Charles Millard Hoar

(1885.09.26 - 1969.06.12)
SLS, DLS, ALS
Commission #053
(1912.07.26)

Charles Millard Hoar was born to Haliburton and Annie Hoar in Waterside, New Brunswick on September 26, 1885.

“Charlie Hoar came from an interesting family - his father was master mariner, Captain Haliburton Howard Hoar and his mother was Anna Jane Wilbur. The family lived in Waterside, Albert County, NB and later in Hopewell Cape also in Albert County. The Hoar family came to this area from Massachusetts in the 1700’s and first settled in Onslow, NS. The Wilbur family (Charlie’s mother’s family) came from Rhode Island also mid 1700’s - settled first in Sackville NB and later in Albert Co, NB.Charlie got his teacher’s license at UNB and taught locally, then went back to UNB and graduated with a degree in Engineering.” (Carolyn Vankampen-Great niece of Charles)

Research shows that Charles was teaching in Albert County, N.B. in 1904. He couldn’t have taught much longer as he graduated (Civil Engineering) from the University of New Brunswick in 1909. In 1908 he was awarded the Brydone-Jack Scholarship and at graduation he received the Ketchum Silver Medal and the City of Fredericton Gold Medal.`

“One of the many benefactions mention in H.G.C. Ketchum’s will was the provision for a silver medal as a prize at the University of New Brunswick. This medal, known as the ‘Ketchum Medal’, was to be awarded each year to the Civil Engineering student having the highest standing. After Ketchum’s death on 8 September 1896, the following appeared in “Editorial Notes” in the University Monthly “The late Mr. H.G.C. Ketchum, C.E. has provided for an annual sivler medal in the department of Civil Engineering in the University. Mr. Ketchum was a former native of Fredericton and Is mourned by hosts of friends here and all over the Dominion. We hope that his bequest may prove an incentive to many young men in the profession in which he himself attained such eminence.” It appears that the Allan Wyon firm in London, England was commissioned to produce the medal. Correspondence between the London-based company and Stephen Dixon, Dean of Engineering at UNB indicates that work on the dies began in the spring of 1897 and were to be completed “in about ten weeks time.” At Encaenia on 27 May 1897, valedictorian C.C. Jones (President of UNB, 1906-1940) stated “The will of the late H.G.C. Ketchum, C.E., provided for a silver medal for the department of Engineering. Such a donation, especially prized as the gift of one who was himself an eminent engineer will no doubt serve to increase the zeal of the students in that important department of the University.” The first recipient of the Ketchum Medal was Aubrey Clifton Tabor, Class of 1897. The Ketchum Medal is a beautiful piece of medalic art and continues to be awarded during Encaenia each year. Today it is presented to the top graduating student in Civil Engineering based on the regular (full time student) work in the final two terms of the student’s regular program.  

After graduating it looks like Charles headed to Ottawa where he passed his examination for his DLS commission (March, 1911) and to start employment with the federal government as a draughtsman. He received his SLS & ALS commissions a short time later. Research shows Charles in Calgary in 1912 working with CPR as a surveyor.

According to Charles’ great niece, “Yes, Julia Beryl Hoar was the sister of Charles Millard Hoar. She was my great aunt and I knew her well. She did live and teach out west - I cannot say exactly where she taught. All of the Hoar siblings obtained teacher’s licenses at Normal School at UNB in Fredericton. Charles, Blair, Beryl, Arlie, and Hazel all went out west to teach at some point, and there were definitely periods when they were all there together at the same time.” So now we come to some speculation. We know that in 1916, Charles is married to Madge O’Harro and they have twin sons (Ralph & Donald) and they are shown living in Calgary. We think (guess) that surveying for Charles was slow from 1914 to 1917 so he went to Manitoba (assumed he left his wife and children in Calgary and maybe visited and surveyed back and forth when not teaching) to teach. Research shows a Charles M. Hoar teaching at Tilston School in 1914-1915 and at Oak Bank School in 1915-1916, both schools being in Manitoba. His sister J. Beryl was also teaching in Manitoba around this time. Charles also receives his BCLS commission in 1916.

With WW1 happening, Charles enlisted in late 1917 at Winnipeg. On his enlistment papers, and this is where it gets strange, he shows his present address as Roblin, Manitoba; his birthdate as September 3, 1893; he’s single and his occupation is shown as ‘School Teacher’. All of this, except for the birthdate and being single, agrees with our speculation. Charles is discharged in July of 1919. All the time Charles was away though, teaching and during WW1, he is shown in Calgary directories as a surveyor with CPR & Department of Natural Resources.

After the war, Charles is back in Calgary working for CPR and off and on with the Department of Natural Resources until about 1934.  Charles was obviously quite active in the Alberta Land Surveyors Association. He was President In 1923 & 1930 and was Vice-President in 1936. 

Research shows that from 1935 to 1940 he was the manager of the Crescent Theatre in Calgary and up until about 1943 he lists himself as a surveyor. It looks like he retired in the mid 1940’s. 

In the mid 1960’s, Charles was involved in a land deal with a Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta that the provincial government said violated The Alberta Communal Property Act. A number of individuals, including Charles, were charged under the Act but the charges against Charles were dropped.

Charles died after a lengthy illness on June 12, 1969. Charles and Madge had three children (Ralph, Donald & Doris). His grandson Steve Hoar is a well-known sculptor/artist in southern Alberta.

Prepared by M. L. J. Waschuk, SLS, P. Surv., 2018

Sources: Library and Archives Canada; NRCan; Al Jensen-Controller of Surveys; Archive.org; Ancestry.com; NewspaperArchives.com;  Winnipeg Tribune; Press; Carla Stadnick-SLSA; Peel’s Prairie Provinces-University of Alberta; Vital Stats-Manitoba; Carolyn Vankampen; Steve Hoar; University of New Brunswick; New Brunswick Archives; ALSA; Historic Sites of Manitoba;