Vermilion In January 1925

It is a new year, new month and time to start looking at what was going on 100 years ago in the community.

The year started off with a tragedy on Jan. 5, when W.J. McNaught, a well-known resident of Edmonton, died suddenly north of the community. He had been spending a week visiting with family. Met at the station by his hired man Frank Hensel, they went out to a local farm. After eating a large meal, he died of heart failure.

On Jan. 7, Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Kaiser and their daughter Jean left Vermilion to go to the city to attend the York-Cornell wedding at the Macdonald Hotel.

On Jan. 22, the Vermilion Firemen won a close hockey game 1-0 against Vegreville in the Vermilion Arena. The game was described as fast skating with plenty of dust-ups not very much “real hockey”. This was the third game of the Little Three Hockey League series for the Colonel Craig Cup, which had been held by the Vermilion Firemen the previous season.

On Jan. 27, two Vermilion curling rinks were sent to the Manville Bonspiel. They were the best rinks in the community, and there were high hopes that they would do well in the bonspiel.

On Jan. 28, the Board of Trade in Vermilion elected new officers at what was described at the largest and most enthusiastic meeting ever held for the organization. H.W. Harper, the manager of the Royal Bank, was the unanimous choice of the meeting for president. A.W. Beet was chosen to be the vice-president. Mayor Morrison was elected secretary, while various other individuals were selected for the executive. President Harper in his speech stated that he wanted to establish an auto camp in Vermilion, and start an advertising campaign to show people the advantages of living in the community.

On Jan. 30, John Pawlyk was sentenced by Judge Taylor to three months of hard labour at Fort Saskatchewan Penitentiary after he was found guilty of selling grain that was under seizure.

On Jan. 31, it was announced that Vermilion was going to establish a tourist camp through the local Auto and Good Roads Association. The camp would have every modern convenience when it was due to open. The information for the new camp was sent to the Edmonton Good Roads Association and publicity booklets were going to be printed.

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