ALEXANDER KINNAIRD LORIMER by Kay Lorimer

    On June 1 859, in the District of St. Andrews and St. Leonard's, County Fife, Scotland, a son, Alexander, was born to James and Elizabeth (Kinnaird) Lorimer. Alexander was the eldest of a family of four - three boys and one girl. He received his education in St. Andrews, Scotland, and for recreation was an ardent golfer. He was also a trained ballroom dancer. Following in his father's footsteps, Mr. Lorimer became a Master Tradesman and worked at the trade of plastering, both in Canada and in Scotland. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Scotland and was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Royal Arch.

In 1882 he came to Canada.  He travelled by train to Ft. Ellice.   From there he went to Russell where he took a homestead north and west of Russell, settling on what is known as Section 30-21-28.

Mary Ann (Simms) Lorimer was born in 1873 in Browndod, Donegore, Country Antrim, Ireland.  She came to Canada as a small child and lived with her father and stepmother and brother, Tom on a farm about four miles south-west of Russell.  Mr. and Mrs. Lorimer were married in 1892 at Russell and Reverend W.G. Rogerson officiated.  After a few years the couple moved to North Bank Farm on the same section.

Mr. and Mrs. Lorimer had eight children - three boys and five girls - Jim of Winnipeg, Herb of Inglis, Alex of Vancouver, Kay of Winnipeg, Mrs. H. L. King (Ruth) of Regina, Mrs. Poulter (Rene), of Yorkton, Lillian of Moose Jaw, and Mrs. Thornber (Colina) of Moose Jaw.  There are also nine grand children and four great-grandchildren.

Besides farming for around thirty years, and raising a large family, Mr. Lorimer found time to put into use his art as a plasterer.  Some of the landmarks of Russell, such as the old Presbyterian Church, the W.J. Doig residence, (which is now part of the Sacred Heart Hospital), the Barnardo Home for boys, Convent St. Lazare, Dan Macdonald's home, and many other structures in the surrounding district are evidence of Mr. Lorimer's plastering art.  The Lorimer home was the scene of many an evening of dancing and music. 

In 1923, Mr. Lorimer retired from the farm and moved to Winnipeg with his family.  He carried on his trade for a few years - working on the finer masonry of the present Hudson's Bay store in Winnipeg.  When he first came to Canada he shared with others, the honour of doing the decorative plastering of the old Winnipeg Theatre.   Mr. Lorimer built the first private swimming pool in the city of Winnipeg for Mr. James Richardson of Wellington Crescent.

In 1954, Alexander Lorimer passed quietly away at the age of 95 years.   In 1961 he was followed by his wife, Mary Ann.  They were laid to rest in the St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Man.

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