Figuring out what to give someone for Christmas can be difficult. For me (Susan) thinking of something for Dad is very hard. For my daughter Conni, finding the right gift is critical. This year she thought she found the perfect gift for her Granddad Tatro. A pack of cards from Parks Canada with a different Historic Site on each. Perfect right? We all spend time Christmas day looking at them and sorting them into places we have been, heard about or were completely new to us. Dad of course had the smallest pile of new places.
Choosing a topic for this blog can also be hard. Mostly because there are so many to choose from. Seeing that deck of cards gave me another idea of how to choose a topic. Why not randomly pick a card from Dad’s “been to pile” and do a blog about his experiences with the place? He likes to do blogs about his work experiences and I like stories about his personal life, growing up stories the most. Doing the cards might give both.
Here is the first card that we randomly picked from the deck.
The Klondike is a sternwheeler that plied the Yukon River in the early 20th century. It burned wood to ferry cargo and passengers between Dawson City and Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. It is currently in dry dock in Whitehorse and welcomes visitors for tours and other programs in the summer months. Go to the Parks Canada website for more information or to order your own deck of cards.
Harry’s memories of The Klondike
When I first came to Calgary in 1965 there was quite a controversy going on about what was to happen to the river boats dry docked in Whitehorse. The S.S Keno was already restored and displayed in Dawson City and the National Historic Sites people felt the history of the river boats was adequately commemorated. However public opinion in Whitehorse felt otherwise and wanted the government to take over and preserve the boats there. The pressure grew until I got a phone call from the director in Ottawa: there a had been threat that vandals were going to burn the boats. I jokingly said “I guess that will get rid of one of our problems” The director was not amused and said I had better get to Whitehorse and find out what was going on. Once there I found that it was not a serious threat. But, the dang boats were in such a mess that I kind of hated to go aboard. The boats had been used by vagrants and hippies as living quarters and with no working toilets it was pretty bad. I also remember sitting in the car looking at the Klondike and its mates in dry dock but noticing nearby trucks being loaded with cargo. Long legged machines went right over containers, what we call C cans now, as they sat on the rail line, lifted, and deposited them on a truck. I couldn’t believe how fast the work was being done. That guy must have been in a real hurry.
Sadly, it took another ten years or so before public pressure finally convinced National History Sites, as it was called in those days, to take over the boats and the Klondike was restored.
Part of my job was to recommend people to be hired. Vern LaBar, an old friend from St. Walburg was someone I new to be a skilled and dedicated carpenter. I put his name forward and he was hired to do the work on the Klondike.
In my days at St. Walburg Vern became a good friend along with his future wife Daisy Buckle and her sister Cynthia. The Buckles lived across the road from the Beechings and were friends of Dorothy and her family. In fact I formed a bit of an attachment to Cynthia. Something that didn’t last my return home to Brada. Dorothy was just a little girl then and not of much interest. Strange, that it was Daisy I corresponded with for years until she and Vern were married. They lived in Saskatoon for many years and then moved to Hope BC where they were when Vern got the call to join the work on the Klondike.
By Susan Greier as told by Harry Tatro.