Fonds 0381 - Eldon Shail fonds

Eldon Shail was born January 14, 1924, the son of Ernie and Jessie Shail who had come to Hythe from Ontario in 1919. Ernie worked doing road work and Jessie cooked for the crew until they had their house built on the homestead. His sister, Iris, was born two years later and brother, Jarvis, seven years after that. Their homestead was on the trail to Goodfare so they had many people stopping fora cup of tea or even to spend the night. She was known also for her ability to witch water wells with a willow. Eldon went to West Hythe School where he had the job of lighting fires and sweeping the floor for ten cents a day. He remembers the railway getting to Hythe in 1928, dances that were held to raise money for the Monkman Pass highway project in the late 1930s, and later they baled hay for the survey crews and the sawmills during the building of the Alaska Highway. In 1950, Eldon married Donna Bain and their wedding dance was in Circle Bank Hall. Hythe was bigger than Beaverlodge at that time with a big mill. In 1960, Donna and Eldon adopted Randy and in 1961, Terry. They had had experience looking after other boys before that: Brian Hogan stayed with them from age 10-16; a Severson boy stayed with them to be closer to school and Eric Solty finished his high school with them. Eldon was always very involved in sports. In 1935, the Hythe Athletic Association sponsored ball, hockey and movies. In 1950 a covered outdoor rink was finished. Eldon played baseball, hockey and went skiing (behind horses) and dancing. The Patterson Ranch held yearly rodeos and many people would come and camp out for the rodeo action and the dance. Between 1950-1960 Eldon played baseball, starting with Hythe and then for the Beaverlodge Royals. He played hockey for the Mustangs in winter and later coached the team. He also loved roping in the rodeos at Hythe, Teepee Creek, Dawson, Rio Grande. He also had a slaughter house and supplied three meat markets in town. In their retirement, Eldon and Donna spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona, where Eldon continued to play baseball.