History of Morden on Murals and Benches
History of Morden on Murals and Benches - October 30, 2024
MURALS
Morden's first mural was commissioned by MDCC for Morden's 125th Anniversary. It was painted on the east side of Olympic Sports by local artists and was completed on July 21, 1995. It was based on the earliest known photo taken in this area (July 11, 1873) and showed the British North America Boundary Commission Surveyors and their 24 unit supply train crossing the Dead Horse Creek on their way to survey the western part of the 49th parallel border between Canada and the US. One year later on July 13, 1874, the newly formed North West Mounted Police troop of 274 mounted officers and support personnel, wagons, oxcarts and supplies passed this same location. It has now been painted over.
The second Mural was commissioned by the Town of Morden Councilor Frank Ptosnick and it was designed and painted by Margie Friesen (Hildebrand). It was based on a description by Howard Winkler in "Some Notes About the History Around Morden in the 19th Century" and was placed on the east side of Clinton Drugs (now Coffee Culture) on August 15, 1997. It shows Canada1s first Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald arriving at the Morden station during his trip to inspect the newly completed Canadian Pacific Railway. While on the Pembina Mountain branch line he stopped at Morden and was greeted by a crowd including Philip Locke (3) son of Corbet Locke who presented the PM with a bouquet of prairie flowers. It is recorded that Sir John addressed the gathering which felt highly honoured. As a display to amuse him, Tom Ticknor (a veteran of the Wolsley Expedition and a homesteader in the bush northeast of Morden) drove up with his team of elk and, attired in garments made of buckskin, gave his impression of an Indian War Dance on the station platform. As a note the unveiling was attended by Ruth Winkler, widow of Howard, and descendants of the Macdonald, Locke and Ticknor families. This event is one of the most significant in Morden1s history. It is the only time a sitting Prime Minister has ever visited Morden. It is now located on the north side of the Morden Activity Centre.
The 3rd Mural is fairly small and is located on the north side of the Morden Activity Centre as well. It was commissioned by Morden Councilor Frank 4. Ptosnick in 1998 and depicts a Northwest Mounted Police Officer and tells the early history of the force.
Chautauqua Murals: Chautauqua consisted of travelling troupes of entertainers who went from town to town in the early part of the 20th Century sharing culture. There were lectures, readings, singing, dramas and numerous other acts, sometimes including Christian Revival Meetings. It was chosen as the theme of Morden's 2008 Culture Canada Project. It should be noted that this was the first time a small rural community was chosen for this federal grant funding.
West side of Morden legion: this Mural centres on Lt. Col. ACD Pigott who commanded the Canadian Militia/Fort Garry Horse who fought with the 184th Battalion in WW 1 in Belgium and France. He was also the Sheriff of the Southern Judicial District of Manitoba from 1906 to 1923. To his right is ABS George Miller, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (WW2) and to Pigott's left is Wallace Cram, Royal Canadian Air Force (WW2). In the background is His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Morden, a Corvette that mostly escorted and protected Merchant Ships during WW2. There is also the propeller of a WW2 Bomber. From left to right there are soldiers receiving orders, soldiers in the trenches, a group of flyers and UN Peacekeepers
Marathon Pizza (west side): there was a Mural depicting the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre fossils and Mosasaur. It was removed and destroyed by the company filming the Looper episode in Morden. They tried to remove it carefully but it just fell apart. It has not been replaced.
Menzies Medical Centre: this Mural was installed on the east side in 2008 during Chautauqua and pays homage to Dr. Henry Marshall's Parkland Rose series. This is the Morden Centennial Rose developed by Dr. Marshall. The Town of Morden commissioned the painting and hired an artist from out of the area. I cannot find her name anywhere.
Chautauqua Mural was erected on the east side of the Morden Activity Centre in 2008. It was designed and painted by Margie Hildebrand and other local artists; it took 340 hours to paint. It has 9 coloured bands showing Morden's culture including Dance, Visual Arts, David Rabinovitch (author and filmmaker), Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, Research Station, Theatre Arts, Literature, Classical Music, Folk and Country Music.
Confederation Park: a 3-part Mural and signs all around the park was a project of the Morden Legion and Darryl Toews' history class at Morden Collegiate. The mural commemorates the Veterans of the area. The left side shows the members of the 184th Battalion of Morden in the spring of 1914. Note many of the names are still familiar in Morden today. The middle panel entitled "Lest We Forget" has John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields"; the right panel shows a photo of Legion Members in front of the WWl Cannon in Confederation Park circa 1940 just before the cannon was sent to be melted down for the WW2 war effort. Also note the many signs around the area with information researched by Darryl's students and the refurbished Cenotaph. Apparently there were some names missed from the original and they have been added now.
Access Event Centre: For Canada's 150th Celebration a couple of artists traveled across Canada helping various Communities create a mosaic mural that became part of a "train" binding Canada together. Individuals, groups, local artists and students came together to paint tiles of their choice but following a colour scheme. I've never counted the tiles but we created a huge mural that was placed on the wall in the foyer of the Centre. It was removed to complete renovations and, I was told some of the tiles were damaged. I have not checked lately to see if the mural has been put back.
Thrift Shop: this mural celebrates 50 years of this special volunteer organization. It was created in 2018 by Neil Fehr to capture the essence of what the Thrift Store is (faith, love, giving and passing the torch). It took 150 hours to paint.
BENCHES
Milne Park: Lovers' Bench: created by Todd Braun from Altona and arranged by Councilor Ron Laverty. There was a heart-shaped sign next to the bench telling the legend but it is gone now. Hopefully it is just being fixed.
Confederation Park: many benches remembering veterans and significant Legion members.
North Railway Street: Checker Signs has created a whimsical sign on a bench in front of the Liquor Store. It shows North Railway Street in the early 20th Century when it was Morden's main business district. The photo was believed to have been taken from the top of one of the elevators and covers the area from Nelson Street to 5th Street. In this version, Morden meets War of the Worlds, meets Godzilla, meets Sharknado, meets the crash of the Hindenberg meets Jurassic Park!
Corner of Nelson Street: marks the original location of Standard Gas & Engine Works owned by Adolph Krushel (1891-1984}, the inventor of the Krushel Crushing Machine, patented December 15, 1936, #2,064,666, which revolutionized North American agriculture by giving farmers the ability to crush their own feed. John Buhler married daughter Ruth Krushel and that partnership resulted in the manufacturing firm Farm King and then Buhler Industries.
Stephen Street: Baker Bench - in memory of Jimmie Baker, "the Barber that lived his Faith" by the Christian Programs Committee. It also should be noted that Jimmie was the original Chairperson of the Morden Corn & Apple Festival Sunday Stage Programs.
Isaac Bench: In Memory of Frank and Elsie Isaac, love their Family. It should be noted that Frank was the assistant pharmacist at Danny Dack's Pharmacy. For many years until his retirement, he and Danny Dack made the daily climb to the Morden Library/Pembina Hills Arts Council tower to wind the Town Clock. Elsie was an expert seamstress and made many bridesmaid, graduation and Corn & Apple Queen Pageant gowns for many young ladies in Morden in the days when people didn't run to Winnipeg to buy.
Pembina Hills Arts Council: In 2015 the Morden Area Foundation and Agassiz Credit Union funded an 8 part Mosaic Seating project designed by Sharon Loeppky with local organizations, City Councilors, students, artists, local businesses, officials, and community members in front of the Gallery building.
Morden Park: Fort Pinancewaywining Cairn - I've included this as many people climb the rock and sit on it for fun and photos. It remembers Alexander Henry (the Younger} who entered the service of the Northwest Company in 1792 as a fur trader. In 1802 he established Fort Pinancewaywining near present day Morden. This post traded with local Cree, Sonant and Stone Indians and was supplied with goods hauled by the first Red River Carts. After leaving southern Manitoba, Henry moved on to 6. Fort Vermillion on the North Saskatchewan River in 1808 and to Fort George at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1813. He died here in 1814. This cairn was erected in 1983 by the Morden Historical Society, researched by Adolph Dack.
Livingston Nature Park on Parkhill Street at Dead Horse Creek on land once owned by Don and Shirley Livingston: planning for this new park began in 1999 by the Morden Millennium Committee and over the next four years deadwood was cleaned out and native trees and shrubs and wood chip paths were added. It is a haven for deer, beaver and other small animals. Benches, including that at the trail head, made of local fieldstone provide a tranquil refuge. And Last But Not Least!
8th Street: Wayne's Bench - the money for this bench was donated to the Corn & Apple Festival by Bessie Rodrigues {the C & A Shish-kebab lady). In 2006 when Wayne Bergman passed away, the bench was designed by myself with the help of Merle Block from Checker Signs to remember him. It was agreed the bench would be placed on 8th Street near the Corn & Apple Stage as Wayne had been the Festival Entertainment Chairman for 11 years and brought top entertainers like Randy Bachman, Pete Best of the Beatles, Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, Kenny Rogers, April Wine and many more. He also created Morden's Grand Ole Opry with Terry Titchkosky and Maurice Butler. Out of that grew That 70's Show that continues today. This bench was repaired and repainted earlier this year by the Morden Corn & Apple Festival Board of Directors
