Dear Editor
We are the Hospital Kids. Our fathers were employed at the Saskatchewan Hospital near North Battleford, and because their job was considered essential in case of an emergency after hours and during the night, it was mandatory that they live "on the grounds." An apartment building and houses were made available for married men, and there were also single quarters available for single men. Married women were not hired until the mid 1940s, and prior to that, single women had to resign when they got married.
As most of the men worked for Public Health, they worked 12-hour shifts, six days a week, again up to the mid 1940s, when eight-hour shifts were introduced. With our fathers at work all day, and with few women driving, we did not get away from the grounds too much in the summer, and almost never in the winter.
Up to 1937 there were two, one-room schools for children of the staff living on the grounds, but this was reduced to one as the number of children decreased. We had a play yard equipped with swings, chinning bar, teeter totter and a merry go round. We also had an outdoor skating rink and a two-sheet curling rink, a nine-hole golf course, a softball diamond and a tennis court.
Our lives revolved around the school and the recreational facilities and equipment available. Constant involvement with the same people changed the relationship between us from school friends to something closer to an almost brother-sister relationships. While that was 75 years ago, that closeness still exists. I was born there, attended the one-room school there and lived there while I was bussed to Battleford for high school. These relationships last forever. We still communicate, mostly by email and telephone, and visit as often as we can.
This lifestyle, and attending a small one-room school, had no adverse affects. We went on to lead productive lives. Some had military careers. Others became pilots and died in the Second World War. The rest of us went on to lead normal lives. As for some of the Hospital Kid friends I have, one became a rancher, another an ordained minister, one an RCMP officer, another stewardess, several business executives, several nurses and one a professional photographer. Some went into business and some followed in their fathers' footsteps and worked at the hospital; some for short periods and others made it a life time career.
The hospital is celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 12, 13 and 14. As far as I know there will be about 35 Hospital Kids in attendance: all looking forward to renewed friendships of many years.
Are you a "Hospital Kid?" I can't wait! And who knows? I may even get to dance with the girl with the yellow hat once more.
Bob McClelland
Welland, Ont.
