Dora "Ma" Brainard - Hythe, Alberta
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 55° 18.947 W 119° 33.126
11U E 338049 N 6132898
The Dora "Ma" Brainard sign is in the Hythe Cemetery just west on 672 Hwy. near the junction of Hwy. 43 and south of Hythe.
Waymark Code: WM11864
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 09/04/2019
Views: 1
DORA "MA" BRAINARD
1879 - 1967
"Ma" Brainard, one of the Peace Country's famous pioneers, arrived in the Hythe area in 1918. She immediately started an "eatin place" in a log cabin right beside the trail that connected Grande Prairie with Dawson Creek. Known by all as "Ma Brainard", she became famous for her chicken dinners and such chicken dinners - her table groaned with goodies! Ma was fond of saying "I've always got a chicken in the pan, one ready for the pan and chickens near the door, ready for the axe in case I run short".
Many famous people visited her log cabin beside the road. One of those people was Sir Henry Thornton, then president of the Canadian National Railway. With him came an entourage of 70 but not even that number upset "Ma" Brainard - she just beheaded a few more chickens.
No one was ever turned away hungry because he could not pay her modest charge. Mrs. Brainard's name was known far and wide and many travelled miles over the trails to dine at "Ma's" where mealtime was enhanced with spicy conversation and the clucking of chickens by the door.
One more item must be noted about this versatile woman; she was postmistress at Brainard for more than 30 years and received a citation in 1961 for her services.
Dora "Ma" Brainard died in 1967 at the age of 88 years.
Transcribed from sign
Dora Alice “Ma” Brock Brainard was born on December 14, 1878 in North Carolina and passed away on February 14, 1967.
Picture of “Ma” Brainard: Peace Country Roots
Article: “Ma” Brainard is mourned by many Peace Country Roots
Published in The Daily Herald, Grande Prairie, AB 16 February 1967 pg. 1
Article: Death claims famed Peace Country pioneer Peace Country Roots
Published in the Peace River Block News, 22 February 1967 pg. 8
Hythe Cemetery is within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 in northwestern Alberta and was established around 1929. This cemetery has approximately 397 known interments and is about 8.5 areas in size. There is a circular roadway through the cemetery which is quite flat. The only trees line most of the perimeter. These seems to be a large unused portion to the west side of the cemetery, the roadway passes through this area.
"Kelly Sunderman was an early settler in the region and was the first to dig a well in Hythe and the town was soon known as "The Town of Flowing Wells. It is situated on top of a large underground water supply."
"HISTORY OF HYTHE, ALBERTA
Hythe was first known as Happy Valley named after "Happy Fletcher" one of the early homesteaders. It was officially named Hythe by its early settlers after their home town in England. In 1913, the first post office was established." Source: Discover Peace Country