Museum Exhibit Musings -- Has anything changed?

For today’s blog, I thought I would read the July 27, 1909, Lethbridge Daily Herald and see what was on the minds of Lethbridge citizens exactly a century ago.

Not surprisingly, there were many of the same concerns as today. Crime was reported – a man from Taber was given sixty days hard labour for stealing a sack of grain. There were
labour problems – there was a report on a letter sent to the Minister of Labour. This letter reported on a settlement about discrimination in the mines. The letter reminded everyone that the settlement agreed that there would be “no discrimination on the part of the companies against union men, or on the part of the union against non-union men employed.”

There were advertisements. Hudson Bay had Men’s Oxfords on for $3.25 a pair when normally they were $4.50. And Wellington Bros. had the largest and best stock of wall paper in the city.

There was a notice that for all Curlers that the curlers were having a meeting the next night. Sports scores were provided.

There were notices that you could get your palm read for 50¢ or go to the Eureka Theatre and watch one of three movies: A Mountain Feud, Mysterious Correspondent or Worthy Young Man.

There was a letter to the editor regarding water use in the city. The letter highlighted the wastefulness of “the sprinkling of the various weed beds which border the streets and equal quantity is used in watering the plank sidewalks and the edge of the road.”

There were advertised opportunities for investment and making money. “Don’t Miss This Chance Of Making Money. Invest in a few nice level building lots on Westminster Road and Fair Grounds, while we are selling them for $100 each and on easy payments. The City is building in that direction very rapidly. These lots are sure to double in value in a very short time. They are going fast.”

Except for the boys being arrested for stealing a chicken from a back yard and the coal being advertised for sale, one could almost imagine that she was reading a modern newspaper.