Little Jane at Fort Walsh (1953)

It is probably more logical than amazing, how experiences of the past will trigger our thoughts in the present. This happened to me on my very first visit to Fort Walsh. To do my job well at Fort Battleford I needed to know the history of the North West Mounted Police, and that required knowing […]

Fort Walsh – 1

Fort Walsh, in the Cypress Hills of southern Saskatchewan was until 1968 the RCMPs remount ranch. When it was decided that it was to be shut down and the site would be taken over by the National Historic Sites it came under my responsibility. I had a meeting with the RCMP in nearby Maple Creek, […]

A First Touch of History : finding Cole’s Post (about 1934 & 1953)

I remember the first time I was touched by history. It was back in the early 30s. Pop hitched up the horses, Jimmy and Mandy, and the family all loaded into the wagon to drive to the North Saskatchewan river to pick high bush cranberries. I never liked the high bush berries but Mom wanted […]

Fall Colours Bring Memories of Hunting (about 1963)

It was a crisp and sunny day out at the farm. The trees outside the window were bright yellow with just a touch of green left over. Dad and I were sitting over morning coffee when he said; “It was days like this that I would go hunting. I hunted a lot with Bill (Beeching) […]

Beginner Volleyball (winter 1950)

My Granddaughter, Jaclynn, arrived for supper after her first volleyball tournament. After a lot of teasing about how she and her team did, or didn’t do, it was their fist ever tournament after all, Dad told us this short story… “When I tought in Mervin (Saskatchan) the school was in an old store. There was […]

Why a Blog?

My Dad, Harry Tatro, turned 95 a couple of weeks ago. That in itself is noteworthy but maybe not reason enough to start a blog. His “stories” are. He was born and raised in 1924 in rural Saskatchewan, he lived through the depression, taught school, worked for 30 years for Canada’s National Historic Parks, raised […]