1963: Cram rink wins Legion trophy at bonspiel

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

125 years ago, Thursday, February 17, 1898

The farmers’ institute meeting in the Court House on Saturday last was more largely attended than has been the case for a long time past. President

Molland presided and Secretary Drysdale was in his place too.

W. F. Sirett, M. P. P. read a carefully prepared paper on the cost of raising wheat. His estimate was $8.35 per acre.

The Mayor and Councillors Barr, Clare, Hamilton and Howden were present at the town council meeting last Friday evening.

Communications were received from M. H. Fieldhouse re fees as police magistrate (no action taken); also from J. M. Baldwin, secretary treas. of Turtle Mountain, re rebate on taxes (no action taken); W. O. McRobie re hose for fire engine; The Bell Telephone Co. re telephones; Moses McFadden re town plan; A. Whittaker, secretary treas. of Portage la Prairie, re municipal assessment act.

When R. C. Ennis was in Carberry recently, he was interviewed by a number of prominent farmers re building a mill there. He stated that if the municipalities secured the necessary permission to bonus a mill, he would make an offer much better than anything that had been offered before, for the building of a 300-barrel mill or forfeit $5,000. This seems to reassure some of the skeptical ones in Carberry who held the opinion that the offer of Mr. Ennis last year was only a bluff and intended to delay the construction of a mill at Carberry so that trade would be diverted to Neepawa for a time. There is now a strong probability of the municipalities giving the required assistance.

Gordon: The following are the officers for the Good Templar lodge for this term: P.C.T., W. H. Stratton; C. R., W. Walker; V. T., Miss Sirett; C. E., F. Sirett; R. S., F. Murray; A. S., Miss Forsyth; F. S., G. H. Blackwell; T., Miss M. McLaughlin; M., N. Walker; G., J. McLaughlin; S., W. Sirett Jr.

100 years ago, Friday, February 16, 1923

Arden: There will be a moccasin dance and game of broomball at the rink tonight. Admission 25¢.

Glencairn: We have not heard what happened to the editor of the McCreary Times, but we do know that we did not get any papers last week.

Snowdrifts as high as the telegraph wires for a distance of a quarter of a mile in some places made the work of C.N.R. snowplow gangs both arduous and hazardous during the past week. Fortunately, there have been no casualties. But it must be confessed that the snowdrifts have had rather the best of the conflict so far.

75 years ago, Thursday, February 19, 1948

Residents of the town and district were shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Herbert Rutledge on Saturday, Feb. 14. He was 42 years of age.

The passing of Herb has taken from the town one of its most prominent and popular young businessmen. Of a warm and friendly nature, he had countless friends in Neepawa and district. An accomplished musician, he was for many years a member of the Neepawa Boys Band and local dance orchestra.

Born in Neepawa, Oct. 19, 1905, he lived all his life in the town. After completing his education he went into the garage business with his father, the late H. R. Rutledge and continued serving the community until his death.

50 years ago, Thursday, February 15, 1973

Polonia: congratulations from the parish are extended to Mr. and Mrs. John Speiss of Neepawa on their 51st wedding anniversary on Wednesday, St. Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.

Glenella Sabres captured top honours at Gladstone hockey tourney over the weekend by virtue of a 4-3 overtime victory over the host team.

Glenella started on the road to success by defeating Long Plains 3-0. In this game Don Zdan scored the opening goal at the three second mark of the first period.

20 years ago, Monday, February 17, 2003

The board of the Great Plains Interpretive Centre is packing it in, ending an eight year project that never quite got off the ground.

And now board members are left to grapple with just what went wrong with a proposal that started with such promise.

After 22 years of operating the Neepawa and district handy van, Ron Forsman won’t be renewing his contract this spring.

Forsman, who also operates the Neepawa ambulance service, said he made the decision not to bid on the contract because emergency services are taking greater priority.

Shortly after the turn of the century, May 19, 1903, some energetic women of the community formed the Hospital Aid, now known as the Neepawa Health Auxiliary Association…

In 1973, the first Hope Chest draw was held, and through the continued generosity of Neepawa and district business and professional people it has become an annual event.

The Cedar Chest due to inflation was deemed to be too expensive and now is replaced by a cash draw annually.

Disclaimer: The information gathered and used each week in the Looking Back feature is directly taken from the original print copy of the Neepawa Press and Neepawa Banner newspapers. Any errors or omissions from stories (Factually or otherwise) are the result of the original print and not the responsibility of the archivist for the current version of the Neepawa Banner & Press.

By Chad Carpenter Tundra