There will soon be another celebration of The Diamond Jubilee of the Queen of England.  When the first celebration occurred, Florence Rhimes had turned 18 years old two days previous and George Underwood would not turn 18 years old for three more months.

George was most likely already working as a platelayer for the railway around Hull, Yorkshire.  Florence was probably with her sister Emily at the dairy farm at Hessle Common in Sculcoates, Yorkshire where they were domestic servants.  (There was a family story that Florence and her sister were sent to the “country” for their health.  I am sure they were not there as guests. Emily was found on the 1901 census at the dairy farm as a domestic servant and I am presuming Florence had been there also.)

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http://www.queen-victorias-scrapbook.org/contents/8.html    (This is a very interesting scrapbook if you want to see more on Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee)

This day, 22 June 1897, was declared a public holiday in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee. It was also a holiday in India and in all those ‘Foreign Places where British subjects were resident’.

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, beacons were lit at the same time all over the country on the evening of the 22 June 1897. The beacons were actually large bonfires in 1897 and the public were warned against standing too close as ‘if the wind is strong, the flame will fly out 150 feet’. The organisers were anxious ‘that no disaster should mar the Queen’s Night’.

In 1977 and 2002, beacons were lit to celebrate the Silver and Golden Jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II and on 4 June 2012, beacons will again be lit all over the country as part of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

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I wonder how George and Florence celebrated?  Did they meet at one of these bonfire celebrations?  George’s parents and sibling were all still living.  Did they make it a family celebration? 

What about Florence and her sister Emily?  Their father and step-mother and most of their siblings were also still alive.  What did they do to celebrate?

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From Genes Reunited  May 2012 Newletter advertisement on internet

London Daily News, 1897

In the British Newspaper Archive, we came across an article from 1897, showing Queen Victoria’s Jubilee procession and service.

Just like this year’s Jubilee celebrations, many of the hotels in 1897 were fully booked. Take a look at this snippet from this article – even a hotel manager was left without a bed for the night, when he rented his room to a guest who offered five guineas for it – that’s nearly £300 in today’s money!

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It is very unlikely that the Underwood or Rhimes family members went to London to celebrate.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria

Diamond Jubilee of  Queen Victoria

On 23 September 1896, Victoria surpassed her grandfather George III as the longest-reigning monarch in English, Scottish, and British history. The Queen requested that any special celebrations be delayed until 1897, to coincide with her Diamond Jubilee,[180] which was made a festival of the British Empire at the suggestion of Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain.[181]

The prime ministers of all the self-governing dominions were invited, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee procession through London included troops from all over the empire. The parade paused for an open-air service of thanksgiving held outside St Paul’s Cathedral, throughout which Victoria sat in her open carriage. The celebration was marked by great outpourings of affection for the septuagenarian Queen.[182]

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Jubilee

A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 75th anniversary, but only the 60th anniversary in the case of a monarch (e.g. length of time a monarch has reigned).[1] Traditionally, the diamond jubilee or anniversary of a person was also on the 75th anniversary. This changed with the diamond jubilee of the British Queen Victoria’s reign. There was considerable national unrest when Queen Victoria largely withdrew from public life after her husband’s death in 1861. It was decided to bring the diamond jubilee forward to the 60th anniversary in 1897. The diamond jubilee has been held on the 60th anniversary ever since.

In the preparations for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, there are echoes of the past. Over a long weekend, Britain will once more witness a large ceremony. The Diamond Jubilee Pageant will involve the river Thames with a large number of a boats, whilst family, friends and neighbours will be encouraged to join together in a Big Jubilee Lunch. Queen Victoria granted city status to Bradford, Kingston-upon-Hull and Nottingham, and Queen Elizabeth II will grant city status to competing towns. And, just as they did in 1897, various fires will be lighted – then bonfires, now beacons – shining their lights around all the British island.[3]

In the Commonwealth realms, (formerly the British Empire), there have been two Diamond Jubilees. Queen Victoria held hers on 20 June 1897, while Elizabeth II (Queen of several independent realms including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados and others), will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee between 2 & 5 June 2012. The actual 60th anniversary of her accession occurred on 6 February 2012.

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The Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Elizabeth_II

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the international celebration throughout 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. She is today queen regnant of 16 sovereign states, 12 of which were British colonies or Dominions at the start of her reign.

Queen Victoria in 1897 is the only other monarch in the histories of the United Kingdom,[1] Canada,[2][3][4] Australia and a few other Commonwealth realms to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee.

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The transportation that would be available to them is listed below.

“Edmonton Bus Line (1890′s)

Omnibus operation between Edmonton and the railway station at South Edmonton (later Strathcona). Service timed to coordinate with railway arrivals and departures. In 1901 other omnibus operators running scheduled service between Edmonton and Strathcona were D.E. Cameron and N. Leclerc (Tingley p. 10). Perhaps discontinued when the two communities were linked by the Edmonton, Yukon & Pacific Railway Co. in 1902, but certainly the market would have dried up when the street railway opened in 1908. “

Press the picture of the horse drawn bus and you get the following advertisement.

“Edmonton Bus Line -  A daily bus leaves Edmonton for South Edmonton and C. & E., R.R. and returns every day, morning and afternoon;  also meets all trains.  Persons desiring bus to call at house, telephone Brown’s livery stable.   Fare 25 cents, good return same day.  Parcels promptly delivered.  Busses for private parties may be had by applying at office, Brown’s livery stable.”

Secondary Systems

Edmonton, Yukon & Pacific Railway Company

(1902 – 1929)

Between 1902 and 1929 the EY&P operated passenger trains between Strathcona and Edmonton. Schedule was 4 times/day in the 1920s.

Edmonton Incline Railway (20 May 1908 – circa 1913)

Incorporated 1907. A funicular (incline railway) operating at the foot of First Street. Closed when a more convenient river crossing opened.

Prior to the construction of bridges across the North Saskatchewan River ferry services were operated at three points. The “upper ferry”, 1881-1913 (vessel Belle of Edmonton from 1882), between the later Walterdale and High Level bridges, and “lower ferry”, 1882-1900, at the mouth of Mill Creek were owned by John Walter. A ferry service (?-1912) in the vicinity of the Dawson bridge was operated by a teenager named Fred Marshall. (Monto & Lawrence)

These are excerpts by David A. Wyatt from the website below.  Left click on the pictures to enlarge them and then use the back arrow in upper left to return to page.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/edmonton-ab.html

A glimpse of what Edmonton offered in 1908 can be found in this booklet:

EDMONTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Author:  Edmonton, Fire Department. Language: English

Edmonton: Fire Department, 1908

http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography   

Click on “Find Books – Peel’s Prairie Provinces – University of Alberta

At top right in  “Enter keywords“, type in     fire department      Category  Bibliography

You will see       1. Peel 3169: Edmonton fire department

On pages  9,13,15 &17there are listed the streets of Edmonton and what is to be found on them.  I have transcribe those below.  Public schools pictures are on page 19 and they are of Norwood Public School, McKay Avenue Public School, Alexander Taylor Public School & Queens Avenue Public School

I thought quite interesting is the listing for College Avenue  – Splendid view of the valley

(Pages 9, 13, 15, 17 )

EDMONTON — SOME OF ITS OUTSTANDING FEATURES

Edmonton is not a prairie city.  It is situated  150 feet above the North Saskatchewan river bed and some 2,158 feet above the level of the sea.  The surrounding country is park-like in appearance and very pleasing and restful to the eye.  The view obtained of the Saskatchewan River valley at Edmonton is a magnificent one and compares with the scenery as seen at Quebec and Ottawa for its effectiveness and the lasting impression conveyed to the mind of the observer.

For a man looking for a permanent location for himself and family, Edmonton offers inducements that are worth noting, more especially when comparing Edmonton with the other progressive cities of Western Canada.

Being the capital city of the Province of Alberta and being the place at which the Governor of the Province must reside, Edmonton offers to a man fond of society and social functions great attractiveness.

On educational lines also, Edmonton is strong, for across the river in Strathcona is Provincial University and in Edmonton itself is Alberta College, the High School and splendid public and private schools.

To the mechanic in a few years Edmonton will appeal strongly.  The Grand Trunk Pacific shops are to be located in Edmonton as well as the Canadian Northern shops.

To the lumberman are the saw mills and timber limits.  To the miner are the coal mines and coal lands.  To the trader and trapper is the great north country with Edmonton as its outfitting centre.  To the farmer are the Packing Plants and stock yards.  To the explorer and prospector are the gold fields to the west and barren lands to the north east awaiting discovery and development.

Edmonton has at the present time a population somewhat over 20,000.  It is a city of beautiful homes, churches, hospital, schools and banks.  The new post office about completed is a $250,000 structure.  The new court house will cost a like amount, the Parliament buildings $1,250,000, the bank buildings run from $40,000 to $100,000, the public schools from $20,000 to $80,000, and private residences from $5,000 to $35,000.  There are three fire halls, most modern and up-to-date.  The streets are being paved and boulevarded as rapidly as possible.  The street cars are now in operation between Edmonton and Strathcona.  A modern city is being built in the centre of the Province of Alberta which bids fair to rank in growth with St. Paul,  Minneapolis  or  Winnipeg.  Once in each twenty years a new city of the 100,000 population class is in the making, Edmonton is the coming city of the above class.  What the city at present contains is given in more detail below, and the places mentioned should be visited by those desiring to get a correct impression of the city as a whole.

Jasper Ave. – Cecil Hotel, Grand Trunk Business College, the Theatre Block, Presbyterian Church, Hudson’s Bay Stores, Acme block and stores, Windsor Hotel, McDougall and Second block, Empire block, Orpheum Theatre, Elk’s Club Rooms, Merchants Bank block, Grand Trunk Pacific offices, Bank of Montreal block, Norwood block, C.N.R. and C.P.R. offices, Gariepy and Lessard block, Imperial Bank block, Bank of Commerce, Johnstone-Walker Block, Sandison block,  Bulletin block, Archibald’s block, Alberta Hotel, Queens Hotel, Jasper House, Pendennis Hotel, McInnis Lumber Co., Alberta Lumber Co., Edmonton Bottling Works, Alexander Taylor school, Wize block, Bank de Hochelaga, Club Café.

First St. – Incline Railway, Board of Trade Offices (where general information can be obtained and samples of grain, grasses, etc., are kept), Alberta College, Methodist Church, Ribchester’s Carriage Works, Sommerville block, Journal block, St. James Hotel, C.N.R. station, Immigration Hall.

Second St. — Walter’s Saw Mill, Exhibition Grounds, Revillon Bros. block, Masonic Hall,  Custom House, Edmonton Cigar Factory, Thistle Rink, Edmonton Tent and Mattress Factory, Baptist Church, Castle Hotel, C. N. R. yards, Alberta Milling Co., Grain Elevators.

Third St. – Government House, All Saints’ Church (English), Separate School, Sanitarium, Westward Ho! School (private), Mechanics’ Hall, Wholesale houses (Third and Fourth streets), Richelieu Hotel.

Fourth St. – Power plant and water works, Mckay Ave. School, Water tower,  No. 2 Fire Station, Wholesale Houses.

Fifth St. – Boulevarded and residential.

Sixth St. – Boulevarded and residential, Provincial Government office buildings.

Seventh St. – Boulevarded and residential, Cushing Bros., lumber yard.

Eighth St. – Boulevarded and residential, Parliament buildings at the south end.

Ninth St. – W. H. Clarke sash and door factory.

Tenth St. – Roman Catholic Church, Convent and School,  C.P.R. freight sheds, Husdson’s Bay Fort on the river bank.

Victoria Ave. –General Hospital, Ramsays Greenhouses, Land office, Mayor’s residence.

College Ave. – High School, Edmonton Club, Splendid view of the valley.

McDougall Ave. – Grand View Hotel, Post Office, Telephone and City Waterworks Offices.

Howard Ave. – Saturday News Office, Y. M. C. A. building, Massey-Harris Implement building.

Rice St. – Bellamy’s Implement House, Edmonton Printing and Publishing Co.,  Y. W. C. A…, Market Square, Beals & Hoar Implement House, Great West Implement House.

Peace Ave. – Marble and Granite Works.

Bellamy St. — J.J. McLaughlin,  manufacturing chemists building.

Queen’s Ave. – Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Avenue School,  Presbyterian Church.

Fraser Ave. – Fire and City Hall, St. Elmo Hotel Salvation Army Barracks,  Senate Hotel, Snowflake Laundry.

Namayo Ave. – D.R. Fraser and Co. lumber yards,, Cushing Bros. sash and door factory, German Herold Office, Edmonton Iron Works, German Church, Merchants’ Bank (east end branch).

Kinistino Ave. – Public Hospital, No. 3 Fire Station, Various Mission Churches (east end).

Government Ave. – Penitentiary.

Norwood Boulevard – Public School, Incinerator, Coal Mines.

Fort Saskatchewan Road. – Klondike Gardens, Seven Story Pork Packing Plant (the largest in Canada), Grand Trunk Pacific grading operations.

Fraser’s Flat – Little’s brick yard, Fraser’s saw mill, Coal Mines.

Ross Flat – Campbell-Ottewell Flour Mill, Edmonton Brewing and Malting Plant, Huff Grading and Gold-washing plant, Edmonton Cement works, Edmonton Ice Co., Edmonton Hotel.

South End of Bridge – Cameron Hotel, Anderson Brick Yard, Coal Mines, Gallagher Hull Packing Plant, Sand-Lime Brick yards, Edmonton Saw mill and yards.

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To see photographs of many of these buildings in Edmonton go to

http://www.epl.ca/photo-collections?collection=Buildings   

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Both Emily and Ted died in Bridlington, Yorkshire and are buried in the cemetery at that place.

Dorothy looks to be about three years old, so I presume the picture was taken circa 1916.

Leaving from Liverpool was possibly a frightening situation.  Although the Liverpool Transport Strike did not occur until  1911, the unrest in the country was present well before that time.  George Underwood and his father, William, were both railway platelayers in 1901.  Some other relatives also worked in the railroad business.  They would all have been aware of the concerns that were brewing.  As seen from the passages below, the Hull area was affected by this unrest.  George and Florence Underwood lived in Hull, Yorkshire at the time they decided to leave for Canada.  Perhaps the living conditions and the uncertainty of the working atmosphere prompted them to take that train from Hull to Liverpool and onto a new life in Canada.

Excerpts from the following article help to give a feeling of the conditions in England when George and Florence decided on their future.

The Liverpool Transport Strike of 1911        by   William Jones

“In the first decade of the new century real wages fell by roughly 10%, in a situation where prices were rising while money wages tended to remain static. 8 Food prices and the cost of living in general during this period rose steeply which, together with the fall in wages, pushed more people into poverty.   Union membership increased quickly from 1,997,000 in 1906 to 3,139,000 in 1911, and the number of strikes also doubled during this period from 479 to 872, affecting three times as many workers. These strikes were led by railwaymen, miners and dockers, particularly in the heavily industrialised areas of South Wales, the North West and the North East. 9”

“The Liverpool Transport Strike of 1911 has been highlighted by the historian Eric Taplin  as the nearest occasion this country has come to a revolution. The sequence of events built up slowly, but from June 1911, the sequence and timing of events increased, culminating in major flashpoints during August 1911.”

“Railwaymen’s union leaders representing the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company were co-opted on to the strike committee in Liverpool and when 1000 dock porters came out on strike on 7 August, it was agreed that all transport workers would add their support through sympathetic strike action. By the next day 4000 railway workers were on strike, over union recognition and wage demands,12 initially  against the wishes of senior rail trade union officials who favoured negotiations via the conciliation boards.13 Mounted Police were used to quell disturbances at the Edge  Hill goods station as clerks from the goods offices began to unload railway vans.14 “

“The Liverpool Transport Strike of 1911 lasted for nearly three months and brought the city to a standstill. It could have been avoided, but for the inflexibility of the employers to recognise trade unions and their right to represent the workers for improved pay and working conditions.”

“Although Syndicalism was minimal throughout the country, Mann’s presence and leadership had ensured that it was well represented in major cities like Hull and Liverpool, and this is where the major conflicts of the transport strike occurred. On Merseyside there were a significant number of syndicalists within the National Union of Ship Stewards, and union officials Frank Pearce and Joe Cotter, both syndicalists,  worked closely with the Seamen’s and Firemen’s Union in the lead up to, and during the strike. Each group of workers supported each other’s claim in turn, and when Cotter’s members supported the striking seamen when they went on strike, it was the first time that seafarers had acted together.”

To read the full article, go to:

http://www.btinternet.com/~m.royden/mrlhp/students/transportstrike/transportstrike.htm

George and Florence Underwood began their married life in Yorkshire, England.  Through their courage and sense of adventure they engendered a family that would thrive in Canada and the United States.

George and Florrie sailed from Liverpool, England on 27 March 1908 and landed  in  Halifax, Canada on 5 April 1908.   After ten days on the ship, S.S. VIRGINIAN, they boarded  a CPR special train and within two hours were headed to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  With them were their two children, Edith Alice, age two, William, not quite nine months and their future sister -in-law, Emily Fisher.  Imagine the tribulations of having to deal with the whims of a two year old, lots of diapers (not disposable), seasickness and home sickness.  Even with the help of Emily and  being in Second Cabin, the journey was  a huge undertaking.

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ships arriving Halifax, Sep 1907 – May 1908

S.S. VIRGINIAN   Line – Allen       Sailed from Liverpool on 27 March 1908;  arrived Halifax  4 April 1908 at 10:20 pm;  landed 2:30  April 5;  saloon – 65 passengers, 2nd cabin- 499 passengers, steerage – 953 passengers

CPR passengers left by special train at 4:20 pm   7:45 mp

Sheet J  # 11

2nd cabin to Canada    British bonus allowed

Underwood, Geo Wm         29    platelayer      CPR    Edmonton, Alb   cash on hand  $30.00

Mrs. Florence   29      wife            CPR   Edmonton

Edith A.            2     child            CPR   Edmonton

Wm               Inf                        CPR   Edmonton

Sheet I  # 37

Fisher, Emily   25    to marry                ultimate place of destination – Edmonton

country of birth – England      cash on hand    $75.00   British Bonus Allowed

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Arriving with “$30 cash on hand” , they boarded the special train for immigrants.   Leaving from Halifax, they had a five day journey to Edmonton.  They  traveled on the north shore of Lake Superior to Fort William, Kenora, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Calgary before reaching Edmonton.  Probably more cramped than the ship, the small family endured the discomforts of travel.  What would keep little “Edie” occupied on such a long journey?  What toys would she have with her?  A doll or teddy for the endless hours on someone’s lap?

What did the family bring with them?  Clothes for themselves and the little ones would make up the bulk of  the baggage.  Maybe a few sentimental items from home.  Certainly some pictures of family left behind.

Waiting their arrival in Edmonton were George’s two brothers, Percy and Alfred, who had previously  immigrated to Edmonton.  They arrived by ship and were originally bound for Saskatchewan. Did they ever make that destination?  Did they reach Saskatchewan and found they did not like it or there was no land to be had?  Were they told of a better place right away and they made their way to Edmonton?  However they decided to be in the Edmonton area, they wrote their older brother George and family and told them to come to Edmonton.  They planned to homestead land west of Edmonton.  Alfred was especially anxious for the spring to come as his bride-to-be, Emily Fisher, was arriving with his brother, George. (The family story says they were married at the immigration building in Strathcona or Edmonton. However, a newspaper article about their golden wedding anniversary says they were married at All Saints Cathedral on 15 April 1908. That would be about five days after Emily arrived in Edmonton.)