Archive Record
Metadata
Catalog Number |
BE1998.1.106.292 |
Object Name |
Postcard |
Scope & Content |
A postcard addressed to Miss Harris 'c/o Mrs. Harry McVitty Banff, Alberta. The message reads, 'Aug. 20th. Have been trying to write to you for ages but never seem to have a minute. Heard all about your doings at the coast and you had indeed a royal time. Love from Hattie.' The postcard is postmarked twice. On the side of correspondence, there is a postmark from Toronto. On the illustration side, the postmark is from Banff, Alberta, 31 August 1908. The postcard also has a red, two-cent Canadian stamp. The front illustration is of St. John's Church in Dixie. The church has a red brick fa‡ade, and a high spier. A fence lines the outside, with some trees. The title is printed in black, at the top centre. |
History |
Postcard was sent to Naomi Harris from an unknown friend or relative named Hattie. Naomi was visiting western Canada and was staying with her friend Edith Gwendolyn McVitty. 'Gwen', originally from Ontario married Harry McVitty in January 1908. Gwen and Naomi were longtime friends. Gwen originally worked as a music teacher in Toronto before moving to Alberta after getting married. Postcard features an image of St. John's Church in Dixie. The Anglican parish of Dixie was established in 1827. The first church was built in 1870 and destroyed by fire in 1924. The present church was built in 1925. Dixie Union Chapel replaced a log cabin church in 1837 for Protestant worshipers. It still stands today and has been designated a historical site. It is the oldest Union Chapel in Ontario and is surrounded by a large cemetery with tombstones from many early settlers. St. John the Baptist (Dixie) Anglican Church was built to the east of the chapel in 1870. It was destroyed by fire in 1924 but was rebuilt opening in 1926. Additions and repairs have been made in 1955, 2002 and 2010. References: BE979.6.1619. Music Book. The Lads of the Land. Gwen Roberts-McVity, 1917 BE1998.1.106.64 Postcard July 18th, 1908. Cascade Mountain from sanitarium Hotel Banff St. Johns Dixie, Website https://stjohnsdixie.com/church/who-we-are/history/ |
Title |
St. Johns Church, Dixie |
People |
Harris, Naomi McVity, Gwen Roberts |