Interview with Wilf Watson
https://search.bvmuseum.org/link/descriptions12295
- Date Range
- December 7, 1988
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- GMD
- sound recording
- electronic record
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Wilf Watson, recorded on December 7th 1984 by BVM Curator Ruth Murdoch as part of the "Growing Up in the Bulkley Valley" series. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access file, and .pdf release form.
- Collection
- BVM Oral History collection
- Description Level
- File
- Creator
- Ruth Murdoch
- Fonds No.
- C5
- Item No.
- 2021.21.74
- Accession No.
- 2021.21
- Physical Description
- 785 MB of digital records
- Date Range
- December 7, 1988
- Scope and Content
- Interview with Wilf Watson, recorded on December 7th 1984 by BVM Curator Ruth Murdoch as part of the "Growing Up in the Bulkley Valley" series. Includes raw and edited .WAV files, .MP3 access file, and .pdf release form.
- Type of Record
- Archival Description
Audio Tracks
Interview with Wilf Watson - December 7, 1988
Interview with Wilf Watson - December 7, 1988
https://search.bvmuseum.org/media/Digital%20Fonds%20and%20Collections/C5%20BVM%20Oral%20History%20collection/2021.21.74_Watson,%20Wilf/Watson,%20Wilf%201988_12_07.ACCESS.mp3
Wilf Watson discusses his early years in Smithers and Ontario, including various houses the family lived in and different schools he attended. (Note: some parts of this section are difficult to hear due to background noise).
Alfred Avenue; Fred Watson; hockey; Main Street ditch; Mary Downey; Mary Fawcett; Mary Watson; Nan Fetterly; Ontario; skating rink; teachers; Watson's Store
childhood; family; homes; houses; school; Smithers
Watson discusses various games and sports that he and other children played to keep themselves entertained. (Note: some parts of this section are difficult to hear due to background noise).
boxing; Harley Lewis; hopscotch; marbles; rolling hoops; skating; skip rope; Town Hall
activities; games; leisure; recreation; sports
Watson discusses the close relationship between Smithers and its surrounding countryside, mentioning people and places that he often visited and outdoor activities which he pursued there. (Note: some parts of this section are difficult to hear due to background noise).
31 Mile Farm; anecdotes; Armistice Day; Barrett; Bill Bryant; Billy Wedge; Bob Ashburner; bull; canyon; Charlie Barrett; Charlie Chapman; Charlie Sieh; collecting nuts; concerts; country schools; deer hunting; Fred Basin; frozen bread; haunted house; Helen Barrett; Mrs. Woodward; Newens Road; Spring Hill; telephones; wild hazelnuts; Wilfred Abel
community; countryside; fishing; hunting; visiting
Watson discusses the close-knit Smithers community of his childhood and how people relied on one another for entertainment and social activities.
concerts; Jim Downey; Mary Watson
community; entertainment
Watson discusses his memories of Christmas, including the cakes sent by his grandmother in Liverpool and the bicycle that his father bought for him and his siblings one year.
alcohol; Birkenhead; cake shop; candy; Christmas ornaments; Christmas trees; liquor; Liverpool
bicycle; Christmas; Christmas cakes; holidays; presents
Watson discusses how people made their own alcohol before Smithers had a government liquor store.
alcohol; liquor
Watson discusses his school days, including what the students did for fun at recess.
exams; games; playground; recess; school subjects; sports; teachers; tests; Tommy Hyrd
education; recreation; school
Watson discusses community events such as picnics, sports days, the Fall Fair, and the Telkwa barbecue.
bicycle races; fairgrounds; Fall Fair; food booths; greased pig contest; greasy pole climbing; horse races; hospital picnics; Lake Kathlyn; rodeo; Telkwa barbecue; town picnics
celebrations; community events; holidays; leisure; picnics; recreation; sports competitions; sports days
Watson briefly discusses how he would trap rabbits in the woods for food.
sleighs; snowshoeing
rabbits; snares; trapping
Watson discusses the chores he did at the family's store after school.
warehouse; woodbox; woodcutting
chores; responsibilities; Watson's Store; work
Watson notes that his family had the first radio on the block.
Fibber McGee and Molly; RCA Victor
radio; radio shows
Watson mentions family outings to Trout Creek for fishing and picnicking, then transitions into a discussion of poor road conditions in the early days and an effort by the town to pave them with shale. (Note: audio quality is poor and fades in and out).
corduroy roads; fishing; hauling shale; picnicking; plowing; shale rock
delivering groceries; driving; leisure; outings; paving streets; road conditions; Trout Creek
Brief discussion of what wild game was available for hunting in the early days. (Note: interview ends abruptly without a formal conclusion).
deer; ducks; grouse; Lakes District; moose
hunting