Don Doerr Pictures

Bienfait, Estevan, Taylorton, Roche Percee, Saskatchewan, Canada

Sometimes old pictures are found in the most uncommon places, and this set is one of them, all found by Barry Dies in Estevan,
They are from Don Doerr's collection, in a binder in Glenn Barton's Barber Shop in Estevan, scanned and sent to me by Barry, Oct 2018
Thanks to all of these men for the contribution
Some of these are extra special as they show the men working underground on the equipment used at that time.
Most times the old pictures underground were very dark, and not much detail is shown, but these are unbelievably bright and clear
They must have hauled some bright lights down there to take these.
They were taken when electricity was used underground, so lighting would have been better, but note- still no hard hats or other safety equipment.
Imagine the noise, dust, and danger using these pieces of equipment.
On with the pictures now:

Bienfait built Conveyor Loading Coal Underground

Loading Coal Underground at M&S

Don Doerr's Uncle and Grandfather Loading Coal Cars Underground, 1927
Bill Sheratt Jr., and Bill Sherratt Sr.

William Sherratt Sr.
b- Mar? 1881, Ashton In Makerfield Lancashire England (1 mo old at time of 1881 census taken Apr 3, 1881)
d- Apr 8, 1949 (aged 67–68)
Buried in Bienfait Civic Cemetery, Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada
father- Thomas Sherratt, mother- Elizabeth (Betsy) Williams
married Ann (Anne) Sherratt nee Davies (per Doerr tree, see below)
b- May 23,1877, d- Dec 10, 1967 (aged 90)
Buried- Bienfait Civic Cemetery, Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada
William (Bill) Sherratt Sr. shown married to Mazel Padgitt? in son's obit
Their daughter Hilda married Stewart Doerr, thus the Doerr family connection
William Sr and family were in 582 Beech Tree House, Bamfurlong, Lancashire in 1911. shown as a Miner (Hewer) Coal Miner
He is shown in Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire with his father, mother and siblings in 1891, shown age 10. father shown as a coal miner.
I show William Sr. married Annie Smallman, Dec 27, 1902 in Ashton in Makerfield Lancashire, she is shown age 25, daughter of Mark Smallman.

Jim Davies Operating Coal Train Underground at Western Dominion Coal

James (Jim) Davies
b- Aug 26, 1914 Blackpool Devon England
d- Jan 8, 2007, Edmonton, AB
Spouse: Annie Hewko
Father:Samuel Davies
Mother:Betsy Sherratt

John and George Renenhko Working Underground at M&S
Here they are using a large drill to place charges to break up the wall of coal
Can't find info on these 2 men, so would assume spelling is wrong. alt Rennenko ? both born in Russia?

Bill Sherratt Jr. and Sr. Loading Coal- Note Brass tag on car credits that car to those men once it gets to the weighman.

John Hudak and Vince Clark undercutting Coal Wall, using the most vicious looking chain saw I have ever seen.
Imagine noise and danger using this thing?

John Hudak
b- ca 1882, Bukowina (age 34 in 1916 census), living in Bienfait
d- ?
nationality- Austrian, Ruthenian, immigrated in 1911, coal miner.
Served in WWI, listed in Bienfait Legion list

Vincent (Vince) Ernest Clark
b-Mar 3, 1897 RM of Turtle Mtn, MB
d-Apr 15, 1971
buried- Bienfait Civic Cemetery, Bienfait SK
father- Thomas S. Clark, mother- Edith M. Crawford
married Margret Ellen Vadden Jan 2, 1918 Louise, MB
I believe Vince served in WWI, shown b- Mar 13, 1896 in Killarnay MB on his attestation form, married to a Grace Clark, she was living in Hannah ND
He was shown living in Alameda SK when he enlisted in Regina, reg #260758

Crescent Collieries Ltd, Bienfait, SK, Month of Apr 15, 1936, Pay “Due Bill” #1492
Name shown W. Anderson, not sure on first name though.
Printed by Patten Printers in Estevan
Note- Doctors fees withdrawn for Estevan Doctor

Valley Gem Coal Co. Pay Statement, #770
Dec 1-15, 1944, name has been obliterated on this one
.40 cents per hour
Never seen this name before so will adding it to my list of coal mines in SE SK.

Truax-Traer Coal Co. Shovel in the Pit, SE of Estevan.
This is the first shovel in the area, which was the demiss of underground mining in SE SK.

Truax-Traer Coal Co. Tipple SE of Estevan

Utility Coals Bucyrus-Erie 750-B Stripping Shovel, South of Estevan
https://www.gent-family.com/SK_Coal_Mines/estevanutilitycoalspg2.html

Great West Coal Co. Tipple, 1960, East of Estevan

Hudson Bay Coal Co. - Wooden Tipple being built approx 1905

Hudson Bay Coal Co. - Remains of Wood Tipple after fire 1907

M&S bought out Hudson Bay Mines, built new steel tipple after fire

Aerial Photo of Estevan Business area, showing watertower, old arena, which was demolished in 2018.
Also by the watertower can be seen the Stock Car track which used to be right in town