CPR Depot circa 1920s Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Leaving eastward from Moose Jaw we continue our journey through the prairies 135 miles to the next divisional point at Broadview for a crew change, than its on to Brandon Manitoba another 130 miles east.

W. H. Mallett Brandon, Manitoba dial

W. H. Mallett #924 IMPERIAL movement.

W. H. Mallett biography

I found this information doing a Google search on the Internet: Here is a photograph of William Henry Mallett taken in his teens, along with his biography.

From: "Mallett Family History - An English Family"

William Henry Mallett was the only son of Frederick James Mallett and Mary Ann Lake, he was born in 1856, in West Williams Township, Ontario, near the present-day village of Sylvan and the towns of Parkhill and Strathroy. William's father Frederick died in 1868 when William was only 12. His mother Mary Ann carried on farming for a time but was forced to sell farm in 1872. William was still at home on the homestead in West Williams in 1871 census. A letter written in 1878 by one of William's cousins to another one of his cousins states by that date, he had settled in Plattsville, Ontario, but in 1881 census, still single, he was living with his mother and sister in Brussels, Ontario. In the census, is trade is listed as "Watchmaker", and he may have actually been supporting the family, because he is the only one in the household with an occupation.

William married Jennie Mitchell, sometime between 1881 and 1891, their first child Frederick W. was born in April 1890. In 1891 William and Jennie and Frederick were living in Brandon, Manitoba. William can be placed in Manitoba as early as 1886 when he appears in the Henderson's Manitoba Directory. His residence was given as Selkirk (which included Brandon), his occupation Watchmaker. Brandon didn't exist much before this; the Canadian Pacific Railway had pushed that far west only in 1885. In later directories William H. Mallett Jeweler can be found in several Manitoba municipalities: Lennox in 1888, Deloraine in 1889, Rosser Avenue in Brandon in 1890, and Souris in 1892. In 1892 there was also a Mallett J. Jeweler, on Rosser Avenue in Brandon. The J. was probably Jennie; perhaps William was trying to run two shops. William seems to have had his shop only at Rosser Avenue in Brandon after that. The block which contained the shop became known as the "Mallett Block", and was referred to as such in city directories right up to the 1970's. Several of William's immediate family followed him to Manitoba and became involved in his jewelry business.

William and his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, about 1916. He had a Jewelry shop at 1433 Commercial Dr. and lived at 32-1708 Charles St. from 1917 to 1921. In 1920 Frederick was working with his father as a Jeweler's apprentice and living at the same address. By 1921 William had moved uptown to 756 Robson St. in partnership with George T. Munn, who married William's daughter (Rena) Marvel. The business was listed as "Mallett and Munn, Jeweler's And Opticians". In 1924 William, in his 68th year, Jennie, and George and Marvel Munn, moved to Los Angeles, California. William retired, but George carried on the jewelry business.

Jas. H. Bartlett, Souris Manitoba #924 dial

Jas. H. Bartlett Hamilton #924 movement:

Souris Station.

Souris, Manitoba is a divisional point on the line between Winnipeg and Weyburn the station was built in 1912, and it warranted such a large station, built of masonry, due to its proximity to nearby coal fields.

A. H. McIntyre, Portage la Prairie & Kamsack Hamilton #940 dial

Hamilton #940 movement

Hamilton #940, Serial No. 590451, Movement marked: "Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster Pa. 940, Adjusted 5 Positions, 21 Jewels" Double sunk Arabic numeral 24-hour dial marked "A. H. McIntyre, Portage la Prairie & Kamsack" Yellow Gold Filled Case marked "Empress A.W.C. Co. 1019302” in back, maker American Watch Case Company, Toronto, Ontario. Hamilton records indicate pocket watch was finished on April 6, 1908, and sold to The Montréal Watch Case Company, Montréal, Québec on August 31, 1908.

Departing Brandon we head eastward on the next 131 mile subdivision, arriving at the community of Portage la Prairie this is a junction where CPR and CNR converge before continuing 35 miles to the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The line North westward on the CNR takes us back to the town of Kamsack, Saskatchewan.

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

C. R. MacLachlan, Winnipeg dial

C. R. MacLachlan #940 movement.

C. R. McLachlan Winnipeg dial

W. W. Matthews #940 movement

Old postcard view of Winnipeg Manitoba's CPR Depot with CPR steam locomotive 4-4-0, Countess of Dufferin that was used to construct the CPR, on display in garden at the front of the station.

The first time I traveled East to Montréal using my CPR employees pass back in 1976. I rode on the CPR's Canadian and we stopped at this station on our way East.

Winnipeg's Union Station

The next time I traveled East on my pass in 1982 passenger service in Canada had changed drastically with the creation of VIA Rail a Crown Corporation similar to AMTRAK. This time the CPR's Canadian was rerouted to the CNR From Portage la Prairie through Winnipeg and we stopped at CNR's Union Station.

D. R. Dingwall Longines dial

D.R. Dingwall Longines movement

Fred's Illinois Sangamo Special images gone!

My Porte & Markle dial:

My Porte and Markle movement:

Looks like we have the same dial and hands, and are only 71 serial numbers apart on the movements. Very interesting!

Fred