When we revisit them, there are places that can bring back a rush of memories.

That was certainly true for me a couple of years ago. I was in Regina, my old home town. I decided to make a trip to my Alma Mater – Scott Collegiate. It proved to be a wise move, as soon after the original building was torn down and replaced with a shiny modern community centre. 

The staff were very welcoming and allowed me to sit in the old library and go through year books. The memories flooded back: the street corner across from the school where we gathered joshing, smoking, telling off colour jokes, whistling at the girls and having the odd fist fight. Inside the school, I strolled about; it was a teacher professional day and there were no students. I stood by my old locker, walked the cross hall in the basement where boys and girls, never me, shared a quick kiss between classes, and I stopped for quite awhile outside the door of the classroom that had been inhabited by my favourite teacher – my history teacher. 

But I digress. Back to Prince Albert and to a conversation, over the phone, in these Covid 19 days, with an old friend, Nestor Hryciuk. I phoned Nestor just to say hello. He quickly launched into a discussion about my last column – the one featuring stories taken from a set of scrapbooks assembled by Albert Monsebroten.

Nestor had been discussing my column with Fred Hatley. Nestor told Fred there were historic sites in Prince Albert that have ceased to exist due to residential, commercial, and community construction developments. One of these was known as the Bohemian Baseball Field. It existed on the present site of Riverside Public School. Nestor, growing up near the field, had many memories of that ball diamond. Fred said, “You better tell Morley. Your stories would make a great Whale of a Tale.”

So, here are a few of Nestor’s memories. I hope they not only interest and entertain you, but also bring back some recollections that a few of my readers might have stored away. 

(Paraphrasing Nestor’s Meanderings:) 

I was around the age of ten when the Field opened.  The opening ballgame was quite unique. It was called ‘Donkey Baseball.’ A batter, of course, had to make it to first base safely. The only problem was the batter had to pull a donkey with them. I remember roars of laughter from the crowd.

I also recall that ensuing games became very popular, especially as the quality of ball was excellent. Crowds upwards of a thousand people would gather on a Sunday to cheer on their own Bohemian Club, or revel in the skills of players like the Bentley brothers playing for a team from Delisle, and Mr. Hockey himself (Gordie Howe) playing for Saskatoon.

The local Kinsmen Club sponsored one popular tournament that attracted many teams. The prize was about $1000.00. The competition was hot and heavy. A real crowd pleaser.

Another big crowd attraction was All Star teams touring from the United States. One such team was called ‘The House of David.’ Why that name? I am unsure, except that all the players on the team were male and all of them supported a full beard. They looked quite Biblical as they took the field.

One other visiting team consisted of black Americans. They were good. Many of them might well have played Major League ball in the States.

A nickel was hard to come by in those days. Several of my friends and I would gather along the first and third base lines to chase foul balls that cleared the park’s fence. The teams, unable to afford replacement balls, readily paid a nickel to the lucky fielder that beat his friends to an errant ball. I think I won my fair share of nickels.

Talking about those hard won nickels, there was, at the south end of the park, a huge scoreboard. A few enterprising young boys, surely not me, dug a tunnel under the scoreboard to gain free entrance. I was not above taking advantage of this way into the park to save my treasured cash.

I have many more stories about bygone days in P.A. But, they will have to wait for another phone call.

It was great to hear your stories Nestor and if anyone shows up to collect that ‘badly needed’ entrance fee, I will be there to help you pay.

Postscript

The Prince Albert Historical Society invites people to reach out to the local museum with your own scrapbooks and recorded memories.