Although science fiction films are filled with stories of time machines and the space time continuum, time travel is still only a fantasy. We dream of traveling to a different time perhaps as a silent observer of some historic event or maybe in an attempt to change the future. Our dream ends, though, and we awaken to find that we are still in the present and no matter how many silver DeLoreans we own or phone booths we step into we are not traveling into the past anytime soon. The next best thing to time travel, however, is a lively imagination fueled by the stories of the past. Pulling us back and allowing us to experience the past in the safety of our home or a local museum.
On Thursday January 22, 1914, The Morse News printed a special illustrated edition of their paper. This special edition over viewed the history of Morse from 1896 when W.G.O Paul, the first settler, arrived until the present day. The paper is filled with stories of the early settlers, businesses, councils and churches. It has pictures of buildings and proud Morse citizens along with several advertisements. I still remember the enjoyment and astonishment I had when I first flipped through its pages. I carefully examined pictures to try and locate buildings still standing and studied locations to see what used to be. The newspaper is a treasure chest of information and history and the Morse Museum is very thankful to be in possession of a few precious copies. When we are open, you can find the paper on display in our town history room, allowing people to look through its worn pages. For the next two weeks, though, it will be the subject of much of our social media content. Morse was once a bustling - and booming - prairie town. It was with hope and promise they looked forward into the years to come and it is with imagination and excitement that we look back at a time long ago. So, grab your hat and hold on tight because “where we’re going, we don’t need roads” (Back to the Future 2). 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.
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What’s in a name? It is with great thought and debate expectant parent’s pick a name for their soon arriving bundle for joy. Often choosing family names, favorite characters, or whatever is popular at the time. How many adult Chris’ do we work with and baby Emma’s do we dote on? Whether there are twenty Megans or fifty Olivers, each name is specially selected and very important. Cities and towns are no different. Why do we have Moose Jaw, Eyebrow, or Webb? Today we may scratch our heads in bewilderment but at their founding it was purposeful and meaningful. So, what about Morse? Morse who? Morse what?
This is a topic of great debate – how did Morse get its name? Keith Dryden of the Western Producer wrote a series of articles in 1990 on this very subject in his column ‘The Fringe’. Morse Roots, Morse Origin, and What’s True? were printed in succession as more information came to light. Mr. Dryden posed the question in the first article and was given our first theory. Morse was named in 1896 after CP Rails western superintendent. He also received response giving the second theory. Morse was named after Samuel B. Morse who invented Morse Code. It was 2 against 1, however, in the responses and Keith Dryden declared the CP Rail employee the winner. What’s True? starts like this “Ever hear about the fellow who knows a lot of things but a lot of things he knows ain’t so?” Although our records here at the Morse Museum had noted that we contacted an employee at CP Rail and were informed that Morse was named after a western regional superintendent, further investigation by Mr. Dryden proved it wasn’t likely. His source, an employee for CP Rail, checked the archives and no such name was found from that era. His research also turned up a notation in a Moose Jaw division book that Morse was named after Samuel B. Morse. Our own history book, As the Pendulum Swings, remains oddly quiet on the subject and if Wikipedia is to be trusted that adds another vote for Samuel. In the end, we are left with hear say and speculation. How did Morse get its name? The truth still evades us but, as can be seen in the popular historical dramas, history is better enjoyed with a little embellishment and a lot of controversy. 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. Imagine stepping off the train in Morse, Sk. The year is 1912 and it is a hot July afternoon. You are weary from your travels and looking for a place to rest. All along your slow and tedious journey by train, you have seen many places. From large cities to small communities, friendly folks to not so friendly outlaws but one thing is always the same. A hotel and restaurant can be found on the corner of Railway and Main. As you head in that direction, you look in unbelief at the site before you. Nothing but a heap of ashes. A sign half burned reads “The Elkhorn Hotel”. You manage to ask in unbelief, “What happened?”. The manager, a capable Mr. McAvoy, finishes giving orders to a group of workers and turns to you with a sober but determined smile. “She was less than two years old. Built after the former Elkhorn burned down in July of 1910. Out here in the West, though, we know how to persevere – we’ll just have to rebuild, and even bigger!” You stand in awe of his determination and ask simply, “how long will it take?” His smile gets even bigger, “We were up and running after only 3 months last time I reckon we could finish it in two!” You try a weak smile, wish him all the best and return to the train station. It looks as though you will have to wait until the next town for some much-needed rest and a good hot meal.
Since the very beginning, the hotel in Morse was called The Elkhorn. In 1907, Jack Webster built the first Elkhorn. After only a few short years, the building was destroyed by fire in July of 1910. It didn’t take long, though, and J.A. McAvoy had the Elkhorn rebuilt. This larger building with a more modern feel, however, didn’t last long and only two years after the previous fire the building once again burned down. The fire in July 1912 also claimed several other businesses. The current owners were not deterred and the Elkhorn lived on. Only two months after the second fire, the new and even larger Elkhorn was reopened to the public. On Thursday January 22, 1914 The Morse News printed an article outlining the history of the Elkhorn Hotel and introduced residents to the new owner, Albert Lyone. He had recently purchased the hotel from the Sodini Brothers and was considered, by the citizens of Morse, to be “a model of courtesy and affability”. He had big plans for the building hoping to make it “the best in the west”. It is unclear if The Elkhorn ever became ‘the best in the west’, but it was able to persevere. The 1912 building still stands, freshly painted and ready to welcome patrons. Although no longer running as a hotel, today it is a bar and restaurant. In recent years the Elkhorn hosted steak night fundraisers and still welcomes ‘coffee row’. Over 100 years later and long after a passenger railcar has stopped in the community of Morse, the Elkhorn proudly stands on the corner of Railway and Main. Interested in reading more about the many prairie hotels located on the corner of Railway and Main? Check out https://hotelhistories.blogspot.com/2011/02/hotel-fires-redux.html?fbclid=IwAR1KyRWAD_C26TFatnQ9BOrllQkw1zQO88_2xeOoTbHM17sCufmEfHENIt0. 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. Tucked away, almost hidden, among other papers strewn about on a display case in the Morse Museum’s Town History room is an old article titled simply – The Silver Liz. Throughout my life, it seems Elizabeth is a name that marks important people and I always take special note when I’m introduced to another. I can now add a car to the list of friends and mentors!
I’m not sure who published the article but it is written by Erma Rabourn and begins, “The time was 1939. The place was Morse, Saskatchewan. My teenaged brother Tom and two of his buddies decided that they were too grown-up for bicycles. They sold their wheels, pooled the money they received for them, and went looking for something more sophisticated.” What did the boys get? A very old, run down, Ford model T, or a ‘tin lizzie’. The crew of boys worked in the old red barn on the back of Erma’s family home. Eventually the car was up and running and met the boys’ approval. It did, however still require a push start and as the article explains, “(Morse citizens) …were bribed to put a shoulder to the back of the Ford by a promise of a ride all around the four-mile block. As they drove through town, more and more little boys joined the part. By the time the motor took hold, they were as thick as flies on sticky fly-paper.” It was when the car was painted with silver aluminum paint that it was christened The Silver Liz. In those days the boys paid 20 cents a gallon for gas (or about 5 cents a L) and had local businesses advertised on Lizzie for one dollar. With a tank full of gas and some spending money the boys would head out to Herbert to go courting and just below the windshield was written ‘HERBERT OR BUST’. Sometimes the gas ran out and the boys would walk the last mile or two home leaving Liz behind. On July 1st, they managed to make it all the way to the fair grounds and even took 1st prize in the parade. This spark of joy and boyish fun was between the decade of depression Tom saw previously and the war that would call him and his friends away. Erma shares what happened to the boys after the war, “Bob May returned to his hometown after the war…Irvin Bleich came back from overseas, but not to Morse…Tom didn’t come back.” And what became of the Silver Liz? Erma recalls, “…the Silver Liz met her demise in a blaze of glory against one of those lamp posts one late, late night when Tom was home on embarkation leave. Luckily no one was hurt” A special thank you to the author Erma Rabourn, Bob May and Darlene Nicholson who assisted Erma in re-telling the story of the Silver Liz and to the unknown publisher who saw fit to share this story. 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. |