Off to the picnic – a photo from another day and time. Imagine heading off to the corps picnic, band leading, in uniform, with the folks of the corps loaded on horse drawn wagons! I guess the wagons are an early version of the yellow school bus.

I know our next door neighbour in Calgary, who in retirement had sold his Saskatchewan farm and moved to Calgary, would talk about taking his kids to school, especially in winter, by horse and sled.

Of note here is Charlie Jackson who had some means, and was an early soldier of The Army in Calgary and owned Canada’s first car (as reported in the Glenbow Museum. See the photo on top for a picture of Charlie Jackson with the car.

In the Pioneer Profile website for southern Ab makes this note:

“Charles Jackson filed on the SW 18-24-1-W5th in 1882-83. He claimed to have been the first milkman in Calgary, borrowing the cows from Sam Livingston. He was an original member of the Salvation Army Citadel Corps, and a member of the band for many years. Charles was born in 1864 at Wingham, Ontario and died at Calgary in 1949. He married Mary (May) Kady, who died at Calgary in 1946. They had two daughters (chosen) in their family.”

On that same website makes comment of Charles brother,

“A brother of Charles Jackson, Thomas Jackson homesteaded the SE 18-24-1-W5th in 1885. He farmed and raised livestock, owned a quarry near the present Crowchild Trail, and built a sandstone garage on 16 Avenue, after the advent of the automobile. He also owned ranch property near Twin Bridges, later known as the Rocky Mountain Polo Pony Ranch. Thomas was born in 1866 at Wingham, Ontario and died at Calgary in 1924. At Calgary in 1894 he married Millicent Margaret Henry, who was born at Charlottetown, P.E.I. in 1873 and died at Calgary in 1901. There were six children. His second wife was Mary O’Hea, who was born in Ireland and died at Calgary in 1956. They had four children.”

The picture, which is noted below, gives some details of who is in the picture.

Early days for The Salvation Army and early days for Alberta – imagine what life was like?