1

Martha Hadwen was the only citizen living within the city limits of Moose Jaw to die in the
tragedy of April 8, 1954.

2

Martha Hadwen
1950
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

3

Martha (Schulz) Hadwen, a descendant of first-generation Mennonite immigrants from the Southern Ukraine in Russia, was born in Rush Lake, Saskatchewan, on May 25, 1917. On January 10, 1942, she married Steve Hadwen. They remained in Rush Lake until 1945, when they moved to Moose Jaw in order for Steve to work at Swift's meat-packing plant.

4

Martha and Steve Hadwen
1950
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

5

When Steve Hadwen was laid off from Swift's meat processing plant, the family fell on hard financial times. Steve's lack of education and marketable skills, combined with the city's few employment opportunities, placed a great financial strain on the family. The proud couple refused the option of social assistance, and Martha found an income through other means, such as marketing artificial crape-paper flowers and offering services as a cleaning woman.

6

Article About Martha Hadwen
4 August 1954

7

On the morning of April 8,1954, Martha was cleaning the home of Gordon and Betty Hume at 1324 Third Ave. N.E. When the fuselage of the TCA North Star struck the house shortly after 10 o'clock, she was alone in the house. The home was immediately engulfed in flames, and Martha did not survive.

Typically, Martha Hadwen worked for the Humes on Wednesdays. However, Steve Hadwen had been offered a day's work on that day and she postponed her work for the Humes until Thursday. This unfortunate turn of events ended in tragedy.

8

Funeral for Martha Hadwen
13 April 1954
Alliance Tabernacle, 60 Hochelaga Street, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

9

In a tremendous expression of community support, an estimated 500 people attended the funeral of Martha Hadwen, The service, which was held at the Alliance Tabernacle on Monday, April 13, 1954, was officiated by Reverend A. H. Orthner. The Mayor, Lewis H. Lewry, who attended the funeral with other members of the council, addressed the crowd and called for a moment of silence.

10

Marie, Larry, and Bill Hadwen
1954
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

11

Martha left behind her husband and three children (Larry, Bill, and Marie). They managed to survive financially off the settlement which the family received. After the death of her mother, Marie was raised by her aunts, while the boys remained with their father.