Comments on Mr.William Kay's Story "Tomato Soup" and on Edmonton's Lost Community Heritage.t

Tomato Soup, A story about the St. Louis Cafe on Jasper Avenue in the 1930s, by William Kay

"But may men wandered looking for a decent meal, any meal at times. People with enough pride that they would not beg for a hand out. It is these people that my Mom and Dad told me about. It is the story of Tomato Soup.

In our café, as with most cafes of the period, soda crackers were set out on the counters and tables in the booths along with bottles of Tomato Catsup. The crackers were purchased by the case and the cardboard trays were refilled daily by my mom and dad as required. The Catsup was also purchased in bulk in large tins and the bottles filled as necessary. These items were all placed on the counters with lump sugar in bowls and salt and pepper. All were available to anyone needing them for their meal.

On many occasions men desperate for some sort of sustenance but without funds would wander into the St Louis and ask for a bow of hot water. This was usually provided whereupon the individual would proceed to put a quantity of Catsup in the bowl of hot water and crush some crackers into it making a bowl of Tomato Soup. Mom said this happened on many occasions at the height of the depression and it was difficult to turn anyone away. I never asked but I imagine they were also given a hot cup of coffee to go along with it on a cold winters Day. I say this because, Mom always impressed upon us of the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, while Dad was always willing to help others within his ability to do so.

Today when I sit down to a bowl of piping hot Tomato Soup and Soda crackers I remember the story of Tomato Soup."

Of course, I knew of The Coffee Cup  and the equally infamous (toward the later years of the existence of both restaurants) Red Rose/Phoenix Gardens with the neon ceiling. I knew all about the "cave" under Jasper Avenue. I was also quite familiar with  the "good tea" at the Lychee Garden and New World Restaurants and the Fan Tan games behind the barber, later pawn shop, the Ginseng gardens to the East of the Barber School. I ate many a hamburger in the Neapolitan Restaurant located to the West of that school; but, although I do remember chickens and ducks hanging in some windows that fronted onto Jasper avenue; and though I also recall  there was a narrow vacant lot adjacent to the West side of the Dreamland Theatre, I do not remember the St. Louis Restaurant at all, at least, not at that location. I do remember a St. Louis Restaurant which was located for a short time across the street from the Ritz Hotel. It specialised in borscht and Ukrainian food. Maybe the reason that I do not remember the Jasper Avenue location is because; while I did know the area very well, in 1945, I was only five years old. I also remember the laundries; but, the one I remember best was the lager one located further North. We had an outdoor clothesline back of our home but  the white shirts that seemed to hang forever at the laundries  fascinated me none the less.

The reason that I feel compelled to comment on Mr Kay's story is that it reminds me so very much of  a Red Skelton, "Freddy the Free Loader", sketch by the same name. I have numerous friends living in the Alex Taylor/Old Down-town, Edmonton area that are of Chinese decent and I knew Vick and Stan Mah of the Blue Willow Restaurant very well, I do wish I had at least met Mr. Kay. The loss of that little community, and the fact that it is so little remembered, was a great loss to Edmonton.