Rudolf & Lena Tittlemier, Beginnings and Ending
After the wedding, Rudolf and Lena lived with her parents in the winter and they moved to Sanford the next spring, where they both worked for a farmer. Next year (1917), they went to Scepter, Saskatchewan, where they also worked for a farmer. In 1918, they went to Leader, Sask., and lived in town, with Rudolf working out. In 1919, they rented a farm at Leder working it for three years. In 1922, they came back to Seven Sisters, renting a house from John Kneller, where Arnold Golke now lives. They stayed there for one year, and then rented Rudolf Golke’s house where Wm. Klaprat now lives. Rent was one year’s taxes, $30.00. Mr. Golke, at this time, was living on Art Schultz’s farm, across the river. In 1923, they bought a farm, from the government for $11.00 per acre. The land had previously been owned by Jacob Rerick (Ed Rerick’s grandfather), but had been let go for taxes. This farm was owned for many years by Ed Honke, and now owned by Oscar Noel. A neighbour, Fred Gaek, told Rudolf about the farm; the property was covered with heavy bush, but there was a log house on it, and about 25 acres of land were cleared.
Times were very hard, and the payments could not be made. Somehow, due to some manoeuvering, the land was put into Lena’s name, and the price dropped to $3.50 per acre, which was much better. The land was cleared with axes and teams of horses. Land was cultivated with horses also. Rudolf was working out at the new power station in Great Falls. Lena stayed home and did all the farm work including milking cows, stacking sheaves, and making hay. Rudolf had to walk through the bush to Lac du Bonnet, and then catch a bus to work at Great Falls. Lena kept horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys at that time.
In 1928, with the first construction of the power house and dam at Seven Sisters, Rudolf got a job with arter-Halls-Ahldinger. Milk and cream were sold to the townspeople of Seven Sisters, with the girls (Lena’s daughters) often carrying it into town when they went to school. Later, milk was delivered into the townsite with a horse and buggy. A sign was placed on their gate advertising farm produce for sale to people going out to the beach just past Oscar Noel’s old place where he lived for many years. Seven Sisters was a boom town during construction, with several stores including a Chinese Restaurant, butcher shop, pool halls, hall, and grocery stores. A house was purchased from the company for $50.00, and moved onto the farm.
The farm was sold to Ed Honke in 1946, and the family moved to Toronto, where Rudolf worked for Carter construction (The same Carter that did the second construction at Seven Sisters. He worked for a man called John Bloos, building war houses, and then building a C.I.L. paint plant. Lena worked as a seamstress in a sewing factory.
In 1947, after one year, they decided to return to Seven Sisters. They returned with another local family, Alex Locht. They, had a car and a truck, bringing both family’s possessions. The trip took over two weeks as the time was spring break-up and the roads were in terrible shape.
Their present day property was then purchased from Walter Pommer, including the house and garages. Rudolf continued to work out with Rudolf Golke until 1950, when he and Lena moved to Great Falls to live with their daughter and her family in a store. The house, in the meantime was rented Out to three different people: Walter Kretchmer, Linda Kuhn (Craig) and Gary Kuhn. In 1955, they returned to Seven Sisters to stay and Rudolf retired in 1960 at the age of 70.
Rudolf and Lena Tittlemier’s family: Tina (Mrs. Fred Ans in Winnipeg), Dor Thomas (Larder Lake, Ontario), Ollie Gilker (Toronto), and Ruth Langedale (Toronto).
Hotel Near University of Manitoba
www.famouspeopleofmanitoba.ca
