"Boomerang"
Genesee, Alberta
A New Canadian tries Farming
by
John Tidridge

INTRODUCTION

I BELIEVE IT was the late Pierre Berton ( a well known Canadian author of many books) who said most authors have large egos! While my ability as an author sadly lags behind Mr. Berton's, my ego does not do too badly!

Why would anyone believe anyone would be interested in the ramblings of a retired law enforcement officer? Surprisingly enough, people are not only interested in the ramblings they are also interested in the happenings of people and the names of places they are familiar with or are just curious.

Perhaps you are one of these people? I hope so. Read and enjoy.

 

The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell you of them
they would be too many to declare!
Part of Psalm 40 verse 5. NIV

John Tidridge Edmonton, AB T5W 3Z2
jtidridge@interbaun.com

GENESEE MAP (A farming community in Alberta, Canada)

A conversation between the author and Paul Laslop of Leduc County

From: John Tidridge Sent: February 26, 2009 12:58 PM To: Paul Laslop Subject: Genesee

Hello Paul,

I'm back to you! Can you tell me the legal status of Genesee...is it a hamlet or village or just an area? How much area does it cover? How many people live there... any industries besides the power plant... any little (and large) gems of info would be much appreciated!

Cheers,
John T

From: "Paul Laslop"

To: "'John Tidridge'"
Subject: RE: Genesee
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009 1:02 PM
 

Hi John,

Genesee (see comments in blue) has no designation - - it is just an area.

[Glen Greenhough, you will have to read all the parts to read about Glen,who has helped to put a few things straight, provided more information on Genesee (NE and SE 25-50,R3 W5) a.k.a. 'The wide place in the road' Hamlet would now be entirely near the centre of the EPCOR Power Plant cooling pond. At its 'hayday' [sic] peak, 1960 and 70's there were two country stores, a blacksmith shop, a pool hall and a school nearby. The population of Genesee in the 1950's was about 80.]

At the original Genesee site there is a garage that is closed (Nesjans) and a community hall.

There are no industries or residents in Genesee proper. In the area are, the power plant to the south, gravel pits down on Greenoughs [sic] flats, St John's Boys School (closed right now) and a gun club.

Hope this helps

GENESEE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Map supplied by Glen Greenhough from a local newspaper: Name of newspaper not known

Reading "Golden Memories", Warburg and District published in 1977 by the Warburg and District Historical Society (GMWDH) one gets an enlightened view of Genesee. Genesee is named after a place of the same name in Idaho, USA. The idea came from Bert White who had lived there, and used, because the government required a name,to establish a Post Office.

[Regarding the naming of Genesee:from Golden Memories,available from the Warburg United Church, Pages 33 and 37, articles by Sophie Zurek (1956) and Mrs. J. Mears (1957)
Glen Greenhough says that school district was named after the post office, Genesee, in 1915 plus or minus a few years.]

Genesee has boasted a school, coal mine, Athletic and Dramatic Society, a Women's' Institute, Community Association, 4-H Club, a ferry and a Youth Orientations Unit, and some fossils.

I quote from Dr. G.M. Hutchinson: from 'Golden Memories',available from the Warburg United Church, Page 149. Perhaps the most famous in the region are sometimes called "Genesee leaves". These are fossil remains of a luxuriant vegetation growing in the area from sixty to seventy-five millions of years ago, buried by a heavy fall of volcanic ash, and then by deep layers of earth, finally exposed again by the deep channel of the North Saskatchewan River, particularly on the east bank of the river running past Bruce Cropley's farm. These leaves and other forms of life such as insects, stems, fruits have been extensively studied and described" in Geological Survey Bulletin No. 13, Queen's Printer, Ottawa: "Uppermost Cretaceous and Paleocene Floras of Western Alberta".

BEGINNINGS (Part 2)

Boomerang: A strange title for a story about a Genesee, Alberta farm experience. I was researching the Greenhough family where I stayed during my farming 'adventure'. I came across an article where Bill Greenhough had restored an old tractor: it was given the name 'Boomerang' (because it came back to its original starting place). The tractor had been sold by the Greenhoughs many years ago and after several owners, finished up back with the family.

{The author served in the Grenadier Guards from 1953-56 serving in London, Germany, Malta, Egypt and Cyprus
While the story in written in the singular that author's wife Maureen, was there every step of the way]

My Canadian work history is somewhat like tha

t of the tractor; I started work in the County of Leduc in 1957 and in 2002 finished my working career in Leduc County (same place, different name), after a long journey in the City of Edmonton. Another Boomerang!!

The picture on the right shows the home where the author lived for 20 years A little of my history! I was born in 1935 in the village of Hedge End, Hampshire, UK, first child of Sid and Ethel Tidridge. Dad was in the merchant navy, that is, he worked as a steward for a passenger shipping line. By 1937 a new home had been purchased in Totton, also in Hampshire. Both Hedge End and Totton are near Southampton a major shipping and then, passenger port. The picture shows the Bargate, part of the Roman walls at Southampton.

Apart from a three and one half stint in the Grenadier Guards. I stayed at home with my parents and later a brother and sister, until I married in 1957, I had a normal, standard English education, starting at age 5 ending 3 months before my sixteenth birthday. A dropout! I was attending a technical school, where the basics of carpentry, plumbing and painting and decorating were taught. It was apparent I would never become a tradesman; I wanted to be a greenhouse gardener. My years at home covered WWII: we were aware of enemy action both locally and in Southampton, which was heavily bombed. Our immediate family escaped unscathed.

1957 was a momentous year for me. Not only did I leave the army for the second time, having been recalled for the Suez Crises, I became a husband (for the first and only time!) to Maureen and left England to start a new life in Canada.

GENESEE:CAN'T SEEM TO ESCAPE IT!

I cannot escape Genesee! When you consider its size, the number of inhabitants, it seems incredible it would remain such a part of my life . When I joined the Edmonton Police service I met three people from or near Genesee, Kurt Stallknecht, Ron Maday and  Vern Hobbs. Years later I visited the Genesee Community Hall for a Weed Inspectors' Conference; I wandered into the kitchen and chatted to one of the helpers. I told her my experiences in Genesee; she turned out to be Fred's daughter, Mary. The Senior Weed Inspector I hired had work experience with the Greenhough family. And, as late as January 2009, chatting to a chap visiting our church, and being nosy, I wanted to know all about him. He was an engineer from Ontario but he had, get this, worked at the Genesee Power Station! I even saw the name Genesee in the credits for the movie (DVD) Phantom of the Opera!

Immigrants!? It is fair to say those arriving in Canada in 1957 did not consider themselves 'immigrants'. The word did and does have bad connotations. We considered ourselves as New Canadians coming to find a better life. And, of course, being British coming to the 'colonies', we had much to offer! (which we did of course!). I admit with some pride, I am now a Canadian citizen, and have been for over thirty years.

I was neither poor (almost broke when I landed, but able to care for myself) disenfranchised nor persecuted: I came from good home, had a good education, and spoke the language (well, at least I thought I did!). In 1957 many folk left England for a better life. The Suez Canal Crises had raised fears of more wars and the work situation in the UK was not good. Canada, according to material given to me, was a land flowing with 'milk and honey'! Weather was not mentioned!

1957 was about the time Canadians began to resent people coming from the UK and telling them how it was done better back 'home! Whether it was the superior British thing or not, I do not know. I hope I have learned my lesson(s). I was certainly put in my place when I was (later) working at Scott National Fruit Co.: we were at coffee (yes!!), and I was complaining how much better it was in the UK, a friend (now) also newly arrived said, "If you don't like it here, you can blooming [sic!] well leave". I have not complained about our country since.

One of the prevailing attitudes in the police service, was you only got promoted if you had an Anglo-Saxon surname. There was, perhaps, some merit to this argument. I knew of at least one person with a German sounding name who was complaining about his lack of promotion. I asked him if he had written the exams: he hadn't, I told him he had no reason to complain unless he had in fact written the exams. He did write, was promoted and finished with the rank of inspector. Just goes to show! I mention these things only to show there are several sides to most stories, and then there are the opinions we form based on pretty flimsy arguments!

My family has grown somewhat now consisting of two English born parents, two biological children (true Canadians?), two adopted children, one French-Canadian the other of English-Ukrainian heritage. Marriage, through our children, has added an African-Cherokee husband, a Canadian-Finnish-English husband, a German-Canadian husband, Canadian-French wife, a Chinese-Canadian-English husband for a granddaughter, plus Canadian-German husband and two other granddaughters are courting lads from Central America.

SOME BACKGROUND

Now to my story of the farm; you must understand this is not a story in the truest sense of the word. It is but a few memories jotted down to hopefully give you a laugh or two or three. It is not even in chronological order!

How an English chap started working on an Alberta farm is not complicated, but it is different and worthy of being preserved, in my humble opinion! The years prior to 1957 and the trip to Canada had been interesting. I had in 1956, I completed three years with the Grenadier Guards; I was released in April but recalled in August for the Suez Canal crisis. I was shipped to Malta. I was engaged to be married. I moved from Malta to Egypt and then to Cyprus where I quickly began to read accumulated mail. Gadzooks, she's moving to Canada, Mum, Dad family and all,and no, they could not wait until I came home. It's December. Between December and February I come home, get married and with my wife and her family am booked on a ship for Canada. The ship trip across, in the 'Scythia', was our honeymoon.

A train trip from Halifax to Vancouver, in a day coach, is worthy of recording. But I think not now! I finally arrive in Edmonton via Vancouver. (Don't ask!) I am in the Immigration facilities on 100 Street and 106 Avenue. I knew no one; I needed work. I had no trade but was willing to give anything a try. I had become accustomed to eating! Enter Mr. Fred. Greenhough.

THE GREENHOUGHS (Part 3)

Mr. Fred Greenhough

Mr. Greenhough was looking for a hired man to feed his pigs, 'just outside of town' as he put it, and, in addition, would my wife like to help in the house? Now, just outside of town to me meant just that; like in Jasper Place, or Beverly, not some 65 or so miles out of town into the boonies! Mr. Greenhough asked if I knew how to feed pigs; I told him I knew which end to put the food, and that apparently secured me a job and I was off. Not telling the rest of the family where I was going; I assumed the farm being 'just outside of town' I would be back for tea, or something like that! They did eventually find me, visiting me some six weeks later! Before leaving Edmonton I spent most of the last $20.00 to buy a winter coat.

Mr. Fred Greenhough was a bit of enigma to me! I could not quite make him out!! It was therefore good to read a little of his history . Fred was born in 1896, in Burnley, Lancs. UK. second child of James and Mary Jane Greenhough. The family arrived in the Genesee area in 1903. Although not too much of Fred's early childhood is mentioned, notes of log cabins, harsh winters, mud, snow and other weather vagaries, indicated it was not all roses! Fred served in the First World War.

[More of Mr. Greenhough's community activities are outlined in the book Golden Memories available at the Warburg United Church]

Community service was a great part of Mr. Greenhough's life, although I was unaware of it. He served on various boards including the Teldfordville Pastoral Charge, the Genesee School Board, Breton General Hospital, and the Duffield Rural Electrification Association. He must also have been an astute businessman running a successful farm and equipment operation.

My pioneer (?) experience pales in comparison to what he had been through and survived. I have been humbled by reading his and the Greenhough families journey.

The Greenhough Spread, circa 1995

The Greenhough Spread.[Legal description NW10-51-R3, G.P.S. RR3264-51.1. Sadly(?)the hired man's house is missing]

Although I was country-born in the in the UK and had relatives that worked a farm and others that had, as we called them, small-holdings of about 2-5 acres 1-3 hectares nothing prepared me for the Greenhough Spread. Glen mentioned a figure with 2000 in it, regarding acres! All the homes and buildings looked huge. I was duly impressed. But I must add that when I went back to England for a visit some 5 or 6 years later I found England had shrunk and the roads and houses seemed small! Fifty years later and the 7 years spent in Leduc County, the spread did not seem so big, not small, but just normal for the County (and me).

[Glen Greenhough kindly pointed out my memory is lacking: the total acreage was only 1200]

THE GREENHOUGHS

The Greenhough family showed me considerable kindness and tolerance during my first six months in Canada. When I arrived at the settlement, living in a bungalow, was the matriarch of the family: Mary Jane, (1870-1968) widow of James, (1866-1941). The first home to be reached on the farm housed Fred (1896-1972) his wife Stella (1891-1982) and their son Glen. Daughter Mary was married and lived in St. Francis. Next door lived Hargreaves (1902-1968) with his wife Marjorie (1902-1974). Above the International Harvester shop lived Hargreave's son, Harvey (1926-1998) and Olga and their children, with at least one son, Gerald (1957-1987). Building a bungalow on the land was another son, Bill and his wife, Lydia (1929-2004). There was another son, Donnie, who was not around too often, as I think he was a truck driver.

[The author is grateful to Doug Laurie who provided useful information from the Keephills Cemetery and the article by Mary Pickerl nee Greenhough]

[Shown in the picture, courtesy of Glen Greenhough, are Hargreaves,Jenny nee Greenhough, Stearn, Fred and Stella (wife) Greenhough]

From what I could gather Mary Jane and James had arrived around 1903, had settled north of the river, in a wooden building with a dirt floor. The story has it the husband wanted to return to the UK but his wife wanted to stick it out!

After the deaths of Fred and Hargreaves, Harvey, Glen, Bill and their wives continued the family grain/hog farming operation until Harvey passed away suddenly on May 23, 1998, at the age of seventy-one years. With changing circumstances and conditions, Glenn and Bill decided to discontinue raising hogs in the spring of 1999. The Greenhoughs had produced hogs on the farm over seventy years.

I re-introduced myself to Bill and Harvey (apparently) just before Harvey died. I was working as a contractor with Leduc County and a call had left me pretty close to the Greenhoughs. What struck me immediately was that nothing seemed as large has it had when I had left the farm in 1957! I guess I had become Canadian! Both Bill and Harvey greeted me warmly, obviously having forgotten my tenure as a hired man!

 THE BUICK AND THE FORD

No one in my family owned a car, so the Buick, my transportation to the farm, was quite the vehicle. I

could not understand for the life of me why there was no gear changing. I had not been in a vehicle with an automatic transmission!

Several trips were made in that vehicle, and at least one ride was quite an experience. It was a homeward trip on Highway 16. It was apparent Fred was tired and he kept driving right up almost into the tailgate of a vehicle in front of us. Stella was quite concerned. So was I.

The first car I drove in Canada was a Ford product: one was being offered for sale on the farm. I took a drive, no plates or insurance - no accident, car quickly parked. It would be several more years before I owned an auto.

THE FERRY

The photo to the right, taken in 1957, is the only proof I have there was a ferry 300 yards down the road!

The trip to Genesee was uneventful: it was dark (February) and cold. The first view I had of the North Saskatchewan River was as I was driven across it ! I did notice, on the Genesee side, what appeared to be a ferry. I paid scant attention to it. I never saw the ferry actually operating and the only remembrance comes from photographs such as the one to the right.

[Glen says I must have travelled across the river on the 'river road ice bridge': I will take his word for it!]

June 19, 2020

A phone call around the 17^th from Kimberly L. Nieman: I lost my answers but you can follow from the conversation.

Hi John,

I just happened on your website as I was doing some research on my Nieman family in Genesee. The 1^st Ferry man was my late Father Hugo Nieman. I have collected much information on my family from the books you mention. The tragedy in Genesee with my Grandfather and my two Uncles. Well, thank you for your recollections that I can add to my family history.

Thank you

Kimberly L. Nieman

 

Hello John ,

Well to make a long story short this is what I have come up with so far. My father was from Germany and moved to Alberta from Berlin in 1912. They had a homestead, that I still haven't found yet, although I do have the coordinates. The homestead was in Genesee in 1912 and 7 years later an accident happened with a well digging and my Grandfather and two of his sons died in the well. My father was working on another farm at the time luckily and after the tragedy to the Yukon and married my mother. He stayed in the Yukon of his death and never did mention what happened but I have found death certificates and causes of death. He did mention that he was the first employee to work on a Alberta Ferry. I now live in Alberta and I have contacted the late Mr. Bill Greenhough who directed me to the graves of my family. I have heard of Charley Cropley and now I am in search of Mr. Glen Greenhough who is about my age and may know more. I am 60. Small world!

Thank you,

Kimberly

 

Hi John,

Oh, ok, yes 92 is still young. Lol, ok I will kindly wait for his phone number, as I did have it but have misplaced it. Was his father the late Bill Greenhough? 

Thank you

Kimberly

Hi John

I do believe the Glen I am talking about is Bill's son. Glen Greenhough would be this Glen's Uncle. I will let you know for sure when I find that phone number.  I am still searching through my research to find Glen Greenhoughs phone number. I will also, call 92 year old Glen this morning. 

Thank you

Kimberly

CROSSING THE RIVER IN THE GENESSE AREA

[The article that follows is by Glen Greenhough as recorded in Golden Memories, pages 41-42. Book can by found at the Warburg United Church]

 In the early years prior to 1906, crossing the river was done by row boat, raft or fording during low water, and on the ice during the winter months. One ford used by the Indians was about two miles down-stream from the Charlie Cropley ferry crossing.

By 1906 it was necessary to be able to cross the river at higher levels of water with teams of horses and wagons and the like, so for that purpose Charlie Cropley built a scow large enough which was rowed or poled across by several men. In 1910 the Scheideman family built and operated a cable ferry about four miles north-east of the Cropley crossing, landing on the south half of 5-30-51-W5, on the Genesee side of the river.

In 1910 or 1911 Charley Cropley built a cable ferry. During the summer of 1913 an incident occurred during high water in which the cable broke freeing the ferry to drift down stream for several miles before the men on board could beach it. This time it was brought back upstream by a team of horses and put back into service. At this time the Alberta Government supplied a cable and Cropley continued to operate the ferry until the record high water in 1915 again caused the cable to break, thus freeing the ferry which was last seen drifting with the current. It was seen passing through Edmonton six hours later. After this calamity, the Alberta Government took over the entire project. Hugo Nieman, the first government operator, ran the ferry until 1920 when James Greenhough took over the job which he held until hi retirement in 1936. In the years following, a number of different men held the position of ferry man.

Many times during its years of operation after 1915 the ferry fell victim to the many hazards the river had to offer. To mention just a few: in 1928 it was overcome by driftwood during rising water and when the crest had passed was left sitting several feet above the water on to of a drift pile; after the second highest water level in 1944 the ferry was left high and dry far out of the water; in 1946 a sudden cold spell in the fall caused an ice jam resulting in much strain being put on the main cable, and the danger of toppling the towers was relieved only by cutting the lead cables with a cutting torch.[The photo shows the combine bought by the Greenhoughs and the first in Western Canada, photo courtesy of Glen Greenhough]

In 1947 due to high water and mechanical failure of the hand winch the ferry turned broadside in midstream breaking the anchor bolt of the main cable and letting the ferry float several hundred feet down stream. The people on board this time were forced to leave by swimming or by lifeboat.

Even though it was a risky, hazardous job, no one ever suffered serious injury while working around or crossing on the ferry. In the late 1940's a second cable was added down stream on the ferry to aid in crossing during high up-stream winds. In 1953, to cope with ever increasing volume of traffic, a second man was added to help, and in 1955 a motor was placed on the ferry to further speed up crossing.

The Genesee ferry operated until the fall of 1966 when it was replaced by the new Genesee bridge.

THE FIRST FEW WEEKS

I learned I was to be g in Fred's house along with his wife Stella and son, Glen. Apparently the Hired Man's house needed repairs. The first six weeks I lived in one room, coming out only to work and to eat. This was my fault not the Greenhoughs; they had invited me to join the family in the evenings, and on one occasion to participate in a prayer meeting. Somehow, I just felt awkward and declined the invitation.

[Just a reminder,"I" refers to myself and my wife, Maureen.
Regarding the prayer meeting: Glen thought it was perhaps a congregational meeting opened with prayer]

Their home was quite modern, and to me, quite large. All meals I ate were in the kitchen. Each meal was preceded with a grace: "Be present at our table Lord, Be here and everywhere adored, with mercies bless and grant that we, may feast in paradise with thee"! I was treated as one of the family.

It was while living with the family, and as sandwiches were prepared for the annual Genesee picnic, that I learned Stella's secret for putting the spread on bread to form a sandwich. Her secret? Well, if I told you it wouldn't be a secret would it!

WAGES AND GOOD ADVICE

Wages had been agreed upon, $120.00 per month and $5.00 extra for every Sunday worked, and the hired man's house thrown in. There was also a bonus factor whereby I would receive 50 cents for each pig weaned and another 50 cents for each one shipped to market.

I must repeat the advice Fred gave me: Get some health insurance, work with a city or municipality, and don't borrow from a finance company

[We did get some insurance, and it paid for our first child born in February 1958. Farm air is invigorating. I began work with the City of Edmonton in 1959. In 1957 to borrow money from a bank you needed as much cash in the bank as you wanted to borrow: Go figure!. Having no credit, a finance company it had to be. For one payment. Then the bank called and I have been an unwilling supporter of banks ever since]

GLEN THE INSTRUCTOR

Glen, Fred's son, was my instructor and from him I was taught all that needed to be taught. I was taken to the pig barn where the pigs scheduled for market were housed. The mixing of the food took place in a cart; I suppose 18 inches by 36 inches, on wheels. The food was poured from a sack into the container and water added: stirred with a small spade. Glen could not produce an exact recipe: I had to watch the stools of the pigs and if they were too liquid then something had to be reduced or was that increased? Fifty years gone by does not aid the memory! The cart was wheeled so that the mixture could be placed so as to feed the pigs. Fred talked of designing a feeding system where dry feed would be used; two angle iron bars would be welded together; secured at either end to a mechanism that would rotate and allow feed to fall into the trough.

I distinctly remember how hard it was for me to mix that stuff; I was just out of the army and had not really engaged in much physical activity. But, after a week or so, I could mix with the best. After feeding the pigs housed in the barn, buckets of feed had to be taken to the farrowing barn and then to the sows and boar outside.

After feeding came 'mucking out'; (I had been told by Glen that pigs were not the dirty animals that they were portrayed to be, as they knew where to sleep and where to do important body functions!) Cleaning was accomplished by using the overhead 'railway'; a fairly large container on a track circled the interior of the barn, then out to the dumping grounds. In a moment of madness, and surely connected to my army days, I squared off the piles of manure; those who farm with pigs would realize:Well never mind!

PETE THE MAN FROM POLAND

I don't remember when, I met Pete Kozubski, who had come from Poland. He was some sort of wonder-man as far as working went. He worked for the Greenhoughs but he wanted his own farm. Apparently he worked as two people, one looking after pigs and the second position of working on the farm operation; by the time I had arrived he had his own farm. I met Pete twice, once when he tried to initiate me into the process of castrating pigs, the second time when I visited his home and met his wife and new baby. It was watching the castration operation, and it was to be my job to do it later on, that some 'darkling shadows' began to appear on my farming future! I remember Pete telling me that when he first arrived the only language he understood was the squealing of the pigs. Pete has since died and his son runs the farm.

CHURCH AND CUSTOMS

The hired man's house

After six weeks or so the hired man's house was ready. It was not a modern house! No running water but there was electricity. On the main floor there were three rooms, and upstairs, perhaps one. The kitchen was the first room you entered: the stove was the first thing noted. There where no washroom facilities. The comfort station was outside; correct toilet paper was quickly installed. In England I had lived in a three-bed roomed home, built in 1937. It had running water, electricity, was heated and had a full washroom with a bath. I figured I had moved backwards by some 100 hundred years. But press on! Immigrants cannot be choosers.

I'm not sure if my boss really understood what I was experiencing:in one conversation he said (I was never quite sure when Fred was kidding or not!) he had met English people who believed milk came from cans. What udder (!) nonsense. I don't think he could appreciate that I had come from a village where I was five minutes from the stores (shops), with paved roads, mail came every day, every home had running water et al. I have to say, though, without reservation, that the whole family treated me very kindly.

[Re: Fred understanding where I was at: Of course he knew!]

The 'stove': The ghostly figure in the photograph could well be the author's wife: the stove haunted her, perhaps she is getting her own back!Back to the stove; no turning on a switch for the heat to come on, it had to be fired up, a task that I took on because, no heat, no tea, and no warm (?) water to wash in! I had no electrical appliances. The stove was replaced with one from Eaton's; but it was not used often as our farming days were about over.

Groceries

In order to get Groceries or letters mailed I would leave a list and the letters in a slot in the office; I could not understand why I did not get the groceries right away: it was not until later I learned the nearest grocery store was about a mile away; daily visits were not the norm. It's not that I was ungrateful, it was simply I was not a Canadian and most definitely not a rural Canadian! I remember one trip to Edmonton where I stocked up on groceries, at Avenue Trading on 118 Avenue. I had a steady diet of tinned meat (spam?) golden wax beans and prune plums, items never on my menu now.

[The Greenhough Brothers operated a International Harvester dealership: I had nothing to with that operation.
Glen later told me the store was four and one half miles away]

Thorsby Movie House

The photograph shows the movie house circa 1951. Harvey Greenhough asked if I would like to go to a movie? Would I like to go to a movie!!!! I dressed as if I were in England, (hey, no one told me what to wear!) suit, tie, and shiny shoes. Thorsby in 1957 had no paved streets or sidewalks. Ah well, it gave the locals a bit of a laugh! Don't remember the film.

Tried popcorn for the first time, not impressed, have a better opinion of it now! After the show I was taken to a café, I must have stood out like a sore thumb. After coffee Donnie Greenhough, and some friends took me for a ride to see an oil well. I distinctly remember the speedometer of the car, the Buick, reading 90 mph as we drove over dirt roads. I viewed my first oil derrick at 2.00 a.m. I was glad to get home.

Over populated?

It was on the way to the movies that Harvey, who was driving the truck, remarked how over-crowded the area was growing. I was amazed, it seemed I did not see a house forever. If I had known then about such things as quarter sections I would have understood. However, even in 2009 that part of the County could not be described as over populated

[ In the early 2000's I worked in Leduc County: I did not consider the County over populated. IN fact I could drive a secondary highway forever and never see a soul!]

Genesee School

From their treatment of me it was obvious that the Fred Greenhoughs were Christians (at least we had that in common). They had invited me to a prayer meeting held in their home, grace was said before every meal. I attended church, which was held in the Genesee School. A Rev. Hutchinson was the minister; he was a circuit preacher with churches at Genesee, Warburg and Telfordville and Breton. Warburg United Church.

Warburg United Church On Good Friday 1957 I attended the inaugural service of the new or reconstructed Warburg United Church, shown in the picture to the left. . The minister was still nailing the cross to the wall as I entered: Very meaningful for that time of the year to those who believe.

 I also attended the (re)-opening of the Rundle Mission at Pigeon Lake. The Buick became stuck in the mud and I learned the 'sit on the hood' method as opposed to the 'push from behind' process. The 'it on the hood' seemed to succeed.

[The photo of Rundle Mission proved by Colleen Lomas, manager of the Mission.]

Strange custom: To us!

In England you have to be properly introduced before one dines with a stranger, I learned it is not so in Genesee! I had ordered a bag of potatoes; they were duly delivered around noon. The man put the potatoes down but lingered unduly at the door, and he lingered even longer, so long in fact that it struck me as very strange! He did eventually leave, I mentioned it to Fred; he said the man was waiting to be invited in for lunch, it was his pattern. Strange but true!

Tractors

A garden surrounded Fred's home on three sides; Fred was tilling the soil using a tractor , his wife said he looked like a monkey on a peanut. As a guest I was not sure whether to laugh or remain silent, I chose the latter even if the remark seemed appropriate. It was a very small tractor!

Speaking of tractors : I drove the same small tractor around the yard. I enhanced my 'backing up with a trailer' skills. On one occasion I tried to change gears going up a hill just outside the Greenhough enclave. The front wheels came up in an alarming manner. I had visions of being a crushed peanut under a tractor! Again, although I never actually operated the auger to move wheat, I was warned of the dangers of this piece of equipment close to loose clothing, particularly if you positioned yourself so that the groin area was too close. There was at least one dramatic story that may or may not have been true! It was with some surprise that I learned many years later Harvey had been injured using the machinery.

Sounds of Music

I had left my relatives at the immigration hall without telling them where I was going. It was six weeks before I saw them again. They brought a small radio with them, without a tuning dial. It was stuck on 6.30 CHED, which was a music(?) channel. I learned stereo sound was being introduced: To get the affect of this new invention one needed two radios, which if played simultaneously, on the same station, of course, they would produce stereophonic sound. I was unable to carry out this experiment. I only had one radio! Some tunes coming to mind for that period are, 'A White Coat and a Pink Carnation', 'A Slow Boat to China', 'The Shrimps Boats are Coming' and 'So Rare'.

Farrowing

Another first at Genesee was actually seeing a sow (or any other animal or human) give birth to piglets. The piglets were thrust from the sow at what seemed great force and with repeated regularity. The sow seemed most disinterested in the whole proceedings. Glen had warned me, about sows with a litter so I took no chances when I later entered the sty.

Veterinarians? Methinks not!

Glen had noticed a sow wandering loose with the others in the yard; it had an infected side. The plan was to corral the sow; cut the swelling in order to release what we guessed was be pus inside. Our herding efforts went un-rewarded but in the process the sow must have knocked against something; the wound opened and was on its way to being cleansed. We kept a careful eye on the sow for some time to ensure the healing process took place. Glen and I were relieved at the self-induced treatment.

Dreaming

It took next to no time to realize I was not intended for farming life. (I'm sure the Greenhoughs must have realized this as well although they continued to treat me well). So July 1957 saw me headed for the big City. The stove I had purchased arrived sometime later and was sold to a person to use in their cottage.

The Big City

This story is not about Edmonton; suffice it to say the good Lord was kind to me. I first worked in a warehouse, then moved to the City Police (remember Stallknecht, Maday and Hobbs) After 18 years in the Police I moved to the first of several management positions before retiring in 1994. Genesee was far from my mind. But then I finished up at a Noxious Weed Seminar in Genesee, there I met one of the Greenhough daughter's, I hired an Australian fellow who had worked for a Greenhough.

Assistant Development Officer

My youngest daughter, a legal secretary, heard a bylaw enforcement officer was needed in Fort Saskatchewan; this turned out to be that an assistant development officer was wanted in the then County of Leduc! I was hired and had to find my way around with a map that only gave legal descriptions. I always took my lunch when I went on my visits! Being hired was very much like when Mr. Fred Greenhough first hired me. I knew a fair bit about (some) bylaws and had supervised people in bylaw enforcement. It is a real test of your skills when you have to actually carry out investigations, based on what you had taught others to do!

The Power Plant

I won't mention the names of the people I worked with and for in the County, but I will say, unreservedly, they treated me with great respect (age will do that!). They told me about short cuts, what to watch for when entering a farmyard (dogs) and that Leduc people are fine to deal with and, for the most part this turned out to be true.

With my hiring, a new era was beginning. There had been development officers prior to me; however, much of the enforcement work had been done by 'word of mouth'. My city training had taught me there needed to be a written accounting of visits and responses from the citizens. I do believe I achieved a modicum of success. Folks in the County are no different than city folk when it comes to following the rules, 90% or higher simply do as they are asked. Of the remaining 10% about 7.5% do conform with some harder work. The remainder is best not mentioned.

Genesee did not cause me any undue concerns: The only Genesee files I recall were the power plant and St. John's School which were dealt with through telephone calls. After 7 years I retired (again) and left on good terms with the staff and most of the people I had dealt with.

[One file I dealt with related to the Power Plant, George Greenhough had something to with the landscaping!]

I have been dealt fairly by the folks in the County and more so by the Greenhoughs! Genesee will always bring fond memories.

January 02 2021- Having updated the Booklet shortly after the Celebration I sent a copy of it to Lee and Juanita Pickerl asking for their comments. They appear below...I have left them in the letter form rather than correcting the earlier text in the booklet. Thank you Lee and Juanita...John T

 Hi Mr. Tidridge. I'm sure you have long since given up receiving any feedback from us but I have finally been able to have Lee read through your entire story. It is delightful!! Lee identified two very minor areas where he can offer a little additional information. In the section "The Greenhoughs" , Harvey and Olga had three children. Two daughters and a son. You are correct that their son, Gerald, has passed away. Just as additional information, Bill and Lydia Greenhough had two sons, George and Earl (both attended the 100 year anniversary). Bill Greenhough passed away in 2017.

 Very near the end when you are discussing last summer's celebration, you described the ceremony (page 22 when we printed your story). You refer to George Greenhough as Glen's brother. George Greenhough, being the son of Bill Greenhough, is technically Glen Greenhough's first cousin once removed (in researching this relation, I discovered this relative is often referred to as a nephew as it is not typical to refer to 'first cousin once removed'). Since Bill's passing, as we understand it, the day to day farm operation is primarily run between Glen and George Greenhough.

 As information, Lee's mother, Mary Pickerl (nee Greenhough), passed away in 2019.

 Thanks so much for your patience. We hope this information proves helpful.

 All the best,

 Juanita and Lee Pickerl