Looking Back: Burglars 100 Years Ago

History

Oct 10

With David McIver

Burglars broke in to Gledhill’s Drug Store on Sunday night, Oct. 4. They got in through a window on the north side by removing a storm window and breaking the catch. It was believed that narcotics were missing.
Garnet Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Thompson, narrowly escaped fatal injuries. Thompson was driving a laden grain wagon to town from the Yuill & Smith farm. He’d been walking beside the wagon for a while and then decided to get back on the seat. In trying to do so, he slipped and fell. The wagon went over both feet – crushing foot bones – and an arm. The driver of a nearby wagon hurried him to town for medical attention.

“Flier who saved Ceylon” read a headline. A. Abbott of north of Herschel had written to the Winnipeg Free Press about an article. The article seemed to credit one airman for the warning that Allied forces at Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) got on April 5, 1942 of an attack that day by aircraft from a large Japanese fleet, similar to that on Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. That warning, sent by a flying boat of Royal Canadian Air Force No. 413 Squadron, allowed most of the British Eastern Fleet – the reason for the attack – to get away. Shortly after sending that warning, fighter planes shot down the flying boat, resulting in the deaths of three of its nine-man crew, including the navigator, Abbott’s son, Pilot Officer Arthur Abbott. The Free Press article, headlined “Flyer who saved Ceylon,” focused on pilot and squadron leader Leonard Birchall, a survivor. A. Abbott sent to the Free Press a copy of a letter received unsolicited from the air station commander at Colombo, Ceylon. The efforts of Arthur Abbott and the rest enabled others to prepare, wrote Wing Commander George Butler. Also, Arthur Abbott “was very popular with the men and officers of this station and his death will not pass unforgotten,” wrote Butler.

The board of trade turned over the matter of a proposed home for the aged to the Lions Club and that of Santa Claus Day to the Elks.
The hospital nurses’ residence was the scene of two get-togethers. Staff honoured brides-elect Doreen Duggan, RN, and Anne Zeilinski, RN, and the hospital auxiliary did the same for Ellen Huck, leaving after nine years as housekeeper.

Three new businesses had started. Sno Pro Sports owners Don Anderson and Ken Auckland opened an Arctic Cat and Suzuki showroom in the former Graham Hardware building. Rosetown Roofing and Carpet occupied the former Dale’s Plumbing building on Second Avenue. Dwayne Williams, formerly of Dundurn, handled the roofing. Jeff Dubyk, originally of Hanley, looked after carpet. Raye Low opened Low’s Sewing Centre, for Singer sewing machine sales and service, adjacent to Low’s Sporting Goods.

Marion Drummond of Rosetown retired after 17 years as public health nurse in Kerrobert, Elrose and Kyle areas.
A photo showed the senior citizens apartment block being built on Highway 4 and Second Avenue West.

Attention deficit disorder has been around for centuries, Dr. Declan Quinn told about 50 parents and teachers here. Rosetown School Division officials had brought Quinn, a child psychiatrist from Saskatoon, to speak about it.
Despite making it illegal, Rosetown’s new traffic bylaw hadn’t deterred cyclists from riding on sidewalks. Mayor Alma Dubé said she’d received numerous complaints. One woman said she was almost struck by a bicycle. Sgt. Fred Matchett wanted RCMP officers to speak at the schools about it, he told town council. Repeat offenders may see their bikes taken away, said Matchett.

Mould discovered in the curling rink would be removed that week, said Mayor Dubé.
Having a certified aircraft maintenance facility at the Rosetown airport had been in Lloyd Good’s plans since he built a hangar and terminal there almost four years before, said Good. It would be called West Central Maintenance and be separate from his crop spraying business, he said.

The Rosetown Eagle

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