Birthday parties, an annual rodeo,
and holiday celebrations were never missed by the sociable Matsons.
There were times when twenty visitors would show up for a meal
unexpectedly and Mary, with her well-stocked root cellar, never
batted an eye. Old photographs, taken by Mary with the little
Brownie camera she received for her twelfth birthday gift, suggest
a happy family and community.
Photographs taken of Mary invariably show her smiling, evidence
of her delightful sociable personality.
Wedding and Saturday night dances
were held regularly at the Jaffray Community Hall which Elmer
helped build in the early 1940s. Admission was 25 cents for ladies
and 50 cents for gentlemen. People danced to live bands, such
as "Dick's Musical Dudes", from Fernie from 8 oclock
to sometimes 4 in the morning. Sandwiches, cake and coffee were
provided by the ladies at midnight.
Young people hoped to —and often
did— meet future mates at these affairs. Liquor was not allowed
in the hall but there was plenty available outside the door. Local
children tried to get to the dance hall as soon as possible Sunday
morning to collect the empty beer bottles that littered the ground.
It was a good way to get pocket money.
