Wood for Fuel Wood was needed both for heating houses and for wood stoves. The farmers in the Roland area drew their wood supplies from the Pembina Hills. Typically Albert would leave home in Myrtle at 3:00 AM, head for the Hills, chop and load wood and head back home usually by about midnight. Even in the coldest weather he related how he would be outside the whole time (21 hours at a stretch) to provide his family with fuel. In 1900 the Roland News reported: "There were about 30 teams passed through Rosebank on Friday last, going for wood."

Rural Hospitality Prairie winters can be harsh with blizzards and storms. Travellers would sometimes find themselves on the road without shelter in a storm. Albert and Ellen related how they often had people come into their house to stay for the night in such circumstances.