Did you know that in the 50’s-60’s in the Grahame School District, there were three families, living within 1/4 mile of each other and between them all, the head count was 23?! The parents were Trowells… Jim and Val, Bert and Vi, Johnny and Peggy.
What a busy corner and what fun they had! Can you imagine the memories these ‘kids’ share? There would always be someone to play with….exploring, hide and seek, and they even had their own neighbourhood Hallowe’en parties. The school was within two miles so it must have looked like a parade,morning and afternoon, with kids walking, biking or with cutters/ cars picking them up. Often they piled into any vehicle that was going their way…either a relative or maybe Sawkey’s or Hickson’s …. definitely no seat belts required.
The three farms are still owned by Trowell families but now there are no children and there is no school. In fact there are four yardsites in proximity now and all look forward to the day that they can safely have family gatherings again and grandchildren visits.
Verne and Bonnie (Haas) live on the original homestead, six miles northeast of town. Their large home was built in 1913. Verne was raised on the farm, with his 5 siblings, and then raised his own three children there. Verne and Bonnie continue to operate a grain farm with seasonal help from hired hands and their sons, while Verne also works off farm.
The original homestead began when Frederick Percy Sr and Emily Frances Trowell emigrated from England in 1888. They brought eight children with them (under 11 years old) and added three more after settling here. They called their farm, “ Castlenau”, named after a street where they lived near London, England. Percy Sr passed away in 1894 from injuries suffered in an accident while hauling firewood. Two of the young sons, Gunn and Percy Jr., continued to farm as best as they could considering they were less than 15 years of age! Their mom, Emily, passed away in 1915.
Percy Trowell Jr, the second oldest son, later married and had three children. One was Jim, Verne’s dad. Jim married Val (Kerr) in 1946 and they began their married life on the original farm homestead. They had a grain and cattle farm and raised a family of six. Their third son, Verne (Bonnie) moved to the farm in 1983.
The eldest son of Percy Sr, Gunn Trowell, purchased property across the road from the homestead. He had married Annie Hewitt and they raised a family of four. Gunn was an avid seed grower, taking many awards at grain shows…..locally, in Saskatoon, Toronto and in world faris in Chicago and Regina. The seed grain business successfully continued in a partnership between two of his sons, Bert and Arthur (known as Johnny).
Bert and Vi (Dickson) married in 1947, raising a family of four on the Gunn Trowell homestead. Two of their three sons, Ken and Larry, continued on in the registered seed business. In 2012, Ken and Mardelle (Mack) had the original home of grandpa Gunn Trowell removed, and built a new home.
Johnny and Peggy (Smith) married in 1951, built a new home in the neighbourhood and raised a family of seven. Their oldest son Les, married Wendy (Duchek). The young couple moved into his parents’ farm home and continued as registered seed growers from 1974-2018.
These grandsons of Gunn Trowell have carried on his award winning ways. Ken and Larry, and Les along with their siblings, all grew up in the seed business, learning at a young age to keep the fields free of weeds, mainly wild oats. It wasn’t easy, and Peggy shared some stories in the history book of kids complaints! The boys are well known for their registered seed, mainly wheat, oats, barley and flax. Annual sales have usually been local, with some in Manitoba, Alberta and also in New Brunswick.
Ken (Mardelle) and Larry (Lois) are still actively selling seed so have been cleaning all winter. They are prepared for orders now and also supply some seed to wholesale dealers. This year the Gunn Trowell homestead qualifies for the Century Farm Award. Congratulations!
“Castlenau Farm”, where Verne and Bonnie live, celebrated 100 years in 1996!
Best of Luck to the Trowell families as they continue tradition, care for the land and celebrate their family history!
By: Helen Jarvis