1

The cutter
1930
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

2

We live on a farm close to, but outside of, the town of Lourdes. My father often goes to town on business. Yesterday, we used the "cutter" to go see the harness maker and the blacksmith. Here, a sleigh is called a "cutter". Papa needed them to repair the harness and the horseshoes because they were damaged.

3

The harness maker's bench
1920
Musée des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

4

Arriving at the harness maker's, I was struck by a strange device I had never seen. My father explained that it's the bench on which the artisan sits to work. I also asked him what exactly his job is. He told me that he is a craftsman who makes, sells and repairs tack, sacks and straps for horses.

5

The saddler
1920
Musée des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

6

The harness maker in our town is also the saddler. He uses a punch, a round knife and a compass. With these tools, he makes and repairs saddles.

7

The blacksmith
1920
Musée des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

8

The smithy is the shop where metal is forged. The blacksmith shapes the iron with a hammer once it is heated and softened in the smouldering embers. In nearly every farm you can find a small forge the farmer uses for small repairs... for bigger repairs we go see the blacksmith in town.

9

Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes
1928
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

10

Yesterday was December 8th and we went to town to celebrate the Immaculate Conception. We went to church at around 7 o'clock in the evening to light candles and sing hymns to Our Lady. Then there was a great procession in town to see all the houses that were lit with candles in the windows. I was told that this tradition was brought over from Lyon in France by the Chanoines and the first settlers.

11

Feast of Immaculate Conception (next)
1890
Musée des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba
AUDIO ATTACHMENT


12

Audio: "December 8th was the Illumination. That's when we had to light candles in every window. The whole town was lit up. There was a mass, an evening service, and every young person was invited. The priests would hand out candy. And I remember a certain December 8th, it was freezing... But the churchyard was full in spite of the cold. Even people from Somerset had come for the December 8th celebration."
Albert and Suzanne Augert

13

Hockey
1930
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

14

This afternoon, I went to town to play hockey with my buddies. We had such a grand time! We played on the rink right by the church. It was very cold but that did not stop us from playing.