The History of Bonnie Doon
An excerpt from Volunteers by V. Bowler and M. Wanchuk. Lone Pine Publishing, 1986. pp. 144-146. No longer in print.
Bonnie Doon
League Founded: 1918
First President: Canon C.F.A. Clough
Bonnie Doon was known as Highland Park at the turn of the century. The land was owned by Alberta’s first premier, A.C. Rutherford, who subdivided it in 1906. Premier Rutherford renamed the new residential district Bonnie Doon, in memory of his ancestral Scottish homeland.
Bonnie Doon was the first neighbourhood after Crestwood to form a community league. It was one of the 9 founding members of the EFCL in 1921. In the early days, the league was instrumental in obtaining services for the area such as running water, sewers and better transportation links. It also sent a 300 name petition to the Dominion government in 1926, asking for the establishment of a post office in the district. During the 1940’s, the league organized the Bonnie Doon Credit Union.
Bonnie Doon’s first project was a ink complex at 91st Street, near the terminus of the Bonnie Doon street-car line. Mayor Duggan was on hand for the opening ceremony in January of 1922. He promised the continued support of the city for the work of Edmonton’s new community league movement. After the speechmaking, 150 citizens took to the ice and “skated to the skirl of the pipes,” provided by local minstrel ‘Piper’ Duncan. (1)
A second rink was added through the efforts of volunteer workers in 1925. “Aided by a small army of enthusiastic boys,” said the Edmonton Bulletin, “various adult citizens of Bonnie Doon flourished the shovel and hoe to good effect…. As a result, where the pig-weed and the sow-thistle bloomed, skating will be the vogue in a few days.” (2)
The league met for gatherings in a variety of locales, including St. Luke’s Parish Hall, Bonnie Doon Baptist Church and Rutherford School. Members would congregate for whist drives and dances, silver teas, variety shows and educational lectures on subjects such as horticulture, coal mining and the nationalization of railways.
On one occasion at St. Luke’s Parish Hall in 1922, Bonnie Dooners witnessed a 20th century event of technical prowess - an Edmonton Journal demonstration of the “powers of radio.” Citizens met at the parish hall in a state of expectation. They waited for the promised CJCA Magnavox broadcast from the Journal offices.
There was nary a peep in the house as Mayor Duggan’s voice penetrated eerily into every corner. The young were excited, the middle-aged wondered about the implications for culture and commerce, while some of the elderly were downright sceptical. Yet it appears that all were impressed with the radio hog report that followed the mayor’s broadcast. It is even recorded that one young scribe with literary aspirations copied the whole report down for the benefit of the farmers present! (3)
In the late 1940’s, Bonnie Doon started a major building drive that culminated in a community hall at 9240-93rd Street by 1953. It took major efforts by volunteer workers such as George Davis, O. Edwards and M. Gorbus, to see the project through to the end. Major lessons in perseverance were learned along the way too. Mother Nature seemed to have it in for Bonnie Doon. On two occasions, she sent strong windstorms that wrecked many man-hours of framing and sheeting. After the second gale in 1952, prospects for the league looked bleak. Perhaps a new community hall was not in the cards?
But then local contractor, G.W. Golden, saved the day by donating the labour of 10 skilled tradesmen. Poole Construction Ltd. upped the ante by supplying another 19. Before too long, the mess was cleaned up and in its place stood a new hall worth $40,000. The building quickly became the focus of weekly boxing tournaments and functions of the local Friendship Club.
The hall was opened in August of 1953, with Mayor Hawrylak, Designer Ernest Sterling, Charles Moore of the building committee and President Cliff Mallett officiating. It took less than two years for the members of Bonnie Doon to pay off the debts from the project.
In Alberta’s Golden Jubilee year, 1955, Bonnie Doon held a mortgage-burning ceremony. Special guests for the day were Premier Ernest C. Manning, Mayor Hawrylak and Charles Simmonds of the EFCL. ‘Len McDonald and the Saddle Tramps’ entertained the festive crowd at the hall, which was decked out with provincial banners and green and gold streamers. Since that time, Bonnie Doon has not been slack in improving its basic facilities. Today the league operates two halls valued at over $250,000.
Bonnie Doon Community League offers a colourful variety of social and educational activities. There is a Christmas dinner, a pub night, a Mother’s Day pancake breakfast, a Father’s Day barbecue and a sweetheart dance. Courses have been offered in ceramics and needlecraft, Eskimo parka making and gourmet cooking. But the biggest attraction of all is the annual variety show. [Editor's note: this was accurate circa 1986]
The show of 1978 - Charlie’s Bag (Hobo’s Stew) - played three weekends running. It had a cast and supporting crew of nearly 200. Like many community league variety shows, Bonnie Doon’s that year tended toward the ribald and risqué. It featured melodramas about a hobo (Dennis Burnside), his rummy companions and their run-ins with Constable McCluskey (Jack Telford). Other skits dealt with “the dastardly villain,” Charelton Bainbridge, who “would have his way with the fair maiden Nell, acted with heart-throbbing panache by Kay Farqhuarson.” (4)
Notes
1. Edmonton Journal, January 4, 1922.
2. Edmonton Bulletin, December 9, 1925.
3. Edmonton Journal, June 7, 1922.
4. Edmonton Journal, March 3, 1978.
Bonnie Doon
League Founded: 1918
First President: Canon C.F.A. Clough
Bonnie Doon was known as Highland Park at the turn of the century. The land was owned by Alberta’s first premier, A.C. Rutherford, who subdivided it in 1906. Premier Rutherford renamed the new residential district Bonnie Doon, in memory of his ancestral Scottish homeland.
Bonnie Doon was the first neighbourhood after Crestwood to form a community league. It was one of the 9 founding members of the EFCL in 1921. In the early days, the league was instrumental in obtaining services for the area such as running water, sewers and better transportation links. It also sent a 300 name petition to the Dominion government in 1926, asking for the establishment of a post office in the district. During the 1940’s, the league organized the Bonnie Doon Credit Union.
Bonnie Doon’s first project was a ink complex at 91st Street, near the terminus of the Bonnie Doon street-car line. Mayor Duggan was on hand for the opening ceremony in January of 1922. He promised the continued support of the city for the work of Edmonton’s new community league movement. After the speechmaking, 150 citizens took to the ice and “skated to the skirl of the pipes,” provided by local minstrel ‘Piper’ Duncan. (1)
A second rink was added through the efforts of volunteer workers in 1925. “Aided by a small army of enthusiastic boys,” said the Edmonton Bulletin, “various adult citizens of Bonnie Doon flourished the shovel and hoe to good effect…. As a result, where the pig-weed and the sow-thistle bloomed, skating will be the vogue in a few days.” (2)
The league met for gatherings in a variety of locales, including St. Luke’s Parish Hall, Bonnie Doon Baptist Church and Rutherford School. Members would congregate for whist drives and dances, silver teas, variety shows and educational lectures on subjects such as horticulture, coal mining and the nationalization of railways.
On one occasion at St. Luke’s Parish Hall in 1922, Bonnie Dooners witnessed a 20th century event of technical prowess - an Edmonton Journal demonstration of the “powers of radio.” Citizens met at the parish hall in a state of expectation. They waited for the promised CJCA Magnavox broadcast from the Journal offices.
There was nary a peep in the house as Mayor Duggan’s voice penetrated eerily into every corner. The young were excited, the middle-aged wondered about the implications for culture and commerce, while some of the elderly were downright sceptical. Yet it appears that all were impressed with the radio hog report that followed the mayor’s broadcast. It is even recorded that one young scribe with literary aspirations copied the whole report down for the benefit of the farmers present! (3)
In the late 1940’s, Bonnie Doon started a major building drive that culminated in a community hall at 9240-93rd Street by 1953. It took major efforts by volunteer workers such as George Davis, O. Edwards and M. Gorbus, to see the project through to the end. Major lessons in perseverance were learned along the way too. Mother Nature seemed to have it in for Bonnie Doon. On two occasions, she sent strong windstorms that wrecked many man-hours of framing and sheeting. After the second gale in 1952, prospects for the league looked bleak. Perhaps a new community hall was not in the cards?
But then local contractor, G.W. Golden, saved the day by donating the labour of 10 skilled tradesmen. Poole Construction Ltd. upped the ante by supplying another 19. Before too long, the mess was cleaned up and in its place stood a new hall worth $40,000. The building quickly became the focus of weekly boxing tournaments and functions of the local Friendship Club.
The hall was opened in August of 1953, with Mayor Hawrylak, Designer Ernest Sterling, Charles Moore of the building committee and President Cliff Mallett officiating. It took less than two years for the members of Bonnie Doon to pay off the debts from the project.
In Alberta’s Golden Jubilee year, 1955, Bonnie Doon held a mortgage-burning ceremony. Special guests for the day were Premier Ernest C. Manning, Mayor Hawrylak and Charles Simmonds of the EFCL. ‘Len McDonald and the Saddle Tramps’ entertained the festive crowd at the hall, which was decked out with provincial banners and green and gold streamers. Since that time, Bonnie Doon has not been slack in improving its basic facilities. Today the league operates two halls valued at over $250,000.
Bonnie Doon Community League offers a colourful variety of social and educational activities. There is a Christmas dinner, a pub night, a Mother’s Day pancake breakfast, a Father’s Day barbecue and a sweetheart dance. Courses have been offered in ceramics and needlecraft, Eskimo parka making and gourmet cooking. But the biggest attraction of all is the annual variety show. [Editor's note: this was accurate circa 1986]
The show of 1978 - Charlie’s Bag (Hobo’s Stew) - played three weekends running. It had a cast and supporting crew of nearly 200. Like many community league variety shows, Bonnie Doon’s that year tended toward the ribald and risqué. It featured melodramas about a hobo (Dennis Burnside), his rummy companions and their run-ins with Constable McCluskey (Jack Telford). Other skits dealt with “the dastardly villain,” Charelton Bainbridge, who “would have his way with the fair maiden Nell, acted with heart-throbbing panache by Kay Farqhuarson.” (4)
Notes
1. Edmonton Journal, January 4, 1922.
2. Edmonton Bulletin, December 9, 1925.
3. Edmonton Journal, June 7, 1922.
4. Edmonton Journal, March 3, 1978.