Sadie Hawkins event at the Yorkton Collegiate Institute

Photo circa Feb. 29, 1950

Art Gellert and his orchestra, appropriately dressed for the occasion provided the lively tunes for the evening. After dancing the circle two's, schottisches and old time waltzes, for a few hours, everyone enjoyed tasty doughnuts and cokes. During the intermission, JoAnne Baldwin and Sheila Linfoot kept the audience in side splitting laughter while attempting to dress Mr. Smyth and Mr. Taylor in newspaper shirts made by the girls themselves. Sheila won the competition since she managed to get the shirt on Mr. Taylor first. Some students in the photo: Sheila Harris and Bernie Royal dancing to the left,(edge of the photo) others were: Charles Burant, Ruby Kendall, Eddie Panser, Betty Gibson, Roy Hallet, Jim Cowan; Gerald Parrott; Mervin Pepple, Barb Hodgson, Glen Scalf, Miss Myrtle Cole, Mr. Kustush, Joyce Southam. Eddie Nimeck, and Cliff Weidman. "Sadie Hawkins" celebrations spread throughout the USA and Canada after 1937, when Al Capp, creator of the comic strip "Li'l Abner" depicted life of hillbillies in a place called Dogpatch. The main character, Sadie Hawkins, a rather unattractive gal had trouble finding a husband. Her rich and powerful father decided that on Leap Year day, February 29th unwed women could be allowed to chase men. He held a race of eligible bachelors, and when he shot off his gun, they ran for their lives and freedom, while unattached women ran after them in hopes of catching one. Hence, the start of the custom of women being allowed to approach a man for a date or to propose marriage on February 29th. As for the serious side of Leap Year: Ancient Egyptians found the solar year did not match the man-made calendar year. Earth takes a bit longer than a year to travel around the sun; 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. Romans decided to solve the problem by adding a day to February every 4 years.

Photo courtesy of the Gordon and Sheila Harris Fonds

Seeking photos and stories of Yorkton's pre-1970 history.

Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton, Box 400
37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]