1973: Winter clearance deals at John Kerr & Co. Ltd.

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

125 years ago, Thursday, February 24, 1898

Plumas: Mr. Hodgins has sold his confectionery business to a gentleman from Neepawa.

Ed. Jasper, formerly of Neepawa, but recently of Winnipeg, started with a companion named J. Sullivan, also a recent resident of this town, to drive from the city to Portage la Prairie. Both were under the influence of liquor and when they reached Baie St. Paul a halt was made at a farm house. Sullivan had the horses put in the stable and retired to the house, forgetting all about poor Jasper lying in the sleigh. Some hours later, Jasper awoke and realizing his position called loudly for help. Inmates of the farm house promptly responded and conveyed the helpless man to the warm dwelling, where it was found his feet and legs were frozen. Next day he was taken to the Winnipeg General hospital, where he will have to remain for a time.

100 years ago, Tuesday, February 25, 1923

Neepawa is to have an additional newspaper shortly, something in the nature of eye-openers– not Calgary ones– though the new editor is a local man and has done local contributions before.

R. A. Davidson, of this town, has been honoured by the Manitoba minister of agriculture with an appointment to take charge of the immigration office about to be opened by the government in England. Not only is Mr. Davidson to be congratulated on his preferment, but the government is to be congratulated on the excellent choice made for this important work. Incidentally, the Neepawa district as a whole will approve the appointment.

75 years ago, Thursday, February 26, 1948

Miss Marjorie Walker returned to her home in Arden on Saturday three months to the day from the time she left for Toronto to undergo an operation. She was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. A. F. Walker.

Miss Walker, 23 years of age, is Canada’s oldest “blue baby”. The operation has been termed a complete success by the Toronto doctors responsible for the case. Dr. William Mustard performed the operation following tests mad by Dr. John Keith.

It was only by sheerest accident that Miss Walker learned of the new surgical treatment that could help her. Taking immediate action, she quickly completed arrangements for the trip to Toronto. With the operation successfully completed, she is now convalescing at home.

50 years ago, Thursday, February 22, 1973

Councillor Bill Guinn, liaison to the Neepawa District Memorial Hospital Board, sought council’s guidance at its regular meeting Tuesday night as to what can be done to speed completion of renovations to the hospital which have now been going on for over a year.

Councillor Guinn reported that only 14 beds are in use at present because the contractor has not finished the kitchen facilities and more patients cannot be handled until this is done. He also reported that the hospital board was disappointed with some of the workmanship and that there were many minor deficiencies which are yet to be corrected, but the contractor “seems to have lost interest in the project since they had been awarded another major government project.”

A rink from Neepawa air cadet squadron was successful in winning top prize in the second event at a weekend Cadet Bonspiel held at Russell Feb. 10 and 11 and brought home the impressive trophy and miniatures.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Proverbs 22:22 (The Living Bible)

The tradition of a community grows, in part at least, around family business which have served that community over a long period of years. When these businesses leave the family, something of tradition leaves with them.

This is the experience of Neepawa as the Martin Family has relinquished its interest in Martin’s Store that has been in their family for over half a century.

Albert Martin, who owned stores in Elrose and Brownlee Saskatchewan, and Brookdale Manitoba, purchased a five and ten cent store on Mountain Ave. in Neepawa from Emma J. Phillips in 1921. In 1922, he purchased the building that was owned by a local farmer, John Hall.

20 years ago, Monday, Friday 24, 2003 Neepawa will lose its first full-time economic development officer when Mark Fisher resigns at the end of the month.

Ironically, the man who was hired to promote Neepawa and area is opening his own business in Brandon.

“I would have liked Neepawa, but it just doesn’t have the population,” said Fisher, who is opening a furniture store. “It doesn’t have the demographics.”

Researchers from Canada, France and Japan believe they may have finally unravelled the riddle of the human hiccup.

In a report published in the journal BioEssays, the researchers propose that the hiccup is an evolutionary leftover– a mechanism that allowed our ancient ancestors to breathe both water and air.

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.

This ad for John Kerr & Co. Ltd., a clothing store that used to be found in Neepawa, was printed in the Feb. 22, 1973 edition of The Press. The prices then were quite different compared to today.

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

And just like that…