Allen, George Calvin

George Allen was born on October 1, 1895 in Grover Hill, Ohio, USA. He married Oriel Zeba Meausette on September 24, 1919 in Princeton, BC. At the time of their marriage, he was working as a railroad freight man. He was naturalized as a Canadian citizen in April 1925. He died on January 30, 1970 in the Princeton General Hospital.

After their marriage, they lived on Kenley Street (1919). They were one of the first families to have a residential telephone line. The Allen’s and the Meausette’s had lines put in (October 1924) – their phone numbers were 41a (Meausette) and 41b (Allen).

He was employed by the railway in Princeton depot as an express agent. 

When the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) took over the Princeton Depot from the Great Northern Railway on December 1, 1921, George Allen remained the express agent at the depot. In 1939, he was the assistant station agent for the KVR at Princeton. 

George Allen was an active member of the Princeton community, volunteering his time on a variety of projects. 

He was a member of the Princeton Fish and Game Protective Association. Although he resigned as secretary (March 1923) he was still involved in 1939 as the association planned the Annual Game Supper (1939) as well as an active member tasked with looking into the “fish rearing pond [Princeton] side of the trestle bridge on the Five Mile Road” (1942).

He became a member of the Princeton Fire Brigade in May 1930. In August 1930, the Princeton Star described him as the “key man of No. 1 fire company.” He also participated in Dominion Day fire brigade demonstration in 1932. He became captain of No. 2 company (1932) and deputy chief in 1934. He was still on the fire brigade in 1939 as he was on the advertising committee of the Fire Department’s Annual New Year’s Dance (1939).

George Allen was a Trustee on the School Board in 1934 and 1936 and chairman of the board in 1938. He was still serving on the school board in 1940 as he and A.A. Pease, the fire chief, made their annual fire inspection prior to opening of school. He donated flowers for Grades 1-6 to plant during Paint-up, Clean-up Week in 1940.

He was also a member of the Community Athletic Association in 1941.

In his spare time, he played for the Princeton Baseball team from at least May 1921 through to at least August 1927. He pitched and played third base and was described as “the mainstay of the Princeton team” in October 1922. 

In May 1943, he won the $50 Victory Bond draw.