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Time Travel ~ The House(s) that Abe Built
Part 1 of 3
Stories From Another Era By Margaret G. Hanna
My paternal grandmother, Addie Hanna, told me that she burst into tears when she saw the homestead shack.
So would you, if you had grown up in a “proper” house just outside a prosperous town in southern Ontario. If you had traveled three days by train from Toronto to Winnipeg (where you married your fiancé) and then another day by train to Moose Jaw. If you had just spent 3-1/2 days bouncing across a roadless prairie in a horse-drawn wagon containing all your worldly possessions. If you had got up at the crack of dawn on the last day to jolt the last several hours to the homestead. If you were tired and cranky, and if every bone in your body ached.
And then, THIS! A shack on the bald-ass prairie, not another house and certainly no town anywhere in sight.
This photograph was taken July 15, 1910, the day Addie arrived at the homestead. She told me they had to pay a whole dollar for the photograph, leaving them with only $6.00 for the winter.
She may have cried initially, but Addie was one tough lady. She climbed down off the wagon, took one look at the inside of the shack, and promptly told Abe to make it more habitable. After all, this is the woman who, many years later, proudly proclaimed that, “unlike some other women,” she stayed on the homestead during the winter when Abe was away hauling coal or supplies.
So why are there two “houses” in this picture?
Therein lies a tale of an ambitious young man.
Abe Hanna, my grandfather, had come to Saskatchewan from Ontario in early 1908 to work on a great-uncle’s farm just north of Moose Jaw. In December of 1908, he filed for a homestead quarter – 160 acres – about 100 miles (as the crow flies) southwest of Moose Jaw. In January, 1909, he took up residence (in a tent!) on the NE quarter of Section 25, Township 8, Range 7, West of the 3rd Meridian.
By June of that year, Abe had built a 12’ x 14’ one-room shack (the one that Addie cried over). He had also purchased a Volunteer Bounty Land Grant scrip from a Boer War veteran, whereby he obtained the adjoining south half of the section.
“Proving up” a homestead was a three-year process. Each year, Abe had to break a minimum of 30 acres and reside on the homestead (the NE quarter) for a minimum of six months. But the scrip land (the south half) had exactly the same requirements: each year, break a minimum of 30 acres and reside on it for a minimum of 6 months.
Abe chose his homestead house site wisely, a stone’s-throw north of the boundary between the NE quarter and the S half. Then, just across the boundary, on the S half, he built a bigger house – 14’ x 24’ with two rooms!
Abe and Addie lived in the homestead shack from April to October, then, come November, they moved south across the border to live in the scrip house until March. I, therefore, maintain that my grandparents were the first “snowbirds.”
They moved from one house to the other for three years until both the homestead quarter and the scrip land were proved up. Once Abe had the official papers in hand that he had fulfilled all the requirements and now owned the land, they moved permanently into the scrip house. The homestead house became a granary.
Next time: A new farmstead location and a new house.
Addie tells all about arriving in “The West,” the trip to the homestead, and her reaction to the homestead shack in “Our Bull’s Loose in Town!” Tales from the Homestead.
Margaret G. Hanna grew up on the farm her paternal grandfather homesteaded in 1908 in southwestern Saskatchewan. After 12 years of university, she worked as a professional archaeologist, first on several short-term contracts in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, and finally as Curator of Aboriginal History at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina. She retired in 2007 and moved to Airdrie AB where she lives with her husband and no pets.
She now uses her research skills to explore family and prairie history. For Margaret, writing is a portal to another dimension of reality. When she isn’t struggling to write, she gardens, reads, sews, and quilts. Her dream is one day to master the 5-string banjo, claw-hammer style.
Margaret’s books can be found through her website, A Prairie Perspective, and on Amazon.
Closing Soon
April 30, 2024 is the last day for WWW members to submit to The LAURA Short Fiction Award.
The LAURA Short Fiction Award is a contest for Women Writing the West members. Submissions are accepted on the WWW website from March 1 to April 30 of each year.
Natalie Bright Releases New Book
End of the Trail Eats: Cowboy-Approved Recipes from the Cowtown Café to the Saloon
Trail-weary cowboys, cattle barons, railroaders, and townspeople collide in Cowtown where the dining table is central to savory food and business deals. Discover the iconic taste of the American West and the tales of a thriving Cowtown. Rivalry was fierce and entertaining the drovers was crucial. Independence and grit ruled where enterprising minds could profit. As the saying goes, “No sheriff west of Newton—no God west of Dodge.”
You’ve probably read about the Texas Longhorns and the cowboys that drove them north. That is not what this book is about. My newest book is all about Cowtowns—the essential part of how the cattle trailing industry became so successful in such a short time. The efforts and accomplishments of the townspeople blew me away. What they achieved is truly awe-inspiring. END OF THE TRAIL EATS features the food and authentic recipes from Cowtown, as well as archival photographs, old-time remedies, firsthand accounts, and Old West lore. Taste a sandwich made famous by the most beautiful girl in Dodge City. Read about the very first Mexican bull fight held on American soil.
Natalie Bright is a freelance writer, blogger, and author of twenty books for kids and adults. Her first cookbook, Keep ‘Em Full and Keep ‘Em Rollin’, won a first place Will Rogers Medallion Award. She is a member of Women Writing the West, Western Writers of America, and the American Chuck Wagon Association. Texas High Plains Writers honored her with its 2022 lifetime achievement award. She and her husband own a cow/calf operation in the Texas Panhandle raising all-natural grass-fed Angus beef. They have two sons.
For more information about Natalie and to purchase her book visit her website and in the Women Writing the West Book Corral
Collecting Words
Women Writing the West has gathered a collection of words to slip into your writing and add to your vocabulary arsenal.
Marketing Your Books at Events
by Vicki Felmlee
Some years ago I was talking to a local author who had just had his second book published (this was before Amazon’s publishing options were available). I asked him how his books were doing and he indicated his publisher was doing an “OK” job with selling, and he had a few book signings that helped. Beyond that, he said, he wasn’t “very comfortable” putting himself out there.
Fast forward about 25 years and here we are in a new universe of publishing options – and perhaps even obligations. As we all know, there has been a lot of consolidation with the “big ones” and many mid-range, regional, or small publishers are gone. With the advent of self-publishing or “hybrid” publishing, helping authors publish their books for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc., authors might still find themselves wondering, “How can I get my book in reader’s hands?” Putting yourself out there can make the difference.
Events can be great ways to sell books, and they will also give you a great opportunity to talk to potential readers at length, ask them what they like to read, and point out excerpts from your book they might be interested in. If you have several books, you’ll also gauge which cover draws them in, which one not so much.
I posted in our WWW groups.io website a few weeks ago my experiences with events where I’ve sold a number of books, events that at first glance might not be the “usual” place for some of your titles. Coincidentally, I read an author’s newsletter (she writes women’s fiction) about the best ways she has found to sell her books. Book fairs and conventions were top of the list, of course, but in the top 10 were also craft fairs and ComicCons.
I did our local ComicCon last September, and I will certainly do it again. It’s not just cosplay and science fiction, they are attended by a diverse and large customer base. I sold a lot of books. I’m looking at an art festival, and there are also two Holiday Craft Fairs – one in November, the other in December. All of these are very affordable and last only one day.
There are other venues worth exploring. One suggestion included car shows, and that spotlights the best advice: Think outside the box!
Some self-disclosure: For many years I have been involved in a variety of public events, from expos to county fairs to a variety of festivals. Sometimes I helped with displays, other times with marketing (and once in a while conflict resolution, oh, the stories I could tell!).
They all have several things in common, and I’ve carried those experiences over to selling books as an author.
How do you find events? Check online calendars and social medai from your local Chambers of Commerce, libraries, museums, city or county governments, service clubs, and tourism organizations.
Outdoor events are risky weather-wise, and bad weather will impact attendance. But if you’re confident, go ahead and book it!
How long is the event? What time does the event open to the public and when does it close down? Are evening hours involved? And, more than one day? County fairs, for example, might be great venues, but they typically last 4, 5, even 6 days and 10-12 hours per day. Many also require somebody to “man the booth” all the time. Do you have help, friends, or family, or perhaps another author or three who can share the time commitment and costing? If you do, your local count y fair might be perfect for you (and, a lot of fun). If your book(s) has a western theme (we ARE Women Writing the West, after all), you might sell lots of books.
Deadlines. Many events might be months away, but deadlines are coming up fast. Check those calendars, make those phone calls.
Costing and Expenses. This is where you, as a business owner, have to do some math (that’s right, you think you’re an author, but you now own a business. Congrats!) . My advice is always keep costs down. You have books to buy (inventory, see below), and probably pay state and local sales taxes. If an event fee is less than $100 for one day, I might be inclined to add it to my list IF they can show there will be good foot traffic. However, less than $50 is better. If you have a publisher, check for bulk discounts and ask if they might help pay some expenses.
Taking Payment/Making Change. You will have to develop a plan and options for taking payment. Cash is always king but consider how you will make change. Many vendors (books or otherwise) simply charge a rounded up figure – $10, $15, $20, etc. – so they do not have to make change with coinage, only paper money. Sales tax is generally included in those costs.
About 60% of my buyers use credit or debit cards. There are several payment gateways, many are well known, from Paypal to Stripe. They are easy to set up and will calculate your sales tax. If you’re new, become familiar with your credit card swiper, and set up the Wifi with your phone before you go to your first event.
Should You Travel? That is up to you, your resources, and your budget. I have met a few authors who travel extensively, especially during the holidays, driving across several states and participating in two or three events per week. Both of them have written several titles, one of them more than 30, so it seems worth their while.
Inventory. That always leads to the question, how many books should you have on hand to sell? You’ll want to ask the event how many people came through the year before. That number might be exaggerated. I always use the 2% rule. If I’m told a thousand people came through, I’ll have twenty each title. Just in case, I might add 10 more. It’s a judgment call, but try not to over-inventory, without running out of books.
Your Booth/Table; Set-Up/TearDown. This is very important, as I’m sure most of you know, and this is where costs can really jump. Banners, posters, give-aways (see below) are always desirable, but do some due diligence, call around and get the best pricing. You might be surprised. A small, local printer might best any online pricing and give you better quality.
Generally speaking, you will have either a table or a booth. Many events include table cloths, but I like to have a couple on hand just in case. You might be up against a wall, perhaps not. The event should provide a map of where you are. A booth typically includes “pole/rod and drape” which means you have two sides and a back. This kind of set up will probably be more expensive, but you have the advantage of “dressing up” your booth as much as you’d like. Google examples, there are thousands, to get some ideas about banners, displays, etc., but again, watch your budget. It will be tempting to buy those beautiful shelves, holders, etc., but maybe wait until you have a few events under your belt before you decide what works best for you.
Wander around and get some ideas about what others are doing, many of them are seasoned pros (and most are very friendly).
I do recommend, however, purchase sturdy and versatile wheeled carts for your books and other materials. That is the kind of investment you and your back will appreciate.
You’ll be given a time to set up and tear down. Events are pretty strict about that, so please accommodate their schedules.
Give-aways. Bookmarks are great, but hand them out as folks go by. If you expect them to be picked up, they probably won’t be. Our wonderful past president, Lynn Downey, gave me a great suggestion: Bandanas. I looked online, found 300 of them for about three cents each. I give them away with the purchase of a book. If a child is looking at the stack with longing eyes, however, I’ll probably relent and give one to him or her – and I always look for service dogs and give one to the owner as well. Another good thing – they don’t weigh hardly anything!
Other Tips.
Sets sell. Astonishingly well, I might add. If you have more than one title, bundle them in some inexpensive jute from a hobby story, maybe add a small seasonal ornament, give a discount, and away they will go.
Dress for success. Some authors dress in period clothing to match the theme of their book(s). It’s a great attention-getter and might work for you.
Stand up. I know it’s hard (and chairs will be provided), but stand up, especially when people approach your booth or table. That one gesture WILL mean the difference between a sale or no sale.
Have Fun! And, Take Pictures. Events are marketing opportunities. Set some goals but make them realistic. You’ll learn a lot, meet readers and other authors, and have fun. Don’t forget to take pictures for your social media, websites, and advertising.
If you have other ideas, and would like to share, add them to comments of this blog. I’d love to hear from you.
Vicki Felmlee received her degree in Geology but took a right-hand turn into journalism, working for newspapers and magazines for more than 10 years. She then returned to her “roots” and worked as an Environmental Scientist for projects in Idaho, New Mexico, and Denver before starting her own company in 1996. She is a former national president of the Old Spanish Trail Association and has been active in community issues. She is the author of The Abandoned Trilogy: Prince Tadpole & Princess Clara; Good Boy Ben; and Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion. Her fourth novel, In the Dark Night, will be published this fall. Her website is at www.vfauthor.com
Creative Mind
Welcome to Women Writing the West Creative Mind.
Let your creative mind take a journey to a new place. The result might surprise you.
Share your creative story in the comments.
LAURA Submission Reminder
The LAURA Short Fiction Award is a contest for Women Writing the West members. Submissions are accepted on the WWW website from March 1 to April 30 of each year.
Do you have a story you would like to submit, but aren’t a WWW member? Information on how to join is available on the New Members page on the WWW website. Any questions you may have can be answered by contacting the WWW administrator.
Time Travel ~ The Ol’ Prairie Swimming Hole, ca. 1930
Stories From Another Era By Margaret G. Hanna
On the map it’s called a lake – Montague Lake to be exact – but it wasn’t the cleanest or nicest place to swim. My maternal grandparents, Caleb and Mary Higham, took their six kids there every now and then, even though it meant a 20-mile trip one way. Once there, they had to squelch through the muddy shore and navigate the weeds before they got to water deep enough for swimming.
I can see it all now, in my imagination.
The girls would curl their lips and squeal “Ee-yuw! Ick! Yuck!” The boys would pull weeds and chase the girls who would start screaming.
They forbade Maisie, my mother, to swim on account of her dicky heart – she’d had rheumatic fever when six years old – even though she had the confidence to head into deep water. I can hear Grandma Higham shouting, “Stay close to shore,” whenever she wandered too far away.
Betty, the youngest girl, would whine, “This wool swim suit is heavy!” Grandpa, always the tease, would call back, “Well, then, take it off.” The boys – Bob was the ring-leader – would start to chant, “Take it off! Take it off!” Betty would start crying, tears streaming down her face, “Mom, they’re teasing me!” Grandma would shake her head, “Just ignore them!”
Marjorie took whining to a whole new level. “It’s cold.” “There’s mud between my toes.” “There’re too many weeds!” “The boys are splashing me.” “I’m hungry.” “I want to go home.” “I hate this place.” Grandma and Grandpa had long ago learned to ignore her. So had everyone else.
To give Bob his due, he looked after his younger brother John and cousin Roy. He showed them how to do the dead man’s float and then to dog paddle. When they swallowed half the lake, he would clap them on their backs. “You’re doing just fine,” he’d say, “now try again.”
On the way back home, all eight of them crowded into the ’27 Chev, smelling of mud and algae and wet towels and wet hair and wet swim suits. They would talk and laugh and tease each other about how much fun they had had that afternoon. They’d pester their parents as to when they could go to Montague Lake again.
I bet my grandparents looked at each other, shook their heads, and rolled their eyes. Children!
Margaret G. Hanna grew up on the farm her paternal grandfather homesteaded in 1908 in southwestern Saskatchewan. After 12 years of university, she worked as a professional archaeologist, first on several short-term contracts in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, and finally as Curator of Aboriginal History at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina. She retired in 2007 and moved to Airdrie AB where she lives with her husband and no pets.
She now uses her research skills to explore family and prairie history. For Margaret, writing is a portal to another dimension of reality. When she isn’t struggling to write, she gardens, reads, sews, and quilts. Her dream is one day to master the 5-string banjo, claw-hammer style.
Margaret’s books can be found through her website, A Prairie Perspective, and on Amazon.
Wait No More!
Registration for the Women Writing the West 2024 Conference in Denver, Colorado is now open.
WWW 2024 Conference Information
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