1. IN THE BEGINNING

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS Waldron? by Barry John Foster

CHAPTER 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 2. CHAPTER 3 IN THE BEGINNING CHAPTER 4 THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WW II CHAPTER 5 WELCOME TO THE PAST CHAPTER 6 A FARM BOY CHAPTER 7 ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE CHAPTER 8 WORKING TO BE AN ENGINEER CHAPTER 9 CONTINENTAL EMSCO CHAPTER 10 TEXACO EXPLORATION CHAPTER 11 CANADIAN SUPERIOR CHAPTER 12 CANPET MARKETING CHAPTER 13 MOTORHOMING CHAPTER 14 LIVING IN THE DESERT CHAPTER 15 RETURN TO CALGARY CHAPTER 16 PICTURES & TRAVEL (How things have changed) CHAPTER 17 BACH TO WOODWORKING CHAPTER 18 THE INEVITABLE TIME TO SLOW DOWN OBSERVATIONS ABOUT LIFE AND CHANGE RESEARCH AND REFERNCE MATERIAL

INTRODUCTION I spent a whole lifetime preparing the material for this book. I didn’t have any say in the matter of even being here; my parents saw to that. I actually didn’t influence a lot of my life and I know absolutely nothing of the first three or four years of it. There was much throughout my life I had no say in. Maybe it was fate or circumstance or someone else’s decisions that steered me on my way to certain changes in my life. I did control a lot of my life, I believe. One thing I had never considered was writing about my life until someone suggested it. I don’t know who that was. In any event I took the hint and enrolled in a class in May 2005 from Chinook Learning Services entitled Your Life As A Story. It was taught by Gordon Rasberry. The Program Info stated: Your Life as a Story 6 Classes $129 “You have lived a life your children and family know too little about. Your life may not change the course of history, but it is important because IT HAPPENED. If you don’t tell the story – who will? Learn a step-by-step roadmap and have fun. Most participants have little or no writing experience. Receive a multitude of tips to improve your ability to put your memories on paper. Start your story now and continue it over the years ahead. All ages are welcome”. Another short article I found said the following: “Socrates has reminded us “that an unexamined life is not worth living,” while Kierkequaard tells us that “Life must be lived forward, but it can only be understood “looking backwards!” Therefore, the greatest gift you can bestow upon your children and grandchildren is that of your life story. The adventures, heartaches, thrills and daily comings and goings of your personal history, however mundane to you, become a rich tapestry, a legacy of belonging, to those who follow after you. Yes, a family is the cornerstone of society, and any effort that would bring family members closer together by providing a personal history is worthwhile”. From time to time since I took the course in 2005, I have revived my inclination to add to my story writing “from the hip” without any idea of writing style or sequence or logic. So what I had was a jumble of my recollections along with some research I did on events which occurred during my life but recalled by some news article or story. It wasn’t until my granddaughter, Amanda said she was doing some research on family, looked up my name and found a picture in a University of Saskatchewan Greystone yearbook. She told me about it and I was quite surprised that she was interested in it. I told her I had some information on my side of the family and could share it with her. She told me she wanted any information I could give her and would like to hear more of my family history. I volunteered that I had somewhat of a story about my life and asked if she would be interested in having it. Amanda said she would like to have it. This took me to editing and organizing what I had into chapters which I sent to her – a chapter at a time. So, this is the beginning. I thought the book should have a title. Since my life began in the town of Waldron, I would work that in. hardly anyone knows where Waldron is. That led me to the title which I really wanted to name: “Where in the Ever Loving, Blue Eyed World is Waldron?” POGO, a comic strip from the 1950’s and 1960’s would have used this. POGO was also the author of the saying: “We have met the enemy and he is us”. This seems so appropriate for the times we are in.

1. IN THE BEGINNING Pauline was worried. She was pregnant – again – for the third time. She couldn’t even enjoy listening to the Philco radio in the living room. She didn’t listen to it very often because the three batteries that powered it didn’t last very long and they cost more than she and Sebastian could afford. But she always liked listening to “The Music Goes Round and Round” played by Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven. “I blow thru here The music goes 'round and around Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho And it comes out here I push the first valve down The music goes down and around Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho And it comes out here” When she heard it she felt like dancing but in her very pregnant condition she wouldn’t even think about it. They always seemed to play the hit songs after the CBC news. Recently the news was about Prime Minister McKenzie King who had sent his best wishes to King George V who was having a series of attacks of bronchitis and was not well. There were also new exciting programs on the radio called “The Green Hornet” and “The Squeaking Door”. Pauline Stradecki: met Sebastian Hanowski at one of the many dances that were held in the Killaly and Grayson districts. Pauline was the fourth child of Joseph Stradecki and Anna Holitzki. She was born on the 14th of January 1912 on SW Section 16, Township 19, Range 5 West of the 2nd Meridian (SW 16-19-05 W2) which is 6 miles south of Grayson. She had 8 sisters and 3 younger brothers. MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS: GRANDFATHER: Joseph Stradeski Born: 10 September 1885 Kuzurmare, Bukowina, Austria Married:07 July 1907 Mariahilf, Sask. Died: 03 June 1977, Grayson, Sask. Father: Anton Stradeski Mother: Josepha Alexandrowicz Father: Peter Alexandrowicz Mother: Paulina Flegel Father: Josef Flegel Mother: Rosalia Baer

GRANDMOTHER: Anna Holitski Born: 11 September 1890 Rosch, Austria Died: 06 February 1968 Grayson, Sask. Father: Joannes Holitski Father: Martin Holitski Father: Joannes Holitski Mother: Anna Leugner Mother: Francisca Neuman Father: Vencelaus Neuman Mother: Elisabeth Klein Mother: Margareta Dietrich Father: Laurence Dietrich Father:Anton Dietrich Mother: Catharina Duczek Mother: Caroline Kopecka Father;:Josef Kopecki CHILDREN: Mother: Anna Gotzel Name Born Married Died Spouse Anna Stradeski 05 June 1908 09 October 192808 July 1987 Kasper Novak Mariahilf, Sask. Grayson, Sask. RM of Grayson, Sask. Josepha (Sophie) 24 July 1909 28 October 1930 07 May 1986 Adam Isadore Stradeski RM of Grayson, Sask. St. Mary’s RC Kelowna, B.C. Zimmer Anton Stradeski April 11, 1911 Grayson, Sask. Pauline Stradeski 14 January 1912 24 November 1931 Infant death Sebastian RM of Grayson, Sask. St. Mary's RC, Hanowski Grayson, Sask. Margaret Stradeski 26 March 1913 03 October 1934 St. Zacharius Barbara Stradeski RM of Grayson, Sask. Mary's RC, Hanowski Joseph Stradeski Grayson, Sask. Godfrey Louis 04 March 1915 27 February 1932 Ross RM of Grayson Mary's RC, Grayson, Sask. 06 March 1917 RM of Grayson, Sask. Magdelena Stradeski April 22, 1919 Infant death John Stradeski 27 March 1920 30 June 1947 Florence RM of Grayson, Sask. Grayson, Sask. Digerstad Marian Stradeski: 21 December 1921 21 October 1940 21 July 1977 Dave Mercier RM of Grayson in: Grayson, Sask. Vancouver, B.C

Eugene Stradeski 14 July 1924 03 November 1952 August 1984 Fern Salisbury Evelyn Stradeski Grayson, Sask. Sacred Heart of Saskatoon, Sask. Antonia Stradeski Mary RC, Marieval, Sask. 24 April 1984 William Krueger Burnaby, B.C. 21 April 1926 May 1956 RM of Grayson, Sask. St. Patrick's RC, William Vanouver, B.C. McLaughlin July 29, 1928 August 18, 1949 RM of Grayson Grayson, Sask. In 1919 when Pauline was seven years old the family moved to the North East Section 35, Township 35, Range 5, West of the 2nd Meridian (NE 35-19-05 W2). This land was located in the Ferrell School District, but Joseph and Anne wanted the children to go to the Grayson Separate School for a Catholic education. For this to happen Joseph purchased a lot in Grayson so he would qualify as a Grayson ratepayer. Pauline, along with her siblings, walked the 4 ½ miles to school. In the winter they travelled to school with a cutter pulled by an old horse. They left early enough to attend daily mass before school started. Lunch often consisted of either a cream or lard sandwich. In the late 1920s Joseph had built a new home on the farm. It burnt down in November of 1929. Pauline was seventeen when this happened. Before she was married Pauline worked at the hotel in Windthorst for four months, for Harry Nickel of Grenfell for one month, and one year for George Rieger of Grayson. The money that Pauline made she turned over to her father so he could support the family that still lived at home. Sebastian Hanowski, Pauline’s husband was from a large family too. He was the son of Sebastian Hanowski and Frances Dietrich and was born on the 26th of September 1905 on his father’s homestead. It was located on the North West Quarter of Section 12, Township 20, Range 7 West of the 2nd Meridian (NW 12-20-07 W2). He was the seventh child in the family of ten. Sebastian had five brothers and four sisters. The photo on the left was taken about 1914 behind the house in which he was born. See arrow pointing at him in the family and friends crowd. Sebastian went to Mariahilf School before staying home to help on the farm.

HUSBAND: Hanowski, Sebastian HANOWSKI FAMILY Son of: Albert WIFE: Dietrich, Frances And wife: Ruhr, Gertrude Daughter of: Christian Birth Date: 16 Sept. 1864 And wife: Ludwar, Anna Place of Birth: Rosch, Bukovina Birth Date: 14 April 1870 Death Date: 22 April 1939* Death Date: 16 December 1955* Place of Death: Killaly, SK Place of Death: Killaly, SK Residence: Killaly, SK Residence: Killaly, SK Occupation: Farmer Occupation: Homemaker Church: R.C. Church: R.C. Date of Marriage: 22 January 1888 Place of Marriage: Rosch, Bukovina • Buried: Mariahilf cemetery • Buried: Killaly cemetery CHILDREN’S BIRTH DEATH MARRIAGE NAMES WHEN/WHERE WHEN/WHERE WHEN/TO WHOM Elizabeth 21 Dec. 1889 / Rosch, July 1969/ 18 October 1908/ Melville, SK William Tank Bukovina 8 August 1975/ 12 August 1913/ Melville, SK Theresa Herschmiller Jacob 14 Sept. 1892 / Rosch, 19 October 1938/ 20 October 1920/ Grayson, SK Esther Tank Bukovina 5 October 1935/ Mariahilf, SK ----------------------- George 10 Sept. 1898 / Rosch, 16 July 1964/ Melville, SK 23 March 1936/ Bukovina 7 October 1985/ Ella Tank Regina, SK 27 February 1922/ Anton 18 Feb. 1899 / 21 April 1984/ Edmund Dietrich Kelowna, BC 23 November 1931/ Mariahilf, NWT 13 February 1985/ Pauline Stradecki Kelowna, BC 3 October 1934/ William 12 Feb. 1901/ 24 December 2000/ Margaret Stradecki Kipling, SK 6 November 1928/ Mariahilf, NWT 10 April 1994/ Wenzel Rogalski Melville, SK 19 April 1931/ Theresa 20 Jan. 1903/ William Waldbauer Mariahilf, NWT Sebastian 26 Sept. 1905/ Mariahilf, SK Zacharias (Zack) 23 Dec. 1907/ Mariahilf, SK Frances 3 Mar. 1910/ Mariahilf, SK Anne 10 April 1913/ Mariahilf, SK SOURCES: Rosch Church records Saskatchewan death registration

In 1928, at the age of twenty- three he bought 3 quarters of land (480 acres) six miles north of Killaly, Saskatchewan. The land cost $9,000 with a down payment of $3,000. The interest on the remainder of the money was 8 ½ %. For the next five years times were difficult for Sebastian. This was the beginning of the dirty thirties when crops experienced drought, hail and frost. In 1933 the company took back the land because Sebastian was unable to make the payments.

On the 24 November 1931 twenty- six-year-old Sebastian married nineteen-year- old Pauline. Sebastian and Pauline were the first couple to be married in the new Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, more commonly known as St. Mary’s Church, in Grayson. They had to pay a fee of $25 instead of the customary $15 but they did have a high mass. It was to have been a double wedding with Sebastian Appel and Mathilda Augustine. Mathilda and Sebastian were late, so each had a separate wedding. A dog wandered into the church during the ceremony which further annoyed Father Seltmann. Pauline had considered Sebastian from a rich family because they lived in a stone house whereas she and her family lived in a house built of small logs with a mud and straw filling between the logs. When Sebastian’s father and mother immigrated to Canada they applied for and got a homestead just south of Killaly. They were among many immigrants who were brought in to develop Western Canada. They settled a homestead in Saskatchewan that was near friends and family and in a setting that reminded them of home. Eking out a living, however, was never easy. They arrived with little money, few possessions and no ability to speak English. The land they chose was marginal, and the Canadian environment unpredictable. Despite these challenges they persevered. For the first two years of their marriage Sebastian and Pauline farmed halfway between Killaly and Melville. The year 1931 brought difficult times, especially for farmers. The depression had started, and wheat sold for a mere 25 cent per bushel while rye sold for only 9 cents per bushel. The oats and barley that was grown did not have a market at all. Pauline became pregnant very soon after they were married but while on the farm, she fell and was hurt so badly that she had a miscarriage on August 12, 1932. The baby, whom she named Mary Magdelina, died stillborn.

Pauline and Sebastian’s luck changed when Sebastian’s brother, George, told them there was a small hotel for sale in Waldron – not too far from the farm. They decided to take a chance and buy it. After having farmed for three years, they sold all their livestock and machinery to a neighbor for $450. They now had a total of $900 and bought the hotel in 1934 for $1,500. They put $500 down and paid $200 for all the furnishings. They committed to pay $500 the next year and another $500 the following year to pay the total. The hotel was in bad shape and they had to clean it up. Since Pauline had worked in the Windthorst hotel, she knew how to serve meals and look after a hotel. With a lot of hard work, the business went well, even throughout the depression. They put in a billiard room and an Esso gas pump to serve gasoline. She was a good cook and many people came to eat at the hotel. The meals were 25 cents each. The hotel had five bedrooms in all. Pauline and Sebastian took one for them and rented out the other four almost every night for $1.00 per night. Groceries were quite inexpensive in those days. A 100 pound sack of potatoes cost $1.00. Eggs were 6 cents per dozen, bread, 5 cents per loaf and beef steak was 25 cents for two pounds. Men earned $1.00 per day in wages. Pauline gave birth to Evangelina Grace on May 2, 1934. She died almost nine months later on January 28, 1935 of a high fever. Early January, 1936 was as cold as one might expect in Southeastern Saskatchewan. Waldron was a small town and had no doctors or hospital. Transportation was by horse and sleigh in the dead of winter. The nearest hospital was in Melville, about twelve miles away. No wonder Pauline was worried! She called Sebastian and calmly said: “Sam, I think you had better get Mrs. Hartwell. My contractions are getting quite close together now” Sebastian nervously ran over to Mrs. Hartwell’s house, about 2 blocks away, and brought her back. She told him to start boiling water and getting the clean cloths and blankets, no doubt to keep him out of the way. Sebastian John Hanowski, named after his father and his grandfather, was born in Waldron on the 10th day of January 1936, the same date and town as Barry John Foster! No hospital. No doctor. No silver nitrate in the eyes. No minor surgery, no weigh scale, no measuring. No nothing. Just a plain vanilla baby boy! And thus, my story begins: