On Nov. 30 author and historian Gordon Goldborough will visit Virden at Border Regional Library to present his latest book in the Abandoned Manitoba trilogy: On the Road To Abandoned Manitoba.
This book may remind Westman of Goldsborough’s recent Pine to Prairie Relic Run when a half-dozen 1920s car aficionados made stops at the Pioneer Home Museum and at A & W before heading west to Elkhorn (as covered on these pages in the July 28 edition.)
In Goldsborough’s books, you can read about yourself – your ancestors. Virden’s Scallion mansion and Deloraine’s stone bank building along with other local landmarks are featured in this series where history comes to life.
This latest entry into the bestselling and award-winning book series (which includes Abandoned Manitoba and More Abandoned Manitoba) sees Goldsborough traveling all across Manitoba in search of forgotten gems and locations of important if momentarily forgotten, historical significance.
“I’m passionate about Manitoba history, and of course am partisan when I say this, but I think Manitoba is one of the best places to live — anywhere,” says Goldsborough. “I’m hoping to induce people to get out and see their province.”
Orland Usick, a history buff from Oak River, attended Goldsborough’s Abandoned Manitoba presentation in Brandon. He and one of his sons made it an evening event, one to remember he said. Usick characterized the evening as relaxing, informative and fun adding, “We’re kind of into that sort of thing.”
Usick found it fascinating to learn of the “industrious entrepreneurs who came to this land before there was government (programs), hospitals…” and the supports for living that we take for granted. “What fascinates me about the Abandoned Manitoba series is the connection to the hardship that some of these people had to go through to have the country we have now.”
Goldsborough, a retired university professor, is a pivotal figure working with Manitoba history. As well as being a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, he also serves on the board of the Manitoba Agricultural Museum. He was inducted into the Order of Manitoba in 2021 in recognition of his scientific and historical work.
Goldsborough visited Reston library on Nov. 14. His new book was scheduled to be released on Nov. 24. If you missed it there, you have a second opportunity at the Virden presentation. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and to pick up a book, or three, as Christmas gifts.
"It has been a pleasure bringing Gordon's Abandoned Manitoba series to readers," says publisher Mel Marginet. "It's been a thrill to see how readers have connected with this series.”
