Nostalgia on New Street

By Hilda Beingessner and Audrey McKibbon. 

Hilda Beingessner has lived all her life at 4 New Place where she was born in 1923.  Her contemporary and closest childhood friend Audrey Steel lived at 46 New Street.  Their houses are so close the Beingessner backyard looks like it belongs to the Steel house.  The two friends, after seventy years without contact, remet this year.  Here are the stories in their own words—first Hilda, then Audrey.

Hilda Beingessner (back row left), Audrey Steel (front row center) and friends on New Street, circa 1930

When I was a little girl my neighbour and playmate was Audrey Steel.  We played with our dolls.  We loved to dress up in our mothers’ clothes and with a bit of imagination thought we were grand ladies and did many great things.  Colouring books were another favourite pastime.  Always once in the summer time our mothers would pack a lunch and take the kids to the island for a picnic.  The island was very primitive compared to what the zoo is today.  Even though money was scarce at that time because of the Depression, our mothers found enough money so that each one of us could have the very special treat of an ice cream cone.  Yes, cones cost only ten cents each!

We had great fun playing outdoor games with our neighbourhood friends: Tap the Ice Box (Hide and Seek), Giant Steps, Jacks, Hopscotch, Run Sheep Run, Red Light, Dodge Ball, plus skipping, especially Double Dutch.  A winter favourite was Fox and Geese.

The Steel family eventually moved from New Street to the Sandy Beach area.  My sister Rita and I did on occasion go to visit them.  It was quite a trip.  You had to take the number 7 streetcar.  We got off at the loop.  (Today that would be 14th Street SW and the Marda Loop area.)  Audrey and her sister Joan would be there to meet us.  We still had a piece to walk before we were at their home.  Coming home it was a thrill to be driven by Mr. Steel.

Then we grew up and little by little lost contact with one another.  Oh my, how time flies by—ten years turn into twenty then forty and on and on it goes. 

In November of 2005, Wendy and Jeff Jones, my very kind and delightful neighbours, came to me and said that they had had a letter from someone who had once lived in their house.  My mind raced back as I tried to think of all who had once lived there.  There were the McKays, then a family from Toronto whose name I can’t remember, but I do remember babysitting their little girl.  Then there were Stan and Mona Parry who loved talking over the back fence and there was always lots of laughing.  In the early days of Silver Threads Mona was the coordinator.  I still hear from her at Christmas time. 

You can imagine my delight when I realized it was my very special childhood friend Audrey Steel who had sent the letter to the Joneses.  After Audrey was married in St. Johns Anglican church here in Inglewood, she eventually settled in Saskatoon.  She often would tell her daughter Lauren about living in Calgary.  So when her daughter was in Calgary, she drove around and found 46 New Street.  She took pictures of the house and it was then Audrey who put the pictures and a note in an envelope and addressed it to “the people living at 46 New Street.”  I asked if I could have the Saskatoon address and promptly sent off a quick note.  Then it was Audrey’s turn to be surprised!  We were delighted and so thankful that we had “found” one another and how nice it was to be back in touch with one another after so long.  It was not until June 25 of this year that we had a reunion here in Calgary. 

It was nonstop yakking!  We took a trip down New Street walking east and stopped in front of each house and said this is where Parkins lived, then Suttons, Andersons, Sinclairs, Rutherfords, Vokes, McIntoshes and Harlows!  Then we crossed the street and on the corner of 15th Street and New Street was where the Rosses had once lived.  Heading back west, we pointed to the Fishers, Thorps, Thompsons, and then a vacant lot which was always used as a short cut when you wanted to visit and play with your friends on 14th and 14A Street.  Then there were the Mungers, Driscolls, Kents, and another vacant lot also used as a short cut, Rosses, Wilsons, then Tapses and Eric Andersons.  I am told there was a very nice blind lady who lived in the brick house on the top end of the street.

Then we headed home on the north side of the street.  The first house was Colonel Stewart’s place.  The first family I remember in that house was the Frys.  They had a little girl named Beatrice.  She had a Shetland pony which we often rode.  She was always in the Stampede Parade.  The Fry family had a drycleaning business on the south side of 9th Avenue at least half way along the block.  Hancocks also lived in the Stewart house for many years.  Next were three vacant lots which brings us back to New Place.  Our first neighbours on New Place were the Hutts, Birtles, and Johnsons.

Audrey and I never were school chums simply because we never attended the same school.  She went to Alexandra and I went to St. Anne’s.  In the winter time all the kids on the street had great fun skating on the rink our fathers had made and maintained for us.  The rink was on the three vacant lots directly in front of our house.  In the summer time this land was used for gardens.  Mr. Steel was the only one who had any experience with gardening   He was great at sharing his knowledge and advising others.  He grew beautiful flowers as well as a great variety of vegetables.  My father and Mr. Geary (from 14A Street) produced great peas, carrots, onions and beets, and enough potatoes to last all winter.

The Tannian family lived in Inglewood too.  They lived down on 26th Avenue near the community centre.  Nan and Philomena still live in Calgary.  Claire and Jim live in the Toronto area.  Edith (Geary) Desant and I talk on the phone almost every day.  We usually start off with what’s new.   Most of the time the answer is oh nothing.  An hour later we are still talking about nothing.  Our mothers did and said the same thing.

When I’m finished with my copy of the Newsletter I always pass it on to Edith.  When she is finished with it, she sends it to her brother Ronald who lives in Sun City, California.  Her brother Lawrence who in lives in Penticton also enjoys the Newsletter.  He worked at the Brewery so is interested in what is happering there.  Early childhood friends can and do become lifelong friends.

Audrey McKibbon (on left) and Hilda Beingessner (right) in 2006

Just a short little note about my family.  My mother and father were both born and raised in the same little town of Formosa, Ontario.  My father was overseas in the First World War, serving in the Canadian contingent that went to Siberia during the Russian revolution.  When he returned, they were married in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan.  Once my dad had secured employment at Burns, they bought their first and only home at 4 New Place SE.  He was a bookkeeper and paymaster.  He paid all employees every week in cash.  He was with Burns for 33 years.

My mother was a kind gentle person, always a mother first, then a housewife and homemaker.  Her life centered around her family.  She liked to cook and was good at it.  She made great cinnamon buns, coffee cakes and pies.

My only sister Rita was just one year older than me.  We often had different opinions but learned to respect these differences and actually got along very well.  With many friends we had many great times.  She too was a pretty fair cook and loved entertaining.  We were great traveling companions and so traveled near and far.

Letter from Audrey McKibbon  July 8, 2006
Dear Wendy, Jeff, and Nathan,
It’s difficult to believe that because my daughter Lauren took a picture of the home where I was born, so much has happened!  I had a wonderful weekend.  It was truly a step back in time – over 70 years.  Lauren and husband Brad took me everywhere, the highlight being meeting Hilda again.  It was a special day.

Thank you for inviting me into your home.  You have certainly done a great job updating it and making improvements.
It brought back a lot of happy memories.  Everyone used to gather at our place for Sunday dinner.  There would be my mom and dad, my grandmother who lived with us, my two brothers, my sister and other relatives always came—usually 11 of us for dinner.  It was during the Depression.  I often wonder how my mother managed cooking for all of us.  We would listen to the radio located at the end of the dining room (Jack Benny and other programs) and then after a singsong around the piano.

Joan and I shared the bedroom with the long cupboard over the stairs.  One day, several of my friends and I climbed in the cupboard and someone closed the door.  The lock clicked and we couldn’t get out.  My mother was downtown and granny was deaf and didn’t hear all the hollering.  I remember kicking the door with all my might and eventually one of the boards came loose and I was able to undo the latch.  I’m sure that door must have been replaced long ago.
My job every Saturday was to dust down the stairs and clean the silver tea service on the buffet.

My dad almost bought the home at the end of New Street (by the railroad tracks now removed), then decided on a home in Rockcliffe Subdivision on 50th Avenue, outside the city limits.  There are just two homes in the valley, by Sandy Beach and just below Glenmore Dam.  Dad was W.J. Steel, Florist on 7th Avenue W and in business for 37 years.  He had intended building greenhouses on the acre of land near the house.  .  My elder brother Gerry worked in the store and dad had hoped Sid my younger brother would operate the greenhouses.  Both brothers joined the air force.  Dad needed help so Joan and I worked in the shop.  Unfortunately, Sid was listed missing on Christmas Day, 1943 and nothing further was heard, a devastating time for all of us.  Dad’s dream of greenhouses didn’t materialize, except for a small one along side our home, which has since been removed.

Lauren and Brad took me to see my old home in the valley.  They are making huge changes, updating it and it too is in excellent condition.  It would have been nice to see inside but no one was around.  I lived there until I married in 1948. 
My husband was transferred quite often and we ended up in Saskatoon.   He died 5 years ago  after being together over 55 years.  It was very difficult for me to sell our home after 33 years.  I loved my garden and the birds.  But I’m very happy in my seniors’ condo.  They have allowed my son Dana, who is still single, to live with me, which is a great help.

My dear sister Joan has Alzheimers and now is living with her son in Richmond, BC.  We are the only ones left in our immediate family.  I’m thankful she still remembers me and loves to talk about our childhood and sings a lot.
Gerry died at a very young age, only 57.  I have been traveling a lot with my sister-in-law (his wife) to a number of interesting places.  After my mother and dad retired to Victoria in 1966, we didn’t get back to Calgary often.  It was unbelievable the changes which have taken place.  Thanks again for helping me to reunite once again with my dear friend Hilda.  Wishing you good health and happiness, Audrey McKibbon