‘What is a memory worth?’ On August 26th, 1980 this line began Darlene Nicolson’s fundraising letter. Her goal as president of the Morse Cultural and Heritage Assoc. was to save the old school from demolition. The association sent countless letters to former students and members of the Morse community. Now, more then forty years later I sit in ‘the old school’ surrounded by the fruits of that effort.
Tucked away in the basement of the Morse Museum is a red and gold scrapbook filled with historic ‘gold’ but not the sort you sell on Ebay or buy at an estate auction. It is filled with precious memories. Pasted on the first page is a copy of this historic letter. The pages that follow contain hundreds of, mostly handwritten, notes, cards and letters. Former residents sending what they could to help the cause from across Canada, the US and even countries beyond. As I took the time to read through the letters, I was touched by the love people had for preserving history and connecting with this community. Letters saying “I’m sorry I can’t send more…”, “say hi to so and so if you see them…” and “are you related to…” but also reminiscing of their teachers, employers, even the wheat fields and prairie dogs. People who left the area back even before the school had the addition built. They remembered so fondly this place even though some knew they’re ‘traveling days were behind them’ and they wouldn’t be seeing Morse again. One letter read, “I am not in a position to help but will give you my two brothers’ addresses”. I laughed, I cried and when I reached the end my heart was so full. I had caught the passion that caused those early advocates to stand up and fight to save ‘our old school’. Although I never attended classes here, I felt a kindred spirit with those who had. For the coming weeks, I will share some of these letters with you. I hope they stir your heart as they have mine. I also invite you to purchase a membership with The Morse Museum & Cultural Centre and to continue sending your cards, letters and support. Memories are historic gold here in the museum and we always love to hear from you. For details on membership and contacting us, please follow this link. https://morsemuseum.weebly.com/ You can see all our latest updates and posts by following us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MorseMuseumAndCulturalCentre/and Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morsemuseumsk/. Blogs are written by museum staff and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Morse Museum & Cultural Centre, its Board of Directors or sponsors.
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Previously on this blog we have discussed Ernest Grossehmig and his contributions to the community of Morse along with his life history. So today I would like to honour his spouse Nora Alma Drisler, Strauss.
Nora was born in Naperville, Illinois in 1868. For unknown reasons she was not cared for by her parents, John Drisler and Matilda Strauss. Instead, she lived with her grandparents Johannes Simon Strauss and Mary Elizabeth in Naperville. By the age of 12 Nora had taken the last name Strauss and she listed Simon Strauss and Mary Elizabeth as her parents on her wedding certificate. Nora married John H, Hepler in Aurora Illinois on January 15th, 1898, two years after her grandfather died. She and John has two children, Rosalind and Wade before John drowned. Shortly after his death Nora gave birth to their third child, Earl. To support herself and her children she worked as a cook for a 63-year-old bachelor. Within a year she met Ernest Grossehmig and they were married a few months later on January 1st, 1901. In 1909 the family moved to farmstead approximately 9kn west of Hodgeville, SK. During the Spanish Influenza pandemic of 1918 Nora nursed many sick people in the district. She was a popular and highly respected person in the community. In 1926, the family moved up near Ernfold to sheep ranch. Nora passed away at the age of 98 on June 7th, 1961. You can see all our latest updates and posts by following us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MorseMuseumAndCulturalCentre/and Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morsemuseumsk/. Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Morse Museum & Cultural Centre, its Board of Directors or sponsors This pump organ has been in the Beach family for over 100 years. The original owners were Benjamin and Susan Beach who came to Ernfold in 1912 from Ontario to join their son Palmer Beach who has a Coal and Wood business. In January 1914 Benjamin, Susan, and Palmer moved into their newly built farmhouse a mile south-east of Ernfold. The organ was likely purchased that year as the organ is in the 1914 photo of Susan Beach and her niece Floria Henna. Floria came to Ernfold from Roland Manitoba in 1913 to tach in the Ernfold School. Floria and Palmer married in 1915 and raised 11 children. The organ was an integral part of the family’s musical entertainments during these years. Floria would play the organ in the evening when all the children were in bed. All the children took music lessons on the organ from their Aunt Beth who also came to teach school in Ernfold in 1915. The family, relatives, friends, and Ernfold United Church Minister’s family would come to the Beach home for Sunday dinners. The evenings always included a hymn sing of everyone gathered, the organ initially played by Aunt Beth. Floria’s oldest daughter Joy Beach played the organ from the age of 13 for may sing songs and accompanied her brother Dexter on the clarinet. In 1943 Joy remembers playing the organ for a “young peoples” dance in the living room. The organ has travelled in later years along Beach family members. First to Floria’s daughter Pauling Beach Biggs home in Moose Jaw in the 1970’s. The organ then went to Floria’s Granddaughter home in Winnipeg to return in later years to Pauline’s. Kevin Beach delivered the organ to the Morse Museum in October 2016. As spring begins to spring this year, we will take a look back at April’s of the past. This season of growth and rebirth has shown to be a pleasant one in Morse. With businesses opening or being renovated it is a season of fresh air and fresh starts here in Morse. So take a few moments with me to reminisce on what happened in April in Morse in the past,
In April on 1974 the CPR station was demolished In April of 1982 the new Saskatchewan Wheat Pool opened In April of 1985 Reed Lake Welding opened for business with proprietor Rod Bakus In April of 1996 the Herbert Lions celebrated 50 years and the Ernfold Lions celebrated 40 years In April of 2004 The gallery in the Morse Museum received an exhibit from Anthea Loran who travelled to Burma with a British Ambassadors family as a young sick children’s nurse from 1952-1954 In April of 2009 a decision was made regarding the status of the Morse School, it was slated to close at the end of June In April of 2016 the Morse Museums Country Cupboard Gift Shop received a full renovation In April of 2017 Bob and Judy Olynick had a grand opening for their new fertilizer shed. It was celebrated with a tour, supper and a dance. You can see all our latest updates and posts by following us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MorseMuseumAndCulturalCentre/and Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morsemuseumsk/. Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Morse Museum & Cultural Centre, its Board of Directors or sponsors |