Audio recording is of an interview that Bridget Moran conducts with a Mrs. Thompson held in Success, Saskatchewan. Mrs. Thompson talks about municipal politics in the rural town of Success, Saskatchewan when Jimmie (her husband?) was on the Council. Most of the interview relates to Mrs. Thompson’s account of the marital and domestic life Alfie (Guy?) who was another town councilor and known as a local poet.
Audiocassette Summary
Side 1
00’05” Moran asks Mrs. Thompson about the time that Jimmie (her husband?) was on the Council in Success. She recalls when her husband joined the Municipal Council and notes it was for 6-7 years; c.1960s. Bridget asks her to explain the conflict between Jimmie and Alfie (Guy?) who was also on the Success Municipal Council. Bridget refers to Alfie and how he wrote books of poetry.
04’00” Mrs. Thompson recalls Jimmie joining the Council at the time of the municipal conflict about the selling of the Sports ground and that was the time that Colleen [?] also joined the Council. Mrs. Thompson recalls getting involved in the dispute and that she encouraged the community’s women to vote on the issue of this, as well as the assessment role and taxation dispute. Notes that the town was divided “into two camps” on the issue. Also talks about the other issues that Jimmie became involved in including need to better roads in the town.
14’00” Bridget asks her about Alfie and him being a poet. Mrs. Thompson talks about Alfie returning to town after World War II and about his relationship with his first wife Lil. They eventually divorce and he remarried three more times. Most of this section is about his relationship with his second wife.
25’00” Mrs. Thompson notes that Alfie is still alive and is in his 80’s and still writes poetry. She recounts one poem he wrote entitled ‘Town of Purple Gas’ and provides an account of how he was inspired to write this – someone in town was putting an unknown substance in the gas that turned it purple… Bridget notes he was ‘quite the character.’
End of Tape
