was probably the fi rst “school bus” to run in this
part of the country.
1960 - the present modern school building was opened.
It is of concrete block construction on a concrete slab foundation.
There are three large classrooms, furnace room, and
two washrooms. Heat is supplied by two propane furnaces.
The frame buildings used prior to that time were sold, and
the material was used to build a most attractive
modern home.
1967 - Greencourt School was closed as
such, and the pupils began attending at Mayerthorpe.
However, the building was used for
overfl ow classes from Mayerthorpe, which
were brought by bus.
1967-1969 - Grade Four came for two
years.
1969-1971 - Grade Three came for two
years. Then this practice was discontinued.
The teachers during this time were Mrs. Evelyn
McDougal, Mrs. Ethel Markle, and Mrs.
Sophie Taylor.
The Greencourt School Building is now used for Kindergarten,
under the Paddle Early Education authority. Other
activities carried on in the building are the 4H Sewing Club
on Saturdays, and the West Paddle Progressive Club whist
drives once a month (in winter time). Ball games are often
held on the school grounds in the summer.

Greencourt postmasters

Arthur Wallace Meilicke	-	*	1957-05-01	Acting	-
Arthur Wallace Meilicke	-	*	1957-08-06	1968-03-12	Death
Mrs. Mary Ellen Meilicke	-	*	1968-03-12	Acting	-
Mrs. Mary Ellen Meilicke	-	*	1968-06-05	1968-06-05	Resignation

Sunday School 193?

Greencourt Anglican Sunday School, about 1936.
BACK ROW: Mrs. Pearse, Mrs. Meilicke, Aaron and Andrew
Meilicke, Frank Selleck, Joey Schnierer on his shoulders,
Arthur Meilicke, Eugene Johner. MIDDLE ROW: Grace
Collins, Helen Singh, Etherl Holbrook, Hazel Singh, Jean
Collins. FRONT ROW: Marshal Holbrook, Louis Sodmondt,
Donnie and Ronnie Sodmondt, Eva Collins, Raymond
Sodmondt, Alberta Meilicke, Rosie Schnierer.
http://www.whitecourtweb.com/community_advisor/issues/Advisor201003.pdf

St. Saviour’s Anglican Church

by Alberta Tully

The land for the churchyard and cemetery was donated

by Mr. Phillip Hawkes, off the N.W. corner of his

homestead. This site was about a half mile west of the

town of Greencourt. Later Mr. Craine gave a piece off his

homestead, the N.E. corner, to extend the cemetery on the

west side.

The logs for lumber were sawed in the mill owned

by Dr. Baly, on his homestead. The shingles, windows

and fi nishing lumber were hauled from Edmonion. The

church was built by the community to be an ecumenical

church. Any denomination was welcome to hold service

there, and did.

The font and lectern were made by Mr. J. Thompson

and were artistically constructed of wood, shaped for the

purpose. The pews were wide, smooth planks with a narrow

shelf on the back of each to hold the hymn books.

The kneelers were red cushions, hung on the backs of the

pews. There were refl ector coal oil lamps on the walls.

The church organ was bought with money from various

gifts. Money was also raised for it by having dances

in Greencourt. The school which Mrs. Tim Selleck had

attended in England sent money raised by them from a

tea and bazaar.

A church bell was put up on a post in the yard. The

church was dedicated by Bishop Cyprian Pinkhams, of

Calgary, in July of 1913. The first rector, who was present

at the dedication, was Rev. Mr. Ball, M.A.

Homemade bread and homemade saskatoon wine

were the elements of the first communion service.

Services were held regularly whenever there was a

priest in the mission. Ministers of other denominations

regularly held service in the church too. There was a

small vicarage built. In 1927 the church was moved to a

lot beside the vicarage. The vicarage was sold and moved

by 1935.

In 1931 the Rev. Mr. Hunt came to the mission. He

organized a Sunday School that lasted until about 1950.

Mrs. Emma Meilicke, Mrs. Mercy Pearse and Mrs. Myrtle

Boyer were the first teachers, Mrs. Emma Meilicke

kept it going all the time until the end.

When times changed, with roads better and everybody

owning a motor vehicle, it was easier for the people

of the congregation to go to Mayerthorpe. The Mayerthorpe

church was also warmer. The Greencourt church

now stood empty and there was the ever present danger

of grass fires. Such a good offer was made to purchase the

land that the vestry sold it about 1966.

Note by FT. Alberta was born 1916, therefore the year is not right. Aaron was born 1918 and look to be maybe 16, therefore 1932 or so. I do not thing Alberta is in the picture.

Meilicke Diary, 5,6,7

-5-

north side of the river it will certainly be a great help to the homesteaders if they want to

ship grain or cattle as well as buying provisions.

Nov 10.

Wednesday morning Andy came to the north end of the bridge and unhitched

the team and tied them to a tree, then came on over the bridge and we with four or five

other men loaded our good and trunks and grips on to a push car. Then we got Emma

to sit on top of some boxes on the car, Some of us tied a rope on the front end of the

car and pulled a head whiled the rest of the men pushed on behind. In due time we got

acrost, and as soon as we got our trunks and goods loaded on the sled we made for

home. Got to Eddies place at 3: o'clock.

December 5th 1915

Things have been going on very smoothly since I last wrote. We stayed at Eddie's a

week and whiled there we came over to Andy's shack to set up a heating stove and

scrubed the floor, put up a bed and got ready to move in.

In the afternoon of Nov. 16th I hitched up Baby & Push to the bob sled and Emma and l

moved over to our new home. (A log cabin)

lf one should judge from our apperance they wouldn't think we were any the worse off.

And we do not feel humiliated because it is only such as this land can offer. The cabin

is about 15 ft. by 21 ft. inside, the logs are poplars and hewed on the inside. The

chinck are of muskeg.

The logs were put up first and they stood for two years. this turned them gray And then

they managed to get the lumber and shingles and finished it up. On the whole it

wouldn't look very homelike to an eastener, but it is very good for this country.

On Nov. 19th we set the first cornor block for our house. And most every day Emma

and l have been working on it.

On Nov. 29th l went to Sangudo after a load of shingles and other supplies for the

house. I expected to get back the same day but sleighing was bad and l stopt over

night on my way back. Consequently Emma spent the first night alone in her life.

stones and just drove them right in and they found it went alright. Then it used to take

us two weeks to make a trip to town for a load of provisions. Now the train runs twice a

week from Edmonton to Sangudo. And after a while when they get the siding on the

north side of the river it will certainly be a great help to the homesteaders if they want to

ship grain or cattle as well as buying provisions.

Dec. 30, 1915

Now that thresing is done in the neighborhood Jewell has help on the house.

Mr. Hawkinson and Mr. Mahoney helped him yesterday and Mr. Thingstad, Mr.

Mahoney and Pat Patterson helped to-day. They are getting along pretty well and are

now putting on the roof. We hope to be in it within a week.

-7-

Mrs. Cowley offered me her sewing machine to use while she is visiting in The States.

Jewell went and got it Tuesday. I have done several odd jobs with sewing yesterday

and to-day.

She gave us six white hens for a wedding present.

Eddie's wife gave us one young rooster for a Sunday dinner. We fried him and had

gravy.

Gus came up last Sunday night to get the double tree. He came in about five minutes.

About three weeks ago Jewell butchered a pig. Of course we took only one half of the

hog. I had eaten some head cheese down at Cowley's and was anxious to try to make

some. Now Mrs. Cowley's head cheese wasn't so fat as some so when I made mine I

wondered what I should do with the fat. I had some cracklings from the lard so I took

part of the fat from the head and put with them and cooked them into soap. The lean

along with the two feet I made into head cheese. Both were good. I had to do the soap

about three times however before it was good. It seemed I couldn't get lye enough in it.

I am trying now to make cheese like mother made when we were down last fall. Jewell

is to teach me how. He has never looked at the cheese but once and then only glanced

at it. Do you think he is a good teacher’?

Jan.6.  (1916)

Mr. John Duggan was up to dinner to-day. Jewell brought home some fish. He cleaned

one and we shall have it for breakfast. The first fish I ever saw that wasn't dressed. It

is a shame to catch and kill them. The myriads of eggs!

Jan 7.

The fish was so good we ate almost all of it for breakfast. There was one piece left for

the pup

mule I had to ride to school

Meilicke Diary 4

.4-

unlock her tongue either. Most of the Swedes and norweigns had a bottle or two.

At every station the train stoped for half an hour, and one place they stoped for an hour

to get dinner.

It was 4:30 when we got to Sangudo. there Andy met us.

We went to a hotel and got a room for the night for it was impossible for us to get away

that night. Andy come with the sleighes and one of our teams.

The train stopts on the south side of the Pembina river, So Andy had to find a place to

put in the team. The river was freezing over and the ferry could not run. And the only

way we could manage was to get a hand car and load our goods on and push it across

the R.R. bridge.

Before we had supper Andy and I walked over the R.R. bridge to feed and look after the

horses for the night. When we got there we watered them and queen got a touch of the

colic. We worked more then an hour with her before we could get her quiet. Then

Andy stayed at the place where the horses were and I came on back to Sangudo.

As the bridge and tressle is about half a mile long I was glad to step off of it, and it was

dark at the time which made it worse. '

Emma had already had her supper and was in her room when I came back. As she was

suffering from a cold she swatted her throat with coal oil and went to bed at once.

From St. Paul out the hotel got worse and worse, so when we got to Sangudo the hotel

was a very rude structure built of lumber and lined with building paper.

The beds were very plain, but were clean.

Eight years ago Gus and I camped below on the river about a mile east from where the

bridge. ln those days there was no ferry and we had to ford the river. If the water

happened to be high every thing had to be taken over on a raft and the team was made

to swim across. Once when our ox team refused to go into the water we got a lot of

stones and just drove them right in and they found it went alright. Then it used to take

us two weeks to make a trip to town for a load of provisions. Now the train runs twice a

week from Edmonton to Sangudo. And after a while when they get the siding on the

Meilicke Diary 3

_3_

were getting into Alberta and it was getting colder. the small ponds were froze over,

But we passed a large lake on the north side of the R.R. that was all open yet, and the

wild geese there were by the thousands on it. The train stopt at a station close by and

one of the men had a pair of strong field glasses, so we all took a good look at them,

but it availed us nothing, so we gave it up.

Arrived at Edmonton at 10: P M Sunday night. It was just starting to snow. We walked

up town to the Yale hotel on jasper Ave.

Monday morning Nov 8th and still snowing. We got breakfast. (Oat meal ham and

eggs and coffee.) after breakfast we waded snow in search of over shoes and some

winter clothes.

Edmonton was very dull, and full of those blooming soldiers they imaging they own the

sidewalk. I only saw a few people l knew and one of them in a uniform.

We walked out over the high level bridge. It was still snowing at the time about 3: P.M.

After we got well out on it we felt the cold wind it made us hide our ears and put us on

the move.

When we got over we waited for a street car and rode back right up to with in a block

off our hotel.

As every thing was dead in town we stayed in that evening and rested up for in the

morning we were to take train for Sangudo.

Nov 9th.

At 8.35 a.m. we got aboard the C.N.R. train for Sangudo. The last stage of our R.R.

journey.

The train was a mixed train. It must have been like a slow train through Arkansas. It

had on to coaches and they were packed full. The passengers were of a mixture that

can only be seened out in these parts.

There was the Norvveign the Swede the German the Swis the Hungarian the blooming

H'english and about a dozen more variety. One Swede from Peavine was talking to a

lady from Whitecourt saying that the Peavine country is the only place for white people

to live in. But he sure met his better and one who did not have to depend on whiskey to

Meilicke Diary 2

2_

After dinner we hunted up a picture gallery and had our picture taken in a group. Then

by the time we went back to the hotel and packed up and got our tickets to Winnipeg

and Iunched it was time to go to the train.

Left St. Paul over the Great Northern R.R. at 5:35 P.M. arrived at Winnipeg 8.35 a.m.

Nov 6th.

We had until six o'clock to wait over until train time.

The union station in Winnipeg is a new one and arranged on a novel plan. As we got

out of the cars we could only see a large R.R. shed and we just followed the crowd, we

walked the way the train came in. Finaly we went down a flight of steps and came into

a large passage way, after walking a minute to the left we came into the main depot. lt

is a fine structor for a depot. It has all the apartment necessary for the management of

the different roads which run into it. And the immigrant people have their head quarters

there as have the custom officers.

We had to get our trunks examined there as we had a berth on the train and didn't

bother about the trunks as we came across the line. And then we went to see about our

tickets, that sure was an ordeal. They kept us going back and forth from one clerk and

advisor to another for a whole hour and finally they had a guide from a hotel come and

take us to a hotel. As we left the depot we came right out on the street. We expected

that we'd have to go up a flight of steps.

As we had the most of the day to wait we went up town and every where we passed

soldiers. After walking for an hour we came to Eaton's mail order house. lt is a large

affair. We looked over the place for a while and at 12 o'clock the people all went to

dinner. Any one who wants to can go and take up a platter and pass along the counter

and take a helping to what every one wants, every thing is dished out. And when one

has enough they pass through a gate where it is priced and then they go to a table and

eat. When that is done they pass through another gate a pay the cashier and then one

is satisfied for a while.

Left Winnipeg 6: P.M. We had a berth so we some went to bed.

The weather was clear and in the morning it was a bit bitie.

There were not many people on the train so we had lots of room, this was Sunday Nov.

7th. The evening before we saw many straw piles burning and Sunday all day we saw

straw piles every where. And many new buildings going up. Along in the evening we


Note: I have seen that picture, and will scan it when I get to it again. I did look for it but it must be in one of those boxes... 

Meilicke Diary

This is the first of a series of items. The storey is a transcription of Julius (aka Jewell) and Emma diary  or similar which was sent to JA's farther, and survived. It was transcribed by young decendent and sent to mother, Alberta, by Mildred Nickols, all of the extended Meilicke Clan. I ran the transcription thorough OCR and fixed up the formatting, which OCR cannot handle. As I had to do some figuring to make sence of this, I will explain after each page. Note that this is November of 1915.

MEILICKE DIARY

Trip and homestead in Canada/

(Diary written by Julius and Emma Meilicke)

Kirksville, Mo. A

(Written by Julius) November 3th, 1915.

I was at Wills in the morning. And after breakfast we made a couple of jugs of cidar to

take to Ed Wrights in Kirksville and also to take a bottle of it to Fred whom we are to

meet in St. Paul on our way to Alberta.

Will drove me to town with the lumber wagon. And we left the team in the 10c feed yard

whiled we went out to Ed Wrights for dinner. After dinner we went up town to get a few

things we needed for the trip.

At 8:30 P.M. we boarded the Wabash train for St. Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wright

Dave Wright and Miss. Green were at the train to see us off.

Nov. 4th.

Arrived at St. Paul 11: A.M. Meet brother Fred at Hotel Sherman. After having Greeted

each other we had dinner. An A. 1. dinner it was too. So then we had the rest of the

day for visit.

Fred looked well. It seemed as tho. the country and all agreed well with him.

In the evening we three went to a theater. The play was fairly good. The best part was

a mule (a brother to Mary's Jake) they had on the stage, his part was to let no one ride

on his back. There were a couple of nigers and some white men trying to mount him,

and when one succed to get on his back he was at once unseated for the mule would

bite as well as kick. I believe if Mary would train her Jake a bit he might yet make a

name for himself.

We all enjoyed the play very much and when it closed we went to the Hotel and retired

for the night.

Nov 5th

In the morning we walked over the city. Had dinner at the State capitol building. The

Minn. capitol building is built with white granit and is finished inside with marble and

other costly stone, It all cost $4,700,000

Explanation:

Will likely is JA's younger brother, born William Carl Meilicke, May 17, 1885, in Dallas County Iowa. Lived near Kirksville, MO.

Fred likely is JA older brother, born Frederick G (Gustav?) Meilicke, 1877, Frankfurt, or Pensylvanien  which is the german spelling of Pennsylvania with one n. 

 Ed Wright... no idea...

Mary may be JA's older sister, Born Anne Maria Helena Meilicke (aka Mary) November 14, 1873, Frankfurt, Married 1896 to Charles West, Minburn, which is 3 miles west, 5 north of Dallas Centre.

GW Schnelle

George Washington Schnelle --born July 4, 1852 was the first born of Aaron Frederick & Sarah Jane (Hawkins) Schnelle. He was born in Stafford, Monroe County, Ohio. He died June 26, 1925.

He married Hannah Martha Rorabaugh on Dec. 31, 1878. She was born May 2, 1859 in Whiteside County, lll. To Joseph T . & Martha (McLean) Roabaugh. She died on Nov. 1, 1933.  (Note: T for Teetar)

They had ten children:

Sarah Alice born Oct.21, 1879 married Dr. John McE|heney. No children listed.

lra Walter born March 3, 1881 married Sophia Josephine Cookman, they had 3 children.

Joseph Aaron born April 29, 1883 married Lucy Orlee Stutler, they had 5 children.

Ray Sylvan born Jan. 7, 1885 married Olive Gertrude Fry, they had 4 children.

Martha Elsie born Jan. 16, 1887, died Dec. 11, 1894.

Emma Constance born Mar. 15, 1889 married Julius Albert Meilicke, they had 5 children.

Carrie Elizabeth (Libbie) born June 29, 1891 married Edgar Arthur Wright, they had 4 children.

George Daniel Elihu (Dan) born Dec. 11, 1894 married Vida Hill, they had 3 children.

Reuel Elmer born Apr. 2, 1896 married Florence lsabelle

Benjamin, they had 2 children. She passed away andhe remarried.

Reuben Wesley born May 25, 1901 married Eulah Mirth Lemley, no children listed.

Mayerthorpe Cemetery, 15Sept2012

 Errors Errors That should say 1992, and December 27, 2007. Merris get busy.

 Julius Albert,   and Emma Constance born March 15, 1889

1958

Three pictures that follow are development stamped mar 58, but they must be from 57, possible summer, fresh hay background.

Click on pictures to enlarge, and all future pictures.

Help!  Unknown ? garndma Emma, Grandpa JA, Aaron Schenelle, Unknown? (Florence ?), Reuel.

 Mary Ellen, Barbara, Phyllis, Shauna, Arthur

Douglas, Clifford, Doris, Kenneth, Jessie, Anne, Andy

1964 summer

If memory serves that Reuel's 1963 Impala and Alberts VW bug, in front the home farm house in 1964. The caption on the back says Alberta's, 1964.

Even at that time, the logs, lodge pole pine from Lodge Pole, at the bottom had started to rot. The chimney went through and sat on concrete or mortar on the ground in the cellar. It did not move, so it grew, relative to the roof.

The people, left to right, but they are not in lines. I also need help to figure out some of these peoples. Aaron with red braces, and over his left shoulder are Jessie and Andy. In the centre is mother, with Kenneth in the front, but who is looking over mothers head, (Merris?)? Mary is adjacent to mother. Grandpa (JA) is at the rear, grandma in front and a wee Anne? Reuel, Doris, Connie (or is that Eula) and Albert at the rear. Douglas in the red shirt, being kept in place by Rubin, as is Kenneth. I, Fred, pear over Ruben's shoulder. Father, (Bill), and Eula (or Connie), Gus, and Clifford. Please advise on those I missed. 

Spring Of 48 maybe

I am guessing the spring of 48, with grandpa JA holding I am guessing his first grand child, Clifford, and grandma, Emma. Albert is in the rear.

Note that the "new" white house is there, but so is the old, with Berts' room still attaches on the south side. Is the new house still up on blocks? 

When did Grandpa have the pond built anyway? Note the size of those trees. I remember those as being the height of the house, but that would have been in the 60's that I remember.

We need some one with photoshop to do a bit of touch up work.

Spring 1961

 Spring of 1961, Easter Monday, or so the note on the back says. But something seems off. This picture was in a bunch that were sent back by Judy and Reuel (Jr) Schnelle as part of the clean up of Reuel seniors things. 

I actually remember being present at this time. But something is not making scene, as this is spring, the snow is gone, and it is cold. Dolly, the horse does not look pleased. Mother is holding the horse, after loading my four cousins on her. Anne, it must be Shauna?, Norma or is it Doris?, and Barbara?, I do not know. 

Fathers 1948 Ford truck is at the horses rear. It was replaced with a 1963. Close inspection of the old farm yard shows the barn with a corrugated steel roof, 4 ft long sheets, held down with 1/4 inch bolts driven through 1 inch spruce shiplap, but why do I remember those details.   

Out house, rabbit hutch tured bicycle shed, chickencoop, wood shed. The house would be off to mother right. 

Old dolly was a sweet old horse, broken to saddle and harness. Father bought here from one of the Davies, perhaps 6 mile east, and a couple north. I remember going with father to get a horse. It was a rural shopping trip. Got any horses for sale, nope, but my brother has, just go east a mile and north. It must have been late summer, for Mr. Davis was working on his Massey Harris No 10 Combine. I remember the trip home. Me sitting in the back of the truck, holding the end of the horse lead as father drove, and the horse cantered along. I also remember stopping at Boyd Wardlows to give the horse a drink.  

DM and the Knot Hole

Back when I was a wee gaffer, I grew up in a farming community that was fifty years behind the times and proud of that. Very few had electricity, or phone. Indoor plumbing was a path to the outhouse. Water came in buckets, was heated on a wood stove. Baths happened one per week. Schools were one and two rooms. I was the first year of busing, picked up on the public road, and dropped at school, when the roads were open, and the mud was not too deep. I did not get the privilege of walking to school up hill both ways.

Most Sundays the extended family attended church, if the road were clear, the truck running, and passable. When it got real cold, the truck did not run. Sometimes it could be started by pulling with the horses, or if a tractor had been started, the tractor. If that did not work, It was too cold anyway.

Winter stating of tractors required a pail of boiling water/antifreeze mix. With pure water, it would ice up inside the block, and that was not good. There was not enough anti freeze it it to leave it in the engine, just enough to stop the icing. After the tractor was put away, the anti freeze drained and hauled back to the house for reuse the next time the tractor was needed, usually for grain hauling, or grinding. The horses worked fine for manure hauling all winter.

Anyway, now that you know we were poor foke, who on Sundays went to a church in a small place, in the Hamlet, in a church that had been built by farmer volunteers, one of which had been a carpenter/steam engineer/farm building assembler as a young man, and another a bricklayer/mason, and another a oxen driver/oxen freighter/black smith- when the west was young, and many youths who need to learn what ever there was going.  It had a few issues here and there. The pews were made from dressed 1 inch pine. There were a few random loose knots, some of which the center core had fallen out or been pushed.

That church was heated by a airtight stove in the rear, and there was a pew next to the air tight, where my farther always sat so that he could "tend the fire" during the service without disturbing anyone.  It was likely the warmest seat in the house also, but that will be let slide by. Most of my male cousins sat in the rear opposite side, close to the door. I, been less than well behaved (talked a bit), was usually assigned a set at the far end of fathers pew, next to the window, and behind some elderly aunts and neighbors. The church  typically was getting warmish by the end of the service. Occasionally someone would come over and light the fire an hour before the service, so it would be somewhat warmer when we got there.

Anyway, DM, being a few years younger than myself, always was restless during the long boring services. His older brother, the one with a watch with a sweep second hand, often amused himself by counting the priests speaking rate. On cold days, the sermon could hit 150 words per minute, other time more like 100. On days when the priest had several services and lunch before, it could be down to 80 or 90. Something about the wine with lunch. It was something to do. Anyway, back to DM and this one knot hole. He found great joy sticking his finger in it and poking his sister who sat in front. We all found various things to do to pass the time quietly waiting for the time we could move about and do things.

Well as we age, even as youngsters time passes and fingers grow bigger and longer. Knot holes do not grow. You can see it now, the time his finger got stuck. Well his big sister leaned back, and pined his finger down to start with. Perhaps a bit of swelling happened. The poor little guy was trapped, with his finger in the knot hole for half the service, while the remainder of us had entertainment for the remainder of the service.

After the service, DM's father sent his brother over to the neighbors to borrow a saw. When DM heard that, he let out such a scream. "Not my finger, not my finger". Somebody got some snow and iced his figure, likely wetting it as well, and it came out. The saw was put to its intended us of making a knock to the knothole, so no kid could do that again. That was always know as DM knot hole after that.

Purpose

The purpose of this blog is a communication and sharing devise for the extended family. There are many thing that should be accessible for the extended family, and may be of interest to others. I started this without knowing what direction it will take, or if it will fly. It may form a CD or other document in the future or not.

I will try to keep all security risks to the minimum; however, the risk is already there. Without the key, the risk is small.