|
George M. Anderson, born in 1869,
was the son of John J. Anderson. He
came to Melita in 1889 with his family and farmed for over fifty years
beginning in 1897. In 1905 he married Eliza Helen Linton.
George spent his leisure time skating, curling and playing in the
Melita Band. He was especially skilled at curling and was a regular
winner aßt bonspiels throughout the region. He was a founding director
of the Melita Curling Rink Co. in 1903.
His other interests included automobiles, he and Eliza participated in
the Melita Automobile Club activities and tours. Gardening was another
interest. He was one of several influential Melita landowners who
realised that the treeless prairie the early settlers found could be
made more suited to agriculture by careful management. He planted and
tended over 4000 trees on his property
Adapted from Our First Century, page 409, 274
The Melita Curling Club
At a meeting in 1892 a decision was made to build a rink for skating
and curling. From Mr. Robert Livesley's notes it is recorded that for
the next 11 consecutive years, the Melita Club won these district
matches and that Melita curlers had successfully participated in
various bonspiels throughout the province and in the adjoining area in
Saskatchewan. Pictures of this curling are now on display in the Antler
River Historical Society Museum in Melita.
The first annual meeting of the Melita Curling Rink Co. was held
November 17, 1903 and the following directors were elected: George
Anderson, J. A. Blackwell, A. B. Estlin, W. J. Cobb. W. J. Graham, W.
Leslie, and James McCallum. The officers elected were: President, A. B.
Estlin; Vice President, W. J. Cobb, and Secretary-Treasurer, W. J.
Graham. The new rink cost $2,500. Thirteen rinks of curlers were
formed. That winter the first open bonspiel was held in the new rink.
In 1904 for the fourth time since the Honourable Clifford Sifton,
Minister of the Interior, began putting up gold watches as a prize for
the Premier Event in the Brandon Bonspiel, these watches were won by
Melita curlers. That year, Melita defeated the Watts rink from
Alexander in a 13 end game. There were 16 gold watches for Melita in
four years.
In March 1906. a well was put in the rink and two gasoline lamps were
added to the lighting. The directors were now considering the erection
of a skating rink along side the present curling rink. This year also,
Senator Scheffner of Boissevain presented a trophy for Challenge
Competition in Souris Constituency. This trophy was to be a double rink
competition.
In 1907 a sheet iron skating rink was built under the same management
and used for auxiliary curling at bonspiel time with four sheets of
curling ice being used.
In 1909 the Melita rink attending the Winnipeg Bonspiel, was honoured
by its selection along with five other Canadian rinks, to play against
six visiting American rinks. The Melita rink won its game by three
points. The members of this rink were: W. J. Cobb (skip), J. W. Hewitt,
W. J. Graham, and W.
Leslie.
In March 1912 the first Charity Bonspiel was held by the Melita Club.
Half of those taking part were ladies and this was the start of ladies'
curling in Melita. In 1914 this event was changed into a Red Cross
Bonspiel and continued as such up to the spring of 1919. After this the
annual spring event was called a Novelty Bonspiel.
In 1916 the Curling Club arranged a bonspiel for high school students
at the end of the curling season.
In 1928 Melita had the distinction of having the second largest
bonspiel in Canada, with an entry of 94 rinks. This was probably the
largest bonspiel in Canada sponsored by a single club.
|
