How I Met Harry Veiner

I had tried to meet Harry Veiner on two previous occasions by accompanying friends to Harry’s favourite hangout, his hardware store, but unfortunately I missed him both times. But another chance came up, and I just had to try again.

My father-in-law was going to the “Hat” on business and said that we’d have time to stop by. During the drive, he mentioned that he knew Harry Veiner, and I thought to myself that’s great, someone who can introduce me, particularly since Harry wouldn’t know me from a hole in the ground. Later, when we arrived at the Hat Hardware, my father-in-law asked the clerk if Harry was in, and indeed he was. She disappeared out back and in a minute or two Harry came out.

Harry Veiner

“Hello, I’m Bernie... from Brooks,” said my father-in-law shaking hands with Harry.“Uh ha. What did you say your name was again.”Bernie... You remember me don’t you.” “I’m sorry, but no I don’t.” “Well, remember that time you came up to Duchess, to the tea at the hall. You know, the one where we gave you a sandwich with rubber in it instead of ham. Well, I’m the one that served you...” “You’re that dirty no good son-of-a...”⁴

Well I just about died. Here I was hoping to talk to Harry at long last, and this was my introduction! I would have crawled under the table if one had been nearby.

On the way home, I asked my father-in-law for the full story. (I wish I had done so on the way down.) He told me that the Duchess Hall, as a fundraiser, occasionally put on what they called a “man-handled tea.” The men did the work for a change rather than the women. Some of the men even went so far as to dress up in women’s clothing.

At the time, Harry Veiner was running as the Liberal candidate in the Bow Valley riding, and where a crowd was, you could be sure that Harry would show up. The men working in the kitchen at the back must have known that Harry was coming as they had come prepared, bringing a red, tire inner tube with them. When Harry ordered his sandwich—it was either bologna or ham—they made up the “Harry special”. The red rubber was barely visible thanks to the diced onions that had been heaped on, and they did a good job of making it look like the real thing, even cutting it in half.

My father-in-law who wasn’t really in on it, or so he says, was the server for the table that Harry and his friends sat at. He took them their cake and sandwiches on a tray, and then the fun began. Harry who must have been famished took the sandwich in those big hands of his, and opening wide took a great big bite. Ham and onions went everywhere, and Harry just sat there and glared while everyone else was having a good laugh at his expense. If looks could have killed!

Well that was my introduction to Harry Veiner. Actually, it didn’t turn out all that bad. Harry had long ago forgiven the pranksters, and he even found some time to talk to me. Not as much time as I would have liked, but enough to answer a few of my many questions.

Veiner was well known, not only in Medicine Hat but in the surrounding communities as well, as a good sport and of course a strong promoter of his city. He was forever challenging fellow Mayors to foot races, and at one time, at Lake Newell, he even raced against a quarter-horse. They say he beat the horse, quite a feat even if it was a short race.