On October 13, 1949, a little girl was born. Then came another, and another. . . and another

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

Oswald and Eileen Hargreaves had a nice family consisting of a girl Sandra, age 6, and a boy, Kimmy, age 4, from a previous marriage. 

They were expecting one, maybe two babies in October 1949, to complete their family. 

According to Mr. Hargreaves, they were hoping for a little girl.

Well, their wish came true in grand fashion.

On October 13, 1949, by 8:10 p.m., a little girl was born. Then another. . . and another. . . and another!

The quadruplets’ birth weight ranged from three pounds to three pounds seven ounces.

Mr. Ossie Hargreaves recounted to the Sault Star, that he came home after a day of work and had called the hospital around 7:30 p.m. to check on his wife. At that point, there was no news. By 8:10, the attending physician Dr. McDonald called to inform him that he had not one but four baby girls.

He was shocked to say the least.

The mayor at the time, W.H.C. Brien, was pleased as he was quoted as saying, “Not every city, in Canada, can boast of such a happening.”

In 1949, Canada had registered only five other quadruplets ever. The chance of quadruplets conceived naturally according to Multiple Births Canada, is one in 512,000 births. 

In an article from the Sault Star, Dr. McDonald stated there had been no major complications during the birth of the babies, and that the quadruplets were showing encouraging signs of survival. The quadruplets were in incubators until they reached five pounds each at which time, they were no longer premature.

In the spring of 1950, the girls were christened at Central United Church by Rev. Elgin G, Turnbull at the annual spring “Birds, Buds and Babies Service”. Jennifer Ann, Janice Barbara, Joyce Carol and Joan Dianne, as the Hargreaves quadruplets were named, were four of 21 babies christened that day. 

Spurred by news of quadruplets being born in the Sault, the Sault Ste. Marie Quadruplet Fund Committee was established and accepted gifts and donations. Gifts included clothing, blankets, and photos for a year, cash donations and land. The City of Sault Ste. Marie bought the Hargreaves a plot of land on Elizabeth Street in order for the quadruplets and their family to have adequate housing. The Sault Building Fund, raised $6,000 so the family could build a home on the donated land. Costs of electrical work, exterior brickwork and interior design services were promised from local businesses wanting to help.

Growing up, the quadruplets had their photo taken often and news of their arrival made it across the continent. On July 9, 1959, at the age of nine, the quadruplets had the honour of meeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their royal visit to the Sault. The Hargreaves quadruplets were still the only all-girl quadruplets born in Canada at the time.

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here