BIG VALLEY BULLETIN
In the Big Valley area, life on a ranch in the 1890s and early 1900s was much less complicated than it is today. No land was owned, no taxes were paid and there were no fences except for those around hay stacks and a garden spot, and these were made out of poplar poles which could be taken down and used at a new site the next year. The total set-up of machinery consisted of haying equipment; mowers, rakes and wagons with racks, and a single furrow walking breaking plow. The spring roundup was always participated in and a trip out to Red Deer or Lacombe for supplies was a welcome break made about twice a year, in late spring or early fall. Going to Lacombe was a four day journey with a team and wagon; two days to get there and do the trading and two days on the return trip with a load. A tent was always carried and nights were spent camped out by the side of the trail. The usual supplies consisted of several one hundred pound bags of flour, one of the same size of sugar, one or two eighty pound sacks of rolled oats, a fifty pound box of dried apples, a twenty five pound box of prunes and maybe one of raisins. This along with tea and salt, both for the home and the cattle and a few other necessities made up the load. Just imagine making a trip for “supplies” only twice a year.
The Elks held a brief February meeting and finalized the plans for their annual Oyster Feed and Past Exalted Ruler Night, which will be on Tuesday, March 24. The GER ruler will be in Castor on Tuesday, March 10 and some local members will be attending. A number count is needed, so if you plan to attend, please let Bill or Jake know. Dennis Kyncl won the club draw and donated his share to the Elks Children’s Fund. Club 200 winners were: Jacob Webster, Lorne Parkin, Shirley Vols and Alana Stefanik.
Big Valley Inn hosted 12 players for crib on Sunday, March 1. Len Shaw took first place, Stan Nattestad took second place, Dennis Johnson took third and Trudy Spence took home the booby. Margaret Levesque won the regular draw and Dorothy Annabel won the 50/50. See you all next Sunday at 1 p.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour on the Saturday night for daylight savings.
The Big Valley Legion will be hosting their annual St. Patrick’s Stew Day on Tuesday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Legion Hall.
The Big Valley Library Board, Friends of the Library and Book Club have had a request from the Big Valley Thunders Peewee D Provincials committee to act as hosts at the Jubilee Hall during the Hockey Alberta Peewee D Provincial Tournament on March 19 to 22.
Volunteers will be needed for various Friday, Saturday and Sunday time slots. As volunteers, you will
be expected to direct team members, managers and parents to local amenities and to ensure the safety of the
hall and the participants. Bring along something to read or some handiwork as it should be a relaxing time. For more information or to volunteer, please call Cindy at 876-2132.
The Big Valley Peewee Thunders would like to thank the many sponsors and volunteers who have come forward to help make the upcoming peewee provincial tournament a success.