Holy Trinity grounds looking east, Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Sturgeon Valley District, Rural Municipality of Shellbrook No. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada, photographed by Alanna Carswell, August 2011.

Louise Nelson's headstone, Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Sturgeon Valley District, Rural Municipality of Shellbrook No. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada, photographed by Alanna Carswell, April 2015.

Ruth Lofthouse's angel, Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Sturgeon Valley District, Rural Municipality of Shellbrook No. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada, photographed by Alanna Carswell, August 2011.

 

Holy Trinity Church, Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Sturgeon Valley District, Rural Municipality of Shellbrook No. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2011.

Holy Trinity Mystery: Lot 4 and Lot 10, Part II

The solution to the confusion can be puzzled out with the help of the local history book, Our Harvest of Memories.

Grace Featherstone and Rose Robarts were sisters¹, the daughters of Algernon Holmes I.² Puzzling over the history entries has lead me to the tentative conclusion that Algernon II (1884-1935), Rose (1897-1975), and Grace (1906-1928) are siblings. It is explicitly stated in Algernon II's entry that "Algernon" was the first name give to each first born son in the Holmes family.³

Grace married Walter Featherstone and they had four children, two sons, Dennis and Lawrence, and two daughters, Rosalie and Gladys, who died in infancy.¹

The daughters are not named in the history book entry, but it is reasonable to assume that Rosalie and Gladys are Grace and Walter's daughters as they are the only Featherstone in the area. This is also an example of information error on tombstones because they were commissioned and installed at a much later; Rosalie's dates are "1906 - 1906" and Grace's dates are "1906 -1928."

Rose married Ernest Robarts and they had two sons, Leslie and Bernard, that died in infancy.²

As for the "Niece" on Rosalie and Gladys, the "son" on Leslie and Bernard, and "Sister" on Grace, "Mother" on Rose's inscriptions on the foot of the wolf stones of respectively, it was most likely the Rose that commissioned/purchased the grave markers. Resulting in some very confused cemetery enthusiasts years later!

Algernon II married Clara J. and we have our second information error on a marker. Clara J's marker reads "Clara J. Wells (nee Holmes)" but that is definitely incorrect as she was not born a Holmes but married one. I am uncertain about the Wells surname in relation to Clara J's. In the book her maiden surname is never stated and it is not stated that she remarried after Algernon II's death.³

The "Father" of Algernon II and "Mother" of Clara J's foot epitaphs reflects that it was their children, Algernon III, Clifford, Connie (Holmes) Ash, and Ronald, that decided upon the marker inscriptions.

Sources:
[1]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Featherstone, Walter and Grace." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook, Sask.: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 531-532.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Robarts, Rose." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook, Sask.: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 579.
[3]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Algernon and Clara Holmes." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 644.

Tombstones Tuesday: MACDONALD, Arlene Yvonne

This I am not certain about, a memorial card laminated and erected in the cemetery for Arlene Yvonne Macdonald who died at age 65 years, 11 months, and 1 day. I believe that it is a cremation urn interment but what makes me uncertain is the location, in the centre of the Weaver lot, with no family relation clearly noted in the card. The local Macdonalds are one lot north and east.

Interior

The following was taken from a Grandmother's Message
Book presented to [] at graduation, where Arlene had
written:

A few thoughts from a wise old lady.

- The greatest influence on a child begins with the birth of
her parents.

- There is only one person in the world who can really
make you happy···and you are that person. Happiness is
a do-it-yourself job.

- If you must make mistakes, make a new one each time.

- If you are going to soar with the eagles in the morning,
you can't hoot with the owls at night.

Memorial Donations
Shellbrook and District Health Services Project

Interment to be held at a later date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

In Loving Memory
Arlene Yvonne Macdonald

Born ~ July 7th, 1943
Canwood, SK

Died ~ June 8th, 2009
Shellbrook, SK

Celebration of Life
Sunday, June 14th, ~ 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Legion Hall, Shellbrook, SK

Arlene will be loving remembered by:
Her husband []
Her daughter []
Her grandchildren []; []
Her mother []
Her brother []
Her sisters []; []; []. []
Her sister-in-law []
As well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends

Arlene was proceeded by:
An infant son Randy
Her father Alex Anderson
Her brother Edward Anderson
Her step-father Arnold Fisher
Her special friend Lorraine Vancoughnett

Back - Front

God's Garden

God looked around His garden
And found an empty place
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest;
God' s Garden must be beautiful. He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain;
He knew you' d never ever get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb
So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered
"Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you
but you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

Beau "Lac" Funeral Home Ltd.
Debden 724-4474
Big River 469-227
Spiritwood 883-3500
Shellbrook 747-2828
Family Owned & Operated
The Beaulac Family

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Arlene Macdonald marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, May 2011.

Tombstones Tuesday: SMITH, Sidney

Sidney Smith
1918 - 2010
Beau "Lac" Funeral Home¹

The following information comes from Our Harvest of Memories (1983).²

Hubert Sidney Smith was born in England in 1918 to Hubert Sidney and Ethel Mary (Hedges) Smith.

His paternal grandparents were John and Esther (--?--) Smith who immigrated from England to Canada in 1913 with their children Sidney Sr., Nellie, and Elizabeth (with husband Albert Brundson and sons Cyril and Sidney). Esther and John had been proceeded to Canada in 1904 by their children Fred, William, and Louise (Fred Wernham).

Sidney Sr. enlisted in 1914 with the 53rd Battalion of the Canadian Army and was sent overseas in 1915, and meet and married Ethel Hedges in 1916. In 1919 Sidney Sr. returned to Canada with his wife Ethel and son Sidney Jr.  All this moving between England and Canada resulted in a development that Sidney Jr. recounts as thus:

"My biggest disappointment came about 1970, when some of those bureaucrats and politicians in Ottawa decided that because we were not born in Canada we were not Canadians. They disregarded the fact that my father had served four years in the Canadian Army and was therefore a Canadian. It seemed ironic to me that I should be awarded the [Canadian] Centennial Medal in 1967 in recognition of valuable service to the nation, then a short time later be informed that I was not a citizen. Needless to say, I received my citizenship papers immediately and now have a certificate to prove it."

Sidney Jr. began attending school in1924 at age six and concluded his high school schooling in 1937. On 3 November 1941 Sidney Jr. married Amelia "Millie" Stene with whom he had a son and a daughter.

Sidney Jr. was an active member of the community, serving as the director of the Stugreon Valley Co-op Hall for a number of years, helped form the early snowplow club, served on the R.M. of Shellbrook council for fifteen years, and as of 1983 served thirty-three years on the district and Divisions School Boards.

One thing of note, Sidney himself alternates between writing "Sidney" and "Sydney" and the short nickname "Sid" and "Syd" so it will be interesting to see what version of his name will be written upon his tombstone if one is erected.

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Sidney Smith marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, May 2011.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 586-589. Print.

Tombstones Tuesday: MASON, Michelle Lynn

Mason
Michelle Lynn
Mar. 28, 1970 - Sept. 28, 2008
Of Tender Heart and Generous Spirit

Michelle Lynn Mason's interment mound was covered on 19 January 2010 Tombstone Tuesday. Michelle died at age 38 years, 5 months, 30 days.

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Michelle Mason marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, May 2011.

Holy Trinity Mystery: Lot 4 and Lot 10, Part I

Time for a little mystery and fun!

I have read in my cemetery readings that one should not make assumptions about relationships between individuals buried next to each other and otherwise grouped in close proximity. That is rather silly in itself, especially for rural cemeteries, with the kinship ties that develop as local families marry each other.

Often for me, the trouble is not deciding if that individuals in the same lot are related, but figuring out how they are related! Compounding the issue is the tradition of inscribing familiar relationships at the foot of wolf stones with epitaphs like "Wife & Mother" or "Our Brother."

No where is that "foot confusion" more evident then with the Featherstones and Robarts markers in Holy Trinity. The marker arrangement in lots 4 and 10, which you can see below:

Confusing, no? What do you believe the situation to this mystery is? Offer your deductions and check back at the end of the month to see how you did!

Tombstone Tuesday: Bruce, George & Freida

Remembered With Love
George A.
1916 - 2007
Freida J.
1925 - 2000
Bruce

Detail of moose head on George's side.

Detail of hummingbird on Freida's side.

While George Bruce's initial funeral marker was covered on 14 December 2010 Tombstone Tuesday.  Since then a headstone for himself, and his previously unmarked wife Frieda, has been erected. There is a very nice entry in the community history book Out Harvest of Memories (1983) written by Frieda but here are some basic facts:

George Bruce is the son of Charles Bruce and Christina (LaPlante) Bruce and was born and raised in Sturgeon Valley, Saskatchewan. He attended Brant School but left at a young age to assist on the farm. George joined the army and served in England in World War II but was transferred back to Canada for medical reasons and discharged.

Freida McWhirter is the daughter of Bob McWhirter and Olive (--?--) McWhirter and was born in Redvers, Saskatchewan. Freida's father Bob passed away when she was two weeks old and mother Olive moved to the Foxdale district to be with her parents. She attended Foxdale School, for high school studied via correspondence, and concluded her education by attending Normal School.

George Bruce and Freida McWhirter met when Freida came to teach at Brant School and they were married in Holy Trinity Church on 22 April 22 1946. They had one son.²

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), George & Freida Bruce marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, April 2011.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Bruce, George and Freida." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 515. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: PRUDEN, William

In Loving Memory
William Pruden
Born April 16, 1875
Died March 24, 1940
He Is Gone
But Not Forgotten

From the community history book, Our Harvest of Memories (1983):²

The Pruden families originally came from United States, first to Winnipeg and later to Prince Albert. In 1910, both families settled on farms in the Sturgeon Valley district.

Bill, (William) was a married man [Betsy]. They raised two adopted children [Alfred, ?]. He was one of the original lumberjacks. He kept a number of cattle, as grass was plentiful. He was a lover of horses and took much pride in those he owned. Some years later they moved closer to Prince Albert, where he later passed away.

William Pruden died at age 64 years, 11 months, 8 days.

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), John Hannibul[Annable] marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Pruden, Willian and John." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 575. Print.

Tombstone Tuesday: COLES, Francis

Francis Coles' full grave site.

In Loving Memory
Francis S. Coles
1900 - 1935
Rest In Peace

Our Brother

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Francis Coles markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: PETERSON, Roy

Roy Peterson's full grave site.¹

Roy Albert
Peterson
Died
Sept 20
1932
Age 10 Mon

Darling Son

Roy Albert Peterson was born to Richard Peterson and Edith (Bennett) Peterson.²

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Roy Peterson markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Peterson, Richard and Edith." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. p. 573. Print.

'Hopping' Through Cemeteries

Easter Saturday, now two weeks past, was an eventful day for me involving visits to three local cemeteries in the company of some likewise graveyard enthusiast friends.

First was a visit to Holy Trinity Anglican churchyard which involved some literal hopping over the washed out entrance road. The church building itself, has been boarded up since fall 2010 due to vandalism (thankfully relatively minor) and I am looking forward to the restoration of the door (it was in poor condition before the vandalism incident).

Holy Trinity Anglican Church & Churchyard, 23 April 2011.

The big hop, 23 April 2011.

View of Holy Trinity Churchyard still covered in snow, 23 April 2011.

We breezed through the churchyard discussing the various residents and their unique histories, like the Featherstone-Robarts-Holmes conundrum, Peterson children, Annibul, Lofthouse, Pruden and various other things of interest. I took pictures of a headstone installed last year and while I looked for evidence of a recent burial, which I understand has occurred, the area in question was still covered by snow. And it is entirely possible that I got the burial mixed up with Wild Rose North Cemetery.

Speaking of Wild Rose North Cemetery, that was our next stop. Oddly, like my first walk through, once again I did not get photographs of the cemetery. Very silly considering I had camera in hand this trip. There were three things that upset me during the visit:

1. I was sad to see that the glue holding a tabletstone to its base gave way because of the marker tilt, resulting in a toppled headstone. Markers affixed to bases in my opinion should be fitted into sockets or internally pinned.
2. The inscription face of a monument badly covered with lichen was carelessly scrapped off with a metal object, leaving scratch marks on the stone.
3. The amount of horse manure. Now, I am unsure if the manure comes for individuals riding horses to visit the cemetery or the T.B. horses which have a habit of getting loose. A week after the visit in fact, I saw nine horses and a foal in close proximity.

What was enjoyable was the discussion regarding some manufactured stones which we have, based on composition, concluded for the time being to be a fine coloured concrete mix. Damage to the head of another marker revealed to me, that unlike I had concluded while viewing spalling in Foxdale Cemetery of a local wolf stone, that the decorative covering may not be concrete but stucco of some sort. [EDIT: stucco is a concrete, silly me] With the examination of two markers revealing the concealed flower vases, a fun discussion was also held about various stories that could be concocted about cemetery exploration and hidden treasure.

From Wild Rose North Cemetery we moved onto St Martin's Anglican Church and Churchyard.  The church was open and nicely heated, leading me to suspect that as it has a gas stove, the church is being warmed in preparation of a Easter Sunday service even though the church no longer has, how shall I put this?--a congregation in residence.

St Martin's Anglican Church & Churchyard, 23 April 2011.

One of the tombstones in St Martin's was carved by one of my companions grandfather who does the traditional sandblasting and while neither the granddaughter or grandfather are fan of wolf stones, she does know that he purchases them and installs them upon request. So, I do hope through the connection I can learn who manufactures the wolf stones style of my area. And what exactly they are constructed of.

From St Martin's we went on a hunt for a forth cemetery, Wild Rose West Cemetery. (Which, for some reason, I was calling South at the time... probably because it is south of the North one although West is its name.) With now map, and working with only my general recall of the cemetery having plotted it out on the R.M. map, we were not successful in anything but touring the area and seeing deer.

Four white-tail deer seen while attempting to locate Wild Rose West Cemetery.

Touring back to home base, we concluded the day with pizza, hot dogs roasted over an open fire, and the culinary debate of how to make the best s'mores.

Tombstone Tuesday: PERNISIE, Mary

Mary Pernisie full grave site.

In Loving Memory

A Tendre Mother &

A Faithful Friend

Mary G. Pernisie

1883 - 1912

At Rest

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Mary Pernisie markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, August 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: VIKLUND, Tekla

Tekla E. Vicklund full grave site.

In Loving Memory

Tekla E. Viklund

1889 - 1931

In Perfect Peace

Wife & Mother

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Tekla Viklund markers, photographed by Alanna Carswell, August 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: JOHNSTON, John

John Joseph

Johnston

25 Dec. 1858

15 March 1936

This bronze marker was crafted by the local Nisse Foundry and Design and was installed in 2009. To learn about the adventure locating Mr Johnston's grave and meeting his grandson go read my old post First Grave Hunt Adventure.

John Joseph Johnston died at age 77 years, 2 months, and 19 days.

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), John Johnston marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: NELSON, Louis

Louis

Nelson

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), Louis Nelson marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: TAYLOR, John

Child

John

Taylor

Source: Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), John Taylor marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.

Tombstone Tuesday: ANNABLE, John

John
Hannibul¹

Locally compiled history book excerpt from Our Harvest of Memories (1983):

Annable, John
by Charlie Bruce

John Annable came to Canada and to the Sturgeon Valley district about 1906. He filed on his homestead, S.E. 16-51-2-W3, and lived in a cave, dug on the south side of the hill until his death.

He had a fine, well care for, big team of bays. They pulled a wagon (no box) -- just planks on the running gear. For lines he pulled two ropes from the outside of each horse and a short rope from one horse to the other. He would sit on the planks and put his feet against the bolster on the wagon, wrap the rope around each hand and hang onto them.

He had a housekeeper, Mrs. Rosenblade, from England, who stayed for a short while then went to Western Canada.

John had told my dad when he died he wanted to be buried on his own place. Approximately two or three years later [in 1922*], the horses ran away with him, and the pole came down and threw him into the air. He came down and broke his neck. He was laid to rest in the southwest corner of the cemetery, next to his homestead, in Holy Trinity Churchyard, the nearest location possible to being buried on his farm.²

The reason for the misspelling on the Paulhus Funeral Service aluminum plaque marker is that it, along with the others like it in the churchyard, were commissioned and installed years later by the cemetery committee and there was obviously a clear miss-communication regarding John's last name.

*Death year provided by a great-granddaughter in 2016.

Sources:
[1]Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery (Sturgeon Valley, R.M. of Shellbrook no. 493, Saskatchewan, Canada; in NE Section 16, Township 51, Range 2, West of the 3rd Meridian), John Hannibul[Annable] marker, photographed by Alanna Carswell, September 2009.
[2]Coles, Cathy, ed. "Annable, John." Our Harvest of Memories: Foxdale, Sturgeon Valley, Silver Cliff, Three Creeks, Rayside, Rich Valley. Shellbrook: Shell River North Book Committee, 1983. pp. 509. Print.