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Integrated into the lives of George and Catherine Weldon was the Humboldt Telegraph Station and early communication.2
Sketch by Urban Lukan.1975
Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada
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The Humboldt Telegraph Station was built by George Weldon, and became the home for the Weldon family.George Weldon was born in Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland on December 4, 1840. He left Killaliss, Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland, on May 16, 1871. He landed in New York on June 3rd, left on the 5th, and arrived in Darlington, Ontario on June 10th.
George married Catherine Liggett on October 13, 1876.
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The Ligett family farm in Ireland1985
Altanarva, Fintona County, Tyrone, Ireland
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Catherine Liggett was born on February 4, 1850 and immigrated to the United States with her brother in 1871 from Altanarva, Finton, County Tyrone, Ireland. She was an expert telegraphist, and it was she who taught her husband, George. She was also the first lady telegraph operator on the C.P.R. west of Winnipeg.6
George Weldon1886
Grenfell, Saskatchewan, Canada
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About the 25th of February, 1878, Kate (as Catherine was referred to) and George went to Hamilton, Ontario seeking employment with Mr. Richard Fuller to work on his division of the Canadian Pacific Telegraph line. They were hired to establish a telegraph station and maintain the line in the North West Territories. For a wage of $75 a month, George served as a lineman and Catherine as the operator. George arrived in Winnipeg on March 22nd, then headed west with Selemore Desjardine. On March 30th they started across a creek, got into it, but could not get the horse to draw the cart out. They unloaded and hitched the cart to the horse's tail, who pulled it out. Then George waded through water up over his knees with ice an inch thick, for over a mile.They reached Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on May 11, but returned to Swan River Barracks. A house was secured, and George traveled west with Joe Ducharme on May 29th, 1878 and returned on June 22. George writes about conditions on the trail "...muskeg, bulldogs flies, mosquitoes, thunder storms. The mosquitoes are a perfect fright. Make as much noise against our tent as a heavy rain."
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Map of 'Old Humboldt'.1995
Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada
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On August 18, 1878, George begins building the cabin that would be the Humboldt Telegraph Station and also their home.August 25, 1878, - the first telegraph message from the Humboldt Station - from a Stobart of Duck Lake to a Stobart of Winnipeg.
Information from George Weldon's diary as in the Regina Leader Post, April 24, 1931.
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Humboldt Telegraph Station1881
Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada
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George builds the station/cabin while completing his primary task of cutting trees from the line, repairing wires, clearing bush, and erecting poles.August 31 - top gables on house up
September 11 - mudding the house. George writes " we commence to draw water five miles for mudding house, have only kegs to hold 5 gallons."
September 28 - "We move into our home and know how to appreciate a house and home, be it ever so humble."
October 11 - "Put up a bedstead, have not slept on one since March."
Information from George Weldon's diary as in the Regina Leader Post, April 24, 1931.
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Catherine Weldon1870
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Catherine took a less gloomy view of Humboldt life compared to her sister Margaret, and declared that the only thing that she missed was church. She liked the North West more than the "Ould Country", and did not mind the cold, though she twice saw the thermometer register 64 degrees below zero. Margaret described Humboldt as "eight months winter and four months mosquitoes."Information from Humboldt on the Carlton Trail by W.P. Telfer.
Rev. Andrew Baird comments on the hospitality of Catherine Weldon when they were stationed at the Humboldt Telegraph Station and he was traveling through the area. He wrote: "The people here - Presbyterians from the North of Ireland - were very glad to see me. The lady of the house - telegraph operator - baked a couple of big bannocks for me to take with me, when they found that I was out of bread, and I was invited to stay for tea which was got ready in the middle of the afternoon."
Information from The Carlton Trail by Ralph C. Russell.
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A sketch of Catherine Weldon1967
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