Barn-raising bee was called

BY EDITH (Ariss) STEPHENSON Strathmore, Ab.

In 1904 my great aunt, Mary Ariss, married Morley Crandell who had purchased a half section of land in southwestern Manitoba in 1887.
Mary and Morley had both come from Clifford, Ontario.
When the CPR was built through the northeast quarter of Morley's land in 1898, the townsite of Crandall was born – named in honour of Morley's father, Dr. Crandall.
Crandall is situated 11 miles east of Min-iota in western Manitoba, north of Virden. Dr. Crandell had administered medical care to many of the CPR crew.
In the summer of 1911 construction of a barn base was started.
The large 96'x 56' foundation was built of fieldstone and 2 carloads of big timber were brought in from B.C.
In 1912 a carpenter, Mr. Robinson, began preparing the timbers by cutting, grooving, and drilling holes for the wooden pegs.
When all was prepared, a barn raising bee was called.
Two teams of men were chosen and they competed against each other to complete the sides and raise them into position and secure them with the wooden pegs.
While the men built, the women cooked and served them meals. Hay slings were used for many years to fill the loft with hay. Morley raised Clydesdale horses and Hereford cattle.
Now 100 years old, this stately barn still stands in remarkable shape. It is a tribute to the skill and perseverance of the early pioneers who shaped the prairies.
The CPR is long gone, as is much of Crandall, but the barn remains as a reminder of what once was. Mary passed away in 1937 at age 64. Morley passed away in 1941, the year my parents were married.
Their son, Willoughby Crandall, farmed the land until his retirement when it was sold to the present owners. I lived on a farm nearby and attended Crandall school until 1965.