Remembering our Roots ~ Bill May

Times Contributor

 

Bill’s grandfather was a harness maker and a shoemaker in England before moving to Raymond in Southern Alberta, in the late 1800’s. At one time he must have returned to England, as Bill’s Dad was born in Cornwall, on the southwest coast of England. His mother was born on the Isle of Wight. 

They moved to Alberta in the early 1900’s. Bill was born on April 26, 1926, in Nurse McKenzie’s house on 6th Street. This was located across the street from what is now the Senior and Junior Catholic Schools – Holy Cross Collegiate and Sacred Heart Academy. He attended the same schools as George Freeman (four years behind him), the Public School and the High School. He had a brother and a sister, but both are now deceased.

Bill has spent all of his life in Strathmore. After leaving school at age 16, he got his first job at the CPR Farm. After learning how to harness a horse, he raked hay! Following this he delivered milk to Calgary, driving a two-ton milk truck. He met his wife Jean Kermack while hauling milk from their dairy farm, which was located on the west side of what is now Eagle Lake. They were married in 1950, and had a son Doug, and daughter Lori. She had two children, who in turn have given her four grandchildren. 

By 1944, Bill was old enough to join the Canadian Army, but by the time he completed basic training, and travelled by train to Regina, the war had ended! He spent 19 years working as an Equipment Operator for the M.D.’s of Bow Valley and Serviceberry (now known as Wheatland County), followed by 14.5 years working for the M.D. of Rockyview (now known as County of Rockyview) until he retired in the fall of 1985. 

His wife of 30 years, Jean, passed away from cancer in August 1980. In the late 1980’s he remembers travelling to Revelstoke (where his brother-in-law and family live) and Kamloops to watch and hear pipe band competitions.

The population of Strathmore in 1981 was 1,200, and now it’s over 12,000. At that time, Strathmore Hardware store stood where The Bank Athletic Club is now located. Other notable changes here include the twinning of the highway, and all the new businesses built along it. But, he went on to say, that in his opinion, the Town of Strathmore is getting too big. He used to know all his neighbours, and could walk downtown and meet many people he knew. Not nowadays. The same applies to the Ridge Road stores. He rarely meets anyone he knows.