St George’s Snowshoe Club Celebrate St Andrew’s Day, Montreal, 1911

Montreal
Daily Star, 1 December 1911, page 4

St George’s Had a Most Delightful Dinner

Speeches, Reminiscences and Musical Numbers Comprised the Jolly Programme

St Andrew’s Day was celebrated in right royal fashion last night by the St George’s Snowshoe Club. By a happy coincidence, yesterday was also the date fixed for the annual dinner and smoker, so that there was a double excuse for the evening’s enjoyment. Over 100 members sat down to the banquet in the club house. The President, Mr Geo J Sheppard announced the only toast of the evening. The King, which was drunk with musical honors, and in the course of a brief speech, referred to the fact that they were celebrating the twenty-sixth anniversary of the club’s occupation of its present quarters. Although many changes had taken place in the neighbourhood, he hoped the club would still maintain the reputation it had acquired as the home of winter sports. It was felt, said Mr Sheppard, that the coming winter should mark a renewal of all the activities which had marked the club in its early years, and for the one twould promise to take his share in any tramps that might be arranged. Mayor Rutherford of Westmount, in thanking the Club for its hospitality, spoke of the memories he had, through his long residence in Westmount of the name of the Club had always maintained for keeping up the spirit of true sportsmanship, and referred to the beauty of clubhouse’s site, which in his opinion was actually the finest in the city. Dr. Finnie was the next speaker and urged the members not to lose sight of the traditions which were inseperable from the history of the club, and to take up again the long tramps which had given rise to its foundation. He himself hoped to come down from Quebec and attend the first tramp that might be held. Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Sinck briefly addressed the company and the excellent musical entertainment which had been prepared was then gone through. A pianoforte selection by Mr. Eichhorn started the ball rolling and number after number succeeded to the great enjoyment of the club members. Among other items on the programme was one which delighted the audience because of its somewhat unusual features. The concertina, when played by such an expert as Mr Richardson, of Toronto, reveals unexpected beauties. Mr Richardson was encored time after time, and each time responded by giving fresh proof of his talent. Mr H Rees was also heard to great advantage in a number of songs and Mr R McGlaughlin added the necessary touch of humor with some amusing recitations. Nor was St Andrew’s day forgotten, for such choruses as “Annie Laurie”, “the Banks of Loch Lomond,” and many others made the rafters ring.
Before the evening came to an end, the President, Mr Sheppard, announced that open house would be kept for the Scottish curlers during their approaching visit to Montreal. A special tramp would be arranged in order to initiate them into this form of typical Canadian sport, after which a dinner and a smoker would be given in honour of the visitors. As a fitting wind-up to the occasion, Captain Sully, the first President of the Club in 1874, called upon all members present to pledge themselves once more to the taking of the long tramps, in which, despite his age, he would be only too glad to participate.

I Remember… David Guthrie, Montreal, 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 19 April 1911, page 12

 

I Remember….

David Guthrie

 

“I remember over fifty years ago when there being no curling rinks in the city, we used to clear a sheet of ice on the river and there participate in the ‘roaring game’, “ said Mr David Guthrie, who is one of the oldest curlers in the city, if not in the Dominion.  He will celebrate his 74^th birthday on August 24^th and the 50^th anniversary of his wedding on the 12^th of July. 

“Yes, in the olden days we were not so particular as to having an exclusive sheet of ice.  The river served our purpose for a time.  Not, for long, however, for within a very few years the Caledonia Curling Club and the Montreal Curling Club were inaugurated.  They started on vacant lots on either side of St Catherine street near Mountain street.  The Caledonia occupied the south side lot, which was a field of considerable dimensions, and the Montreal Curling Club were on the north side of the street.  This ground was rented, and the club houses of which we were not a little proud, were very crude buildings.  No attempts were made at elaboration, as in our present numerous clubs throughout the city.  Everything was done and carried out with as little expense as possible.  No lights were even installed in the rinks.  These were unnecessary, for in the good old olden times, we did not have to work during the winter and we could play from early morning until it was too dark to see the curling stones.

“Yes, the olden times were easy.  Prevailing conditions at that time allowed of a great deal more sport than now.  There has been a great change in the city.  At the time of which I speak the population was in the neighbourhood of only 150,000.  It did not take much to feed and keep this number alive in the winter, consequently many of the citizens spent the winter with doing hardly any or very little work.  Work was not so necessary then, and the struggle for existence was almost nil.

“I was employed in the grocery business of Alexander McGibbon on St James street, which failed.  Mr McGibbon then joined James Baird and another business was opened about where Alexander’s confectionary is now on the same street.  It only required my being down for a brief period in the morning, and then I was free for the day, as were many other citizens, and then we repaired to the curling club, or other places of sport.  At that time there were only about 30 curlers in the city.  Now I understand there are about 3,000.”

 

Caledonian Games, Montreal, 1911

In honour of the Montreal Highland Games which will be occuring in just over a week, here is a look at the games as they were in 1911.

 

Montreal Daily Star, 24 July 1911, page 4

 

ANNUAL CALEDONIAN GAMES WERE EXCEEDINGLY WELL ATTENDED AND HUGELY ENJOYED ON SATURDAY

 

The Annual games of the Montreal Caledonia Society were all that could be desired, from point of competition as well as from point of attendance and as an entertainment, they were a huge success, for the attractions were as many as those of a monster Three Ring Circus; with the midway of Dominion Park as a side show, and people were kept entertained from early afternoon to almost midnight.  Scottish dances and Bagpipe competitions taking up a great part of the day’s programme.

Twenty-seven comprised the Athletic list, and they were all well contested.  Mr Aleck Bowles, himself at one time an athlete of no mean caliber, a devotee of Lacrosse and a boating man of prominence, acting as starter.

As the result of the competition, the championship cups were awarded as follows:-

Lt.-Col Stevenson Cup- Wm Johnston

McAlister Cup- Tie, John Matheson and James Burns

McMartin Perpetual Cup, MAAA; Montreal Star Cup, MAAA; Birks Cup, Emma Henderson; Sharpe Cup, 2^nd Battalion Royal Highlanders; Rutherford Cup, No team, Caledonia Rooms; Ross and Grieg Cup, MAAA; Lt Col Lockerby, Senior Caledonia Rooms; Lt-Col Lockerby Jr, Walter L Dickson.

 

FIELD EVENTS

1 Bagpipe competition, march- John Matheson 1^st; James Burns 2^nd; Wm Johnson, 3^rd.

2. Bagpipe competition, strathspey and reel- James Burns 1^st; John Matheson 2^nd; Wm Johnston 3^rd; John Matheson and James Burns tied for the McAllister Cup, signifying the championship of these two events.

3. Bagpipe competition for members who have never won a prize in the society’s games- C Aitken 1^st; A Brown 2^nd.

4. Putting 21 pound shot (open)- Desmarteau, NAAA, 29 ft 2 in, 1^st; HG Jackson, 2^nd; L Morel, 3^rd.

5. Putting 56 lb weight (open)- Z DEsmarteau, 1^st; JT McHugh 2^nd; HG Jackson, 3^rd.

6. Putting 10 pound sht (sons of members)- WS Dickson, 29 ft 9 in 1^st; J McK Smith 14 ft 1 in, 2^nd

7. Throwing 16 lb hammer (Open)[ Desmarteau, NAAA, 114 ft 4 in 1^st; HG Jackson, 2^nd

8. Running Broad Jump (open)- W Happenny, MAAA 20ft 2 in 1^st; W Parkes MAAA, 20 ft, 2^nd; JA Platt MAAA 19ft 4 in 3^rd.

Running Broad Jump (sons of members)- W Dickson 16 ft 1^st; Lorne Anderson 12 ft 2^nd; J McK Smith 3^rd.

10. High jump (open) – TW Evans, YMCA 5ft 5 in 1^st; Chas Stanley YMCA 5 ft 3 in 2^nd; W Happeny MAAA 5ft 1 in 3^rd.

11. High Jump (sons of members) W Dickson 4ft 6 in 1^st; Lorne Anderson 3 ft 4 in 2^nd.

Tug of War- Won by B Company, Royal Highlanders.

 

TRACK EVENTS

100 yards (sons of members under 10 years) A Henderson 1^st; Alex Matheson 2^nd; James Dickson 3^rd.

100 yards (sons of members under 13 years) J McK Smith 1^st; Kenneth Matheson 2^nd; Hartland Bowles 3^rd.

100 yards (sons of members under 16 years) J McK Smith 1^st; Lorne Anderson 2^nd; Kenneth Matheson 3^rd.

100 yards (open) JA Platt MAAA 1^st; GR McGregor MAAA 2^nd

1 Mile (open) H Cowles MAAA 1^st; EW King MAAA 2^nd

220 yards (sons of members under 16 years) W Dickson 1^st; J McK Smith 2^nd; Fred Dancey 3^rd.

220 yards (open) McGregor MAAA 1s; Platt MAAA 2^nd; Fr Dicken 3^rd

2 miles relay race (open)won by MAAA team with Coates, Mansfield Haig and King.

440 yards (open) Wm Parker YMCA 1^st; Mansfield MAAA 2^nd

220 yards for Highland Cadets in drill order uniform, Sturgess 1^st; Murdock 2^nd; Ware 3^rd.

880 yards (open) Heber MAAA 1sr; King MAAA 2^nd; Pelletier, National 3^rd.

220 yards (open for boys under 16 years) W Dickson MAAA 1^st; E Hillridge, unattached 2^nd; A Matheson, Caledonian 3^rd.

3 mile junior harrier race for boys under 18 years- C Clarke YMCA 1^st; G McLoughlin St Pats AAA 2^nd; JF O’Shaughnessy St Pats AAA 3^rd; J Ogilvie 4^th; TV Riley 5^th’ W Bowden 6^th

At the evening events in the park Master Fraser, Miss Ethel Henderson and Miss Ethel Strader were given first, second and third prizes respetively for best dressed boy or girl in Highland costume.  In the dancing competitions Fred Riddell took first prize; Wm Johnston second; and David Dunn third.

Miss Emma Henderson won the Highland fling competition with Miss Strader second.

The Ghillie Callum was won by Wm Johnston, David Dunn was second, and JR Smith third.  In the junior Ghillie Callum, Miss Emma Henderson was second and Miss Ethel Strader third.

Other results were:-

Shean Trews- Wm Johnston first; Fred Riddell second; Wm Pol third.

Sailors Hornpipe- Wm Johnston, first; Fred Riddell second; JR Smith third.

No 12 Quoiting- first round:

G Anderson 21       Wm Boyd 18

A Lindsay  21         M Leafer 17

J Todd 21              D Fergusn 12

W Hughes 21         P Denver 12

Second Round:

W Hughes 21         A Lindsay 14

GW Anderson 21    J Todd 17

Third Round:

GW Anderson 21    W Hodges 12

Fourth Round:

J Todd 21              Alex Lindsay 12

Result- First Prize GW Anderson; second prize Wm Hughes; Third prize John Todd.

 

 

Dogsledding on Richmond Road and Byron Ave, Ottawa, 1966 or 1967

So I have just finished the unenviable task of scannning the family slides and negatives.  It has been interesting work, but tiring.  On the bright side, outside of some nice images of me as a child, and I was an adorable little kid, there were some photos that Dad took of some dogsledding.  What makes these images stand apart from the norm, for me, is that they are sledding on that stretch of land that lies between Richmond Road and Byron Ave (used to be the streetcar route) on the corner of Woodroffe Avenue.  I cannot say what the occasion was, or exactly when, although the images seem to date from about 1966-7, when some of the other images on the negative were taken. 

above is the first view….

The dogs are cool, and I love the view of the Shouldice Grocery Store, and Royal Donut…..

My goodness Richmond Road has changed a lot in the last 40 something years!  Could this happen on the road today?  (Well not literally today because it is 36C outside, but more in this era)

 

 

Curling Sketches, Montreal, 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 23 January 1911, page 3

Curling Sketches No. 3

Mr FF Barr of the Heather Curling Club, is known to be in more ways than one the “biggest curler inMontreal,” and this fact, considered from a standpoint of physique, can readily be appreciated when it is stated that he is some six feet four inches in height.  He has always been deemed a very careful and consistent player, and when he faces the tee his reach almost allows of his placing the iron past the hog at the other end of the rink before the stone reaches the los. Before joining the brethren of the Heather Club, of this city, Mr Barr was an enthusiastic curler in Toronto, where the granite stones are in general use, in conversation with the Star the other day, one of the skies under whom Mr Barr is playing, laughingly stated that he had to give him instructions through a megaphone or stand on a platform when he wished to inform his steady “third shot” what was required.  In former years Mr Barr has held office in the Heather Club, while in business he is associated with the Canadian Bag Company.

Skating Party at Victoria Rink, Montreal 1860s image

c. Library and Archives Canada

Here is another image of the skating party that I last posted, but here you can see some of the costumes mentioned in the paper’s account, including the beer bottle.  This image hangs in the hallway at Library and Archives Canada on the third floor. 

Grand Fancy Dress Entertainment at the Victoria Skating Rink, Montreal, 1864

Library and Archives Canada, C102533K, Fancy Ball at the Victoria Rink 1865-66

MontrealHerald, 26 January 1864

 

Grand Fancy-Dress Entertainment at theVictoriaSkating Rink

 

The first fancy-dress entertainment of the season came off last evening in the Victoria Skating rink, and proved a very brilliant affair.  The building was decorated for the occasion with a profusion of flags, tranparencies, Chinese lanterns, and so forth, and presented a very gay and picturesque appearance.  Early in the evening spectators began to crowd, and by eight o’clock several thousand must have been present.  The promenade round the rink soon became literally jammed.  Most successful arrangements had been made for the musical part of the entertainment, the splendid band of the Rifle Brigade, and Thorbahn’s Orchestra being present, occupying the platforms, on either side of the rink.  Of course, the spectators exceeded by very many the number of those who actually assisted in the fantastic performance of the evening, the number who came out on the ice being about 150 or 200, somewhat smaller it is said than last year.  The costumes were perhaps a little more varied than on previous occasions, but there was as usual, a good deal of sameness in many of them.  The ice was in first rate condition, swept of all obstructions, and as smooth as glass.  The first comers stepped on to it about eight o’clock, and as the night wore on the scene became more and more brilliant and exciting.  The musicians did their share of the work in capital style, keeping up the animation of the high and mighty princes, dukes and folks of lesser rank, who continually swept about in eddying circles and strange inexplicable figures in this magnificent ball room.  There seemed to be a “run” on “gentlemen of color”, whether red skins, or those of that other hue to whom the application is generally supposed to have special reference.  There were doubtless present representatives of all the different tribes, Chippewa, Choctawa, and the other aboriginal class rejoicing in more unpronounceable coguomens.  Of course there were many aspirants to power and authority, and Chiefs abounded, hideous in their war paint, feathers and other decorations and appendages of the leaders of the terrible red men of other days.  The “Darkey” was present in every possible charater.  There were aristocratic ‘gentlemen of color’, plantation hands, waiters, and any number of burlesque characters in the getting up of which opportunities were afforded of displaying the inevitable tail coat, and the usual exuberance of shirt colar.  Some matronly looking characters, who might be supposed to have been bottled up for the last fifty or sixty years, and might be taken for Old Mother Hubbard of the nursery book, also wended their way with due sobriety through the gay throng.  One gentleman was a perfect Peter Simple, whatever the character he really represented.  One might have supposed he saw in another the venerable Pickwick himself, except that if it were him he might have improved his skating since the time of his memorable adventures with poor victimized Winkle, and the other members of the illustrious Club.  A Canadian Habitant was another character, well got up.  A clown and harlequin careened about, playing off many of the orthodox antics, whilst another graced his person in the fancy and striking, if not elegant costume of the circus ring, with a grand tools cap and the legitimate bells.  Then there were the nobles, — Spanish and Italian Counts, Albanian Chiefs, Turkish Pashas, Russian Grandees, and other illustrious individuals, whom we have hardly space to notice in particular.  Firemen in their broad  brimmed hats and red coats, were plentifully mixed up with the gayer and more elegant costumes and the many grotesque representations which glided swiftly about.  There were pantaloons playing their mad pranks, fresh little flower girls, decked out in gay ribbons, and carrying the emblems of their occupation; there were smart little pages, and equally smart little sailors; gypsies and Garibaldians; a Highland lady and gentleman, Di Vernon, Le Fils du Regiments, Mr and Mrs Apinidab Sleek.  A college student, Bohemians, Turks, Chinese, antique old gentlemen with ancient tail coats, and specimens of the old English gentleman; London bill board carrier; who promenaded sedately about, Robinson Crusoe with his umbrella, and his man Friday carrying his gun, drummer boys, military men of the last century, footmen, who sustained their assumed character with remarkable correctness; there was a Lord Dandreary, Tecumseh, Zouave Indigene, Chasseur d’Afrique, Oceanic Islander, Don Ossiar de Bassan Night, La VAssovian, Mephistopholes, Guy Fawkes, a Knight in Armour, a Bohemian girl, a Caban planter, Volunteer Officers, Guardsmen, Gnomes, Imps, Swiss Fishermen, Spanish Mulaturs, and numbers of brigands, pirates & c.  Besides the imps, however, was the “old Gentleman” himself, literally in black.  One of the most amusing characters was one which we suppose would be properly called a Bottle Imp.  The person who sustained it was stuffed out in the shape of a bottle, which was conspicuously labeled “Golden Bitters,” & c, to be kept “this side up with care.”  The right side, however, got down once, but was promptly turned up by friendly hands. Time only permits us to give a brief sketch of the entertainment, which turned out very successful and was kept up till a late hour.  Many of the characters worthy of notice, may have escaped our attention in giving a summary review of this scene.  We may say however, that they ‘make up’ was in most cases very good, and there is little doubt that had some of the more celebrated Shakespearian or historical characters been attempted, they would have been carried out with equal success.  Polkaing, waltzing, quadrilling and other terpsichorean exercises were performed with astonishing dexterity and agility, and kept up with undiminished zeal throughout the evening.  The ever changing scene was of the most attractive and amusing character, and the few accidents and numerous incidents of the occasion will afford material for many ‘long talks’ amongst the brave warriors and others who took part in or witnessed the interesting entertainment.

 

Library and Archives Canada

 

Bathing costumes, 1866

Montreal Gazette, 31 July 1866, page 4

A Bathing Costume

From Harper’s Weekly

Happily the days have gone by when lady bathers made frights of themselves when enjoying that most healthful and invigorating of recreations—a dip in salt water–  .  Ugly blue flannel gowns, cut so scantily that it was difficult to squeeze into them, and which never fulfilled the object for which they were intended, as they generally rose to the surface of the water directly after their wearers plunged into it—these ungraceful garments, with the hideous oilskin cap which crowned them, may now be looked upon as things of the past.  They have been succeeded by a far superior style of dress, which, in fact, is a picturesque costume, consisting of tunic and knickerbockers.  We give an illustration of one of the most approved and convenient forms of bathing dress which has yet been introduced.  It answers its mission, for it conceals the figure without impeding in the slightest degree the sections of its wearer when either bathing or swimming, and, added to these advantages, it looks well.  The tunic fastens at the left side, and the knickerbockers in front.  There are various opinions as to the best material for bathing costumes.  For summer wear we recommend the stout brown Holland.  This does not cling to the figure when wetted, neither does it hold the water, as flannel, and so becomes cumbersome and heavy. It should be trimmed, as in our illustration, with scarlet worsted braid of two sizes.  The binding of the knickerbockers and tunic, and the trimming on the shoulder seam, consist of strips of brown Holland cut on the cross, and to rows of narrow scarlet braid run upon them; the box pleatings round the arm holes and ankles are of scarlet worsted braid, from an inch to one inch and a half in width.  The waistband and seem are likewise of brown Holland bound with broad braid, two waved lines of narrow braid being aided as an ornamentation.  The buttons are black horn.  The cap is black oilskin, bound with scarlet.  French ladies wear small black glazed hats, to their complexions when swimming, as they do not deem it imperative to dip their heads under water when they bathe.  Dark blue serge, similar to that worn by sailors in the British navy, we also recommend as a suitable material for this costume.  It likewise can be trimmed with either white or scarlet worsted braid, according to our engraving.

Montreal Curling Club Centenary, 1907

Montreal Daily Star, 21 January 1907

Montreal Daily Star, 21 January 1907

Montreal Curling Club centenary!

Irish National Games at Clarke’s Island, Quebec, 1894

Montreal Daily Star, 13 August 1894, page 2

Hibernians at Clarke’s Island

The members and friends of the Ancient Order of Hibernians held their first annual Irish national games on Saturday at Clarke’s Island.  There were over eight hundred present.  The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The games were entered into with vim and resulted as follows:

75 yards, girl’s race- 1. Bertie Dunn; 2. Lillie O’Neal; 3. Mary Gleason

100 yards, boy’s race- 1. S Rochford 2. P O’Callaghan 3. F Dunn

100 yards, young ladies’ race- M. McKeown, 2. M Fynam, 3. M McEvoy

Throwing 56 lb weight- 1. A Duffy, 2. E Cullen  3. J McHugh

Putting 16 lb shot- 1 J McHugh 2. H Tracey 3. P Lague

Running hop, step and jump- 1. J McHugh, 2. T Canniff, 3. RJ Doyle

Half mile race for members- 1 J Sovay 2. T Ryders 3. T Connelly

Half mile race for amateurs- 1. A Singer, 2. JW Gilmore 3. T Slatter

Quarter mile race for CYM Societies- 1. J Kearns 2. J Murphy 3. RJ Doyle

Running broad jump- J McHugh 2. W Smith, 3. RJ Doyle

Potato race- 1 J Kearns, 2. J Sovay, 3. W Smith

Fat men’s race, 200 lbs and over- 1. H Tracey, 2. B Tucker, 3. A Duffy

Running broad jump for members- 1 P Doyle, 2. T Connell, 3. E Cullen

75 yards married ladies’ race, wives of members- 1. Mrs. Oliver, 2. Mrs. McDermott, 3. Mrs. Mooney

One mile race- 1. J Hughes, 2. J Grant, 3. S McKeown

250 yards hurdle race- 1. J Murphy, 2. W Smith

High jump- 1. R Doyle, 2. T Canniff, 3. W Smith

250 yards open to officers of the Order- 1 H Kearns, 2. F Mooney, 3. T Brennan, 4. WJ Burke

Irish Jig- 1. T Sullivan, 2. – Hayes, 3. Pearson.

Hurling Match- won by Capt P Tucker’s team

The judges were Alderman MF Nolan, Messrs B Feeney, R Keys, and A Dunn, and the prizes will be distributed on Monday evening, August 20, at Hibernian Hall, 2042 Notre Dame Street.

The committee of arrangements were: Mr. M Bermingham, as chairman, Messrs TN Smith, secretary, and Mr. WJ Burke, treasurer.  Mr. Patrick O’Brien, the Irish piper, played Irish jigs and reels.  The hurling match between teams picked by Captains Bermingham and Tucker was won by the latter’s team, scoring two games after playing about an hour.  Mr. P Scullion and Mr. Con Gleason acted as umpires.