Viewing Object

Object Description

Object Name

Oral History

Object ID

SR-260

Title

Interview of Jessie Lee Middleton Conducted By Warren Sommer 2012.

Extent

10 audio cassettes were donated and 30 CDs were produced (10 research and 10 preservation and 10 for Jessie Lee Middleton) SR-260.1-260.10.

Date

12 Sep. 2011.

Description

Interview of Jessie Lee Middleton conducted by Warren Sommer. Interviews took place March 26 to August 21, 2012. There were 10 cassettes donated.

Preservation CDs do not contain tracks. Research CDs are divided into tracks.

SR-260.1 (Research CD 1) - August 21, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Jessie discusses her name, and date and place of birth.

Track 3: Jessie discusses her parents' early years.

Track 4: Jessie discusses her parents' life in Saskatchewan and move to Langley.

Track 5: Jessie discusses the renaming of Langley Prairie to Murrayville.

Track 6: Jessie gives the names of her parents.

Track 7: Jessie discusses her father's experience in farming when he arrived in Langley, the trip to Langley and their house.

Track 8: Jessie discusses her siblings, birthing practices and doctors.

Track 9: Jessie discusses the family store.

Track 10: Jessie discusses her parents' old age and trips to California due to father's poor health, mother's heart attack, her job in Nanaimo, her mother's illness, her work in the medical core and her mother's death.

Track 11: Jessie discusses the farm after her mother's death until the eventual sale of the farm in the 1960s.

Track 12: Jessie gives a description of the farm and location.

SR-260.2 (Reserach CD 2) - March 26, 2012
Track 1: Jessie discusses the Italians including Betty Barichello, and Nelly and David Gazzola.

Track 2: Jessie discusses Archie Payne and the location of his house, his daughters Nelly and Maisie, their neighbours the Breckons, Halloween party at the Payne residence.

Track 3: Jessie discusses Jim Hill and Nelly.

Track 4: Jessie discusses the building of the Fraser Highway.

Track 5: Jessie gives and overview of her neighbours, including the Cassidys, Courts, the Italians, Remacks, and the Lewis family.

Track 6: Jessie discusses neighbours to the north in greater detail including the Wicherys who moved to Coquitlam where they were murdered by apparent an escapee from Essendale/Riverview. Also, the Hills and Wittletons (sp?), and the description of the house on the property.

Track 7: Jessie discusses neighbours to the west in greater detail including their unfinished house, the Stacies (sp?), the Lambs, their daughter Gloria, and the Sterlings. Discusses their cottages in White Rock.

Track 8: Jessie discusses neighbours to the south including Annie Isaacson, Tom Berry, and Helen who died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning

Track 9: Jessie discusses social and family structures, referencing John Penman, Jessie's father

Track 10: Jessie discusses the Harrisons, Mr. Blacklock and teacher Dolly Harrison, as well as sheep and the tennis court

Track 11: Jessie discusses some of the Italian families, including Betty Barichello (sp?). Discussion cuts off

SR-260.3 (Reserach CD 3) - April 2, 2012
Discussion from end of last tape re: Italian families not continued

Track 1: Sommer gives an Introduction

Track 2: Jessies discusses the Lee Farm including what it was like when the property was purchased, the store, additions to the house, library, instruments and lessons, living room, Jessie's chores, flooring, walls and decor, furniture, house guests Mr. McLaren (sp?) and Fred Seely (sp?), the Depression, bedrooms, children's rooms, heating, division of the house, and sister Sarah

Track 3: Jessie discusses quilts, blankets and wool work

Track 4: Jessie discusses electricity, including its introduction and resentment, electric vacuums and washing machines, baking bread, and lighting before electricity

Track 5: Jessie discusses family time and media, including gramophones and records, victrola, radio and news, The Province and Vancouver Sun

Track 6: Jessie discusses the colours of her family house, including the painted floors, insulation of interior walls, wall-paper, exterior paint and green shingles

Track 7: Jessie discusses accessibility of water, including well-water and bathing

Track 8: Jessie discusses the farm buildings and livestock, including the toilet, storage shed for fruit and eggs, dairy barn and grazing areas, silo, cattle, milk production and sale, pork production and sale, as well as views on killing animals and keeping dogs

Track 9: Jessie discusses fruit and vegetable production, including the orchard, fruit sale, varieties of vegetables, pigeon pest, and the root cellar

SR-260.4 (Research CD 4) - April 2, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Jessie discusses transportation, including accessibility to items for purchase, vehicles, walking paths and roads, saw mills, and the Great Northern Train

Track 3: Jessie discusses local people, including the Benz (sp?) kids, arrival of the Italian, and the death of the Lussin boys

Track 4: Jessie discusses chores and recreation, including kids chores, the Rust family from England, playtime, and the neighbourhood kids

Track 5: Jessie discusses education and Church, including the Bowden family, teachers, Dorothy Peacock, Mission Band and Church. Discussion cuts off

Track 6: Jessie discusses dress and laundry, including going barefoot vs. shoes, dresses, and doing laundry

Track 7: Jessie discusses going to White Rock, including getting there by car, Peace Arch, and the beach

Track 8: Jessie discusses swimsuits and trousers for girls, her sister Helen's work, and fences

Track 9: Jessie discusses swimming and winter sports, including local creek, sleds, the cold, the Democrat car, and the Poppy family

Track 10: Jessie discusses family activities, including festivals, ferry ride, and Sunday School picnics at Dean's Grove

Track 11: Jessie discusses police and crime, including Chief Macklin's family , locking the door

Track 12: Jessie discusses the Pritchard family and Mary Harrower

SR-260.5 (Reserach CD 5)
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Discussion of Mary Harrower from previous tape continued

Track 3: Jessie discusses Church, including the building, the local Presbyterian church and Catholics

Track 4: Jessie discusses dances and alcohol, including her participation in either

Track 5: Jessie discusses Fort Langley, including swimming there, the Fort, and the area's reputation

Track 6: Jessie discusses community involvement and politics, including the Ladies Aid Society, Missionary Society, Ladies Legion Auxiliary, Free Masons, politics, cribbage, time spent farming, family history of Parkinsons, and sister Kathleen's accident

Track 7: Jessie discusses entertainment, food and visitors, including playing the victrola, playing cards, the sabbath, food, and visitors
Track 8: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 9: Jessie discusses local stores and people, including grocery store, butcher, blacksmith, the Andersons, Nicholsons, Murrayville Hall, and the Triggs

Track 10: Jessie discusses activities and festivals, including movie theatres, ice cream and candy, her allowance, competitions, Fall Fair, May Day, and the Westminster Provincial Fair

Track 11: Jessie discusses the Church and Clergy, including Minister Peacock, quilting, food for unwed mothers, and church events

Track 12: Jessie discusses doctors, including Dr. Marr and McBurney

SR-260.6 (Research CD 6) - April 23, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Jessie discusses disease and death, including TB, the Lyon family, quarantine, smallpox, diphtheria, and Margaret and Jimmy Toon

Track 3: Jessie discusses High School, including girls vs. boys, Principle Howard Lee Manger (sp?), teachers, how many students, matriculation, exposure to popular culture and dances, and graduation

Track 4: Jessie discusses career choices, including nursing, opportunities for women, architecture, gardening, and marrying and motherhood

Track 5: Jessie discusses Nursing training, including Royal Colombian Hospital residences, tasks in hospital, classroom work, nurse supervisors, interactions with doctors, and special patients and hospitals
May 2, 2012
Track 5 continued: graduation, and nursing certifications

Track 6: Jessie discusses finding work, including start at VGH

SR-260.7 (Research CD 7) - May 2, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Jessie discusses working at VGH, including life in the city, work hours and vacation, hospital governing board, tasks in the hospital, patient deaths, nurse supervisors, and housing

Track 3: Jessie discusses WWII, including blackouts, fear, Japanese internment, rationing, and local news and media

Track 4: Jessie discusses breaks during work

Track 5: Jessie discusses her mother's illness

Track 6: Jessie discusses neighbours who enlisted in the army

Track 7: Jessie discusses enlisting herself, including reasons, age, the military base in Nanaimo, lieutenant status, training in Victoria, hospital and military installations at Prince Rupert

SR-260.8 (Research CD 8) - May 7, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Jessie discusses her military training, including the lack of training, and marching

Track 3: Jessie discusses deployment to Europe, including leave-time with her mother, Camp Sarcee, train to Halifax, trip on the Queen Elizabeth, and the poor conditions of the soldiers

Track 4: Jessie discusses interactions with the soldier

Track 5: Jessie discusses entertainment on the ship and being scared

Track 6: Jessie discusses arrival in England, including Taplow, going to Scotland, ocal hospital facilities, local travel, the severely wounded, allied planes, bombings, Churchill, Royal and Lady Astrid's visits, and types of wounds

Track 7: Jessie discusses interactions with the outside and media, including travelling, news coverage, radio, hanging out with Morris, awareness of Hitler, and secrecy

Track 8: Jessie discusses sentiments about the war, including the plight of the Jewish population

Track 9: Jessie discusses religion in the army, including church parade and freedom of religion

SR-260.9 (Research CD 9) - May 7, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 1: Jessie discusses getting ready to go to Italy in July 1944, including staying in the British army barracks awaiting to go. Also, Jessie in the newspaper

Track 2: Jessie discusses trip to and arrival in southern Italy, including the ship, Naples, Avellino, the hospital, Mt Vesuvius, beauty of the land and coast, Sorrento, off-duty activities in Holland

Track 3: Jessie discusses going to northern Italy, including units pushing into Rome and Jesi, and sightseeing in Florence

May 17, 2012
Track 4: Sommers gives an Introduction

Track 5: Jessie discusses nursing in Italy, including in Avellino, frequency of Jaundice, and the constant movement of hospitals as they were heading north

Track 6: Jessie discusses time off in norther Italy, including sightseeing in Florence and Pisa, transportation options, and returning to the area years later with her husband

Track 7: Jessie discusses bombings in Italy, including blackouts, handling bombings, dealing with constant moving and immobile patients, and the hospital

Track 8: Jessie discusses going back to southern Italy, including being on the hospital ship, ice cream, local relations, Naples, Marseilles, and finally pulling out of Italy

Track 9: Jessie discusses being in Holland, including the trip via Belgium, relations with US troops, Nejmegen, fighting, and the treatment and transportation of patients

Track 10: Jessie discusses treating German patients

Track 11: Jessie discusses D Day Invasions, including what it the day of the invasion must have been like and going back to Holland years later.

Track 12: Jessie discusses VE Day, including her disbelief, Oldenburg, Germany devastated, cockroaches and taking a bath.

Track 13: Jessie discusses terminally wounded patients, dying and PTSD

Track 14: Jessie tells Kay's toilet story

SR-260.10 (Research CD 10) - May 17, 2012
Track 1: Sommer gives an introduction

Track 2: Toilet Story continued from previous tape

Track 3: Jessie discusses visiting Ireland, England and France, including friends in Ireland who lived above a store, post-war England, lodging in London, theatres, bunkers in London, rationing, and buying perfume in Paris

Track 4: Jessie discusses trip home on the ship SS Ile de France

Track 5: Jessie discusses the end of the war in Japan

Track 6: Jessie discusses her homecoming

Track 7: Jessie discusses cigarettes, including they use as currency, buying a purse with them, and their health issues

Track 8: Jessie discusses her life back home after the war, including living in New Westminster, her discharge from the army, meeting husband Fred in Europe, and going back to school in Montreal, her back injury, marriage to Fred in 1948, end of nursing career and kids Robert and Kathleen

Track 9: Jessie discusses her nephews Tad and Richard, including her Trouble with Tad, as well as Richard in the navy, his marriage and his death of cancer

Track 10: Jessie discusses Fred's career, including his work in Salmo, his time as Principle and Superintendent, the various school districts he oversaw, his first heart attack in 62/63, his transportation, their move to Abbotsford, and Fred's retirement

Track 11: Jessie discusses their trip to Australia, including Fred's work with the Rotary exchange program, Fred's family in Australia, travel around Australia, Fred's death in Adelaide, and her continued communication with family in Australia

Track 12: Jessie concludes the interview by discussing lessons for younger generations, namely that your actions affect everyone, war is not the solution, and to focus on the important things in life

People/Subject

Marr, Benjamin Butler, Dr., 1882-1939

Benjamin Butler Marr was born on August 10, 1882. He graduated from Tuft's Medical School in Boston in 1907 and came to Vancouver. He set up his medical practice in 1910 and became Langley's first doctor. In 1913, he married Isabel Drew McIntosh (1895-1936). In 1914, Marr enlisted in the cavalry; he was transferred to the medical corps in Britain in 1916. Benjamin died on October 14, 1939.

Dr. Marr was also the Chairman of the Fort Preservation Committee during the late 1920s when the Fort was undergoing revitalization.

Middleton, Jessie (nee Lee)

Jessie Lee was born on December 12, 1916. She was the youngest daughter of James and Edith Lee. James operated the Murrayville General Store in partnership with W.T. Andrews.

Payne, Archie

Richmond Archibald Payne (Archie) was born in 1881. He was appointed collector in 1910 and became a municipal clerk in 1911, serving until retirement in 1945. He also served as Magistrate from 1946-1957. He served in the army and was granted leave from his municipal career during the war years. In 1914, prior to WWI, Archie Payne was one of a group of military minded horsemen in Langley who organized training sessions in order to prepare for the rumoured war. While in France during WWI, it was Archie Payne and Langley's Dr. Benjamin Butler Marr who decided that if they ever returned to Langley they would have the streets named after their fallen comrades. They both returned to carry out this project. Archie Payne died on October 15, 1957, at the age of 75.
Term Source: HPC Record (HPC-432/1188)

World War, 1939-1945

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Argus v4.4.2.32 - Langley Centennial Museum