Dignan, John Morris “Jack”

John “Jack” Dignan was born on May 13, 1896 in Austin, Minnesota. He married Nettie Houser on September 25, 1909 in Penticton, BC. He died in 1923.

In Penticton, Jack Dignan went into partnership with Dick Weeks, then with F.H. Bassett for a short time in the livery business. He sold out to enlist in the army in WWI – he served overseas with 172nd Rocky Mountain Rangers. His attestation papers for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (February 1, 1916), lists his daughter Viola as next-of-kin. In 1916, he was working as a teamster.

In January 1922, he was in the Princeton hospital suffering from several broken ribs and other injuries sustained while working at the mine. He was caught by one of the coal cars and was crushed against the others.

He also operated the Princess Theatre (Dignan Hall) in Princeton. In August 1922, he circumvented the Sunday Closing laws by showing “A Small Town Idol” as a hospital benefit. The benefit raised $19.00.

At the time of his death, by suicide, he was working at the Princeton Coal Mine and was the owner of the Princess Theatre. The theatre was taken over by Harry Knighton.