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We Made Baldur

Pioneer

Farmer James Dale

 

 




 In 1881, a young pioneer teacher by the name of James Dale arrived from Uxbridge, Ontario seeking a new way of life in the much publicized, fledgling province of Manitoba. His destination was what is now the Glenboro area. He decided to make his new home there, acquiring N 4-6-14. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Chambers, and their family came to the home"out west" in 1882 - a log house which was their home for the next 26 years.

James was a scholar and was keenly interested in the progress and welfare of his community. At plowing time he studied his books while the horses rested. He taught the first school in southwestern Manitoba, situated on the southeast corner of 15-16-14, just a mile east of the later location of the well-remembered Victoria Church. This school was the original Hecia School and was later moved a mile west and one and one-half miles north where it remained until the end of rural schools.

From 1902 to 1904, inclusive, James was the Reeve of the Municipality of Argyle. At the end of his second term he made a trip to England for the Federal Government to
encourage immigrants to come to Canada. One more trip was made at a later date for the same reason. He passed away March 8, 1907, at the age of 67.

Adapted from Come into our Heritage, page 377.

From the Baldur Gazette Sept. 1899:

“1899 – Jas. Dale secured the Red Ticket for wheat at the Belmont show. Mr. Alfred Woods, Glenboro president of the S. Cypress Agricultural Society, exhibited wheat and won prizes at the Chicago Worlds Fair. He was also superintendent of the Junior Seed Growers of Glenboro.”

Mr. Dale also contributed articles to the same Special Historical Edition of the Gazette.


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