Browsing all posts in July, 2011.

The Dowler’s General Store

Dowler’s store was built around 1912 to establish a Massey Harris Agency. The front 24 feet were heated as a parts and display room; while the rear, with just mud floors, was used as a machine shed. Mr. McMahon and E.E. Dowler set up a partnership and added a lumber yard and general store. The [...]

Oil Exploration in the Lilyfield District

“In the very early 1920’s the late James Speers of Winnipeg headed a group of business men in financing the search for oil in the Lilyfield community. As a result of their enthusiasm and a conviction that oil could be discovered, an oil drilling rig was erected being the property owned by the late Mr. [...]

Gross Isle Oil Business

The local store carried drums of kerosene and gasoline. These were shipped out by train and settlers bought small amounts prior to 1920. In the early 1920’s tractors were becoming more common so A.J. Lobb built a shed near the elevator large enough to hold one and one-half carloads of drums. Gasoline, kerosene and distillate [...]

Gross Isle Blacksmith Shop

When A.J. Lobb purchased the general store and post office from the Charles brothers, he expanded the business by adding a blacksmith shop and a small home adjacent to the store.
William McCrimmon, the first blacksmith, was kept busy shoeing horses and doing farm repairs.
A new store was built in 1917 across from the railway station [...]

Third generation of Lawrence in Rosser, Manitoba

Evered, the eldest son of pioneer parents Emily and Lyle Lawrence, was born on the family farm in the RM of Rosser. He has lived and farmed in Rosser all his life.
Evered had his primary schooling at Lilyfield and secondary at Kelvin High School in Winnipeg. He had to walk two and half miles to [...]