Looking Back: 110 years ago, Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire

110 years ago – May 25, 1916

Twenty-one women organized a chapter here of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. Besides Red Cross, Belgian and Russian relief work, the chapter was to assist D Company of the 232nd Battalion being formed here.

100 years ago – May 27, 1926

About 1,200 students from 24 rural schools, Rosetown grades 1-8 and the high school marched in the Empire Day parade here on May 24. Beforehand, Pearl Jordan took a crown from little Doris Bigelow and placed it on the head of Olive Anderson, the C.G.I.T. May Queen contest winner.

C. Smith and W. Brown won the donkey race; G. Nicholson won the blind boxing contest; Ruby Walker won the baseball throw and Annie Anderson, the basketball throw. All were Rosetown students.

The Rosebuds beat Milden 5-1 in baseball. The only controversial call came when the Milden right fielder ran for the ball, collided with the light on an auto, turned over on his head and couldn't make the catch. The umpire made batter George Bigelow start over at the plate.

70 years ago – May 24, 1956

At the local field meet, Norm Smith from Smith Elementary School ran the half-mile race in two minutes, 40 seconds, beating Rosetown Composite students Bruce McCallum and Frank Craddock.

Emile Dubois caught what sportsmen and old-timers figured was a groundhog or prairie dog.

Honoured with Queen Scout certificates were John Bruce Curda of Sovereign, the late Gerry Forrest of Milden (accepted by Mac Burnett of Zealandia) and David Beckman of Lacombe, Alta., son of former Rosetown residents Mr. and Mrs. Howard Beckman.

50 years ago – May 26, 1976

Several area people received degrees at the University of Saskatchewan spring convocation: Robert Arthur Bevan, B.S.P.E., Dodsland; Alan George Bradshaw, B.S.A., Milden; Jerome Paul Bosch, B.E., Dodsland; John Cornel Weenk, B.E., Plenty; Kathleen Louise Cowan, B.S.H.Ec., Rosetown; Brenda Mae Lindberg, B.S.N., Harris; Beverly Margaret Mills, B.S.N., Elrose; Brenda Gayle Von Hagen, B.S.N., Harris; Reid Martin Friedlund, Randall Scott McIntyre, both B.S.P. and D'Arcy; Patricia Ann Torry, B.Comm., Rosetown; Sue Ann Hipkin, B.Ed., Rosetown; Elizabeth Margaret Marian McDonald, B.Ed., Elrose; Don Renaud, B.A. (honours), Valley Centre; David Arthur Gibson, B.A., Rosetown; Arthur John Monteith Lord, B.S.P.E., B.A., Rosetown; Sandra Helen Saxton, B.A., Plenty; Barbara Lois Head, B.Sc., Harris; and Barbara Joy Sanderson, B.S.H.Ec., B.Ed., Rosetown.

30 years ago – May 27, 1996

Business partners Cecil Livingstone and Blair Porter retired after over 40 years. They'd bought the Robinson store from Jack Bellward in 1955 and once had six stores here and in Outlook and Elrose, from department stores to flower shops. In 1955, a three-day snowstorm left snow up to the front window of the store, which was full of stock for Christmas. They thought they'd had it but it turned out to be one of their best Christmases ever because no one could go anywhere, said Porter. A truck went through a front window on New Year's Eve. The two ran around to get lumber in the middle of the night.

In 1974, they sold every store but Flair Fashions and bought the Rosetown Motel. They sold the motel in 1984.

When Bob and Myrna Macdonald made an offer for Flair Fashions in the spring, the partners thought it was time to retire. "We've had some good times and some wonderful staff," said Livingstone.

20 years ago – May 29, 2006

A photo showed summer worker Dana Walker standing in front of what was to be the museum tea house.

Another showed tourism centre staff Kate Clements, Alistair Smith and Janelle Moffat.