Monday, April 01 Temp -2
Slept in till 10:00. After breakfast I started on the rest of the pictures that were to be done. While I was at it, the gang came in. We all went over to the Conibears hotel and had dinner at Lanouettes cafe. After dinner Nona, Ruby, JT and Bert went to the church sale and had a whale of a time. Len stayed here reading for a while then had to go and tend to the dogs. I hear that the plane dropped off a few parcels at the Bay, so went down to see if there was any for us. None. After supper Norman and Mrs Lyall came in. We played bridge. JT and I won one rubber, then Len and I won the other. Nona had a headache and had to go to bed at 22:00. Bert and Ruby played crib. We had a lunch and the gang left at 00:30.
Sunday, Apr 02 Temp +2
We all got up about 09:30. JT had to go back to Pine Lake this morning. He called on his way at 10:45 and told us that Bert called him at 06:00 and told him to get up. He got up and dressed and then took Bert's pants downstairs and hung them in the dining room of the hotel. Bert had to get into Len's room and get Len's pants in order to hunt up his own. Bert came over to the house about 10:00. I went to the station at 01:00 and finished up all the accounts and balanced them. I had to wait then till Bill balanced his to check them before I could go any further. I charged the batteries all day. After supper Norman came in and Bert and I trimmed Norman and Len at bridge while Nona and Ruby played crib.
Wednesday, Apr 03 Temp zero
Finished the accounts and got them ready to collect by noon today. After dinner I worked till 05:30 making out the monthly reports. After supper Norman came up and Bert and I again proved our superiority over them at bridge. We sunk them. They left at 01:00.
Thursday, Apr 04 Temp -6
Worked on reports etc today. Bert and Len brought us about 1000 pounds of ice from the river today. Our well is dry and as we have to melt snow, they thought ice would be better. We heard that the mail arrived in Fitz at suppertime tonight. Norman was up after supper and he and Len showed Bert and I that although we knew how to play bridge, we had something to learn about cribbage. They skunked us 4 games out of 7 and beat us on 2 others. They left at 00:30.
Friday, Apr 05 Temp -20
As I did not have to go to work until 01:00 today, Bert, Len and I got up at 08:00 and went for more ice. Len and I cut it while Bert hauled it with the dogs. We brought 5 loads up before dinner. Altogether we have over a ton of it in the warehouse. On my way home I had to go and see Raney about the filing of the claim that he staked for Nona. His time limit for recording it is up today. I told him that I would leave the fee at the govn't house for him and came home. After dinner I had to go to the station and I finished the last of the mail that has to go out, with exception of getting the draft. The mail arrived at 16:00. My radio parts came OK. There was a Towers Cone speaker, output filter for the power tube and some condensers. We also got our brass tea table that JT sent for us for a present. It is a beauty. My enlargements, 6 size 14X18 inches arrived, too and they sure are beauties. We got a letter from Mother and one from Gillespie, a Broker in Edmonton. I purchased 3 shares of General Motors Stock thru Gillespie at 89 5/8, each. I sent a cheque for it right away. After supper the gang were here again and we played cribbage. Bert and I did better tonight. They all left at 01:00 and Bert and Len started out for their trap lines.
Saturday, April 06 Temp -16
I left the station at 09:45 and collected the accounts and got the draft then posted the mail. It was 11:30 when I finished, so I went home and had dinner. I charged the batteries again and those that are having their initial charge are about ready to go into service. After supper Basler came up with a roll to develop. As I was getting ready to do something when he came in, I showed him how it was done. Paul came in for a few minutes but did not stay long. The radio was wonderful all evening. We went to bed listening to KMO, Tacoma, Washington and I fell asleep and woke several times before they signed off. I shut it off just before they quit.
Sunday, Apr 07 Temp -14
I got up at 09:00 and printed some pictures. Basler came up and I took one of him. He was all dressed for the occasion. While the pictures were in the bath, Nona and I went for a walk around the block. It was cold so we did not stay long. We returned home and I put my output filter circuit in the radio and put it back in the cabinet. After supper Norman came in and while I finished those pictures that I printed in the morning, he and Nona played cribbage. The radio was wonderful all evening. He left at 00:30 and we all went to bed.
Monday, Apr 08 Temp -12
I mixed up some sulphuric acid for the batteries today and put 5 into service before I left at 17:30 hours. There was little or no business all day. After supper I had a money order for $5 for my initiation fee to the Rosicrucian Order. I tinted 2 of my large enlargements after supper and as no one came up for the evening we all went to bed at 22:00.
Tuesday, Apr 09 Temp -12
Up at 09:30 Nothing much doing this morning. Made a change on the rake set and did odd jobs around the house till time to go to work. Nona walked down with me as far as the station. Basler came up after supper but did not stay long. I painted another of my 14X18 enlargements this morning. I did the one of the picnic at Bell Rock. Radio fair tonight.
Wednesday, Apr 10 Temp zero
Started to enter up the DR's this morning. Only did one day, Apr 02, then read a story. After dinner Bill was in one of his talkative moods so did not get a chance to do any more. After supper Norman came in. Shortly afterwards Corp. & Mrs Walters (RCMP) came in to spend the evening. I loaned Pop a 2 mfd. condense to try on his output filter. Insp. Gagnon came in to show me his combination back for his camera and then I showed him how to use it. He stayed for an hour. We had lunch at 23:00 and they left at midnight.
Thursday, Apr 11 Temp 12
Overhauled the last 2 dead cells this morning and put them on a sulphate charge. The plane passed over and dropped a small bag of mail. There were 2 letters in it for us. After dinner Jim Krazler came down to the station and chewed the fat for a while. Talked on the mining chances of this country for the next 5 years. He is pretty well UTD in the movements. I cleaned up the engine room this afternoon and left it spotless. Read a couple of stories out of the Post. After supper I developed 7 rolls of films and tuned in the radio. It was good but there was lots of interference. We went to bed at 10:30.
Friday, Apr 12 Temp +2
Up at 08:30 and printed about 100 pictures then did a little work on the set to try it. I removed 20 turns from the tickler of the oscillation coil. There was 48 turns on it and I thought it was too much. After supper Mr Hoy from the Govn't Hay Camp came in and stayed till 21:30. He brought a letter from JT. We tried the radio but the interference was so bad that it was not worth listening to. We went to bed at 23:00.
Saturday, Apr 13 Temp 12
This morning I worked on the DR's and made some water out of snow for the batteries, had to charge all day. On my way home York stopped me to ask if I would overhaul an Elto 3 HP motor that he has. He does not know anything about it. I said OK and he sent it down to the station this afternoon. I worked all afternoon on the books and brought them up to the tenth. No one came up this evening. Norman was expected but I found out that he had to go to Salt River. Nona made 2 dresses for Ruby today. They are swell too. After supper I beat Nona at a rubber of crib while Ruby worked on Nona's moccasins. Radio was better tonight. We went to bed early, about 22:00.
Sunday, Apr 14 Temp 18
Up at 09:00 and after printing a few pictures and getting breakfast, I went down to the boat house. I finished cleaning the inside and scraped all the varnish off the outside. I painted the inside and outside with one coat. The inside bottom is marine blue, and half way up the sides. The rest of the sides got one coat of valspar varnish. The deck has one coat valspar and the outside marine gloss white. I gave the floorboards, seats, back rests, and oars on coat of varnish too. I returned home at 16:00 and found Nona and Ruby out for a walk. I fixed the fire then started to overhaul Sousie's Elto. Nona and Ruby came in about 18:30 and started supper. We had a roast chicken tonight. About the usual time Norman came in. We all thought that he was still at Salt River. We played 3 rubbers of 4 handed crib, rotating partners each rubber. Games came out pretty even. Went to bed at 01:30 but it was so hot that none of us fell asleep very soon. I laid there awake till 04:00……. thinking, strange as it may seem.
Monday, Apr 15 Temp 31
The alarm woke me at 07:00 and I was so sleepy I got up and dressed right away. I was at the station as usual and had to come back uptown to get a proper address on a message that was sent out to us. I spent most of the rest of the day overhauling Yorks' Elto 3 HP Service Twin. Had a short talk with McDougal about our mineral claim new Resolution. He advised us to group the 6 in our block and off to Dawson on an option. Bill, Joe, Callaghan, Porter and Jimmie Donovan are in the group with us. No one came up this evening.
Tuesday, Apr 16 Temp 35
Today is my 29 birthday.
I intended getting up at 06:00 and go out to pick up my traps. I had the alarm set for 06:00 but the clock stopped at 05:40. Syd Porter and Callaghan came around to see me at 09:00 and woke me up. We have grouped all our mineral claims at Resolution and have elected Syd to represent us. He is in touch with Dawson about them now I believe. There was nothing much doing at the station today. Norman came up tonight and we played cribbage. He left at 22:30.
Wednesday, Apr 17 Temp 34
Today was another warm day. It has been thawing now for several days and we should have our cars out soon if this keeps up. There was little to do at the station today so I read most of the time. No one came up this evening. The mail arrived at 16:30 this afternoon.
Thursday, Apr 18 Temp 34
Joe (GD) brought his coupe out today and drove it up as far as the hoot. There was 2 bad drifts that he got around OK. He made a couple of trips to town so as to make a decent trail. I decided to get mine tomorrow. No one came up tonight.
Friday, Apr 19 Temp 29
Up at 08:00 and after getting breakfast I printed a bunch of pictures. Then I put some gas in the old bus, got out the battery and it started off the second spin. I was as surprised as Collin who was watching me. I then raked up the backyard and put all the rubbish in a pile ready to burn tonight. Nothing doing at the station today. I spent an hour looking over the car. After supper Norman came up and he was here till 23:30.
Saturday, Apr 20 Temp 24
Spent most of the day making drains to run off the water around the station. Nothing doing inside today. Norman came up after supper and we planned to go down to the boat tomorrow.
Sunday, Apr 21 Temp 30
Up at 09:00. I printed a bunch of pictures then after a late breakfast Nona, Ruby and I went down to the boat. I turned it over and gave the bottom a coat of white. Norman came down when I was just finishing the bottom. Nona and Ruby came on home and Norman stood around chewing the rag with me while I varnished the floor boards and seats. We came on home together and he stayed for supper. We had chicken. After supper we played cards and talked and listened to the radio till after midnight.
Monday, Apr 22 Temp 30
Nothing much doing at the station today. I brought Gerry down to the station after dinner to play a hand of poker with RSH at Simpson for 5 sweepstake tickets. Gerry won. I brought him back uptown in the bus. A.Thew, HBC clerk from Fort Chipewyan, came up this evening and looked over my pictures. He stayed till after midnight. He was hard to entertain as he was so quiet and gave the impression that he was sizing us up all the time.
Tuesday, Apr 23 Temp 24
I did not get up till 10:00 as there was nothing to do around the house. After breakfast I broke up a few gasoline cases and started to build a walk from the door to the front gate. Finished about half of it. Worked outside all afternoon at the station. No one came up this evening so we all went to bed early.
Wednesday, Apr 24 Temp 30
Nothing doing all day at the station again. Nona came back with me for the ride and stayed all afternoon. She talked with Bill and I till 16:00 then Freda called her upstairs and she stayed there till time to go home. Norman was up after supper. We got a small kitten from Mrs Conibear today and Prince came back. Frank Conibear was thru for the season so we have Prince back for the summer. Prince, by the way, is a Newfoundland dog. Got to bed at midnight.
Thursday, Apr 25 Temp 20
It froze hard last night and a frost plug was blown out in the cylinder block of my bus. No damage done to the radiator or engine though. At the station I had to run the engine about 5 minutes every hour all day long to thaw out the radiator. By the time I got home it was OK. I cleaned up the engine room again today and did a little work on the books. The cars are all getting out now. McNeil has his Hudson coach, the Godfreson truck was over from the Halfway and Woods has his out now. Saw a bunch of ducks landing on the sloughs behind the house just at sunset. Thew came up tonight. We listened to the radio till 21:30 then played 3 rubbers of bridge. He seemed a lot different tonight. More talkative. Went to bed at 00:30.
Friday, April 26 Temp 25
Up at 08:30. Went over to Conibears and got Frank and Horace to come over and clean out our well. There was only 3 inches of water in it and that was 6 inches below the pipe. They dug it about ten inches deeper than it was and we had to get about ten inches more pipe to reach the new level. Water started coming in fast when we quit at noon. There was nothing much doing at the station. Bill talked about his discharge most of the time. He wonders why Ottawa accepted his resignation without a lot of coaxing to stay as they did May and Riddle. He made out a list of the furniture that he wants to sell. After supper Nona and I went for a walk. We took Prince along with us. The boat was as dry as it will ever get so I turned it top side up, ready for the second coat of varnish on the deck Sunday. No one came up after supper. Nona and Ruby went to Miss Catt's and found no one home then went to the hotel and borrowed a bunch of cheap novels to read. Went to bed at 23:30.
Saturday, Apr 27th Temp 17
Helped was windows at the station this morning. After dinner I hauled 3 loads of wood with the trailer and car and piled them at the piling ground in front of the engine door. After supper Mr & Mrs Godsell and Woods came in. They sat and talked till midnight. The radio was not good.
Sunday, Apr 28th Temp 27
We all slept in till 10:00. I got up and after breakfast I printed a few pictures till about 13:00. After finishing them I went down to the boathouse and gave my boat another coat of Valspar varnish. I took the car down the hill today and had no trouble getting back up. The road is good. After supper Norman and Basler came in. They stayed till about 23:30.
Monday, Apr 29 Temp 21
I brought all the books UTD this morning and after dinner hauled 3 more loads of wood. Thew came up after supper and stayed till midnight. Very quiet again tonight. Radio nil. Went to bed at 00:30.
Tuesday, Apr 30 Temp 23
Up at 09:00 and after breakfast I started printing pictures till about 13:00. Cleaned up a little more of the yard. Nona and Ruby started housecleaning and continued thruout the day. I did some more piling wood at the station this afternoon and did a little outside work. No one came up this evening so we went to bed early.