Remembering our roots ~ Simon Vanderploeg

Times Contributor

 

Simon’s family originated in Freisland, Holland. The name ‘Vanderploeg’ when split into three words means Van – from, Der – the, Ploeg – plow.

His father came to Southern Alberta in 1911, when the Canadian Government and CPR were advertising “Come to Canada, the Land of Milk and Honey!” 

His father spent a year here, then went back to Holland, got married and brought his new wife here, in 1913. His father suffered from asthma, and the drier climate of Southern Alberta was good for him, but liver cancer took his life at age 62. He enjoyed the quality of life Canada gave him. Simon’s parents never learned how to drive a vehicle, but certainly knew how to drive a horse and buggy.

Simon was born in High River in March in 1931, the youngest of five children. He had an older brother and three sisters. When he was 14 years old, they lived on a 10 acre parcel of land, south of High River. One day his mother needed to be taken to High River hospital, and there was no one around to drive her except Simon. Their car was a 1927 Pontiac sedan, four door, with 21-inch wooden spokes in the wheels. Simon drove his mother to the hospital without incident, but when they got there, he wasn’t allowed to accompany his mother into her room, because he was under age 16! After a short period of time, a nurse came along and asked why he wasn’t with his mother. Simon pointed to the sign on the wall that stated “No one under the age of 16 years could visit” anyone in the hospital. She replied, “well I saw you drive her here, so on you go!”

Later that year, his father purchased a grain farm east of Brant, which is in Vulcan County, and they all moved there. Brant, at that time, had a CPR Station, and nearby was the Section Foreman’s house; there were five grain elevators, a combined Pool Hall and Barber Shop, a hotel, a Chinese restaurant, two grocery stores, a Beaver Lumber yard, where Simon purchased .22 rifle for $20! Dixon’s Garage was the Imperial Oil agent, and sold gas; and Scott’s Blacksmith Shop – rounded out the local businesses.

Simon attended all his schooling through Grade 9 at the three-room school in Brant. Grades 1-6 were in one room, Grades 7-9 were in a second room, and Grades 10-12 were in the third room. Before school, Simon and his sister Elizabeth peddled fresh milk and cream around town, using a horse and buggy in the summer, and a cutter in the winter. 

He remembers a full size quart cost 10 cents (delivered). At harvest time, if Simon was at school his Dad would just go and get him, saying “time for harvest,” and would take him out of school to drive the tractor, pulling a Holt Combine that his brother operated! He was around 13 years of age at the time. Simon says he learnt a lot at Brant School – how to fight, escape from teachers, respect girls, and play softball, hardball and hockey! The first time he pitched a baseball game, they won against a strong High River team. His father arranged with George Gould, that he would teach Simon to learn carpentry. After school and on Saturdays, he learned how to build cupboards for their house and neighbours. There was no pay, just the opportunity to learn. His carpentry skills stood him in good stead throughout his life. He also attended what is now known as SAIT in 1947/48, where he took farm construction and mechanics.

In 1948, there was a very heavy snowfall in the late winter, which caused major flooding due to the amount of run off. CPR culverts and bridges were too small, which caused the water to run over Hwy 23, four miles north of town, and filled the big slough, so that the water ran through Ed Prater’s farm yard.

Simon took a keen interest in everything farming had to offer, from an early age. He helped to butcher beef, pigs and chickens. Then in 1950, he rented some of the family land and started farming. This was a very good year. But, the following year, 1951, was very wet, and few farmers were able to complete harvesting before winter arrived. Simon remembers combining in April and May 1952, as the ground dried. There were so many mice! But, it did turn out to be a good year.  

Simon’s wife Welly was born in Bolsward (Fr) the Netherlands, in September 1926. Her parents and nine of their 11 children immigrated to Canada in 1949. Welly and another sister came to the Picture Butte area in 1950, finding their family working on a sugar beet farm. For the next few years her family moved to various areas, and eventually settled in Vulcan, where Welly and her brother Fred operated the Vulcan Bakery. It was while she was working here that she met her husband-to-be, Simon. They were married on March 4, 1953 and had five children. 

Welly passed away on July 22, 1988 following a battle with acute leukemia. In 1991, Simon married Elizabeth Friesen, and they lived in the Namaka area for five years, before moving to Strathmore in 1996.

In the 1960s, Simon attended the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Mont. It was a two-week course, and there was only room for 30 students. To this day, he still enjoys auctioneering.

He has led a full life of volunteering. He was Division 9 Councillor in Vulcan County for 13 years, served on the School Committee at Brant School (until it closed) for seven years. Served for 13 years on the Agricultural committee, served with the Municipal Planning Committee, the Disaster Committee, and experienced a Court of Revision, where landowners could discuss and sometimes receive a deduction in their taxes. Why would anyone agree to pay taxes for land that was covered by a slough? Or where power or railway lines crossed? He has volunteered at Camp Chestermere for many years, and still serves on the board, and has worked as a volunteer in the past at the Strathmore Crisis Shelter, where his carpentry skills have produced many useful wooden items. He proudly showed me all the awards and plaques he has received throughout his lifetime, acknowledging his achievements.