Reg.#13967, George William Fridgen (age 93)

Here's a note which touches on history. It was included in Frank Richter's weekly note. (FFF's 10-10-2010)

Early NWMP Detachment near MacKinnon's Post Office Ermine, SK

Reg.#13967, George William Fridgen was born near Ermine, Saskatchewan in 1917. Now, he is documenting his family, his career in the Force and his early homestead in Saskatchewan.

He remembers his grandfather (John Fridgen) saying that the first Detachment of the North West Mounted Police, in that part of Saskatchewan, was located in his grandfather’s home once located one mile north of MacKinnon's Post Office.

In the days of this NWMP Detachment, the town of Ermine did not yet exist. Eventually trains arrived and the railroad went through town at the MacKinnon Post Office site. The railway was the start of Ermine. Today no buildings or town exist.

George Fridgen was posted to Regina Detachment betwen 1963 and 1965. He recalls that he gave a special photo to a Cst. Tom Wiltshire in Regina. The photo was of a NWMP member sitting on his horse outside the Fridgen homestead/detachment. Although he has other photos, George hopes that this particular photo can be found by locating former Cst. Tom Wiltshire.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Cst. Tom Wiltshire, please contact 'Buffalo' Joe Healy or Vet Bob Warnke, Regina RCMP Veterans' Association. www.reginarcmpvets

'Maintain Our Memories'