The Representative, Leduc, Alberta, May 3, 1978*<\/strong> [NOTE: French translation follows]<\/strong><\/p>\n Page 19<\/strong><\/p>\n [The year] 1929 saw the economic collapse of most of the world\u2019s countries.<\/p>\n Canada was no exception, although the prairie provinces in general took a much longer period Beaumont was fortunate in that the area did not experience the concurrent, tragic dustbowls As a consequence of good crops, it would appear that local farmers took matters in hand during Wheat in the early 30\u2019s sold for 19 cents a bushel, hogs for $1.90 per hundred weight, eggs for Lumber, cut locally for mine-shaft props, was exchanged for coal to fuel stoves and furnaces. Many homes had Delco power plants, small generators capable of producing 32 volts, in their Produce, such as potatoes, was stored in dugout cellars, usually under the farm house. A Hired hands, paid $5 a month by local farmers, were subsidized an additional $5 by the Horses rather than gasoline, powered equipment and were used for hauling, travel and farm On occasions when farm families could sell produce, for example eggs, at the local stores, they The stores in Beaumont stocked non-[perishables] in bulk. Molasses cans, brought by People of the time remember taking eggs into town to sell packed in grain. Once the eggs were In times such as these, ingenuity was necessary for survival. This ingenuity took many forms. Snow was often scarce on the high level bridge in Edmonton, so Mr. Roberge and companions Upon arrival at the threshold of the then one-lane bridge, they would wait patiently for the first Farmers established on their land before the depression managed fairly well.<\/p>\n Mr. Arthur LeBlanc, whose family has been in the Beaumont area since 1894, bought his 160 In 1928, he built a large, five-bedroom house on the farm for about $5,000, lumber being sold at Between 1930 and 1970, Beaumont had five priests serve the parish. Each brought his own Pg. 20<\/strong><\/p>\n have left their mark on Beaumont\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Father Gaborit served the parish for 16 years, from 1924 until his death in 1940. It was Father Father Chartrand took over the ministry of St Vital parish after Father Gaborit\u2019s death. In 1942, The celebration included a banquet in the church basement, a procession through the village, Father Chartrand was replaced by Father J.E. Lapointe in 1945. He devoted himself to the Father Lapointe organized and personally took part in the construction of the community hall, Oblats from College St. Jean in Edmonton conducted religious services in Beaumont until Father Robert immediately organized renovations to the church. The final work was so thorough That same year, 1958, a new rectory was also built. During its construction, Father Robert lived Father Robert, now [1978] in Edmonton, is remembered as a mild-mannered man whose Father Ren\u00e9 Jacob arrived in the village after Father Robert, in 1963, from a parish in Jasper For 40 years, from 1932 to 1972, Les Filles de J\u00e9sus (Daughters of Jesus) provided religious Ecole Bellevue was built in 1949 when the old school was dismantled and the wood used to The history of commerce and business in Beaumont is vital and dynamic. That local area people From time to time, until 1970, commerce within the village has included general stores, a bank, The northwest corner of 50th Street and 50th Avenue has been the [center] of continuing Another busy location has been the site of the old credit union on 50th Avenue. In the early In the early 1940\u2019s, Mr. Baril ran the store until Joe LeBlanc bought the building in about 1946 Another egg-grading station was opened during the depression on the south end of 51st street.<\/p>\n Alcide Magnan, in the 1930\u2019s, purchased a store from Mr. LeBlanc. The store was originally Every manner of goods were sold, including a supply of coffins stored upstairs over the main A gas pump near the store provided fuel for a fire which broke out from a burning coal oil lantern Mr. Magnan built a new store where the \u201cChateau on the Hill\u201d now* stands. He operated the As well as places for business, these general stores served as social gathering places. Men In 1927, the Vaugeois family took over a pool hall previously owned by Alex Gobeil. The Mr. Chatel owned a store near the Goudreau Dairy at the same time that Mr. Leblanc\u2019s store [Omer] Royer operate a store a block west of the church on 50th Avenue in the early 20\u2019s. He Several blacksmiths operated in the village from time to time \u2013 Long, Charbonneau and Gravel A small restaurant was opened by Maurice Leblanc in the village. Mr. Henri Gobeil bought the In 1927, Mrs. Charbonneau became village postmistress and remained so, with the post office World War II is remembered as a sad and prayerful time by those left in Beaumont. Reports of Farmers still remained self-sufficient. When the economy began to pick up again, they began to Pg. 23<\/strong><\/p>\n Economic prosperity for the farmers was slow in coming. Local residents remember a farmer\u2019s Concerts, plays, banquets and basket socials were all activities enjoyed by the community in the That same hill while providing such fun and enjoyment to young people, was a nemesis for Modernization of the village, in terms of utilities, was slow in coming. The one exception was the In 1947, Calgary Power signed a franchise agreement with the County of Leduc to supply Water was still being drawn from wells or cisterns until 1961, when a water pipe line from As the 1970\u2019s approached, change and growth loomed on Beaumont\u2019s horizon.<\/p>\n The hamlet becoming a village, with its own municipal government, signaled a landmark in (To be continued)<\/strong><\/p>\n FRENCH<\/strong><\/p>\n Pg. 19 The Representative, Leduc, Alberta, 3 mai 1978*<\/strong><\/p>\n Beaumont chanceux pendant la d\u00e9pression du Dust Bowl<\/strong><\/p>\n Par Barbara et Bob Willis<\/strong><\/p>\n [L’ann\u00e9e] 1929 a vu l’effondrement \u00e9conomique de la plupart des pays du monde.<\/p>\n Le Canada n’a pas fait exception, m\u00eame si les provinces des Prairies ont g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement mis beaucoup plus de temps \u00e0 se remettre des effets de la d\u00e9pression que le reste du pays.<\/p>\n Beaumont a eu la chance de ne pas conna\u00eetre les tragiques temp\u00eates de poussi\u00e8re qui ont d\u00e9truit les moyens de subsistance de milliers de familles d’agriculteurs des Prairies.<\/p>\n Gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 de bonnes r\u00e9coltes, il semble que les agriculteurs locaux aient pris les choses en main pendant la d\u00e9pression et aient produit des biens pour leur propre usage. Le beurre \u00e9tait fait maison et le bl\u00e9 \u00e9tait moulu en farine dans les moulins de Leduc ou d’Edmonton. En raison de la baisse des prix des mati\u00e8res premi\u00e8res, les agriculteurs ont jug\u00e9 plus rentable de conserver leurs propres produits plut\u00f4t que d’essayer de les vendre.<\/p>\n Au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 30, le bl\u00e9 se vendait 19 cents le boisseau, les porcs 1,90 $ le quintal, les \u0153ufs 6 cents la douzaine et les bovins de boucherie si peu que cela ne valait pas la peine de les transporter en ville.<\/p>\n Le bois coup\u00e9 localement pour les \u00e9tais des puits de mine \u00e9tait \u00e9chang\u00e9 contre du charbon pour alimenter les po\u00eales et les chaudi\u00e8res. Le charbon \u00e9tait transport\u00e9 depuis un site situ\u00e9 \u00e0 trois miles \u00e0 l’ouest d’Ellerslie.<\/p>\n De nombreuses maisons disposaient dans leur sous-sol de petites centrales \u00e9lectriques Delco, capables de produire 32 volts.<\/p>\n Les produits agricoles, tels que les pommes de terre, \u00e9taient stock\u00e9s dans des caves creus\u00e9es dans le sol, g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement sous la maison de la ferme. Une lanterne allum\u00e9e \u00e9tait laiss\u00e9e allum\u00e9e pour d\u00e9gager suffisamment de chaleur afin d’\u00e9viter le gel en hiver, et la fra\u00eecheur souterraine permettait de conserver les denr\u00e9es alimentaires pendant la chaleur estivale.<\/p>\n Les ouvriers agricoles, pay\u00e9s 5 dollars par mois par les agriculteurs locaux, recevaient une aide suppl\u00e9mentaire de 5 dollars du gouvernement afin de les emp\u00eacher de d\u00e9pendre de l’aide sociale et de fr\u00e9quenter les soupes populaires de la ville.<\/p>\n Les chevaux, plut\u00f4t que l’essence, alimentaient les \u00e9quipements et \u00e9taient utilis\u00e9s pour le transport, les d\u00e9placements et les travaux agricoles. Les tracteurs \u00e9taient laiss\u00e9s dans des hangars ou des granges pour \u00eatre utilis\u00e9s \u00e0 l’avenir, lorsque le carburant serait abordable. Quelques agriculteurs, tels que Pierre B\u00e9rub\u00e9 et Paul Magnan, utilisaient des v\u00e9hicules pour collecter le lait, la cr\u00e8me, les c\u00e9r\u00e9ales et les \u0153ufs pour ceux qui n’avaient pas de moyen de transport.<\/p>\n Lorsque les familles d’agriculteurs pouvaient vendre leurs produits, par exemple des \u0153ufs, dans les magasins locaux, elles n’\u00e9taient pas pay\u00e9es en esp\u00e8ces. Elles recevaient plut\u00f4t des marchandises en \u00e9change ou un cr\u00e9dit pour de futurs achats.<\/p>\n Les magasins de Beaumont stockaient des produits non p\u00e9rissables en vrac. Les bidons de m\u00e9lasse, apport\u00e9s par les clients depuis leur domicile, \u00e9taient remplis pour 25 cents \u00e0 partir du grand tonneau du magasin. Le vinaigre et le p\u00e9trole lampant \u00e9taient vendus de la m\u00eame mani\u00e8re. Les sacs en papier brun n’existaient pas : les contenants \u00e9taient apport\u00e9s vides au magasin et ramen\u00e9s remplis \u00e0 la maison. Les cigarettes, vendues six pour cinq le dimanche, \u00e9taient un luxe.<\/p>\n Les gens de l’\u00e9poque se souviennent d’avoir apport\u00e9 des \u0153ufs en ville pour les vendre, emball\u00e9s dans du grain. Une fois les \u0153ufs vendus, les chevaux \u00e9taient nourris avec le grain avant de rentrer \u00e0 la maison.<\/p>\n \u00c0 une telle \u00e9poque, il fallait faire preuve d’ing\u00e9niosit\u00e9 pour survivre. Cette ing\u00e9niosit\u00e9 prenait de nombreuses formes. M. Leo Roberge raconte comment il transportait du foin dans le nord d’Edmonton pendant les mois d’hiver :<\/p>\n Il y avait souvent peu de neige sur le pont sur\u00e9lev\u00e9 d’Edmonton, alors M. Roberge et ses compagnons dirigeaient leur attelage et leur tra\u00eeneau vers le pont surbaiss\u00e9.<\/p>\n Une fois arriv\u00e9s au seuil du pont, qui n’avait alors qu’une seule voie, ils attendaient patiemment le premier coup de cloche du tramway. Imm\u00e9diatement, l’attelage se positionnait au milieu de la voie qui traversait le pont. In\u00e9vitablement, le tramway, qui descendait la pente \u00e0 grande vitesse, percutait le tra\u00eeneau \u00ab immobilis\u00e9 \u00bb. Apr\u00e8s quelques mots durs, le conducteur se calmait et demandait que le foin qui recouvrait ses phares soit retir\u00e9. Pr\u00e9tendant que les chevaux \u00e9taient \u00e9puis\u00e9s et incapables de bouger, les Fran\u00e7ais rus\u00e9s convainquaient le conducteur du tramway de pousser le tra\u00eeneau sur toute la longueur du pont et en haut de la c\u00f4te. Au final, les chevaux \u00e9taient repos\u00e9s et les conducteurs de bonne humeur, satisfaits d’avoir bien fait leur \u00ab travail \u00bb.<\/p>\n Les agriculteurs qui s’\u00e9taient install\u00e9s sur leurs terres avant la d\u00e9pression s’en sortaient plut\u00f4t bien.<\/p>\n En 1928, il a construit une grande maison de cinq chambres sur la ferme pour environ 5 000 dollars, le bois \u00e9tant vendu \u00e0 25 dollars les mille pieds-planche \u00e0 l’\u00e9poque. En 1937, le prix du bois est tomb\u00e9 \u00e0 13 dollars les mille pieds-planche, livraison comprise.<\/p>\n Entre 1930 et 1970, Beaumont a eu cinq pr\u00eatres au service de la paroisse. Chacun a apport\u00e9 ses propres comp\u00e9tences et tous<\/p>\n Pg. 20<\/p>\n ont laiss\u00e9 leur empreinte dans l’histoire de Beaumont.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Gaborit a desservi la paroisse pendant 16 ans, de 1924 jusqu’\u00e0 sa mort en 1940. C’est le p\u00e8re Gaborit qui a supervis\u00e9 la construction de la grotte devant l’\u00e9glise en 1935. Il a \u00e9t\u00e9 enterr\u00e9 au pied de la croix au milieu du cimeti\u00e8re de Beaumont.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Chartrand a pris la rel\u00e8ve du p\u00e8re Gaborit \u00e0 la paroisse Saint-Vital. En 1942, avec l’aide des quelque 200 familles de la r\u00e9gion de Beaumont, il a organis\u00e9 des festivit\u00e9s pour c\u00e9l\u00e9brer le 50e anniversaire de la paroisse.<\/p>\n La c\u00e9l\u00e9bration comprenait un banquet dans le sous-sol de l’\u00e9glise, une procession \u00e0 travers le village, des chants \u00e0 l’\u00e9cole et des pri\u00e8res pr\u00e8s de la grotte devant l’\u00e9glise.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Chartrand a \u00e9t\u00e9 remplac\u00e9 par le p\u00e8re J.E. Lapointe en 1945. Il s’est consacr\u00e9 \u00e0 l’\u00e9glise et \u00e0 la communaut\u00e9 pendant 11 ans avant de prendre sa retraite en 1956.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Lapointe a organis\u00e9 et particip\u00e9 personnellement \u00e0 la construction de la salle communautaire, aujourd’hui connue sous le nom de Club Beaumont. Il a jou\u00e9 un r\u00f4le d\u00e9terminant dans l’ouverture de la Caisse populaire (coop\u00e9rative de cr\u00e9dit) \u00e0 Beaumont en 1945. Le p\u00e8re Lapointe prit sa retraite \u00e0 Bonnyville, o\u00f9 il v\u00e9cut jusqu’\u00e0 sa mort quelques ann\u00e9es plus tard.<\/p>\n Les Oblats du Coll\u00e8ge Saint-Jean d’Edmonton assur\u00e8rent les services religieux \u00e0 Beaumont jusqu’\u00e0 l’arriv\u00e9e du p\u00e8re Robert comme nouveau cur\u00e9 en novembre 1957.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Robert organisa imm\u00e9diatement la r\u00e9novation de l’\u00e9glise. Le travail final fut si minutieux et les r\u00e9novations si compl\u00e8tes que la paroisse eut l’impression que l’\u00e9glise \u00e9tait toute neuve. La touche finale a \u00e9t\u00e9 l’ajout d’une croix illumin\u00e9e, install\u00e9e par Maurice Gobeil.<\/p>\n La m\u00eame ann\u00e9e, en 1958, un nouveau presbyt\u00e8re a \u00e9galement \u00e9t\u00e9 construit. Pendant les travaux, le p\u00e8re Robert a v\u00e9cu dans une suite de pi\u00e8ces au sous-sol de l’\u00e9glise.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Robert, qui vit aujourd’hui [1978] \u00e0 Edmonton, est rest\u00e9 dans les m\u00e9moires comme un homme affable dont l’organisation a accompli beaucoup de choses en peu de temps.<\/p>\n Le p\u00e8re Ren\u00e9 Jacob est arriv\u00e9 dans le village apr\u00e8s le p\u00e8re Robert, en 1963, en provenance d’une paroisse de Jasper Place \u00e0 Edmonton. Il a servi dans la paroisse St. Vital pendant 15 ans et reste [1978] actif aujourd’hui.<\/p>\n Pendant 40 ans, de 1932 \u00e0 1972, Les Filles de J\u00e9sus ont dispens\u00e9 un enseignement religieux et scolaire aux enfants de Beaumont. Elles ont pris en charge l’\u00e9cole du village d\u00e8s leur arriv\u00e9e. La maison de Mme Lachappelle a \u00e9t\u00e9 achet\u00e9e pour servir de r\u00e9sidence temporaire jusqu’en 1936, date \u00e0 laquelle un nouveau couvent a \u00e9t\u00e9 construit. Ce b\u00e2timent, situ\u00e9 en face de l’\u00e9cole, de l’autre c\u00f4t\u00e9 de la 50e avenue, a \u00e9t\u00e9 vendu en 1972 \u00e0 M. et Mme Gerry Patsula, qui y r\u00e9sident aujourd’hui* avec leur famille. Les religieuses ont quitt\u00e9 Beaumont apr\u00e8s la vente du couvent.<\/p>\n L’\u00e9cole Bellevue a \u00e9t\u00e9 construite en 1949, lorsque l’ancienne \u00e9cole a \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9mantel\u00e9e et que le bois a \u00e9t\u00e9 utilis\u00e9 pour construire plusieurs petites maisons. En 1956, une extension a \u00e9t\u00e9 construite sur le c\u00f4t\u00e9 sud de l’\u00e9cole, en 1959, les locaux administratifs et le gymnase ont \u00e9t\u00e9 ajout\u00e9s et en 1963, le laboratoire, la biblioth\u00e8que et les salles de classe ont \u00e9t\u00e9 construits.<\/p>\n L’histoire du commerce et des affaires \u00e0 Beaumont est essentielle et dynamique. Il ne fait aucun doute que les habitants de la r\u00e9gion utilisaient les commerces du village pour leurs \u00e9changes, leurs ventes, leurs achats et leurs loisirs. Le long voyage jusqu’\u00e0 Edmonton \u00e9tait r\u00e9serv\u00e9 aux ventes importantes de produits agricoles ou de foin. Des transactions de toutes tailles \u00e9taient effectu\u00e9es dans les nombreux magasins qui prosp\u00e9raient autrefois \u00e0 Beaumont.<\/p>\n Jusqu’en 1970, le commerce dans le village comprenait des magasins g\u00e9n\u00e9raux, une banque, des forgerons, des garages, des salles de billard, des caf\u00e9s, une boucherie, des stations de calibrage des \u0153ufs, un salon de coiffure, un cordonnier et une coop\u00e9rative de cr\u00e9dit.<\/p>\n Le coin nord-ouest de la 50e rue et de la 50e avenue a toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 le centre commercial du village. Le premier magasin \u00e0 cet endroit a \u00e9t\u00e9 construit par Wilfrid Magnan. \u00c0 la fin des ann\u00e9es 1940, le magasin a \u00e9t\u00e9 vendu \u00e0 Maurice Magnan, qui l’a exploit\u00e9 jusqu’en 1968, date \u00e0 laquelle il a \u00e9t\u00e9 vendu \u00e0 M. Fraser.<\/p>\n Un autre endroit tr\u00e8s fr\u00e9quent\u00e9 \u00e9tait l’ancien site de la coop\u00e9rative de cr\u00e9dit sur la 50e Avenue. Au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 1920, Pat Demers y tenait un magasin. Paul Magnan a repris le magasin et y a install\u00e9 des tables de billard \u00e0 l’usage du public. \u00c0 l’\u00e9poque, l’\u00e2ge l\u00e9gal pour jouer au billard \u00e9tait de 18 ans et la loi \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s probablement appliqu\u00e9e par les propri\u00e9taires afin de prot\u00e9ger leurs licences.<\/p>\n Au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 1940, M. Baril a exploit\u00e9 le magasin jusqu’\u00e0 ce que Joe LeBlanc ach\u00e8te le b\u00e2timent vers 1946 pour en faire un centre de calibrage des \u0153ufs. Au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 1950, alors que la famille Charest louait un logement \u00e0 l’\u00e9tage et que le centre de calibrage des \u0153ufs se trouvait toujours au rez-de-chauss\u00e9e, le b\u00e2timent a \u00e9t\u00e9 enti\u00e8rement d\u00e9truit par un incendie.<\/p>\n Un autre centre de calibrage des \u0153ufs a \u00e9t\u00e9 ouvert pendant la d\u00e9pression, \u00e0 l’extr\u00e9mit\u00e9 sud de la 51e rue.<\/p>\n Alcide Magnan, dans les ann\u00e9es 1930, a achet\u00e9 un magasin \u00e0 M. LeBlanc. Le magasin avait \u00e9t\u00e9 construit \u00e0 l’origine \u00e0 l’ouest de l’\u00e9glise par Alcide B\u00e9rub\u00e9 pr\u00e8s de 30 ans auparavant. Le magasin a chang\u00e9 plusieurs fois de propri\u00e9taire avant de revenir finalement \u00e0 M. Magnan.<\/p>\n On y vendait toutes sortes de marchandises, y compris des cercueils entrepos\u00e9s \u00e0 l’\u00e9tage au-dessus du magasin principal.<\/p>\n Une pompe \u00e0 essence situ\u00e9e pr\u00e8s du magasin a aliment\u00e9 un incendie qui s’est d\u00e9clar\u00e9 \u00e0 la fin des ann\u00e9es 1930 \u00e0 partir d’une lampe \u00e0 p\u00e9trole en feu et a d\u00e9truit le b\u00e2timent.<\/p>\n En plus d’\u00eatre des lieux de commerce, ces magasins g\u00e9n\u00e9raux servaient de lieux de rassemblement social. Les hommes s’y r\u00e9unissaient r\u00e9guli\u00e8rement pour discuter et jouer aux cartes. Les femmes se tenaient au courant des nouvelles du village gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 des r\u00e9unions dans et autour des magasins g\u00e9n\u00e9raux.<\/p>\n En 1927, la famille Vaugeois a repris une salle de billard qui appartenait auparavant \u00e0 Alex Gobeil. Situ\u00e9e juste au sud du magasin \u00ab Magnan \u00bb, cette entreprise a \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9tenue et exploit\u00e9e par Mme Marie Vaugeois pendant pr\u00e8s de 15 ans.<\/p>\n [Omer] Royer exploitait un magasin \u00e0 un p\u00e2t\u00e9 de maisons \u00e0 l’ouest de l’\u00e9glise, sur la 50e avenue, au d\u00e9but des ann\u00e9es 20. Il l’a vendu \u00e0 M. Caouette qui a d\u00e9plac\u00e9 le b\u00e2timent vers le bas de la colline ouest vers 1943. Maurice Goudreau a ensuite rachet\u00e9 l’entreprise.<\/p>\n Plusieurs forgerons ont exerc\u00e9 leur activit\u00e9 dans le village \u00e0 diff\u00e9rentes \u00e9poques, notamment Long, Charbonneau et Gravel, pour n’en citer que quelques-uns.<\/p>\n Un petit restaurant a \u00e9t\u00e9 ouvert par Maurice Leblanc dans le village. M. Henri Gobeil a achet\u00e9 le garage en 1933 et celui-ci est rest\u00e9 une entreprise familiale jusqu’\u00e0 aujourd’hui.<\/p>\n En 1927, Mme Charbonneau est devenue posti\u00e8re du village et l’est rest\u00e9e pendant 30 ans, le bureau de poste \u00e9tant situ\u00e9 dans sa maison. Apr\u00e8s sa retraite, Mme L. Magnan a pris la rel\u00e8ve dans sa maison pendant les 14 ann\u00e9es suivantes. Apr\u00e8s Mme Magnan, la coop\u00e9rative de cr\u00e9dit a g\u00e9r\u00e9 le bureau de poste pendant un an sous la direction de M. G. Goudreau. Le 15 janvier 1972, l’actuelle* posti\u00e8re de Beaumont, Mme F. Gobeil, a pris la direction du bureau de poste, travaillant dans une annexe construite \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 de sa maison sur la 50e rue.<\/p>\n La Seconde Guerre mondiale est rest\u00e9e dans la m\u00e9moire des habitants de Beaumont comme une p\u00e9riode triste et marqu\u00e9e par la pri\u00e8re. Les nouvelles des bless\u00e9s ou des morts au combat circulaient constamment dans la communaut\u00e9 et \u00e0 l’\u00e9cole. L’utilisation de coupons de rationnement pour le sucre, le th\u00e9, le caf\u00e9, la viande, l’essence, les pneus, etc. \u00e9tait une pratique courante en temps de guerre.<\/p>\n Les agriculteurs restaient autosuffisants. Lorsque l’\u00e9conomie a commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 se redresser, ils ont commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 agrandir leurs fermes et \u00e0 semer du bl\u00e9.<\/p>\n Pg. 23<\/p>\n La prosp\u00e9rit\u00e9 \u00e9conomique des agriculteurs a \u00e9t\u00e9 lente \u00e0 venir. Les habitants se souviennent d’une gr\u00e8ve des agriculteurs \u00e0 Beaumont juste apr\u00e8s la guerre. Les prix des produits agricoles \u00e9taient encore si bas qu’ils estimaient n’avoir rien \u00e0 perdre \u00e0 faire gr\u00e8ve et peut-\u00eatre tout \u00e0 gagner en rendant publique leur situation difficile. La gr\u00e8ve n’a pas dur\u00e9 longtemps et n’a apparemment rien donn\u00e9. La vie est revenue \u00e0 la normale.<\/p>\n La communaut\u00e9 se r\u00e9unissait dans le sous-sol de l’\u00e9glise pour assister \u00e0 des concerts, des pi\u00e8ces de th\u00e9\u00e2tre, des banquets et des bals. Les courses de chevaux et les matchs de baseball en \u00e9t\u00e9, ainsi que les longues luges qui d\u00e9valaient le versant sud du village les soirs d’hiver, \u00e9taient des spectacles familiers pendant les loisirs.<\/p>\n Cette m\u00eame colline, qui procurait tant de plaisir et de joie aux jeunes, \u00e9tait le cauchemar de tous ceux qui tentaient d’y faire monter un attelage de chevaux en hiver. Les voitures \u00e9taient mises hors service pendant les mois d’hiver, car les routes n’\u00e9taient pas d\u00e9neig\u00e9es pour leur usage.<\/p>\n La modernisation du village, en termes de services publics, a \u00e9t\u00e9 lente \u00e0 venir. La seule exception \u00e9tait le service t\u00e9l\u00e9phonique, install\u00e9 au d\u00e9but du si\u00e8cle.<\/p>\n En 1947, Calgary Power a sign\u00e9 un accord de franchise avec le comt\u00e9 de Leduc pour fournir de l’\u00e9lectricit\u00e9 \u00e0 Beaumont. \u00c0 cette \u00e9poque, Calgary Power a rachet\u00e9 le r\u00e9seau de distribution \u00e0 la coop\u00e9rative \u00e9lectrique de Beaumont. Pendant les deux ann\u00e9es qui ont pr\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9 cette transaction, Beaumont \u00e9tait aliment\u00e9e en \u00e9lectricit\u00e9 \u00e0 110 volts par deux moteurs et deux g\u00e9n\u00e9rateurs situ\u00e9s derri\u00e8re le garage Gobeil.<\/p>\n L’eau \u00e9tait encore puis\u00e9e dans des puits ou des citernes jusqu’en 1961, date \u00e0 laquelle une conduite d’eau provenant d’Edmonton a \u00e9t\u00e9 mise en service.<\/p>\n \u00c0 l’approche des ann\u00e9es 1970, le changement et la croissance se profilaient \u00e0 l’horizon de Beaumont.<\/p>\n Le hameau est devenu un village, dot\u00e9 de sa propre administration municipale, marquant ainsi un tournant dans l’histoire de Beaumont.<\/p>\n
\nBeaumont Fortunate in Dustbowl Depression<\/strong>
\nBy Barbara and Bob Willis<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nof time to recuperate from the effects of the depression than did the rest of the country.<\/p>\n
\nthat destroyed the livelihood of thousands of prairie farm families.<\/p>\n
\nthe depression and produced goods for their own use. Butter was homemade and wheat ground
\ninto flour at mills in Leduc or Edmonton. Due to depressed commodity prices, farmers found it
\nworth more to keep their own produce than to try to sell it.<\/p>\n
\nsix cents a dozen and beef cattle for so little it wasn\u2019t worth trucking them to the city.<\/p>\n
\nThe coal was hauled from three miles west of Ellerslie.<\/p>\n
\nbasements.<\/p>\n
\nburning lantern would be left to give off enough heat to prevent freezing in the winter and the
\nunderground coolness preserved food stuffs in the summer heat.<\/p>\n
\ngovernment to keep the men off welfare and out of the city soup lines.<\/p>\n
\nwork. Tractors were left in sheds or barns for use in the future when fuel could be afforded. A
\nfew farmers such as Pierre B\u00e9rub\u00e9 and Paul Magnan operated vehicles to pick up milk, cream,
\ngrain, and eggs for those who had no transportation.<\/p>\n
\nweren\u2019t paid cash. Rather, goods were taken in exchange or credit extended for future
\npurchases.<\/p>\n
\ncustomers from home, were filled for 25 cents from the store\u2019s large barrel. Vinegar and coal oil
\nfor lamps were sold the same way. There was no such thing as the brown paper bag \u2013
\ncontainers were taken to the store empty and returned home filled. Cigarettes on Sunday at six
\nfor five, were a luxury.<\/p>\n
\nsold, the horses would be fed the grain before returning home.<\/p>\n
\nThe story is told by Mr. Leo Roberge of hauling hay into north Edmonton during the winter
\nmonths:<\/p>\n
\nwould head their team and sleigh to the low level bridge.<\/p>\n
\nclang of the street car bell. Immediately, the team would be positioned right in the middle of the
\ntrack crossing the bridge. Inevitably, the quickly moving street car, coming downhill, would ram
\nthe \u201cstalled\u201d sleigh. After harsh words, the conductor would calm down and ask that the hay
\ncovering his lights be removed. Pleading that the horses were exhausted and couldn\u2019t move, the
\nwily Frenchmen would convince the street car conductor to push the sleigh the length of the
\nbridge and up the hill. The end results were rested horses and good-humored drivers, satisfied
\nat a \u201cjob\u201d well done.<\/p>\n
\nacre farm just southeast of Beaumont in 1921 for $4,500. He did mixed farming and raised
\ncattle, chickens and hogs.<\/p>\n
\n$25 per thousand board feet at the time. By 1937, the price of lumber dropped to $13 per
\nthousand board feet, delivered.<\/p>\n
\nunique abilities and all<\/p>\n
\nGaborit who saw to the building of the grotto in front of the church in 1935. He was buried at the
\nfoot of the cross in the middle of the Beaumont cemetery.<\/p>\n
\nwith the help of the almost 200 families in the Beaumont area, he organized festivities to
\ncelebrate the 50th anniversary of the parish.<\/p>\n
\nsongs at the school and prayers by the grotto in front of the church.<\/p>\n
\nchurch and community for 11 years before his retirement in 1956.<\/p>\n
\nnow known as Club Beaumont. He was instrumental in the opening of the Caisse Populaire
\n(Credit Union) in Beaumont in 1945. Father Lapointe retired to Bonnyville until his death a few
\nyears later.<\/p>\n
\nFather Robert became the new parish priest in November, 1957.<\/p>\n
\nand the renovations so complete that the parish felt the church looked brand new. The finishing
\ntouch was the addition of the cross with lights put up by Maurice Gobeil.<\/p>\n
\nin a suite of rooms in the church basement.<\/p>\n
\norganization accomplished a lot in a short period of time.<\/p>\n
\nPlace in Edmonton. He has served in St. Vital parish for 15 years and remains [1978] active
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
\nand academic education for the children of Beaumont. They took charge of the school in the
\nvillage upon their arrival. Mrs. Lachappelle\u2019s house was purchased as a temporary residence
\nuntil 1936 when a new convent was constructed. This building, located across 50th Avenue
\nfrom the school was sold in 1972 to Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Patsula, who reside there now* with
\ntheir family. The nuns left Beaumont after the sale of the convent.<\/p>\n
\nbuild several small houses. In 1956, an addition to the south side of the school was built, in
\n1959 the administration and gym areas added and in 1963 the lab, library and classroom areas
\nbuilt on.<\/p>\n
\nused the village businesses for exchange, sales, purchases and recreation is of little doubt. The
\nlong trip into Edmonton was reserved for large sales of produce or hay. Transactions on every
\nscale were carried out in the many stores that once flourished in Beaumont.<\/p>\n
\nblacksmiths, garages, pool halls, cafes, a butcher, egg-grading stations, a barber shop,
\nshoemaker and the credit union.<\/p>\n
\ncommerce in the village. The first store on that corner was built by Wilfrid Magnan. In the late
\n1940\u2019s the store was sold to Maurice Magnan who operated the business until 1968 when it was
\nsold to Mr. Fraser.<\/p>\n
\n1920\u2019s, Pat Demers had a store on the site. Paul Magnan took over the store and had pool
\ntables for public use. The legal age to play pool then was 18 and the law was very likely to be
\nenforced by proprietors protecting their licenses.<\/p>\n
\nfor an egg grading station. In the early 1950\u2019s, with the Charest family renting living quarters
\nupstairs and egg-grading station still downstairs, the building burned to the ground.<\/p>\n
\nconstructed west of the church by Alcide B\u00e9rub\u00e9 almost 30 years before. The store changed
\nownership several times until finally going to Mr. Magnan.<\/p>\n
\nstore.<\/p>\n
\nin the late 1930\u2019s and demolished the building.<\/p>\n
\nbusiness until his sons, Charlie and Gerry returned from the war in \u201945 and \u201946. The brothers
\nthen went into partnership for a few years. Gerry took over until 1970 when, for family health
\nreasons, he was forced to close the business.<\/p>\n
\nregularly congregated to talk and play cards. Women kept in touch with village news through
\nmeetings in and around the general stores.<\/p>\n
\nbusiness, located immediately south of the \u201cMagnan\u201d store was owned and operated by Mrs.
\nMarie Vaugeois for almost 15 years.<\/p>\n
\nwas in operations, about 1935. The Chatel store looked like a barn and, in fact, was half of a
\nlong barn originally built west of the village. The building was too big to move, so it was cut in
\nhalf and one of the halves, when moved, served as the store.<\/p>\n
\nsold to Mr. Caouette who moved the building down the west hill about 1943. Maurice Goudreau
\nthen bought the business.<\/p>\n
\nto name a few.<\/p>\n
\ngarage in 1933 and it has remained a family business to this* day.<\/p>\n
\nin her home, for 30 years. After her retirement, Mrs. L. Magnan took over in her home for the
\nnext 14 years of postal service. The Credit Union handled the post office, after Mrs. Magnan, for
\none year under its manager Mr. G. Goudreau. On January 15, 1972, Beaumont\u2019s present*
\npostmistress, Mrs. F. Gobeil, took charge of the post office, working from an addition built onto
\nher home on 50th Street.<\/p>\n
\ninjuries or deaths in combat filtered through the community and school constantly. The use of
\nration coupons for sugar, tea, coffee, meat, gas, tires, etc. was an accepted wartime practice.<\/p>\n
\nexpand their farms and seed in wheat.<\/p>\n
\nstrike in Beaumont just after the war. Prices for produce were still so low that they felt they had
\nnothing to lose in striking, and perhaps everything to gain by publicizing their plight. The strike
\ndidn\u2019t last long and apparently nothing was gained. Life returned to normal.<\/p>\n
\nchurch basement. Horse races and baseball games in summer, and long bobsleds whizzing
\ndown the south side of the village winter evenings, were familiar sights when leisure time was
\navailable.<\/p>\n
\nanyone trying to get a team of horses up in the winter. Cars were retired for winter months as
\nroads were not cleared for their use.<\/p>\n
\ntelephone service, installed at the turn of the century.<\/p>\n
\nelectrical power to Beaumont. At that time, Calgary Power purchased the distribution system
\nfrom the Beaumont Electrical Co-op. For two years previous to this transaction, Beaumont was
\nsupplied with 110 volt electrical power generated by two engines and two generators located
\nbehind the Gobeil garage.<\/p>\n
\nEdmonton was started.<\/p>\n
\nBeaumont\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n