KREW KUTS: The “Roar” of ’64!
By Bernie Krewski
In his new book, “1964 – The Year the Swinging Sixties Began,” Christopher Sandford writes about various events generating memories for those of us living our early lives as well offering a few history lessons for younger generations.
The Beatles had just finished a thirty-seven-day tour in England and “by the spring of 1964 you could almost see their hopeful little heads poking out of the soil.” Several companies were developing transistorized boxes attached to a keyboard that could be installed on a desk, the beginnings of the modern-day computer. The first ATM or cash machine was installed in a bank in north London, England. The “miracle pick-me-up,’ drug Valium first came on the market in 1963. By 1964 its usage had reached “epidemic proportions.” The British Royal College of Physicians announced in 1962 that tobacco-related lung cancer was killing 63 Britons each day, the highest in the developed world. As so often happens, a similar revelation by the U.S. surgeon-general two years later led to international coverage and the onset of many anti-smoking campaigns.
These are some of the highlights from the local scene.
OBITUARY
Charles L. Dunford, 79, died at his home in Sylvan Lake on March 30. He was founder of The Oyen News which he published from 1914 – 1935 before moving to Sylvan Lake.
Born in England in 1884, he was training to become a Scottish architect. When a job application was unsuccessful due to lack of experience, he decided to go to “one of the colonies,” arriving in Montreal in 1905. He was employed in several engineering positions at Fort William (now Thunder Bay) and London, Ontario, before a friend encouraged him to become the manager of a weekly newspaper in Alsask on the Goose Lake Line, later moving to Oyen.
He spent the last half of WWI in Europe with the 187th and 50th Battalions and returned to Oyen in 1919.
He served on the Oyen Village Council, the Board of Trade, the boards of stewards of the United Church, and was master and secretary of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Dunford was survived by his wife Gladys, sons Warren (publisher of The Sylvan Lake News) and Brian, a professor of chemistry.
ROBBERY
Acadia Valley (June 3) – “Thieves Get $1,700 From Post Office” – Police asked the public to watch for $50 bills in the money taken by “experienced safe crackers” from the post office on June 2nd. The safe was rifled around 4:00 a.m. according to a report from the Oyen RCMP detachment. The stolen property included cash, cheques, unemployment insurance stamps, and two items of registered mail. RCMP asked merchants and other businesses throughout the Calgary and eastern Saskatchewan areas to examine all $50 dollars for specific serial numbers. The robbery was well-planned, police said, an indication the safe crackers were professionals.
RADAR BASE
Alsask, January 9 - “Alsask Base to Open Early in ‘64” – New Heavy Radar Station Listed Among Many to Start Operating in Canada.
Opening of new heavy radar stations in the Canadian Prairies early in 1964 will permit the closing of portions of the Mid-Canada Line which lie generally to their North. This was made known in a statement by Defence Minister Paul Hellyer on Dec. 30.
The new long-range Western radars are located at Dana SK, Yorkton, Gypsumville MB, Penhold AB and Alsask.
OYEN
Modern Machinery operated by Joe Wiechnik opened on January 18.
Mr. Ostrander celebrated his 103rd birthday on February 7.
“Oyen Mutual Telephone Co. Going ‘Dial’” - Ninety subscribers, directors, and guests attended the annual general meeting held at the Legion Hall on March 7. These developments were of special interest for rural subscribers. Information from AGT regarding conversion to the dial system was provided, explaining the procedure to be followed and the establishment of the rate structure.