Monday 12 February 2018

Grave beginnings

Saturday was spent in Oyen, Alberta being shown some of the sights by someone who has lived in the area all his life. I had met him once in person a few years ago. We have corresponded off and on about local history. What brought us together recently was a bit of a grave mystery. On a hunting forum I read in some parts of Alberta there are a few solitary graves out that hunters run across in the middle of nowhere. One grave they specifically mentioned in the forum and had a photo of was for Cecil P. Heffernan. The dates on his headstone were 1902 - 1915. The exact location was not mentioned. The people on the forum wondered what happened to Cecil. I was curious as well.

This is the photo that someone posted on the hunting forum.


I contacted my friend in Oyen. I was pretty sure the grave was not in his area but in an area he knew. I took a chance he might know something or know someone who may know. He did not know about it but he was intrigued. He did make some enquiries and within a few days he found out where the location was and the exact fate that befell Cecil. We had also discussed some old schools in the area that I had seen before and he said there were a few places that I missed that he could show me. I mentioned I would like to drop out to Oyen and meet up. We picked a date. A heavy hint was dropped that a bottle of Canadian twelve year old rye whisky would help matters immensely. I tracked down that particular request before heading out. I thought it was a fair price, or bribe, to pay for someone willing to be a tour guide for a large chunk of the day. Since a few old one room schools were on the agenda I invited a friend of mine along who loves that sort of thing. I might as well get my money's worth.

He showed us some very interesting places in the area. One of them is this lonely grave sitting in a field. This person died in a windstorm, possibly a tornado, in 1918. This is not far from Oyen. It is a little fenced enclosure with a simple cross in a farmer's field. Life as a settler years ago could be precarious.


Cecil P. Heffernan will be a story for another time. I did not get to see his resting place nor find out where it is. I do know his story. My host knows where it is and has not been there yet. I am sure that he wants to see it first. He does not have a blog but he does post photos in forums about Alberta history. I had previously told him he should post this tale somewhere. He did the work so he should reap the benefits, it is only right. I can wait.

8 comments:

  1. Lonely graves in the middle of nowhere, yet still fenced off and respected as final resting places.

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  2. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. - Job 14:1

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  3. A Saturday full of adventure and intrigue!

    I always feel quite elated when I find a marked singular grave like this. Seeing the marker that celebrates a loved one's life is rather uplifting.

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  4. That they thought to leave a marker is telling.
    Can hardly wait for the story behind Cecil's marker.

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  5. Neat find! Also glad you were able to solve the mystery of Cecil Heffernan.
    You must have been in excellent company on Saturday.

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  6. I will look forward to Cecil's story too.

    Don't know if I would want to be buried out on the prairie all by myself though. If I may be permitted some superstition - I hope their shades rest easy.

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    Replies
    1. That may have to wait until the summer months. It is over a three hour drive from where I reside.

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