Seward Algernon Armstead (abt. 1925 - 1986)

Born about 1925 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Ancestors

Died 13 Aug 1986 at about age 61 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Devon Blean [send private message]

This profile is part of the Bridgeland-Riverside, Alberta One Place Study.

Biography

Seward Armstead has African ancestry.

Alge, as he was called, was the son of Seward Armstead and Mary Tinsley. He was born in 1925 at 640 McDougall Road N.E. in the Calgary neighborhood of Bridgeland-Riverside. A few years later the family moved a few blocks away to 633 Marsh Road N.E. where Alge spent the rest of his life.

In 1984 Alge was interviewed by Devon Blean for the Bridgeland-Riverside History project. The collection of interviews is now at the Calgary Public Library (see reference below). Alge had a reputation as a people person who knew the community inside and out. Much of his interview explains where sites were located in the area and various peoples' occupations.

For instance: The Zion Church was a brick building just east of St. Matthews, south of Centre Avenue. On Centre Avenue and 6th Street the red brick houses had nuns. Immanuel Church was on 1st Avenue and 4th Street. Redecky was the minister. Until the 1950's, another church was on the same block, west side of the above. Percy Konchuk moved it to about 639 Marsh Road and made a house out of it by cutting off the steeple. (N.B. See discussion below in "Research Notes.")

The C. E. king house was perhaps 6th Street and Meredith. It later became the Chapman house. It had a big garage. It was located where the empty lot is now.

Alge told Devon that he went to Riverside Bungalow, Riverside and Crescent Heights. Grades 1, 2, 3 were in the bungalow close to First Avenue and grades 4, 5, 6, were in the brick bungalow still standing. He went to Stanley Jones School in 1933 for shop training and also to James Short. He attended the Salvation Army Sunday school which was located at 625 - 1st Avenue N.E.

Alge said that One thing that destroys discrimination is poverty. Everyone was in it together. As a child, our idea of discrimination was the rich kids and fancy houses on the other side of town. We would ride our bikes over to Elbow Drive, roll the kids in the breeches in the dirt and come home.

He noted that Riverside had a reputation as a tough district because the boys were very protective of their area and wouldn't let other boys in to court their girls. If girls had boyfriends from other areas, the boys would leave their girls in the middle of the Langevin or zoo bridge (the boundaries) instead of accompanying them home.

The children used to sled on Samis Hill with a homemade bobsled made with a 2 x 10 plank.

The school even had hillbilly bands. Cross on Trumpet and bones, Alberta Temple on accordian, Armstead on guitar and Leonard Lowell on clarinet would practise in the school gym at Riverside and play at the Varsity Theatre on amateur night.

He explained that the Wiggins Dance Hall in the basement of the Armour Block was where the coloured people held dances. It was going at least by 1927. At Wiggins Hall Charlie Ross would play records on his Victrola. Occasionally there were bands.

The Crescent Heights streetcar was ours, also. One kid would pay a nickle and go to the smoking compartment at the back, unlatch the door, and then the rest of the group would crawl in.

Alge also said that he was making $12.50 per week during the Depression at Calgary Vulcanizing (Calgary Rubber). Top wages to the foreman were $21.40. The family's house taxes were $82/year. Boys could work off their parents' taxes during the Depression on projects around the city. For awhile Alge worked at Alberta Box Co. which employed many people from the neighborhood. When Alge was interviewed in 1984, he was an inspector with Calgary Transit. In fact, in 1963, the Calgary Tourist and Convention Association named Alge as best bus driver, Calgary Transit System. Previously, he had worked at the railways for 18 years as a baggage man.

In 1954 Alge was in the newspaper for seriously wounding a Henry Cooper in a knife fight at Cooper's home. Cooper had smashed a bottle over Alge's head during the course of a drunken party. The court case was dismissed because everyone had a different story about the scuffle.

There is no public information available about when Alge married Joan Brown whose family had settled in Amber Valley. The couple had three children and they continued to live in the family home on Marsh Road.

Alge died in 1986. He is buried at Queen's Park Cemetery.

Obituary

From: The Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 15 Aug 1986, Fri, p. 45; as found on Newspapers.com.

ARMSTEAD - Seward Algernon (Alge) aged 61 years, passed away August 13, 1986, beloved husband of Mrs. Joan Armstead, 633 Marsh Road N.E. and dear father of James, Brian and Debbie, all of Calgary. He is also survived by a granddaughter Chanelle, Calgary; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Seymour, Troy, New York and Mrs. Harold (Mae) Ramsey, Vancouver, B.C.; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends. He was predeceased by his parents, the late Seward and Mary Armstead. Born and educated at Calgary, Mr. Armstead was employed by the C.P. R. Sleeping, Dining and Parlour Car Department for a number of years and then with the City of Calgary Transit System for the past twenty-six years and was an inspector at the time of his demise. He was a member of the Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans Club. Funeral Services will be held at LEYDEN'S "CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCE" (17 Avenue and 2 Street S.W.) Saturday, 1:00 p.m. with Rev. A.G. Risby officiating. Interment will follow in Queen's Park Cemetery. If desired contributions may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200, 1609 - 14 Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T3C 1E4. LEYDEN'S FUNERAL HOMES LTD., Directors of Services. Telephone: 228-4422.

Research Notes

Perhaps it was the former "Applebox Church" (German Baptist Church - Die Deutsche Baptisten Gemeinde) located at 655 Marsh Road which was moved by a neighbor. There is a discussion of this congregation in Usu Leut/Our People on pp. 121-124 and a photograph of the church and congregation on Marsh Road N.E. although there does not seem to be a steeple. A (Adam) Percy Konshuk, proprietor of Spot Lunch, lived at 641 Marsh Road in 1944.

Sources

• Blean, Devon, "Interview with Algi Armstead at 633 Marsh Rd. N.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 7 April 1984" Interviews of Residents of Bridgeland-Riverside. Interview was for the Bridgeland-Riverside History Project. A compilation of these interviews can be found at the Calgary Public Library (971.2338 BRI, 2008).

• Michel, Marlene, Usu Leut/Our People Marlene L. Michel, publisher, Keoma, Alberta, 2015, pp. 121-124.

• Name: Algy Armstea; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Single; Age: 5; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1926; Residence Date: 1931; Home in 1931: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Relation to Head: Son; Can Speak English: Yes; Can Speak French: No; Can Read and Write: Read and Write; Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker; Enumeration District: Calgary East; Sub-District Number: 0014 - Calgary (City); Household Members: Seward Armstea (52); Mary (40); May (10); Algy (5). Source Citation: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27350; Census Place: Calgary East, Alberta, Canada; Page Number: 25. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1931 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2023.

• "Four Witnesses Vary in Account of Knifing," Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 26 Mar 1954, Wed, p. 26; as found on Newspapers.com.

• "Ken Liddell Named '63 White Hatter," Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 25 May 1963, Sat, p. 19; as found on Newspapers.com.

• Name: Seward A Armstead ; Residence Date: 1958; Residence Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Electoral District: Calgary North; Occupation: Porter; Reference Number: M-5026. Source Citation: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935-1980. Source Information Ancestry.com. Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

• Name: Alge Armstead; Residence Date: 1972; Residence Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Electoral District: Calgary North; Occupation: Bus Dnver; Reference Number: M-6220. Source Citation: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Voters Lists, Federal Elections, 1935-1980. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

• Name: Seward Algernon Armstead; Birth Date: 1925; Birth Place: Calgary, Calgary Census Division, Alberta, Canada; Death Date: 13 Aug 1986; Cemetery: Queens Park Cemetery and Mausoleum; Burial or Cremation Place: Calgary, Calgary Census Division, Alberta, Canada; Has Bio?: N; Father: Seward Armstead; Mother: Mary Elizabeth Armstead. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142948715/seward-algernon-armstead