It All Started at NW-9-44-17-W4 by Edie Watt is a historical account of the Gould family, centred on the farm that Stanley Page (Duff) Gould started with his father in rural Alberta in 1910, and grew with his wife, Joyce Gould. The book was compiled by Joyce’s youngest daughter, Edie Watt.
The story begins with the lives of Joyce and Duff Gould, and their strong commitment to building a thriving agricultural business as well as a strong community.
The bulk of the book contains intimate poems and musings by Joyce Gould, which add a rich dimension and personal touch to the book.
In spite of many hardships, tragedy, and disappointments, the family demonstrated an appreciation of life, and gratitude for what they had.
The book is sectioned as follows:
- Dad’s Story
- Additional writings and records of the Goulds gathered by Edie Watt 2022
- Stan’s Story
- The Reflections and Writings of Joyce Gould
- Mom’s Poetry
- Memories of the farm from Ross, Marnie, Mary and Edie
Excerpt from It All Started at NW-9-44-17-W4 by Edie Watt:
“Farming became more lucrative during the war and finally the farm was making some money.
By that time the interest in arrears on the farm loan from George Sutherlands had eaten up all the principal and the Sutherlands had to be convinced by relatives back east that we were not cheating them.
Dad sold section eight of the land and began paying for the farm all over again.
Dad began raising purebred herefords in 1929. He sold his range cows and bought 10 – 12 purebred herefords, partly to put less load on the pasture as it was a very dry year.
Previously he had a shorthorn bull purchased in 1910.
He bought the first purebred Hereford bull from Cudmore’s in Daysland – Panama stock.
The first one was the Perfect Panama Bull, and in 1938 he bought the Perfect Alberta Bull. Over the years he built up a small but excellent herd.”
