Once again, I would like to dive back into the time machine and look at what was going on in Vermilion back in the past, in a particular month.
This week, we are going to see what was going on in Vermilion during the week of June 22, 1914.
Of course, no one knew that in just over a month, the country would be going into the First World War. For now, though, everyone was simply going about their lives.
Over one million acres of land in the Vermilion valley, including 156 sections of land north of Vermilion, were sold by J.A. Powell to a syndicate of New York capitalists. W.F. Brown in town would represent the company and the colonization of the land would begin immediately. The land would be sold to people in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Judge Taylor in Vermilion made a decision on two prominent cases this week. The first was in regard to a steer that was allegedly stolen. Judge Taylor ruled that it was a simple mix-up regarding the identity of the steers, and that the plaintiff did not prove his ownership. The case was dismissed with costs.
The second case was in regards to the Redmond Company, which sued a local man named MacKenzie. The company said they had an order for two fur coats and other goods from MacKenzie, who had gone bankrupt. The company stated that they were owed the coats as he had taken the money. In the end, Judge Taylor ruled in favour of MacKenzie.
The Dominion Building in Vermilion was under construction this week and Robert Rogers, the provincial Minister of Public Works, visited to see the construction process. In all, the building would cost $20,000 to build.
“We have got the site, but no contract has yet been let,” Rogers said. “Both the Vegreville public building and the Vermilion public building will be gone on with this summer.”
Many residents in Vermilion were excited that the grading of the streets had been completed during this week in 1914. It was said Main Street was one of the finest streets to be seen in any western town, as it was perfectly level and straight for a distance of over a mile.
Council also passed a new bylaw to appoint people to the board of trustees for the hospital fund for the town. It was the hope that funds could be raised for use by the hospital.
Contact Craig at craig@canadaehx.com. Support Craig by donating at www.canadaehx.com (Click Donate)
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