The Brice Homestead

Harry Brice came to the North West Territories in 1892. In 1914, he and his wife Ethel and three young children (Elsie, Betty, and George) moved to a homestead on the south side of Wadena near the CN tracks.

According to English custom all farms had to have a name; theirs was "Wadena Farm" and was proudly displayed on their large barn. For many years the well landscaped yard was quite a show.

Elsie, the eldest, became a teacher.  After teaching in several rural schools in Saskatchewan , she taught in the Wadena School until her untimely death at the age of 23, in 1930.

Betty (now known as Aunt Betty), took up office work.  She worked in law offices in Wadena and Regina , and in the Wadena Creamery.  She went to Ottawa to work in the Federal Civil Service and while there, married Kenneth Gray.  They had two daughters, Margaret and Nancy.

George, the eldest son, continued farming after studying at the Agricultural College .  He continued farming the original farm (this quarter section) and other land, until his death at the age of 66, in 1976.  He married Helena McTavish of Saskatoon who was then a teacher in Wadena.  Helena (Mrs. Brice) has participated in many Wadena activities over the years, since her marriage in 1939.  They have one daughter, Betty (Mrs. Bob James) and two grandsons, Brian and Bruce. Helena continued to live in the house until 2002, when she donated the homestead to our Museum and moved into Waneeda Park Lodge here in town.

Jack became a mortician.  He worked in Regina , Wadena, and later in Victoria .  He married Audrey Jackson of Wilkie, and they have two sons and a daughter, George, Leslie, and Beverley.  Jack died at the age of 57, in 1973.

Walter, the youngest, attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a degree in Agriculture.  He married Velma Fee, of Swift Current, and they now live in Saskatoon .  They have three sons.

While you will notice that some modern amenities have been added to the house since 1914, very little of the building has been changed and many of the family's original items are present.