One Sunday as I was attending the service at Ralph Connor United Church, we were discussing the weather. Someone asked me what the winters were like way back when. So I told her that we were married January 24, 1946 in this church and it was blizzarding, minus 30 degrees F. So that was the start of married life for me, Louise Sherwood and Dutchy (Alfred) Mattson. Our reception was held in my mom and dad’s house where the Sherwood House is now. It was a Thursday because Dutchy at that time was only allowed Thursday and Friday for his wedding and his honeymoon. At that time he was taking a carpentry course in Medicine Hat. He caught the train up Wednesday night, we spent our wedding night in Banff at the Mount Royal. On Saturday we went back to Medicine Hat to get settled in our first home, a one room rented suite.
My dad, Henry Riches Sherwood, was born in Cow Pen Quay in England in 1900. My mom, Ruth Sheldon Jackson, was born in Armstrong, B.C. in 1905. Mom’s parents, Kate and John Jackson, came to Canmore and Anthracite somewhere in the 1890’s because my great grandmother, Elizabeth Asson, had relatives in Anthracite. These relatives were Henry Asson Senior who died Feb. 3, 1907 at the age of eighty-six. His wife, Jane Asson died June 8, 1908 at the age of eighty-two. Her brother John Scrubin died Jan. 26, 1907 aged eighty-seven years. A son, Henry Asson was accidentally killed in the mine in Anthracite on October 12, 1900 at the age of 47 years, 5 months. Alfred Harold Asson, aged 3 years, 10 months, beloved son of Henry and Elizabeth Asson, drowned at Anthracite on July 9, 1899. Charles Asson, aged 29 years, 10 months, died at Anthracite on December 10, 1899. This information is known because the tombstone was found in Banff at the old cemetery.
Anthracite was a coal mining town at that point. The Cascade River used to run right through Anthracite. When Minnewanka was dammed, control gates were put in and that was the end of the river.
My grandparents lived in Canmore. They lived where the Sherwood House is now. They had the only bay window house in Canmore. They also had a tennis court made beside the house and were very active in all sports. Grandad coached hockey, baseball and his son Percy Jackson went on to play for the Trail Smoke Eaters, a big hockey club in the early years. He went on to play in Boston for the Boston Cubs, then he went to Vancouver to play for the Vancouver Lions.
My grandfather supplied mine props for the mine in Canmore in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He logged up in Lake Louise, cut the trees down, dragged them down to the river and floated the logs down the Bow River. A log boom at the mine was where they got the logs out. Grandfather also logged up the Spray. They sent the logs down the river here, too, where the Spray joins the Bow. This area was called Jackson’s Flat and is now underwater.
My mother and my grandmother were great workers for the United Church. They had Ladies Aid meetings once a month on a Wednesday afternoon. A highlight was the goodies served at the meeting.
The family consisted of four children: Harlan, Ruth, Percy and Margaret. Harlan went on to work at the Hotel Vancouver. Ruth (my mother) stayed in Canmore and got married. Margaret went to Vancouver as well. My dad’s parents came to Canmore around 1913-1914. My dad and his dad both joined the army for WWI — Dad was 15. He was gassed in the war and was bothered by this all his life. They were both awarded medals by the town of Canmore. Dad’s parents moved to Vancouver Island. Dad stayed in Canmore, got married in 1922, and he worked in the mine. Dad was very involved with the union, being secretary treasurer from 1937 to 1965. He helped the foreign speaking people, filling out forms and writing letters. He was a good rugby player, curled, golfed, boxed. He boxed for the Calgary Highlanders in 1923 and won a medal for it. I, Louise, was born a week after he won the medal. My brother, Buss, (Russell) was born September 6, 1926. We grew up in the old log house after my grandparents moved to Vancouver. A real important part of our lives was listening for the mine whistle. One long whistle — work the next day. Three short whistles — no work next day. The sound of the whistles just filled the valley.
My dad was chairman of the school board for many years, a fact not always appreciated as he was also a union man.
During WWII he worked really hard selling victory bonds. He was a real Diefenbaker fan. In 1959, Mom and Dad were invited to the Legislative grounds in Edmonton for a luncheon for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
My brother Buss was a keen horseman, he loved horses. My dad purchased a white horse from a native, complete with bridle, halter, saddle and saddle blanket for the grand sum of ten dollars. This was an old horse and we could do anything with it. He even allowed us to lean a ladder against him so five kids could pile on for a ride. One day while going over to the company store the painters were painting the Bow Bridge. One man playfully swiped the paintbrush across the horse’s backside. My brother was upset about his white horse with the brown streak. Eventually the paint wore off and they didn’t paint the horse as they had threatened to do.
We used to have whirlwinds right along Main Street. Coal dust and gravel, mostly coal dust, swirled with the wind, at one time blowing off part of the roof. The miners helped my dad put on a new roof.
Buss usually has several cords of wood, some of which he sold. One time he cleaned his red paintbrush by wiping the ends of the blocks on the woodpile. This red wood seemed to be disappearing and the pile was getting smaller. Buss mentioned to a neighbor that all the red ended wood contained dynamite. Lo and behold a lot of the wood returned and was piled at the end of the garage.
Grandad Jackson enjoyed his rum. Grandmother would not allow any liquor in the house. Thanks to a well-trained horse who knew the route and system, Grandad was well supplied even when working out in the Spray. “Old Booze”, the horse, would go to the hotel, wait to be loaded with rum by Grandad’s friend and return to Grandad.
Dutchy and Louise Mattson
Buss Sherwood April c.1972
1952 Russell, Nancy, Donna Mattson
Sherwood certificate
In Canmore Seniors at the Summit, ed. Canmore Seniors Association, 2000, p.186-188.
