Interview with Paul Hawirko 1.7

Segment Synopsis: For clothes, things were very sparse or basic by today's standards. They didn't have many changes of clothes and they wore the same clothes until they wore out. Shoes were worn until they were completely worn out. When he was 10 or 11, he wore breeches with 2 or 3 pairs of woollen socks with a pair of moccasins. Paul's parents used to tan hides of the animals they killed. Paul's mother made moccasins and mittens for the kids. Paul describes the mitts and the decoration that was made into them. Paul's family was fortunate to have the clothing they did in the 30s as other kids would have rubber boots with stockings. Paul's family never had a problem with cold feet because they had proper foot protection.

Paul's mother also used to make clothing for her family. He describes a coat she made using many different colours. Clothing was also ordered from catalogues. A number of families received clothing from the government relief program, but Paul's family never had to use relief. There were no clothing stores near Paul's home, and the ones in Peace River would have been too expensive. Eaton's and Simpson's were the catalogues that people ordered from. Simpson's eventually became Sear's.

Segment Synopsis: Paul's family wore some formal wear for special occasions for things like visits, school, or other special events.

Paul's hair was cut by his mother or father and Paul still has the clippers.

Paul doesn't remember his mother wearing makeup during the 30s. She did in later years, however. The jewelry was cheap back then, if there was any. People didn't spend money on non-essential things.

Segment Synopsis: Everyone in the family was born at home. If people got sick, home remedies were used. Paul still believes in many of those remedies. If you feel a cold coming on, gargle with an aspirin and warm water to stop the sore throat. Warm olive oil in the ear was also used. A hot water bottle was also used. Liniment was also used. Travelling salesmen would go around selling different cures for colds, aches, and other ailments. Watkins is still used by Paul: if the neck is sore, they rub Watkin's liniment on the neck and it would not be sore by morning.

One of Paul's neighbour was over at his place, helping Paul's father chop firewood. The neighbour managed to cut their big toe off. He immediately rode home, and his mother put the toe back on and wrapped the toe up in something involving boiled milk. The toe reconnected and was fine after a year. One of that neighbour's neighbours had an accident where a double bladed axe broke at the handle and the blade went into the man's head. So they took that neighbour to the lady that reattached the toe and she treated that head wound in the same way. The man suffered no complications from that wound.

When Paul's pony was young, it ran into a fence and badly cut up its back ankle. Paul's father used a disinfectant on the wound which Paul had to reapply over many weeks. Eventually, it healed. There were no veterinarians nearby. Doctors wouldn't be seen unless surgery or other major operations were needed. People made due with home remedies whenever possible. There were some instances where improper treatment or poor healing led to lifelong problems. That was, however, just how it was in those days. Doctors were expensive in those days, so it was better to go without one. Paul's mother would put a drop of liniment onto a tablespoon of sugar to treat a sore throat, despite that being an external medicine.

Segment Synopsis: Paul went to school for two weeks before being off for two years (due to an injury), so he started school when he was 9. He took grade 1 to 3 in the first year, then grade 4, then a combined 5 and 6. Thus, he made up for the two years he lost. He went to the 1 room school for those first two week. When he came back, at 9, it was at the closer 2 room school. Both of the schools were in Reno.

School hours were from 9 until 3:30. Paul can't describe a typical school day. They initially had two female teachers and the boys had the job of starting fires in the stove at school to keep the place warm. They put water into the drinking containers. They swept up the place from the night before. Blackboards also had to be cleaned off.