Adventures at the Borden Museum continued Aug. 21 at 2:00 p.m. with Archie Wainwright talking about the W.H. Bracken Livery Stable and Feed Store.
Bill Bracken (1872- 1957), a horse trader from Manitoba, with his wife Jane, moved to Borden in 1903 and bought the livery stable in 1912.
The building had stalls for more than 50 teams of horses. Feed was stored in the loft and out behind and there was a 12-foot by 24-foot office that was heated by a potbellied stove. There people could warm up and it was also a gathering place for the men to chat and smoke their pipes and cigars.
The livery also ran a dray business until 1922 and housed horses used by the doctors, police, ministers, salesmen and others to hitch up to a sleigh or buggy. Bracken also had stallions of top breeding and would drive around in a stud cart from farm to farm and many horses were sired in this way.
Bracken also raised colts and bought broncos from Alberta to break and sell. One of the workers for over 25 years at the Livery was Charlie (Shorty) Jordan. Bill Bracken’s house, across from the livery stable, burned in 1929 and they then lived in Bill’s boarding house (14 guest rooms) until he built a new house in 1937, Bracken sold the livery stable to Harry Johnson.
The useful purpose of the livery barn, horse power for farming and a horse-drawn livery came to a close with the end of the Second World War.
Savannah Sutherland, track and field athlete from Borden, has done well this year in her 100 metre and 200M races and 400M hurdles. In May and June she placed first in every category she ran in at Saskatoon, Calgary and St. John’s, Nfld. In 400M hurdles she placed first in St. John’s, Saskatoon, Calgary and Sherwood Park. She then went with a contingent of 15 athletes from Canada to the U20 World Athletic Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, where she won a bronze medal in the 400M hurdles on Aug. 22. She also ran in the 400M relay, but they did not qualify for the finals. One other Canadian, Heather Abadie, won a bronze in pole vault. Congratulations, Savannah, and good luck in your studies at the University of Michigan this fall.
Winning the 50/50 at the Borden Farmers Market Aug. 20 was Pauline Laviolette of Cut Knife. The seniors’ centre had a full complement of vendors selling wares Aug. 20 and had a good turnout of buyers. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays until Oct. 8. Drinks, hot dogs and pie-by-the-piece are available.
Working for the Village of Borden is Levi Gough and summer student Bill Hosegood. They will be helping to get the sports grounds ready for Diefenbaker Daze Sept. 18 and 19. There will be a slo-pitch tournament, SaskTel kids’ zone and disc golf both days. There is a pancake breakfast Sept. 18 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Community Centre and a steak supper at the grounds from 5 to 7 p.m. followed by DJ music from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. On the grounds both days will be a concession booth and beer gardens.
The following weekend, Sept. 25, will be Borden’s Threshing Day at the site two miles north of the cemetery. There is a parade at noon. On site will be a cook car and demonstrations, including threshing. There is a supper at the Community Centre hosted by the Borden Museum and Threshing Club.
