Jen Zollner discovered a rural treasure, Harry Forbes. Harry was 103 years old (as of April 11, 2021) and a wealth of information about local rural history with a wicked sense of humour!
See “Meet Harry Forbes” poem below.
To see the latest story in the our Harry Forbes Remembers Series, click here!
Harry has written five books that document his early life on the farm, the lives and challenges of Indigenous people and other topics that are important to rural history in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.
We decided to begin featuring excerpts from his books on our web site, to preserve this precious history.
Story #1: Harry Forbes Remembers — In this, the first story in the series, Harry Forbes remembers what it was like growing up on the farm.
Story #2: Harry Forbes’ Sister Remembers — In our second in the Harry Forbes Remembers series, Harry’s sister, Helen Hoszouski (nee Forbes) shares early family history and her memories of their father, Allan.
Story #3: Harry Forbes’s Sister Remembers Their Mom — In our third in the Harry Forbes’ Remembers series, Helen shares the story of their mother’s life.
Story #4: Life of a Farm Wife — Harry’s sister, Helen, chronicles the hard work their Mom experienced raising children on the farm.
Story #5: Family Life — Seven Forbes children declare there are enough children in the family. What happens next?
Story #6: The Sheep Business — Harry’s mother builds a herd of sheep with orphans. Harry explains how to shear a sheep.
Story #7: Runaway Horse Stories — Harry never heard his dad swear but once, when his runaway team ran away again!
Story #8: Balky Horse Stories — My dad had told me to never beat a balky horse; it just makes them worse the next time. You have to do something to get their mind on something else or be patient until they finally give up.
Story #9: Home Remedies #1 — Harry’s sister Helen recalls the home remedies they once used to keep themselves healthy.
Story #10: Home Remedies #2 — More home remedies from the Forbes’ kitchen.
Story #11: No Emergency Services – Call 911 — How to get medical care when there are no roads and no ambulances?
Story #12: Almost Disaster Free — Only one broken bone in decades of prairie living!
Story #13: Our Entertainment — Harry Forbes recalls how they entertained themselves when he was growing up.
Story #14: Spring Flood — Harry tells about the “close calls” caused by winter snowfall and subsequent spring flooding.
Story #15: Those Poor Tormented Teachers, Part 1 — How many 86 and 87-year-old students can still visit with their Grade One teachers to wish them a happy birthday? Harry and his sister did!
Story #16: Those Poor Tormented Teachers, Part 2 — Harry tells more tales of mischief!
Story #17: One-Room Schools on the Prairies, Part 1 — What did it cost to build a one-room school house in the early 1900’s?
Story #18: One-Room Schools on the Prairies, Part 2 — What was it like to attend a one-room school house?
Story #19: School Parties at the One-Room School — There were many occasions to celebrate throughout the year.
Story #20: Farm Chores — Growing up as one of 11 siblings, Harry tells about the chores and field work that needed to be done. They were never bored!
Story #21: Canadian Spring Blizzards: An account of the catastrophe that unfolded on the prairies in March of 1051.
***New Story!!!*** Story #22: Trains of Bygone Days, Part 1: In this next installment of the Harry Forbes Remembers series, we ride the rails.
***New Story!!!*** Story #23: Trains of Bygone Days, Part 2: The bygone trains served as transportation, carriers of freight, mail service, an enjoyable outing for children, a place on entertainment, a cause of frustration, and all too often, the source of hazardous fires.
Meet Harry Leo Forbes
by Jen Zollner
Harry Forbes is his name, call him ‘Soddie’ means the same.
His age now? A hundred years plus three.
As a rancher he has wisdom,
Hist’ry has his criticism,
He’s an author with no formal school degree.Mother came from German Russia, says he’s just a common mucker,
But he’s hero for the stories he can tell,
Paints the hist’ry of his times,
Searched the many needless crimes
That our government upon First Nations fell.Was a veteran in the war, his experiences and more
With his in-law brother published in a book,
But they left out gory matters,
Gave the losses, different battles,
So the price of war, we dare not overlook.He’s historian for ‘The Creek’, he has a gift unique,
His mix of facts and story are such fun,
He recalls with accuracy
Dates and names so naturally,
He’s a treasure and his knack can’t be outdone.Here’s a story Harry told, “It’s John Peterson with a load
On a wagon pulled by Blow Out and Spark Plug,”
Dad says, ‘Doesn’t it you bother
That one horse is ahead of the other?’
John said, “That’s all he gained in a 10-hour lug.”“In a bar at Maple Creek, it was Saturday of the week,
The piano music this cowboy did not like,
So on horseback he did rope
The piano with the hope
To drag it outside, but the door too small to hike.”“My wife sold her wildest buck, I was herding him up on the truck,
To the sound of ewes behind him he did duck,
He went back between my legs,
But mine are such short pegs,
That my backwards ride was the wildest mutton bust.”Harry’s got plenty more to share, and to find it? Here is where:
On our website MHCowboyLife.com,
He gives prices way back then,
Famous cowboys and brave men,
Learn what times were like for him and for his mom.
Update on Mr. Harry Forbes
We are greatly saddened by the news that Harry Forbes died in Maple Creek on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at the age of 104.
Harry has been a special part of our MHCP interview family. We regularly feature his stories on our website. How precious to have captured his superb story-telling ability!
Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation 