A few years ago I enjoyed an article written by John Ireland in the Calgary Herald, telling the story of a certain rose-coloured jam pot owned by Frank McKitrick, a retired teacher, who at the time was an organist choir leader at the Knox United Church in Calgary, Alta. Frank grew up on Queen Street (98th Street) in North Battleford, son of Katie and Harold McKitrick. His Granny Wright lived just down the street.
The connection to North Battleford interested me and I think that others might enjoy the story too.
"Humbug" seems to be a word that reminds us of Dickens, snowy London streets and of Scrooge about to discover the true meaning of Christmas. It is also the name of a hard striped peppermint candy that some thought had a warming effect on one's constitution.
They seemed to be the only candies Frank's Granny had and he had a great dislike for them. He did, however, like the container they were in. He said, "Every time I went to visit Granny, I'd admire the jam pot. Then she would offer me a humbug out of it. I'd politely decline, but did often suggest to Granny - that 'when you die will you leave me the jam pot?'"
It was the request of a young child drawn to an eye catching object, so Frank was surprised when, not yet a teenager, his beloved Grandmother died, and a codicil in her will named him the jam pot's new owner.
Today, Granny Wright's beautiful hand decorated cranberry glass jam pot, trimmed in silver with a silver spoon to match, sits on a corner table in Frank McKitrick's home. It is often the topic of conversation.
The story is, that in March 1903, the Wrights were among the Barr colonists who were lured to Canada by the promises of the Reverend Isaac Barr, who had secured land near the future Alberta-Saskatchewan border. It was an opportunity for a new start. They were young. Bearing all their worldly goods - including a dining room table with a sideboard, numerous chairs, a grandfather clock and a certain rose coloured jam jar, they sailed on the S.S. Manitoba from Liverpool to St. Johns, N.B. then boarded two trains and arrived in the small settlement of Saskatoon in early May. "From there, it was into ox carts for the long trek west. The final destination was to have been the present site of Lloydminster, but Granny was exhausted and said that she could go no further."
"According to McKitrick, his grandparents endured two harsh winters living in a tent before building a house in the community that eventually became North Battleford." Frank says, "That's where mother became the first Caucasian baby born in Northern Saskatchewan."
Over the years there have been many memories that have been lost. Thanks to Frank McKitrick and John Ireland, I was able to tell you this story.
