Karl Pruuli

Karl Pruuli was born on 21 January 1914 in Mustvee, Kasepaa, Estonia, son of Valdemar Pruuli and Rosalie Mets. Brother to sister Herta born 1910 (died in Sydney Australia 1998) and Tahte, born in 1912 (died 1976 in Tartu Estonia).

In 1916 the family moved to Siberia in Russia, seeking a better future in farming and also in banking. After the Bolshevik Revolution they fled back to Estonia in 1920.

In 1924 Valdemar Pruuli assumed charge of the Bank and Post Office in Vana Kuuste. Karl attended the Treffner High School and continued his studies at Tartu University to be a veterinarian.

From 1930-35, Valdemar Pruuli built a show farm, which was visited by many foreign agricultural specialists, and even the King of Sweden dropped by to see the farm.

In December 1939, Valdemar Pruuli, Karl's father was arrested by the Communists. Karl took some clothes and food to the prison, but the guards laughed and said:"Where he is now he won't need these.", which made Karl assume that they had killed his father. Only years later did Karl find out that his father had been deported to a Siberian labor camp, and was never heard of again.

On the way home, Karl was warned that the Communists were also looking for him, and decided to at least get a few small items from the house, which had been sealed off by the Communists. Somebody had "tipped" the militia off, and they arrived just as he was in his house. Luckily the truck brakes squealed, when they approached, and Karl escaped through the back door but was hit by submachine bullets as he fled.

None of his friends or friends of his father and the pastor of the church, whom Karl's father had generously supported, would help him as they were afraid. He was finally able to hide in the hay loft of a friendly farmer, and took care of his wounds. He cleaned the stables and fed the cattle at night in recompense, when he had recuperated a little.

Karl through his inborn leadership and drive, was a decorated Company Commander of the Estonian National Guard, already at age 30. As the German Army pushed the Russians out of Estonia, Karl was active in trying to bring to justice, Communists, who had tortured, murdered or deported people in his region to slave labor camps.

He had to flee with Hilda to Germany through Latvia, when the Russians again overran Estonia in 1944.

Karl worked at the Serum Institute near Dessau, as a Veterinarian keeping the horses healthy. As the war and fighting came to an end, he moved south to Bavaria to work with Dr. Gotz, in Eltman am Main, near Bamberg.

In 1947 Karl and Hilda moved to England, where they took care of the Boys International School, a boarding school for pupils, from upper class, titled families. They moved back to Germany into a refugee camp, the following year, as they were not eligible for refugee aid in England to emigrate overseas, and in 1949 through help from UNRA (United Nations Relief Agency), they were able to emigrate to Canada.

Their first employer was Russel Graul, at the Luxiana, Vercheres Ranch, a famous race horse breeding farm, where Karl as a Veterinarian looked after the horses. One of the famous racehorses developed a throat ailment and was no longer able to race. The best Veterinarians in Canada were called in, but were unable to cure the animal.

Karl asked the owner what he would pay him if he cured the horse, and was assured if he could, he would receive $2000 and 10% of every purse the horse won thereafter. Karl ordered some antibiotics from Germany, and after injecting large amounts, the racer recovered and went on to win numerous races.

When Karl finally asked about his promised money, he was "generously" given $2000, which together with his and Hilda's savings, provided capital for their future plans. When E. P. Taylor heard that Karl was about to quit, he flew in personally from Toronto to try and recruit Karl for his racehorse farm. However Karl decided to strike out on his own with Hilda.

Their first major purchase was a 1950 Dodge car. Their first property was acquired in 1952, in Dalesville, the former Hall house, which is familiar to all who have visited the Pruuli Farm. Next they bought the old McGibbon sawmill by the lake with all the buildings. They renovated and modified the various buildings to modest summer cottages and even moved some, as you see them today. The horse stable was rebuilt inside and became the dance hall.

The Estonian community finally had a home!

They generously donated land to the Estonian Scouts, and also sold lots for cottages at the lake. Karl and Hilda also established a dairy farm, which grew with the years to 40 head of cattle.

In 1956 their daughter Viive was born and grew up amongst the continuous stream of friends and visitors, vacationing or visiting the farm.

And although Karl had personally experienced, the brevity of friendship, when he himself needed help after he was shot, which would have made any lesser man cynical, he was always generous and helped anyone who needed help.

The Estonian community lost one of it's true Estonians.