In 1913, Grand Central Station in New York opened and it was the first year they began putting prizes in the Cracker Jack boxes. It was also the year Freda Wright was born 17 miles west of Unity on NE 1-40-25-W3rd, delivered by Dr. Routledge. She was born in a big snowstorm seven hours earlier than her cousin.
Freda attended school in Scotstown, Rosebrier and Normal schools. She taught in Rosebrier and Langmark which is north of Adanac. She drove a round trip of 60 miles a day to teach in Rockhaven and she taught at Unity Public School as well as being the half-time librarian there.
Freda taught until her mandatory retirement in 1978. She loved to teach and was saddened to leave the profession. She recalls being goalie for the school hockey team, as well as playing every other sport offered.
Freda married Everett McCallum in 1940 and they farmed north of Adanac for many years. After Everett passed away in 1982, her son Fred continued to farm and Freda resided there until she moved into town in 1998. Freda first resided in her own home on 4th Avenue East in Unity and then made the decision to move into Luther Place in 2006, at age 93.
Freda and her husband had six children: Brian, who resides in Edmonton; Marilyn, who resides in Maidstone; Fred, who resides in Williams Lake, B.C.; Wil who resides in Sundrie, Alta., and Texas in the winter; Don, who resides in Cut Knife; and Russell, who resides in Weyburn. She has 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Freda's mind is remarkably sharp and accurate, as she recited many events and dates in her life. During her interview, she could direct her son, Wil, to a specific title of book to recall a specific date on an event she was retelling. On a table beside her she had a novel and crossword book, things she attributes to keeping her mind sharp.
I was astounded when Freda recalled an exact moment 10 years ago when she rocked my son to sleep because he was fussing while I was trying to chair a meeting at church. She also named the high school student who interviewed her for the centennial book. I know people my age who can't recall details to that extent.
One of things Freda said surprised her in her 100 years was airplanes. No one imagined flying in the air to their destination. She said folks used to rush to their windows when a plane flew over and she is astonished at the sheer number of aircraft in our skies today.
She never thought she would see a man go to the moon, let alone a Canadian man live on a space station for months at a time observing and recording our earth from afar.
I asked Freda her secret to long life and she chuckled. "There is no secret, it is God's will." But she did tell me keeping active certainly helps the body, mind and soul stay active as well. Her son Wil jokingly added it was having five sons that kept her young.
Freda published two books in 2012, both available in local stores, one titled Memories and the other being a cookbook.
Freda also told me a secret that she believes attributed to her longevity. Some time ago her children got her a mattress with magnets in it. She said she has slept wonderfully ever since, and believes part of a healthy life is not only being active and eating properly but also getting proper sleep at night.
Freda's activities are many. She has been curator of the Unity museum since 1978 and still serves in that capacity today. She was named Woman of the Year in 1991. She is a long-time member of Unity United Church where she also served on the UCW, the church board and in the choir. In addition to being on the museum board, she was also involved in the Order of the Eastern Star. Freda has been a long-time supporter of the Conservative Party and served on the board in this polling area.
Freda also played piano for many years, accompanying a variety of groups and individuals. She was proud to add that Wil, Fred and Russell are very musical and she was hoping to hear some of that music on her birthday weekend.
Freda recounts her family always enjoyed laughing and singing and playing cards, checkers and games. Freda still loves to play crib and bridge wholeheartedly and is thankful there are still bridge groups at Luther Place for her to partake in this favourite pastime.
Freda loved to paint and has many oil paintings displayed in her home, although she is saddened she has had to stop this pastime because there is not the room in her apartment for the equipment, nor can she see well enough any longer to complete the paintings.
Freda is an avid reader. Her son told me he remembers her reading a book to completion well into the night.
One thing Freda tells me she is glad that has changed in her 100 years is women's rights, including women having the right to vote. She recalls being a grown woman before she was eligible to vote. This is why Freda's numerous years of sponsoring children through World Vision has always included the stipulation that her sponsorship be given to girls.
Freda sadly states the one thing she wished hadn't changed so much in her 100 years is the habit, tradition and commitment to the church. She recalls that settlers came in with a Bible in one hand and hard-working hands to hold it. She offers these words of wisdom to young folk stating, "You must stay deeply connected to the church because their principles are easy to follow and, as people move farther away from the church, society sees the fallout as citizens seem to not be able to distinguish right from wrong."
Freda and Everett travelled many times but always remained in Canada, travelling from sea to sea - even as far as the NWT - as they felt there were a multitude of people, places and attractions in their own country to marvel at.
I asked her son one thing he was the most proud of his mom for and he replied, "Mom was always her own person and she did not back down from things she was passionate about or believed in". One instance he could remember was when he broke his arm and his mother was driving him quickly to the hospital when she was pulled over by the RCMP, checking her vehicle for purple gas. Well you can just imagine the 'standing down' she gave the officer, who proceeded to let them on their way. "As her child, you always knew she was in your corner," Wil said with a grin.
Freda said in all of her years she has been excited and proud to see Unity grow as it has. She has seen that it has been a well-built, well-organized and well-directed town that continues to prosper because of the dedication of those who reside in it.
With Freda, anyone who has shared her life knows she doesn't do anything half-heartedly. She was engaged and loyal to what she believed in and participated in.
For her 100th birthday, Freda was proud to say her only daughter, Marilyn, would be making her birthday cake just as she had when Freda turned 70 and for every milestone birthday since then. She doesn't plan anything "wild and crazy" for her 100th but she paused a moment to sigh and smile as she said proudly, "Nothing is unexciting when family is around." And you could see the look of love and admiration in her face and eyes as she made this statement.
