Charles and Mossie Boyle
Cheryl D. Boyle (granddaughter)
Charles (Charlie) Boyle arrived in the West in 1903 at the age of seventeen, coming from the Markdale area of Ontario to help his brother, Frank, in Melita, Manitoba.
Apparently liking the West, Charlie stayed and homesteaded three miles north of Colgate, building a one-room cabin (12’x14′) that served as a kitchen, bedroom, and living area. Over time, he acquired more land.
Charlie broke his homestead with oxen, which only worked in the cool early morning and evening, resting during the heat of the day.
Mossie Kitson arrived in the Colgate area with her parents in March 1905 when she was fourteen. She and Charlie met, courted, and married in June 1912. Their honeymoon consisted of a buggy ride from the marriage ceremony in Ingleford, six miles back to the homestead. Due to the marriage, Charlie added a bedroom to his cabin.
In 1914, typhoid fever struck the Kitson family again, taking Mossie’s mother, Maggie, at forty-eight, the same age as Mossie’s father when he had passed from the same disease.
Following Maggie’s death, Mossie and Charlie took in Mossie’s younger brother Bob and sister Madeline. Expecting a child of their own, they built a new bedroom and kitchen, later adding a living room and third bedroom. Graham, their eldest son, recalled going to sleep in the middle bedroom in winter, waking to find the bedcovers frozen to the wall.
Mossie and Charlie raised four children—Graham, Stuart, Keith, and Margaret. A child, Bruce, died in infancy.
Mossie’s brother Bob and sister Madeline attended Normal School in Regina, teaching temporarily before deciding on permanent careers.
Madeline recalled having to ride a pony to round up cattle, often navigating a large slough. One night, the pony lay down in the middle of the slough, soaking her—a moment she wasn’t too happy about!
Charlie’s father, Charlie Sr., born in County Antrim, Ireland, and a farmer in Ontario, moved West in 1909 and, until his death in 1932, lived alternately with his children throughout the prairies. Madeline Kitson and Graham Boyle recall his stays at Mossie and Charlie’s and remember him as being a very stern man.
Charlie and Mossie were active in the Presbyterian Church and, after unification, the United Church. The Presbyterian Church was built in Colgate in the early ’teens. Mossie was the organist for several years. This church burned down in 1923 and the Presbyterian congregation was invited to worship in the Methodist Church—a Church union before it became official. One minister Mossie remembers fondly was Mr. Bray, father of Jack Bray, who also served in Colgate.
Charlie was an avid hunter, ball-player, and curler and was superintendent of Sunday School for years. He was also an ardent Odd Fellow and active supporter of the CCF. Mossie’s activities involved her in all church and community affairs and Rebekah Lodge.
Graham worked in Colgate as a barber and pool-room attendant in the late thirties, located in the old drug store. Apparently, he became quite a pool shark, as a result. Because of allergic reactions to many farm-related dusts and odours, Graham could not remain on the farm.
Fair days were enjoyable days. Margaret, with her father Charlie, showed calves at Weyburn Fair and Regina Winter Fair.
The first school years Graham, Stuart, and Keith went to Atha School. Later they attended Colgate School.
Fowl suppers were held annually with complete community involvement. There was food galore—turkey, chicken, duck, turnips, potatoes, gravy, salads, and homemade pies—all for fifty cents! A person could eat all he wanted, and some boys were noticed to have had three and four pieces of pie. Coffee was always served. It was made in wash boilers and heated on coal-oil stoves. As was usually the case with any community get-together, a program followed the meal.
Sunday school was at 11 a.m. and church at 7 p.m., with a good congregation at both. The children of the time may especially remember Mr. Edgar Stinson, who always had peppermints in his pocket for them. Church activities played a large part in community life. There were church services to attend, Sunday School, Young People’s groups, and Ladies’ Aid.
Graham Boyle remembers pumping the organ at church for Mrs. R. I. Bell. A special apparatus was made for the purpose.
Boyles had their own electric plant constructed, by Charlie, well before electricity came to the prairies in general. A windmill with a generator charged glass storage batteries which were kept in the basement. This gave the family lights and ran the washing machine. The lights were brightest when the wind was blowing.
The advent of electricity changed the lifestyle on the farm. It brought electric fridges and stoves, washing machines, electric irons (replacing the heavy sad irons heated on top of the coal stove and Coleman gas irons). No more did the women have to spend time cleaning the wicks and polishing the chimney glass of four or five kerosene lanterns every morning.
Regarding washing up, as soon as the water was heated in the morning, the first thing to be washed was the separator. Then, the rest of the dishes could be washed using the same water.
During the four years Harry Winchs lived in Colgate, Dorothy Winch met Graham Boyle. A friendship began that resulted in their marriage in 1942. They have spent all their married life in Regina. Graham retired in November, 1979 after 38½ years with Eaton’s drapery department.
Of their family of three, the two daughters are teachers—Cheryl, vice-principal in Kyle, Saskatchewan, and Edrie, a kindergarten and grade one teacher in Alsask, Sask. Larry drives for Motorways out of Regina. He and his wife, Connie (nee Bell of Colgate), have a family of three—Angela, Ricky, and Sandy.
Stuart attended school in Colgate. Then in 1936, he went to Tara, Ontario with two boxcar loads of Maurice Underwood’s settler effects, which included cows, chickens, and horses. The trip took seven days and nights. Stuart chose to stay in the boxcar with the horses. His mother had packed enough food for the week. He worked on farms between Port Elgin, Ontario, and Paisley, Ontario. In 1938, he came home and went back to school for one more year. In 1939, he worked for Chev. Sales in Regina (now Regina Motor Products).
In 1941, he joined the R.C.A.F. and trained in Penhold, Alberta, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Clinton, Ontario. By 1942, he was overseas serving as a Radar Mechanic in Scotland, England, Shetland Islands, Northern Russia, and Gibraltar.
In 1944, he returned to Canada and worked for Uncle Bob Kitson in Lethbridge, Alberta. There, he met his wife-to-be, Margaret Wagg.
He then took a Pre-Med Course in Winnipeg, Manitoba. That same year, he married Margaret Wagg in Regina, and in the fall, he entered the College of Optometry in Toronto, Ontario, graduating in 1949. They moved to Taber, Alberta, where they presently reside. In Taber, he served on the town council.” For six years and as Mayor for eight years.
They have a son and two daughters and one adopted son: David, born in 1950, and now married to Gretchen Geisler. He teaches school near Calgary, Alberta. Heather was born in 1953 and is married to Philip Holland, an electronic designer, and they now live in Vancouver, B.C. Daughter Sheila was born in 1955. She married Robert Lord, a draftsman, and they now have one son, Corey, and live in Lethbridge, Alberta. Their adopted son, Donavan, was born in 1964 and adopted in 1966. He is living at home and attending school.
Margaret completed her grade ten at Colgate School. Then, she stayed with Graham and Dorothy in Regina and took her grades 11 and 12 at Scott Collegiate. In 1949-1950, she attended Normal School in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She taught at Rolling Meadow, Coral, and Yellow Grass Schools.
In 1954, she married Paul Lukey of Trossachs, formerly of Norquay, Sask. They have four children and two grandchildren: Mrs. Russell Dennis (Isabelle) of Yellow Grass; Kevin, Credit Union Manager at Vibank, Sask.; Lori and Joyce, living at home and attending high school in Yellow Grass.”
Margaret remembers so well when she was young going into Colgate on Saturday evening with one nickel in her pocket. She would go into Jim Moug’s store and ‘Oh the lovely big bag of candy she would get with that nickel!’ I’m sure Mr. Moug must have gone very much in debt with his candy but he endeared himself to so many children in the community.
Another great memory she has is of the excitement she felt from the time the posters arrived until after the show had been performed when the Chautauquas came to town. She remembers climbing that long flight of stairs to the hall and entering into a world of magic and intrigue. The hall was always packed.
Keith farms the family farm at Colgate, Sask.
Mossie and Charlie retired to Weyburn in 1960 after a fruitful life farming. They enjoyed the slower pace of life and family visits. Charlie died in December 1964, and Mossie died in December 1978 after a few years of ill health.
The Keith Boyle Family History
by Keith Boyle
My Birth Certificate reads: January 2, 1922.
Robert Keith Boyle: Birth Place — Sec. 36., Tp. 5., Rge. 15. W.2. Sask.
Growing up in the twenties and thirties (on the Charlie and Mossie Boyle farm) was much different from today. The five-roomed old house was heated with the cook stove in the kitchen, and a Quebec heater for the living room and dining room.
Travel was by horses in the winter; in summer, we used the old Model T Ford; and in 1928, we got the Chev.
I went with my brothers, Graham and Stuart, to Atha School for one year (about 2½ miles to the North and West). After that, we started going to the new two-roomed school in Colgate about the same distance away, traveling by horse and cutter in the winter and with a buggy in the summer. Later, when the other two boys were finished with school, my sister, Margaret (eight years younger than I), accompanied me for two or three years. We had a shortcut trail across a section of prairie just south of the home quarter, which I always said I wouldn’t want to farm, because it had so many rocks. But in 1946, I did buy the N.W. quarter of “25” and have been picking rocks ever since.
On the N.W. corner and S.E. corner of the section on which we lived, two Ledingham brothers, Mark and Tom, homesteaded, and the third brother, Walter, homesteaded across the road from the N.E. corner. Mark and Tom married sisters, Millie and Cassie McKecknie, and the third married my Dad’s sister, Mary Boyle. So over the years, we grew up like we were all related, and the four families celebrated Christmas and New Year’s together. The families knew a year ahead which two places would have the dinners. One family always took the homemade ice cream, frozen by hand that morning with the old crank freezer.
I have been active in the Church and Sunday School in Colgate all my life. I joined the Oddfellows Lodge No. 104 in Colgate in 1944 and was active there until we amalgamated with Weyburn Lodge No. 12 in 1964. I am still a member there.
The winter of 1946–47 was a hard one, with “35” highway South blocked a good part of the time in January. I caught the last train that ever went to Elswick, a whistle stop about 12 miles east of Good-Water. From there I was able to travel by team into Midale with the mailman, then hitched a car ride with the ‘Rawleigh’ man into Weyburn to visit my girlfriend. I wound up being storm-stayed for about ten days, staying with Mrs. Martha Mackey. After that period of time, I was able to come home via team and sleigh with Archie Ledingham, who had made the trip to bring groceries and mail to Colgate.
On June 9, 1948, I married said girlfriend, Lorraine Butters of the Riverview District, living in a house in the same yard with my folks until 1960, when they moved to Pioneer Place in Weyburn. The first winter, Dad, Lorraine and I curled on Earl Ledingham’s rink in Colgate, driving with the team, mostly in 25-degree-below (F.) temperatures, to an unheated rink. But the fellowship was warm.
We too started with a cook stove, and a stove in the basement to serve as a furnace. To ‘control’ the heat, we ran up and down opening and closing the damper. We later got a small furnace. In summer, we used two one-burner gas stoves for much of the cooking. A few years later, weekly in hot weather, we built a roaring fire on Monday morning and Lorraine cooked a roast, or baked. By later in the day, the water in the water heater attached to the cook stove was hot and the weekly wash could be done. I also rigged up a six-volt wind charger system, which gave us dim electric light ‘when the wind blew,’ and no light when it didn’t (back to the coal-oil lamp). That was one era when we rejoiced at hearing the wind.
It was difficult for relatives to believe that we were unable to spend our first Christmas with Lorraine’s family, only ten miles away, and a great disappointment to her. Dad was ill, and the chores had to be done. The weather and roads were so bad that one could not count on getting back home the same day, so we couldn’t go.
Our son, Chris, was born Nov. 19, 1949, attended by ‘Doc’ Mainprize in Weyburn General Hospital. Apparently the old elevator there clunked up and down all night, causing great disturbance to light sleepers. ‘Doc,’ employed by the Municipality, came to Goodwater every Thursday morning, and Colgate Thursday afternoon. After Christmas that winter, the weather and roads once again were undependable to the point where he came to our house for the six-week checkup rather than take the baby out. Chris was scarcely off the farm until April of ’50. When we finally took him to Weyburn, he made strange so much we had to take him out of a store. The snowbanks were so high on ‘Highway 35’ that the whole road filled right in with the least little blow. Baby clothes were frozen outside on a clothes horse, then dried in the living room.About this time, two or three area residents purchased bombardiers of their own, and we were able to hire a ride to Weyburn for supplies.
The fall of 1951 brought ‘progress’ and one of the thrills of a lifetime to our area, in the form of ‘rural electrification.’ This came about through the efforts of the CCF Provincial Government and the people. There had to be a certain number of ‘signers’ requesting this power, plus a payment of $500.00 by each farmer involved. By the time Sally arrived, on April 13, 1952, we were able to get a refrigerator, and eventually a washing machine. Sally was delivered by Dr. Mainprize in Midale Union Hospital, and Susie Ketter was on duty at the time.
It was several years before our side road was gravelled, and we ploughed mud every time it rained. In the fall when it was gravelled, there was heavy rain just after it had been worked up. This made it almost impassable for six weeks. We managed to get out, but didn’t invite anyone in. We also had some winter close calls in storms when the children were small. One was a New Year’s night when returning from Lorraine’s home at the Correction Line. The car…
The car began to lose traction as they drove through the drifting snow. Keith gripped the steering wheel tightly, careful to keep the vehicle steady while Lorraine held onto young Chris, wrapped in layers of blankets to ward off the biting cold. Sally, barely a toddler at the time, was nestled beside her, eyes wide with curiosity but unaware of the true danger.
They had left Lorraine’s family home earlier that evening, determined to return before the storm worsened. The winds howled around them, shaking the car as it crawled forward. Every few minutes, Keith would peer through the windshield, searching desperately for any familiar landmark that could guide them home. Snowbanks had swallowed the road whole, leaving only a faint impression of tire tracks from earlier travelers.
Eventually, the car came to a halt, stuck in the thick drifts. Keith knew they couldn’t afford to sit idle for long; the temperature was dropping fast. With no other choice, he stepped outside to assess the situation while Lorraine kept the children calm inside. Through sheer determination and careful maneuvering, Keith managed to dig out enough of the snow to inch the vehicle forward until they reached the main road—where the wind had mercifully cleared enough of the path for them to continue.
Relief washed over them when the lights of their home finally appeared in the distance. It was a drive they’d never forget, one that highlighted the relentless challenges of winter travel in those days. But above all, it was a testament to the resilience of a family accustomed to facing the elements together
stalled at the Arnold Wicks’ farm on the highway, with drifting weather conditions. We were in their house for some time, then the men got it going, and we started out again. Coming west on the grid road, the blizzard was so bad, visibility was almost nil. Just before we reached Earl Ledingham’s corner the car stalled once more. It was a cold night, and what were we to do, but within seconds the Tom Broughtons’ approached from the south in the bombardier, saw our light and brought us all home. What a relief!
The new seven-room school was built in 1954. In 1955 Chris’ Grade One Class started their first year in the new school and it closed in 1967, the year that his class graduated from Grade Twelve.
Chris and Sally were bussed to the Unit School in Colgate. To make the route work out, they rode up to twenty miles each morning, and quite often at night as well, to get to the school three miles away. In winter the bombardiers were used for as long as three months before the snow plough was widely used and that was a long, rough, ride. Chris travelled that way much of his winter in Grade one; first on in the morning, and last off at night. These vehicles were not free of trouble. One morning a fan belt broke, when the temperature was 30 degrees (F.) below zero, and a load of children on the bombardier. Fortunately, it was just south of Elmer Ledingham’s gate, and they were able to get to the house, but some were very cold by that time. (Chris and Sally included.) Another time, just our two and the driver were stalled about 2½ miles northwest of us, on their way home. They had to stay with the bombardier until it was realized at the school that Art Mackey should be back, and someone went to look for them.
Our children were brought up on work as well as play, and we could not have managed without their help. Our family has participated in Community activity all these years.
In 1970, after receiving his B.A. in Regina, Chris was married to Bev Seafoot of Shaunavon. He is presently a Systems Analyst for Sask-Tel. They have two sons, Craig — seven, Michael — five, and a daughter, Shanoa — two years.
Sally got her Grade nine in Colgate and was bussed to Weyburn for Grades ten, eleven and twelve. She obtained her B.A. in Regina, then went to Saskatoon, graduating in 1976 with a B.D. She is in her fourth year as a United Church Minister at Birch Hills, Sask.
Lorraine and I are still living on Sec. 36, Tp. 5, Rge. 15, W. 2, and are actively farming and keeping busy with church and community work.
James Mackey and Ruth Kitson
Mac Kitson
I, Mac, was born on the Kitson farm in the Ingleford district in Aug. 1918. At age of seven I began attending Ingleford School. My teachers were: Mr. Penny, Mrs. Tom Metheral and Mrs. Florence Matthews. Mrs. Matthews was very English and a wonderful teacher. With the help of her son, Bill, Mrs. Matthews organized the first Boy Scout troop in the district. Mr. Harry Bowditch was our Scout Mas-
ter.
I completed my education with Grade XI at Col- gate School under the excellent teaching of Miss E. Hudson. Morning and night I rode the seven miles on horseback. After Christmas I stayed with my grand- mother, Martha Mackey.
After Grade XI I worked at many jobs in many parts of the country. I picked apples at Thornbury, Ontario; threshed in the Luseland area; worked for Western Dominion Coal Co. east of Estevan and worked in the Sybouts Sodium Sulphate plant south of Gladmar. I was also in the Reserve Army.
In 1945, my father bought the Springer farm and my parents moved there. At that time I bought my first land, a quarter section (S.E. 12-6-15) from Ed Forsythe. My father, Joshua, and I farmed together till his retirement in 1960. In 1947, my parents decid- ed to build a house in Colgate.
When work was available, I worked during the
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winter months. Several winters I worked in Weyburn
once in Weyburn Creamery and other times in construction. The winter of 1950-51 I worked at the curling rink in Flin Flon, Manitoba; in 1951-52 as a janitor at the University of Saskatchewan, Saska-
toon.
In June 1952, Ruth Broughton (of the Maple district) and I were married in Edmonton, Alberta. We lived in Colgate in the house previously occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lewis, Sr. That winter I worked for Jack and Evelyn Devitt in the store. The following winter, 1953-54, I worked for Skow Con- struction on the new Colgate Centralized School.
In October 1954 we bought the Red and White store from J. G. Sanderson and moved into the living quarters at the back of it. I continued farming as well. Those who worked in the store at times were; Shirley Oliver, Jean Daer and Jennie Tremblay. Rena Squire worked part time in the store for several years. After Josh, my father, quit farming in 1961, Tom Squire worked on the farm land for me every spring and fall. In 1961, after my parents moved to Pioneer Place, Weyburn, we moved into their house, where we are still living.
I closed the store in 1970. In 1972 I took a job with Wire and Cable Co., Weyburn for 14 months. In the fall of 1974 I sold the land to Elmer Johnson. I started working for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance in 1974 and am still employed by them.
We had four children; James Bruce, who died at birth (May 1953); Beth Lori born Oct. 1955; Mack- ey Lorne born Dec. 1957 and Edith Rae born June 1965.
Beth won a university scholarship. After two years university she joined the R.C.M.P. in which she served for three years. She married Randy Ernst of Calgary, Alberta.
Lorne is employed by Saskatchewan Telephone Construction.
Edith is presently attending Weyburn Junior High School.
In the late sixties I was assistant leader to Don Cooke for the Long Creek Scout Troop. When we went to camp with Buffalo district, I was quarter- master and helped to cook for 15-20 leaders and handed out food rations to the scouts sometimes 70-90 boys. Since then I have attended the annual camp with Scout Master Vern Cooke of Weyburn.
In all small towns there are many community responsibilities. I was a trustee on the Colgate School Board till the school closed. I have helped with the curling rink, skating rink and golf course. I have been on the village council a number of years and am presently Mayor. The council had water piped to every home. In 1972 we oiled Main Street and 2nd