Looking back - 1968: CNR train derailed
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- Published on Monday, April 16, 2018
By Jessica Morton
Neepawa Banner & Press
80 years ago. Tuesday, April 19, 1938:
Good Friday was the firstreal nice day in April and if the wind continues to be from the South for the next 40 days as tradition has it, warm weather is assured. Farmers in the district have begun work on the land, starting off in high speed the busy season.
70 years ago. Thursday, April 22, 1948: Neepawa has been without the service of a town band for some years, but indications of a revival of this splendid organization are very encouraging. The Court Room will be the scene of a meeting Monday night at 8 o’clock, when it is hoped that a good number of interested people will be on hand. If the turnout warrants it, the old band room will once again resound to stirring marches in a practice session following the meeting.
60 years ago. Friday, April 18, 1958: High winds, combined with dry soil conditions, created one of the most severe dust storms Thursday that this area has seen for many years. With gusts of wind almost up to 60 mph recorded at the meteorological office at the airport, the dust was carried as high as 9,000 feet and visibility was cut to a minimum. Agricultural representative W. O. Lee informed The Press today that the most severe damage occurred north and west of Neepawa, in the higher regions. He said that moisture is badly needed in the higher region, much more so than the lower areas. Immediate rain would be most desirable, he indicated. A report from the airport here said that no air traffic was possible during the storm. One training plane left Virden at 8 a.m. but never arrived here. Lost for an hour or more, the plane eventually found its way back to Virden. A shower of rain fell in the district this morning, but it was scarcely enough to settle yesterday’s dust.
50 years ago. Friday, April 19, 1968: Overturned boxcars and twisted steel formed the scene of a freight train derailment near Neepawa Thursday morning. Six grain-laden cars of the Canadian National Railways train were derailed on the company Rossburn sub line, which runs between Neepawa and Russell. The derailment occurred about three miles west of No. 5 highway and about four miles north of Neepawa. No one was injured in the derailment, which saw the caboose carrying two members of the train crew, remain on the tracks while the six cars ahead of the caboose were derailed. Trackage was ripped up by the derailment and much of the steel rail was also twisted out of shape. Officials would not comment on the cause of the derailment and it was not known how long it would be before the wreckage was cleared and the track repaired.
40 years ago. Thursday, April 20, 1978: There have already been some top performances and trophy winners for this year’s Neepawa Fine Arts Festival, although classes got underway this past Monday. This year’s winner for the coveted Rose Bowl Trophy donated by the Neepawa Lion’s Club and the SPEBSQSA scholarship was Debbie Mauthe of Neepawa. Her excellent performance on Tuesday earned her the award.
30 years ago. Tuesday, April 19, 1988: A soft-spoken, gracious lady, small in stature, sits at the dining room table of her Neepawa home reminiscing over a cup of tea. Reflecting back, she recalls the time when women in Manitoba were granted the right to vote. Over the course of those 72 years, she has never missed exercising her right during an election, and she plans to again uphold this right on April 26. Now 100 years old, Charlotte Birnie was living in Birnie when in 1916, women of Manitoba became the first women in Canada to be given the vote and allowed to hold provincial office. “We drove to Huns Valley with the team and wagon the first time I voted,” she recollects. Huns Valley, now known as Polonia, is located approximately 32 kilometers northwest of Neepawa. Her 100th birthday was celebrated on January 19, 1988. She came from England to Huns Valley with her parents.
20 years ago. Monday, April 20, 1998: Three Neepawa high school students won medals in the 1998 University of Waterloo Canada-wide math competition, while eight more were named to the honor roll. The Neepawa team also captured top honors for Zone 3 in Manitoba. Mark Lee won a medal and certificate in the Pascal (Senior 1) contest for Zone 3. He was also named to the honor roll, along with Matthew Flintoft and Diane Bray who also received certificates. Lora Speiss received a medal and certificate and was appointed to the honor roll in the Cayley (Senior 2) contest. Medals are awarded to the student with the highest score in a school, while certificates are given to the top 25 per cent of students in the country.
10 years ago. Friday, April 18, 2008: With the opening of Kerreen’s Clothing, Maureen Turner and partner/daughter-in-law Kerry are pleased to see another business venture launched. Located downtown at 244 Hamilton St. across from the Neepawa Banner and between two restaurants, Maureen and store manager Charlotte Lehman, encourage everyone to check out the new lines of clothing.
