The Abbotsford News 100 Years Ago: Looking Back At May 26, 1923 | Abbotsford News

The golden wedding (50th) anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Vanetta was front-page news 100 years ago in the May 26, 1923 edition of the Abbotsford, Sumas and Matsqui News.

The event was celebrated in Aldergrove and a purse made of gold, and a number of other gifts were given by the couple’s six children and 10 grandchildren.

Vanetta was born in Wisconsin in 1845 and served in the American Civil War. He married Ontario’s Elizabeth Murcheson in Iowa and they eventually moved to New Westminster before setting in the Fraser Valley.

The first-ever Field Day for schools in Matsqui occurred in the fairgrounds at Gifford on May 18 of that years. Events included the straight race, sack race, relay, three-legged race, egg and spoon race, chariot race and high jump.

The ninth annual May Fiesta managed to avoid rainy weather and saw large crowds celebrate. Baseball, football, races and an evening dance all occurred at the event on May 24.

A page-two story stated that Canada exported a little over two million pounds of butter in the previous fiscal year. The United Kingdom and the United States were the top two importers of butter.

It was reported in the 1920 census that over one million children between the ages of 10 and 15 were working in the United States. No count was made for those under 10. Child labour laws did not come into effect in the U.S. until 1938.

An editorial on page five shared news that a child was run down by an automobile near Cultus Lake and urged drivers to show more responsibility when behind the wheel.

In sports news, the Vancouver Elks visited Abbotsford for a game of football (soccer) and scored a 3-1 win.

A page-seven story stated that the Canadian government was embarking on a survey to prove that the Upper Ottawa River was the deepest river in the world. Research would later prove that it was not the deepest.

Page seven also reported that efforts were being made to popularize the sport of lacrosse in Canada. The game was established in B.C., Ontario and Quebec, but lacrosse representatives aimed to spread the popularity to Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Maritime provinces.

Page 10 featured a story that the Nova Scotia provincial government had followed New Brunswick and adopted the drive-on- the -right rule.

To view the archives, visit ufv.arcabc.ca/asmn.

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