8

Or the homemaker may have had access to wild berries in season.

9

General Store
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

10

Some purchases had to be made. This activity depended on the era and the near availability of general stores. The need for flour, sugar, tea/coffee, and tobacco was a must and a trip to town for these supplies was made depending on the stock pile at home.

11

Store Interview
1940's
Saskatchewan, Canada

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Q: Did you ever leave the farm for special outings?

A: Oh yes. My grandparents never worked on Sundays even during seeding and harvest time, unless it was a real necessity due to weather or a late season. First thing in the morning, my grandmother would play hymns on the piano and we would have scripture readings before we left for our outing because church they attend was in another town and we would loose precious time together. I had my first ferry ride and saw my first rodeo in the city. We were also there when the town had their fair days. We went on picnics all over the place and visited neighbours as well. We also got to go shopping in town on Saturday nights! This was a real treat because the general store had things we had never seen before! We would run across the street and visit our other grandparents while we were in town. Later I would get to stay in town with my grandparents all by myself, because the found my brothers too rambunctious so they had to stay at the farm.

Q: What were your favorite memories about the farm?

A: Actually, my favorite memory was after I left the farm. My grandparents would ship a Christmas package to us in the city. It was a crate of eggs and a box of Christmas baking along with our Christmas presents. It was one way of remembering the good times we had when were at the farm, as my mother was in the hospital most of her life, and my dad had several jobs to help pay for the medical bills so we never got to do much as a family. Since I was the eldest, I had to take care of my brothers throughout the year, so when I was visiting my grandparents this was a special treat for me.

13

Wrapped Merchandise
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

14

Merchandise was wrapped in brown paper tied with string and maybe brown paper tape, or put in brown paper bags - plastic was yet to be invented! "No Waste" was the bench mark of the era - the paper and string would be saved for further use when needed.

15

Steam Train
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

16

In one town in the central southwest area - Thursday night was 'train night'. The whole family looked forward to meeting the train. The need for supplies gave the opportunity for socializing for the adults and the children.

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Post Office
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

18

This was the day that one could pick up the mail that had just arrived by rail.

19

Cream Can
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

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This was also an opportunity to ship by rail the surplus cream. The cream can was filled, labeled and brought down to the train station. Cost of a cream can was $6.75.

21

Egg Crate
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada

Credits:
Assiniboia Museum