1958: Hail damage at Winnifred

By Fred Mellen
Down Memory Lane #275
These items were taken from the July 31 issue of the Bow Island Graphic
Bow Island
– “The Graphic” will not be published next week – we are going on holidays. Next issue will be August 14.
– The first new grain to be delivered in local elevators was a load of fall rye delivered to the Searle elevator by Carl Peterson. It graded 2CW, weighing 58 pounds to the bushel, with an estimated yield of 15 bushels per acre.
– Last Thursday some members of the LDS Church met at the river for a picnic and program commemoration of the early pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.
– Dr. and Mrs. Carr were pleasantly surprised last Friday evening when about twelve friends and neighbours dropped in on them for a house warming. They were presented with a coppertone sugar and cream on a tray and coffee spoons as a gift from those attending.
Winnifred News by Mrs. Bertha Annon
– A devastating hailstorm swept this area around 9 pm on Tuesday, doing 100% damage to crops close to Winnifred and a lesser degree of damage in the path of the storm, eight to ten miles wide. Some of the best crops in the district were pounded into the ground as well as gardens, and trees were stripped of their leaves. Numerous panes of glass were broken and holes punched in the roofing of buildings so that the rain that followed soaked through. Not all of the farms carried hail insurance. George Zacher was awarded damages to his new home and will get free repairs to his roof, windows, siding and a new paint job. Some farmers were just about ready to cut their barley but the wheat harvest is still two or three weeks away. Farmers who had only partial damage are trying to salvage the crop for feed. The power was off during the storm and until the next morning.
Foremost News by Odella and Pauline Unser
– The Marvin, Charles, Magnes, Arne, Trgyve and Engwald Hougen families left on a weekend holiday which took them over the Logan Pass to Kalispell, and then they went on to Lake Blain Resort in the United States.
– Arnold Haraga of Skiff won the Calf Roping Contest at the Lethbridge Exhibition and Rodeo. Well done Arnold! Keep up the good work.
– Kenny Lynes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Lynes, was hurt recently while playing with a blank shell. The shell went off and went through the fleshy part of his elbow, and through his ear. He was rushed to the doctors in Bow Island but is now resting at home.
Lucky Strike and Masinasin News by Mrs. Margaret Look
– There has been a decided change in our local general store as the owners Mr. and Mrs. Donald Walsh have just completed giving it a coat of paint.
– Some of the friends and neighbours of the Carl Thompson family gathered to help pour the concrete of a basement for their new home. The house they purchased is being moved onto the foundation this week.
– A large crowd attended the second game of the Writing-On-Stone Baseball League Playoffs last Sunday at Lucky Strike. Masinasin won the game by a very large score, winning the trophy which Lucky Strike has held for the past two years.
This has been another Stroll Down Memory Lane with Old Fred Mellen.

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