Archief 0399 - Carlisle family fonds

Dr. A.M.(Murray) Carlisle was born into a family of seven. in Peterborough, Ontario, March 6, 1896. His medical training was interrupted by WWl in 1915 when he became a stretcher bearer in the Second Division Canadian Army and spent three years at the front in France. In 1918 he came home and completed his medical training. In 1921 his brother-in-law, Jack Archer, sent a telegram from Lake Saskatoon urgently requesting him to come north since their doctor had left the district after the death of his wife. He arrived by train in Lake Saskatoon with calls already waiting and only $10.00 in his pocket to pay for medical supplies. His brother, David, who had a homestead on the eastern shore of Lake Saskatoon Lake mortgaged his farm (NW 30-71-8) to lend him money for a new 1921 model T Ford. In the summer of 1921, he met Jean Mc Farlane, daughter of James McFarlane of Cutbank Lake Farm. Jean had been raised by aunts in Claremont, Ontario, after her mother died. James had come to the Peace country to work with his brother, Walter Mc Farlane and his survey crew and eventually farm on the shore of Cutbank Lake. Jean and Murray were married in 1923. The Doctor's office was part of his house and Jean had to double as nursing assistant and meal provider as patients often came from a distance. He recalled those early days were the hardest but the most interestinng and he stayed in Lake Saskatoon for 3.5 years. With the disruption of the town being moved to Wembley, Dr. Carlisle accepted an internship in Sick Children's Hospital and the couple considered staying in Ontario, but were invited by the new town of Wembley to consider returning which they did in 1926. Wembley was their home for the next 10 years. Their three children: Jim, David and Mary Jean were born there. Dr. Carlisle had to travel to Grande Prairie nearly every day so eventually the family moved and Dr. Carlisle continued practising in Grande Prairie for the next 21 years. Jean served the community in many ways including 17 years on the Grande Prairie School Board. In 1957, they retired to Victoria. In 1971, he visited Grande Prairie to sell his Carlisle Building.