Ernest (Ernie) LaPorte
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The LaPortes of Inwood
See also The
LaPortes Garage and Ernie LaPorte's
Story In His Own Words
Click on any photo to see a larger image,
click on the larger image for an even larger one in many cases
Ernie's appointment as a Provincial Police
Constable in 1909
That would have made him the senior constable
over the Woodlands Municipal Constables for this area Eric E. Thuland,
C. Overton and J. Currie.
Ernie in about 1910. Leah Cossette when still living in Fargo, ND
about 1906. Their marriage portrait in 1913.
Leah Cossette LaPorte
Several photos of Grandma at home in the 1930's/40's and one of the last
photos of her taken during her stay at the hospice in St Boniface in
1957.
Their First House and First Car
In 1910 Ernie built his new house at the SW corner of his property in
anticipation of the railroad coming through in 1911. The front
section was newly built but the back shed part was his original
homestead house from the NE corner of this same quarter section.
He had first tried to move it to the new location on a wagon but the
ground was too soft so he pulled it across the field with a team of oxen
(Caroline's story).
In 1914 Ernie made a huge purchase, a 1912 Everitt. It would have
been quite the visible sign of his success. The photo shows Ernie
and Leah proudly showing off their new house and car. An ad for
the car notes that for $1500 that included all the 'extras' including the top and
the windshield. His license permitted him to drive a car but just that
particular car and only within the province.
The same house as it is today, the first house just east of the Inwood
Hall. The blacksmith shop with a forge which Ernie built behind
the house in 1911 is still there too.
The Fete de Dieu in July 1930
The Fete de Dieu was a Catholic festival held
in July. This one was in 1930
as you can see the new LaPortes Garage being built in the background. Also,
in the background can be seen the old LaPorte's Garage, Irwin’s Store and the
train station on the right.
In this picture, Dorothy Bennett, Flore Dugas, Hermina LaPorte (age 14
in 1930) and Annette Verscheure, dressed as angels, are getting ready
to walk in the parade. Caroline LaPorte (age 9) walked in front of
them, throwing flower petals in their path.
In the second photo Ernie is judging the best
calf in show.
The Hunter
Ernie was a great hunter and hunting guide for
visitors from the city. In his taped interview made by son Ben in
19?? Ernie talked about the large number of moose in this
area when it was first settled which were hunted by the wagon
loads to feed the settlers. As the moose population declined they
were replaced by Whitetail Deer which again provided the community with
meat. Ernie hunted both but was best known as a goose hunter ably
assisted by a succession of trained hunting dogs in particular his
favorite, Pat.
Ernie with Pat and hunting companions from
Winnipeg in the 1920's: Frank MacCharles an actuary with Great West
Life, Clair Scarth a lawyer with his dog Garry and John Wylie of the
Manitoba Farm Loans Board. Note: Caroline stated that Wylie was killed shortly after
this photo was taken when he rolled his car (the accident actually
occurred near Dauphin in July 1936). The middle photos are from the
1930's (I'm working on the names of the people in this photo, any
suggestions would be appreciated). The last photo shows Ernie with
pheasants and is dated 1945.
This site was last updated
05/08/23
Ernie in about 1910. Leah Cossette when still living in Fargo, ND
about 1906. Their marriage portrait in 1913.
Leah Cossette LaPorte
Several photos of Grandma at home in the 1930's/40's and one of the last
photos of her taken during her stay at the hospice in St Boniface in
1957.
Their First House and First Car
In 1910 Ernie built his new house at the SW corner of his property in
anticipation of the railroad coming through in 1911. The front
section was newly built but the back shed part was his original
homestead house from the NE corner of this same quarter section.
He had first tried to move it to the new location on a wagon but the
ground was too soft so he pulled it across the field with a team of oxen
(Caroline's story).
In 1914 Ernie made a huge purchase, a 1912 Everitt. It would have
been quite the visible sign of his success. The photo shows Ernie
and Leah proudly showing off their new house and car. An ad for
the car notes that for $1500 that included all the 'extras' including the top and
the windshield. His license permitted him to drive a car but just that
particular car and only within the province.
The same house as it is today, the first house just east of the Inwood
Hall. The blacksmith shop with a forge which Ernie built behind
the house in 1911 is still there too.
The Fete de Dieu in July 1930
The Fete de Dieu was a Catholic festival held
in July. This one was in 1930
as you can see the new LaPortes Garage being built in the background. Also,
in the background can be seen the old LaPorte's Garage, Irwin’s Store and the
train station on the right.
In this picture, Dorothy Bennett, Flore Dugas, Hermina LaPorte (age 14
in 1930) and Annette Verscheure, dressed as angels, are getting ready
to walk in the parade. Caroline LaPorte (age 9) walked in front of
them, throwing flower petals in their path.
In the second photo Ernie is judging the best
calf in show.
The Hunter
Ernie was a great hunter and hunting guide for
visitors from the city. In his taped interview made by son Ben in
19?? Ernie talked about the large number of moose in this
area when it was first settled which were hunted by the wagon
loads to feed the settlers. As the moose population declined they
were replaced by Whitetail Deer which again provided the community with
meat. Ernie hunted both but was best known as a goose hunter ably
assisted by a succession of trained hunting dogs in particular his
favorite, Pat.
Ernie with Pat and hunting companions from
Winnipeg in the 1920's: Frank MacCharles an actuary with Great West
Life, Clair Scarth a lawyer with his dog Garry and John Wylie of the
Manitoba Farm Loans Board. Note: Caroline stated that Wylie was killed shortly after
this photo was taken when he rolled his car (the accident actually
occurred near Dauphin in July 1936). The middle photos are from the
1930's (I'm working on the names of the people in this photo, any
suggestions would be appreciated). The last photo shows Ernie with
pheasants and is dated 1945.
