Vantage Points Flashback - The Yard Light

Please listen to the audio recording with David Neufeld below!

Welcome to Vantage Points Flashback. We look through local history for stories that inspire and entertain. This story combines an elder interview with a search into Manitoba Hydro history.

Yard Light

Hard for city folks to imagine, but only last year, it was dark on our farmyard at nighttime. We had to carry kerosene lanterns around to do chores. Real carefully!

I'm Ken Sparrow, farm kid near Fairfax. It's 1949. Electricity is brand new to us. Cities and larger towns got electricity at least 40 years ago. Now that we have it, boy is life ever changing. I'm the oldest, born in 1937. My youngest brother John doesn't even remember not having power. Change happened so quickly.

There's a small, two-seater building out by the garden. We call it the Parliament House. Maybe, because of the important decisions adults make out there. What I do know is, the dash to parliament house is way easier with our electric yard light!

Mom's pretty happy too. Dad rigged up an electric motor that runs her washing machine. And she's got a brand-new oven! No more chopping firewood into small pieces for the wood stove. Whew. Works for me! And lights in every room. It's way easier doing our homework without squinting beside a candle.

My favourite change, though, is the yard light. It's so easy to get around the yard. Same at our neighbours, where we play Auntie Auntie I Over way into the evening! Neighbours! My dad figures we know who lives on every farm from here to Minto, and, from here to Elgin. There's a farm every mile at least. That's a lot of neighbours. And everyone has a yard light! When we drive home from visiting family, and there's no moon, we can still see where every family lives. Their yard lights sparkle like they're waving “Hi” to us. We're never alone. When cars break down, folks head for the nearest light to get help.

Back a few years, our parents were called to a meeting, asking everyone in the area to sign up for electricity. Because of the good turnout, Manitoba Power Commission built our power lines for free. They figure we'll pay it off with our monthly bills. Good deal, I'm thinking.

Electricity also makes barn chores much easier. Especially in winter. Feeding chickens. Cleaning the stables. Checking mama cat and her kittens. And milking! We have a beef cow that's a good milker. Ornery though! Yikes. If we don't tie her tail up to the beam, she lines up to hoof my shin, the pail, my three-legged stool, a thirsty cat, or all at the same time. It's annoying as all get out. Lights sure make it easier to get chores done safely.

Last year, using kerosene lanterns to do our barn work, there was always danger. Mom wouldn't let the best and brightest lanterns out of the house. So, we used the ones with thicker glass and wire cages. But still, if one got knocked over, with so much straw around, the barn would go up in no time.

Well, Mom just called for supper. The house has a switch for the yard light. She's flicking it, so it's time to go. First, though, I'll saunter through the yard's wonderful glow to make a decision in the Parliament House.

 

To hear past radio stories, go to discoverwestman.com/community or click HERE!. And, find out about the resources of Turtle Mountain Souris Plains Heritage Assoc. Our website is www.vantagepoints.ca. Thank you, Municipal Councils and Manitoba Heritage, for your support.