A Look Back At… Easter of 1913
historyparkes continues the series of blog posts highlighting a particular period in the history of the Parkes Shire. This post will focus on the Easter of 1913. The dates of Easter are not fixed dates (like Christmas which is always December 25th) and can vary from as early as March 21st to as late as April 25th. 1913 saw an early occurring Easter, with Easter Sunday on 23rd March. The following years also saw Easter Sunday on the same date 1845, 1856 and 2008. An even earlier Easter occurred in 1818 when Easter Sunday was on March 22nd. (Source: http://tlarsen2.tripod.com/thomaslarsen/easterdates.html)
In the Easter of 1913, King George V was on the throne, with Andrew Fisher as Australia’s Prime Minister. William Metcalfe was the Mayor of Parkes for the third and final time, having previously been mayor in 1902 and 1904-1905. Canberra had been officially named only ten days before by Lady Denman, wife of the current Governor-General. While still in the middle of a drought (1911-1916) there was still an air of optimism. To historians, 1913 is considered “the year before the sky fell in” The Economist
A glance at images and statistics for Easter 1913. Clockwise from top left: a photograph of King George V and his wife, Queen Mary; Mayor of Parkes during Easter 1913, William Metcalfe; Peter Rabbit puzzle box – a popular toy; and Norman Lindsay’s A Curate In Bohemia was published in 1913
The Front Page – then and now!
Front page comparison of The Western Champion and its contemporary version Parkes Champion Post. In 1913 the entire front page were advertisements in black and white. The front page of 2018 is in colour, has photographs (not just images) and contains two important stories – Currajong Disability Service support worker, Trilbie Bermingham who has shaved her head to raise money for cancer research; and open day at Parkes Shire Council’s new Water Treatment Plant. Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 1 and Parkes Champion Post March 20, 2018 page 1
Another front page comparison between 1913 and 2018. The short-lived Forbes Times (in 1920 it was incorporated into The Forbes Advocate) contains a mixture of advertisements and public notices on its front page with correspondence from Calare candidate. The Parkes Phoenix has advertisments and notices in colour and its main story is the history-making paragliding event held in Trundle. Source: The Forbes Times Wednesday March 19, 1913 page 1 and The Parkes Phoenix Friday March 16, 2018 page 1
Making Local News in 1913
The main news concerned what was happening nationwide and internationally. Local news was place further into the newspaper, and there was still a focus on agricultural matters.
Rainfall table for previous years in Parkes district. Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 8
The latest information, supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture, assisted those working the land. Included in this article were the benefits of crop rotation and correct procedure for crutching sheep. Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 10
An excerpt of the Parkes Council report that featured in the local newspaper. To view the full article click here Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 11
The Parkes Hospital committee met monthly and the reports were featured in the local newspaper. To read the full article click here. Source: The Western Champion Thursday 20 March, 1913 page 11
To read the blog post on the old Parkes Hospital, click here
District Brevities was a regular feature in the newspaper of 1913 – an important link to neighbouring communities. To read the full article click here. Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 12
Two items of cinematic news. The first one concerns a temporary (or to use today’s vernacular a “pop-up”) cinema in Bogan Gate. The second concerns a bolting horse but in reporting gives an accurate description of the location of the Parkes Picture Palace. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 19
Modern readers might scoff at this headline from 1913, but traffic is a subjective matter. The improvements in science and agriculture meant formerly useless land was now being used to farm crops. To read the full article click here. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 31
1913 Newspaper Advertisements
A sign of the times, this advertisement on the first page was for local ironmonger Harry Sanders. Source: The Western Champion Thursday March 20, 1913 page 1
Some familiar businesses, some familiar names. Country towns usually have a selection of drinking holes, and Parkes is no different. With changes in management, the hotels all vie for the business of locals and visitors to the district. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 2
Back to Business! In 1912 Con Fisher was Mayor of Parkes. Here is an advertisement for his business, which includes a range of goods that no longer are as widely available today. Sheep, rabbit and marsupial skins have fallen out of favour for modern consumers. Tallow had many uses from livestock feed, making soap and candles and could even be used as engine lubrication. It could be used as an alternative to other oils in deep frying – until 1990 McDonald’s restaurants cooked their French fries in a mixture of tallow and cottonseed oil! Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 4
Another almost forgotten profession, a milliner not only sold hats but many made them in their store. This advertisement is for one of the general stores, Carter’s, which was adding a millinery department. Source: The Western Champion 20 March, 1913 page 6
You may not know this man but you probably have heard of his stores – Lowes! William Lowe worked for Foys department store and Gowings before starting his own business. He was the first city retailer to establish a branch in Parramatta and today there are over 200 stores nationwide. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 7 and Australian Dictionary of Biography website
Another retailer who would one day be Mayor of Parkes was A.G.F. Bollinger. Watchmaker, jeweller and optician, Bollinger’s store was well known throughout the district. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 9
Click here to read the blog post on Bollinger Street
Entertainment in 1913 would almost certainly mean a trip to “the flicks”. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 17
Another advertisement from a local cinema. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1913 page 18
A selection of advertisements including for a local dentist, Crystal Palace Cafe, Coffee Palace and local cordial manufacturers of the time, Derwins. Source: The Western Champion March 20, 1943 page 34
Parkes Shire Library would like to thank the following people and organisations for their assistance with this blog post:
- Trove;
- Luke Merriman;
- Parkes Champion Post & The Parkes Phoenix;
- staff of Parkes Shire Libraries.
If you have stories of the Easter of 1932 that you are willing to share please contact Parkes Shire Library via library@parkes.nsw.gov.au so that they can be shared and kept for posterity on this blog. Alternatively you may leave comments on this page.
To view old local newspapers, come in to Parkes Library and speak to Dan who will assist you with operating the microfilm
Click here to read A Look Back At… The Summer of 1952
Click here to read A Look Back At… The Christmas of 1917
Click here to read A Look Back At… The Spring of 1972
Click here to read A Look Back At…The Winter of 1932
Click here to read A Look Back At…The Summer of 1945
REFERENCE LIST
Feature Picture Image
- [1913 Easter postcard]. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/475270566899347797/
At A Glance Images (clockwise from top left)
- [Photograph of King George V and Queen Mary]. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://learnlearn.net/Europa2/Histgc.htm
- Parkes Historical Society. (April 18, 2011). William Metcalfe. Parkes Champion Post p.7
- Lynn, A. (2014, February 10). ♦Victorian Childrens Toys♦. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/481181541409060307/?autologin=true
- [Front cover of A Curate in Bohemia by Norman Lindsay]. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from https://www.google.com.au/search?q=A Curate in Bohemia front cover&rlz=1C1GGRV_enAU751AU751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNgK_o3fnZAhUBspQKHXtmADkQ_AUICigB&biw=1745&bih=899#imgrc=nff_waFLwDECTM:
- Larsen, T. (n.d.). List of Easter Sunday Dates. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://tlarsen2.tripod.com/thomaslarsen/easterdates.html
- The Year Before The Sky Fell In. (2013, June 08). Retrieved March 19, 2018, from https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21578978-world-1913-was-worryingly-similar-world-today-year-sky-fell
- (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 1. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page12639229
- PHOTOS: Support worker’s close shave. (March 19, 2018). Retrieved March 20, 2018, from https://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/story/5292538/photos-support-workers-close-shave/?cs=6058
- (March 19, 1913). Forbes Times (NSW : 1912 – 1920), p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page10518097
- Barnard, Maggi (Ed.). (March 15, 2018). Home. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://www.parkesphoenix.com.au/trundle-flying-high-in-paragliding-world/
- Pamela. (2013, November 09). 1913: The Year in Review. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from https://www.historyinthemargins.com/2013/11/09/1913-the-year-in-review/
- PARKES RAINFALL. (1913, March 20). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 8. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828200
- ON THE LAND. (1913, March 20). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 10. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828260
- PARKES COUNCIL. (1913, March 20). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 11. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828250
- PARKES HOSPITAL. (1913, March 20). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 11. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828248
- PEAK HILL. (1913, March 20). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 12. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828237
- PICTURES FOR BOGAN GATE. (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 19. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828271
- TRAFFIC CONGESTION (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 31. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828261
- Advertisement (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 1. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page12639229
- (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page12639230
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828201
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 6. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828217
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 7. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828214
- Perkins, J. (2005). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lowe-william-bill-13055
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 9. Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828257
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 18. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828287
- Advertising (March 20, 1913). Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 – 1934), p. 34. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116828228
History Parkes 