Interview with Viola Kelly
https://search.bvmuseum.org/link/descriptions12256
- Date Range
- May 14 1990
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- sound recording
- electronic record
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Viola Kelly (nee Williams), recorded on May 14th 1990 by Lori Hudson. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, an .MP3 access file, and a .jpg release form.
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- Creator
- Lori Hudson
- Fonds No.
- C5
- Item No.
- 2021.21.49
- Accession No.
- 2021.21
- Physical Description
- 858 MB of digital records
- Date Range
- May 14 1990
- History / Biographical
- Viola Williams Kelly (1895-1992) was born in McPherson, Kansas. She moved to Smithers from Edmonton in 1925 with her husband Harry, an employee of the Canadian National Railways. Kelly was a life member of the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary.
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Viola Kelly (nee Williams), recorded on May 14th 1990 by Lori Hudson. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, an .MP3 access file, and a .jpg release form.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Audio Tracks
Interview with Viola Kelly - May 14 1990
Viola Kelly discusses her arrival in Smithers in 1926 and what sort of housing, amenities, and appliances were available at the time.
Aladdin house; appliances; bridge; carpenters; dinner parties; Edmonton; entertainment; government agent; government telegraph office; Harry Kelly; house; household appliances; kit house; Les Buchanan; Mr. Downey; night dispatcher; nurse; phone system; plumbing; shrinking wood; wet lumber; William Mitchell
amenities; arrival; electricity; houses; housing; phones; telephones
Kelly discusses her involvement with the Women's Hospital Auxiliary and the work they did to financially support the hospital.
children's masquerade; Clarence Goodacre; costumes; dances; donations; government funding; Gray's Jewelry; Gray's Orchestra; Hospital Day; Jean Kilpatrick; John Gray; May Day; Mrs. Frank Parker Sr.; newspaper; sewing meetings
Bulkley Valley District Hospital; fundraising; Hospital Auxiliary; special events; volunteer work; volunteering; Women's Auxiliary
Kelly discusses other community organizations in early Smithers, such as the Churches and the Oddfellows Lodge (the latter of which was started by her husband.)
Alberta; Anglican Church; cake; Catholic Church; Catholic Women's League; community events; Harry Kelly; injury; Minneapolis; Mother's Day tea; raffles; Town Hall; United Church
churches; community events; community organizations; Oddfellows; Oddfellows Lodge; religion
Kelly discusses visits from political leaders such as the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia (Robert Randolph Bruce); she also describes local politics and figures such as J. Mason Adams and Joe 'Kicker' Kelly.
Alexander Manson; bootlegging; Bulkley Hotel; debates; J. Mason Adams; Joe 'Kicker' Kelly; Lieutenant-Governor; liquor; municipal designation; policemen; political parties; population; provincial police; reception; Robert Randolph Bruce; visiting
political leaders; politics
Kelly discusses some of the buildings and businesses along Main Street, with particular focus on the Central Park Building and the family of provincial police chief W.J. Service, who lived there when she arrived in town.
bank robbery; Bulkley Hotel; Carr brothers; fire; government office; Mason Adams' drugstore; police chief; post office
buildings; businesses; Central Park Building; Main Street; police; Service family; W.J. Service
Kelly discusses the many fires along Main Street and how they were fought by the volunteer fire department.
Blue Goose Cafe; bucket brigade; fire hall; fire insurance; garage fire; Gray's Jewelry; Main Street; Prince George
firefighting; fires; volunteer fire department
Kelly discusses the main employers during the early days of Smithers - forestry, the railway, and the government office.
government jobs; logging; sawmills
employers; employment; forestry; government office; jobs; railway; work
Kelly discusses the scarcity of cars and roads in early Smithers, as well as the opening of Highway 16 to Prince Rupert.
divisional point; Fords; General Motors; Gordon Williams; Hoskins Garage; Mr. Boyer; Mr. Carr; Oswald Hoskins; Prince Rupert; Ruby Hoskins; sleighs; taxi service; Telkwa; trips to the coast; Wiggs O'Neill
cars; Highway 16; roads; transportation; vehicles
Kelly discusses what sports were popular in Smithers during her time.
baseball; curling; Hazelton; hockey; May 24th; skating; skating rink; skiing
athletics; recreation; sports
Kelly discusses the biggest changes she has witnessed in Smithers over time, including the development of movie theatres.
advertisements; community; families; radios; town hall; travelling; Western movies; Wiggs O'Neill
change; entertainment; movie theatres; movies; population growth
Kelly discusses the different stores in town, as well as the popularity of mail-order catalogues.
Bill Doodson; butcher shop; Charlie Morris; Clarence Goodacre; Doodson's Store; Eaton's; Eby's Hardware; general store; Goodacre's Store; J. Mason Adams; Knoll's; mail order catalogues; Sargent's Store; Sealy and Doodson; Sears; Watson's Store
groceries; shopping; shops; stores
Kelly discusses weather conditions in Smithers over the years, including the annual flooding known as the
bridges; coal oil lamps; cold; floods; June rise; lighting; Prince Rupert; snow; spring; transportation; winter
climate; flooding; holidays; temperature; travel; weather
Kelly recalls the entertainment of the day, including school plays and movies.
Douglas Fairbanks; drama teacher; Mr. Blanchard; Scrooge; The Bells of St. Mary's
entertainment; movies; plays; school plays
Kelly discusses how the entire community would come together for the annual Fall Fair.
fair grounds; horse races; Hospital Auxiliary booth; pie competition; prizes; rivalries; Telkwa barbecue
Fall Fair