Fonds 001 Pioneer Museum Society of Grande Prairie & District fonds: Part 2

Date: 1975-1990 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

Photographs of old buildings and landmarks in the Grande Prairie area: barns, homes, churches, schools, Edson Trail.

Physical description: 412 photographs

Access points:

•      Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

“Cap” Bradley’s home and farm machinery, taken in the fall of 1976. This building was burned by the Forestry Department.

Harry Card home built in 1912 and later owned by Gordon Thompson. Nels Meyers of Glen Leslie dove-tailed the logs when he built the house for J. Linstrom, who sold it to Harry Card.

The Bryenton house.

Bert Tieman farmstead at Buffalo Lakes. Photos include the pumphouse, farm home, barn, and shop.

Walter McFarlane’s house built in 1914.

L. J. Turner’s home built in 1911.

E.H. Manning’s house built in 1915.

Cameron brothers house built in 1925.

Padulskey’s original house built in 1916.

Unidentified and collapsed historical building west of Cutbank Lake.

The original Farnsworth house at LaGlace built about 1915.

Tesar house northwest of Clairmont.

Wales blacksmith shop east of Grande Prairie.

Bert & Miriam Tieman’s farm home, barn and outbuildings near Buffalo Lake.

Frame barn owned by George Best. Property of Orton Biendarra at the time the photo was taken.

Store at Buffalo Lakes owned by Bob and Thelma Smith just before they retired and closed the store.

Dunvegan Mission House in 1984.

Pat Rooney’s barn–this was the stopping place at Bezanson to feed and stable the horses.

Beaverlodge Hospital, on the hill overlooking the townsite.

Buildings belonging to the Wales family, includes Charlie Wales’ dad’s implement shed, and Grandfather Wales house at Glen Leslie.

George Ames’ house at Bezanson.

Rivertop School at South Bad Heart.

Straw bale church built at Bad Heart by Father Dales of Sexsmith.

Charlie Stewart Home near Bezanson.

Kleskun Lake Ranch building.

Harry Card’s original home. They bought Harry Watcher’s house in Grande Prairie and moved it out to the farm. Gordon Thomson bought the property about 1980.

Harry Hoag’s farmhouse and barn in the Bad Heart area. Note the plaster on the west end and south walls.

Teepee Creek United Church kitty corner from the cemetery.

House and outbuildings on the Bill Pinsch farm near Teepee Creek. Note the case tractors, threshing machine and longer than usual wagon box.

Granaries and wagon wheels on Christie’s farm.

View of Heart Valley taken from Bald Hill in 1985, and the log cabin built in the Heart Valley area by Charlie Edey in 1933.

Abandoned log cabin at Struhan’s farm north-east of Bezanson.

Views of Heart Valley and the Charlie Edey home and garden in Heart Valley.

Heart Valley Presbyterian Church built in 1925. Cemetery in the background of the church.

Hollingsworth home at Teepee Creek with stagecoach in the yard.

Pat Reiswig’s Barn (still used by nephew Irving Reiswig in 1985), and Harold Reiswig’s General Store at Peoria, built in 1942 and still operating and selling gas out of the pump in 1985.

Ken Monroe’s home at West Vale and Central Hall, built at the top of the Kakut River and moved to the present site.

Mac Sutherland’s house (originally the Boyd home built about 1920) and Grande Prairie Dry Cleaners moved to Sutherland’s property to be used for grain storage.

School housed moved to the outskirts of Grande Prairie, where it became a home for Baldy Swanson, a local character and town drunk.

Fred Abbott’s home on the Bear Creek and Richmond Avenue. This was the last home in the Bear Creek Valley, cleared out to make way for Muskoseepi Park.

Museum at Wanham, on what used to be called Grizzly Bear Prairie.

Herman Klukas home near Bad Heart. This house was built by his father and mother.

Mountain Trail School on the way to the Air Force Base on Saskatoon Mountain.

Unidentified home, perhaps on the Oatway farm.

Murray Oatway’s barn.

Chledowski farm yard east of Clairmont.

Home on Andy Hudic property, possibly built by Medley Pollick.

Abandoned log home across the road from Carl Peterson’s.

Jim Morken’s neat row of granaries taken on a moody day in August, 1985.

Carl Peterson’s barn, built about 1918. Drying onions in August 1985.

Pearlly Poelick’s house, barn and outbuildings taken in 1985.

Buildings on Jimmy Duncan’s farm in 1985. The cottage roofed building was a pump house.

Jimmy Morken’s chicken house and the old Forrest Falk house on Jimmy Morken’s land in August 1985.

Ewart Ellis land contains barn and sheds built about 1920 and the old Kleskun Lake School House, now being used as a garage.

Barn and outbuildings on the Eric Ismond farm east of Clairmont.

Jimmy Duncan’s barn in August 1985.

Granary built by Forrest Falk in Jimmy Morken’s yard.

Home of Eric Ismond, built in 19??, and “Ismond’s Roadrunners” wind vane.

Langdon home built in 1928.

Portions of the Edson Trail are still visible in 1985, at Walter and Minnie Head’s ranch across the Smoky River. Walter Head, Alice Fortier, Don Patrick and Doug Clarkson exploring the trail, including about where the Ferry Crossing was on the Smoky River in 1908. In the background, the old Bezanson townsite.

Tesar Barn

Early home of (Clarence and Edith?) Field.

Bousfield home.

Osborne home on the banks of the Wapiti.

Unidentified log home and outbuilding southwest of Wembley.

Home of Herman & Amelia Breitkrutz, on NE 7-70-8-W6, in the Wembley area. Now owned by Marvin Stephen.

Lavern Larson’s barn, northwest city limits. Originally (built?) by Schneiders.

Buildings on the Christie farm in the Hermit Lake area: large wooden granary with 6 bins; barn and windmill; barn and lean-to.

Buildings on Ken and Irene Peebles property: Hunter’s home; Signal station moved from Grande Prairie; outbuildings.

House at Rodney Elvestad’s built by Lee Borden.

Building on Scheopp’s farm southwest of Wembley. Collection includes a water pump, house and outhouses which may or may not be on the same farm.

Barn in Fred Thompson’s yard in 1986. Collection includes house, garage and outbuildings which may or may not be in the same yard.

Ed Tofer home, barn and outbuildings. Collection contains photographs of old trucks (still running) which may or may not be in the same farmyard.

Buildings on the Anderson Farm in the Hermit Lake area include Ken Anderson Sr. home, barn and outbuildings.

Buildings on Walter & Minnie Head’s farm northwest of the airport include house, barn, garage, pole shed and outbuildings.

East Kleskun School and teacherage before they were moved to Kleskun Hills Park.

Buildings in the John Pinsch farmyard include an old school (Kleskun Hill?) and an old home.

Jack Lupton house built in 1930.

This caboose made several trips to BC. Note the lightening damage to the tree.

Spring Creek Church and Spring Creek Cemetery sign.

E.D. Brown House.

Buildings on the Gibney farm include a log garage and a frame house.

O.B. Harris Barn.

Buildings on Fred Thompson yard include an old house and a log barn.

Ernie Watt home south of Grande Prairie.

O. B. Harris barn.

Flying Shot Lake Church on the west side of the lake.

The Rintoul home.

Lindsay School.

First building on the Evergreen Park property.

Alfred Richard’s barn built in 1928 by Joe Tissington, and log building on Richard’s property.

Originally this building was Dr. Carlisle’s office on Richmond Avenue, but was a residence when the photograph was taken.

Unidentified buildings include a home with Grace Snow, Soren Selzvold and Doug Clarkson on the front step; two outhouses labeled “necessities of the past” and a log home with cottage roof.

Buildings on the Skarberg property include a two-storey frame house, a log barn and outbuilding, and a plywood-sided garage.

McLevin House is of frame construction with a cottage roof and front porch.

Nordby yard north of Buffalo Lakes contains a large frame barn and outbuildings.

Bill Belfry yard contains granary, log shed, and red frame barn.

Cabin at the Gulick farm in Heart Valley now being used as a chicken house.

Large frame, hall-type shed which was originally the first Catholic Church in the Bezanson area.

Former teacherage at Lindsay School.

Buildings on the Mike Koholyk land include log garage, frame house, log house, building with four diamond shaped window.

Log cabin in the Webster area.

Dave Barr barn.

Buildings in the John Duda yard include a collapsing large frame barn, windmill and outbuildings.

Buildings on the former George Cranston farm include a large red frame barn, a small log building with a cottage roof, and a two-storey brick home. Property belonged to Rowles family when the photographs were taken.

Toman barn.

Bill Harle barn.

Unidentified large frame barns west of Dimsdale.

Herb Blimke barn.

Buildings on the Bien Farmstead north of Buffalo Lakes include a log barn with slab roof, a log garage, and a log home with front gable.

Barn west of Beaverlodge, possibly the Walter Willis place.

Stewart Scott house where Herbert Kimble lives in 1990.

Irvine Steinke log house, previously owned by his uncle, also the workshop, blacksmith shop and harness repair shop on the yard.

Paschetag barn on the lake bottom at Kleskun Hill.

Ken Dixon’s house in 1989.

Old home on Jean Lozeron homestead with a stone cairn which reads, “July 1, 1983. Dedicated to the foresight and spirit of Jean Lozeron who homesteaded and turned the first sod on July 1, 1913. J.P.L.”

Log barn in the yard of the home where Mrs. Pete (Lenore?) Eager grew up.

Outbuildings in yard north of Buffalo Lakes.

Mike Duda’s barn in 1987.

Old house on the Norman farm in 1987.

Herb Blimke barn where Triple L Trailer Court is now.

Bill Donaldson home and barn near Bear Lake in 1987.

Kaut home on the east end of Bear Lake in 1987. This house was originally a church. Carved into the brick beside the front door, “R.B. Kaut Can. Sent. 1867-1967”.

Two unidentified hip-roofed barns in excellent shape. Each has a symbol carved in to the side. So similar in outlook that they could have been made by the same builder.

George Balmer house in 1987.

Unidentified home north of Buffalo Lakes. Could be the same yard as photo labeled 2001.03.213–same description and hand-writing on back.

House and outbuildings on the farm of Alf Gilbey west of Clairmont.

House, barn and outbuildings on the farm of the Andreuik family. Photograph describes it as “five miles west of Clairmont”, but could also be the farm north-east of Bear Lake. Barn also seen in 2001.03.222.

Westvale School in the Heart Valley area, Birch Hills County.

First school in the Lake Saskatoon area, often called the Cutbank Lake School as it was in between the two lakes.

Heart Valley School built in 1942.

Two unidentified granaries built in two separate and unique styles–one “duplex” style and one “mini-elevator”.

Barn on the Wilson farm in 1988, decorated with cartoon drawings of horse and cowboy. It was previously owned by Bill Godfrey family.

Mike Kohalyk house in the Crystal Creek area built in the 1920s.

IODE second-hand clothing store on 99th Avenue in Grande Prairie.

Old Alberta Provincial Police building, now a residence, on north side of 99th Avenue between 98th and 97th Streets.

Outbuildings in the Podolsky farm yard in 1986.

Jenny McNally’s house in 1986.

Log granary on Doug Clarkson’s farm in 1987.

Low frame ban on Bill Harle’s farm at Five Mile.

Two homes on the Cliff Huber farm in the Hermit Lake area, one a sturdy log home, the other a home which was located where the Co-op parking lot now is and moved to Cliff Huber’s farm.

Douglas Clarkson home in 1987.

Abandoned log and shingled house which was the Jim Storm family home.

Log home with hugely overhanging roof and log buttresses which was the Anson Wagar home.

Two-storey log house which was the home of the Ellis Turner family at DeBolt.

One and a half storey log home belonging to Soren Selsvold south of Crooked Creek.

Lake Saskatoon Consolidated School converted into a residence on the northwest shore of Lake Saskatoon.

Lake Saskatoon Legion Hall converted into a garage and shop on Secondary Highway 724 between Wembley and LaGlace.

This barn west of DeBolt was built by Mr. Heeble, possibly in the late 1920s.

Red-shingled barn on the edge of a small lake in the Lake Saskatoon area.

Hip-roofed log barn along the roadside on Richmond Hill.

Buildings on the Bill Rottacher farm at Peoria include a barn with a bell shaped roof built about 1933; the first Seventh Day Adventist Church built in 1930 and moved to the farm to be used for a machine shed after the new church was built; double car garage; and various sheds and outbuildings.

Buildings on the Ewart Ellis farm include a log and frame hip-roofed barn built in 1918, an elaborate machine shed built by Mr. Ellis in the 1920s, and a log garage which was once the Kleskun Lake School.

Buildings on the Charlie Harris farm include a cottage-roofed square bungalow; a hip-roofed log barn; and a frame building labeled the “Charlie Harris Cleaning Plant”.

Log outbuildings on the Jim Duncan farm ca. 1985.

Barn on the Des Stark farm built by Ott Patterson in 1916.

Home with a pentagonal entrance is now a residence on 96th Avenue between 100 and 108 Street. It was once a Dentist’s office on Clairmont Road and Richmond Avenue. Note the extra windows for good lighting.

Building which was once Miller’s Taxi Stand on Richmond Avenue now at Tony Doll’s farm.

R. Ladwig log house built ion 1928 now used as a hog barn.

Carl Peterson’s log barn, built in 1919, with onions drying on the south side.

Two buildings on the John Pinsch farm at Kleskun Hill are the former Webster (formerly Twilight) School, and an L-shaped bungalow moved in from Grande Prairie.

Mr. Eckstein’s barn built about 1930. It was torn down in 1991.

Unidentified log barn with hip roof in the Kleskun Hill area.

Abandoned two-storey frame house which was once the home of the Lowe family at Scenic Heights.

McNalley house at 9316-104 Avenue was once the Lumburn Store.

Exterior finish commonly known as “Russian Plaster” on a square log home in the George Struhan yard and on an unidentified round log home. Plaster adhered to wood strips on the square log home much better.

House (built about 1945) and shop on the farm of Richard and Nellie Wegh just north of Cadotte Hill on the Wanham Road. Shop was moved to the farm and has decorative shingling on the gable end which may identify it as a community building.

Buildings on the Reiswig farms at Peoria include a 1940s bungalow built by Peter Reiswig and a shed built by Fred Reiswig in the 1930s.

Buildings on the Wagar farm include a uniquely-styled log home belonging to Anson Wagar and a frame house and barn built about 1928.

Joe Boyd house.

“Big Face” Johnson’s house.

Outbuildings in the Lowe family farmyard at Scenic Heights.

Hip-roofed log barn built by Charlie Raisin in the 1920s. Bert Delaney owns it now.

Jack Penny’s home built by Bensons in 1915. It was moved twice and believed stolen once!

Lloyd & Katherine Olley’s log cabin on the old farm–a winding trail through the hay meadow leads to the cabin.

House and barn on Alex Monkman’s farm on the south shore of Cutbank Lake. A note on the photo says the house has been moved three times.

Abandoned two-storey frame house which was once the home of the Seth Sutherland family.

Herman & Amelia Breitkreutz house built in 1947 of vertical logs and stucco on the NE 7-70-8-W6.

Buildings on Ken & Irene Peebles’ farm include a large hip-roof frame barn; a house built by Mr. Hunter, manager of the Royal Bank in Grande Prairie; and a building which was originally a signal station on Richmond Avenue and 116 Street.

Barn north of Valhalla Centre.

Gambrel-roofed barn and Lee Borden home on the farmstead of Linda & Rodney Elvestad.

Vintage vehicles on the farm of Ken Anderson include a grain truck stamped Alberta Wheat Pool, Calgary; and two pick-ups from the 1940s which were still running in 1986. There is also a photograph of a unique pole fence.

Walter Head barn north of the airport.

Hip-roofed barn (possibly Larson’s) northwest of Grande Prairie.

Log garage in Fred Thompson’s yard.

Bousfield log house with cottage roof and gable, located west of Grande Prairie.

Gambrel-roofed barn and sheds on Ed Tofer’s farm in 1985.

Abandoned home and granary on the Forrest Falk farm in 1986.

Small home and outbuildings in the Chledowski farmyard.

Abandoned buildings on Perly and Medley Pollack farm include a small frame house, a log house, a gambrel-roofed log barn and a garage with large double doors.

Buildings on the Oatway farm include the original cottage-roofed house converted to a garage; a large gambrel-roofed barn built in 1926; the new two-storey frame house on a full basement built in 1926; and the hog barn built in 1926.

Large frame house with a double dormer in front which was built for the Walter Roberts family. It is now on the Olderskog farm east of Grande Prairie.

Jock McDonald house built east of Grande Prairie in 1922.

House on Kleskun Hill.

Log barn with hay on the roof for insulation in the DeBolt area.

Buildings on the Shofner farm at Northmark include granaries, gambrel-roofed log barn, log sheds and double doored garage, frame barn, miscellaneous outbuildings, and a squared-log home. The farm was established by the Rodolski family.

Buildings on the Mike Duda farm include the old “honeymoon” cabin which was made of logs split by a whip saw; a three-bay frame machine shed; double-car log garage; and a gambrel-roofed log barn.

Buildings on the Anson Norman farm include the original log homestead house; an old log shed converted to a modern machine shed; a single car garage; and a gambrel-roofed frame barn.

Buildings on the Herbert Kimble farm at Crystal Creek include the well house with the hand pump in front; a gambrel-roofed log barn; and a garage built by Stewart Scott.

Floen Farm buildings still standing on the Anson Norman property in 1986.

Barn west of Sexsmith identified as the Welter Barn.

Log house built by Johnny Fester in 1928.

Buildings on the Hessler farm at Northmark include a log garage; large collection of wooden granaries; a frame machine shed; a small frame house which looks like a teacherage; a large, log outbuilding; and a one and a half storey house (frame or sided) with a greenhouse on the side.

Raymond Cooke’ house and barn situated on Richmond Road (Highway 43) on the way to the airport. The Cookes were early pioneers, coming in over the Edson Trail.

Buildings on the William Caldwell farm include a granary, a gambrel-roofed barn described as a two-storey chicken house, and a two-storey home with attached garage and a wrap-around porch. Mr. Caldwell came to Grande Prairie about 1910.

Moody’s house and outbuildings, built about 1918, on the flat overlooking the Smoky River east of Bezanson.

Trapper’s cabin on the trail between Valhalla (Spring Lake) and Gordondale.

Ewen Fisher homestead shack south of Crooked Creek. It was built about 1933.

Buildings on the Jack Dirom farm west of Clairmont include a two-storey frame house with front dormer and porch; a gambrel-roofed barn with wings; and a three-bay frame machine shed. Mr. Dirom came into the Clairmont area in 1928.

Buildings on the Bulhofner farm at Northmark include a 1 1/2 storey frame house; granaries and gambrel-roofed log barn on the edge of a coulee; and various log outbuildings.

Buildings at Northmark include the Northmark Community Hall and a small cabin which looks like a teacherage.

William Godfrey farm has a two-storey frame house with dormers and two porches, and several frame sheds. Farm had been purchased by the Wilson family when these photos were taken.

Buildings on the William Donaldson farm include a two-storey house with asphalt siding; a gambrel-roofed barn and several outbuildings including an outhouse.

Buildings on the Alf Gilbey farm include a small abandoned frame house with porch, a hand-pump that was still pumping water, and several outbuildings.

Buildings on the farm of George Balmer west of Clairmont include a small frame house with a cottage roof, a gambrel-roofed barn with side wings which was still being used, and the usual “necessary small building” in the yard.

Farm established by Curly Pittman includes a gambrel-roofed barn (built in 1929) and windmill, a two-storey frame house with porch and side addition built in 1929, and a well-built biffy in the yard. The farm, located 5 miles west of Mercer Hill, was later purchased by H. Andreuik.

Moody house on the banks of the Smoky River east of Bezanson was built in 198 and the victim of three floods in 1935, 1972 and 1982.

Charles Turner home on the west bank of Bear Creek.

Flavius Brooks homestead house built in 1916 on the Pipestone Creek road, on the NW 29-70-8-W6.

Jack Hunter’s house and barn east of the Catholic Church on Highway 34.

Patterson’s farm south on 100th Street in Grande Prairie when it was still an active farm with a house, barn, horses and cattle. This later became Patterson Place sub-division.

Date: 1997 (collection) (date of creation)

Date: ca. 1930-1950 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

Early logging photographs that were collected and used for the Museum’s 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display.

Physical description: 554 photographs

Access points:

•      Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Early logging photographs from the Mencke family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Yates family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Rodacker family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Steeves family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Nilsson family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Hrychiw family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection. Second photograph is of George Steven’s sawmill in 1950-1951.

Early logging photographs from the Hrychiw family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Card family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection. Photo No. 10 is of the Buffalo Lakes Sawmill in 1915.

Early logging photographs from the Oilund family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Haugseth family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Schenk family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Pisanello family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Stark family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Cooke family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection. Photos 7-11 are of the Edmund Cooke Sawmill at Kakut Lake, 1941.

Early logging photographs from the Bickell family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Grotkowski family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Cissell family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection. Photo No. 11 is of the Canfor Mill at Grande Prairie in 1945; no. 22 is of George Cissell camp at Buck Lake c. 1940; no. 37 is of scow for pulling log boom on Buck Lake, 1939.

Early logging photographs from the Leggatt family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Moore family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Lowe family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photograph from the Yates family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Early logging photographs from the Bauman family for the 1997 “Forestry Capital of Canada” display and collection.

Note:

We have 2 copies of these photographs – one set are clear, modern copies and the other appear to be the originals. They have the same item numbers.

Dave Bauman & Jim McLachlan standing on a pile of logs in the winter.

Winter road curving in the foreground with large pile of logs in the background.

Tree felled and sawn into lengths near the Bauman family saw mill.

Tree has been de-limbed, and top of tree is being cut off before the log is taken.

Two men are using a cross-cut saw to fell a very large tree.

Two men pose with saws and axes before a very large tree.

Loaded logging truck is crossing a log bridge, with river bank in the background.

Large, snow covered pile of logs waiting for the mill.

Temporary “road” of logs and lumber used by a truck in the forest. It is stopped beside a pile of logs.

Date: 1970-2005 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

NEEDS ONE

Physical description: 2454 photographs

Access points:

•      Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

This file consists of photographs of the activities of the Grande Prairie Museum Board of Directors. Subjects include individual and group photographs of the Board of Directors, fund-raising activities, the Grand Opening of the first museum in 1970, recipients of the Isabel Campbell award, and photographs of society members at various events.

24 individual and group photographs of the Grande Prairie Museum Board of Directors from approximately 1995-2003.

28 photographs showing fund-raising activities between 1997 and 2002, including the PT Cruiser fund-raiser the first year that car was produced; car crazy auctions; dinners in the Tempest House; quilt raffles; college business student fund-raisers; and other activities.

5 photographs of the Grande Opening in 1970 showing Premier Harry Strom, MLA Winston Backus, museum president Mel Rodacker and museum volunteer Ida Rowe.

16 photographs of the recipients of the Isabel Campbell award between 2001 and 2003. This collection includes general photographs of the annual general meetings at which the awards were presented and there are photographs of other award recipients in the Administration–Volunteers photographs.

5 photographs of the AGM meeting room in 2002. Photographs of the membership at the AGMs are also included in the Isabel Campbell Award photographs and in the Museum Volunteers photographs.

This file consists of photographs of the physical building and expansion projects, the 2005 Capital project and fundraising, the building of the Heritage Discovery Centre, the Museum Expansion, wedding in the Heritage Village, staff at the museum, volunteers in general with specific files for Isabel Campbell, Bert & Miriam Tieman, Doug Clarkson, Frank Stoll, and Alec Masse.

24 photographs showing the Administrative offices at the Grande Prairie Museum over the years.

95 photographs showing the various buildings and growth of the Grande Prairie Museum over the years.

Photographs of the capital project to fundraise for the Heritage Discovery Centre in Centre 2000 and the expansion to the original museum building in Muskoseepi Park. Photographs show various cheque presentations and special events.

Photographs of the Heritage Discovery Centre at Grande Prairie’s Centre 2000. The photographs show planning stages, construction, displays, and the grand opening.

Image shows a tipi set up inside the Heritage Discovery Centre. The back of the photo is captioned “Centre 2000 opening 2002”.

Image shows a museum exhibit which has a panel called “the Thunder Medicine Pipe”. The caption on the back of the photograph says “Peter’s trip to Drumheller and the Glenbow and Provincial Museums.”

Image shows an acknowledgement panel explaining why Syncrude chose to sponsored the gallery “out of respect for Aboriginal people…Syncrude hopes this gallery will help other Canadians learn about Aboriginal culture.” The caption on the back of the photograph says “Peter’s trip to Drumheller and the Glenbow and Provincial Museums.”

Image shows the part of the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Heritage Discovery Centre which took place in front of the tipi display.

Image shows an exhibit at the Heritage Discovery Centre. The title is taken from the caption on the back of the photograph.

Image shows furs, a pipe, and a drum in an exhibit at Heritage Discovery Centre. The title is taken from the caption on the back of the photograph.

Image shows two unidentified women posing with Peter, the curator of Heritage Discovery Centre.

Photographs of the expansion to the main museum building in Muskoseepi Park, undertaken in the early 2000s. The photographs show construction, displays, and the grand opening.

Photographs of museum staff engaged in various activities and at events.

Photographs of museum volunteers at events and working at the museum.

Photographs of museum volunteer Isabel Campbell at her home (presumably), receiving an award from the Historical Society of Alberta, and signing copies of “Challenge of the Homestead”, a compilation of her parents’ letters.

Photographs relating to museum volunteer Bert Tieman. The photographs show relatives of the Tiemans visiting from Holland in the museum’s heritage village and Bert and Miriam Tieman’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

Photographs of museum volunteer Doug Clarkson. The photographs show Doug receiving awards and working at the museum.

Photographs of museum volunteer Frank Stoll. The photographs show Frank working on equipment, receiving an award, Frank and Irene’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and Frank’s curator emeritus party.

Photographs of museum volunteer and board president Alec Masse. The photographs show Alec in costume and at his farewell party.

Photographs of various weddings held at the McQueen Presbyterian Church in the Grande Prairie Museum heritage village.

This file consists of photographs of artifacts inside and outside the museum, the Heritage Village and gardens over the years and throughout the seasons; individual heritage village buildings from their original locations through restoration or construction and final site in the Heritage Village (includes blacksmith shop, Campbell Cabin, Firehall, Forestry Cabin, Hermit Lake School, McQueen Presbyterian Church, Pipestone Creek Store, Tempest House, the Windmills and the Collections Equipment Storage); permanent displays from the first museum to the 2005 renewal; temporary displays (Pioneer family of the Month, Quilts Galore, Dolls and Teddy Bears).

Photographs of various artefacts in the Grande Prairie Museum, those housed inside.

Photographs of various artefacts in the Grande Prairie Museum, those housed outside.

Overall views of the heritage village at the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the blacksmith shop in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the Campbell Cabin in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the replica firehall in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the forestry (Big Mountain) cabin in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the Hermit Lake School in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of McQueen Presbyterian Church in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of Pipestone Creek Store in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the Tempest House in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the Wendt Barn in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the windmill at the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of the Hudson’s Bay outpost in the heritage village of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of permanent displays at the Grande Prairie Museum.

Image shows close up of a museum display of projectile points and other flint knapped tools. The display board also contains a photograph of a tipi. The back of the image is captioned “Arrowhead Collection For Milt Wright.”

Image shows a museum display of projectile points, flint knapped tools, and ground stone tools. The display board also contains two photographs of a tipis. The back of the image is captioned “Arrowhead Collection For Milt Wright.”

Image shows a museum display of projectile points, stone knives, scrappers, and axes.

Image shows a museum display featuring a small tipi model and various taxidermy including an albino moose.

Photographs of temporary displays in the Rodacker Gallery of the Grande Prairie Museum.

Photographs of temporary displays by the Grande Prairie Museum at various locations.

Image shows a temporary displays by the Grande Prairie Museum at Grande Cache. One item featured is a tipi.

Photographs of the “Quilts Galore” display.

Photographs of the “Dolls, Dolls & Teddy Bears” displays.

Image shows an Indigenous woman in regalia, holding a talking stick, standing in front of a projection screen. She is speaking at the 1998 Heritage Fair.

Image shows Indigenous dancers preparing for a performance. The back of the photograph is captioned “First Nations prepare for display entertainment – Canada Winter Games”

Image shows a temporary museum display of Métis regalia, including Métis sashes. Above the display is the Métis flag. A sign for the Métis Nation of Alberta Local 1990 Grande Prairie organization is on the right.

Image shows a Grande Prairie Museum display of Indigenous artifact and regalia including two large headdresses. The Métis flag is visible in the top left. The back of the photograph is captioned “Native Display”.

Image shows an Indigenous display at the Grande Prairie Museum featuring leather clothing with beadwork, projectile points, and framed photographs of tipis. The back of the photograph is captioned “Native Display”.

Image shows a display case at the Grande Prairie Museum featuring Indigenous beaded moccasins, and Indigenous dolls. The back of the photograph is captioned “Native Display”.

Image shows a display case at the Grande Prairie Museum featuring Indigenous artifacts. The back of the photograph is captioned “Native Display”.

Image shows a display case at the Grande Prairie Museum featuring Indigenous artifacts including beaded moccasins, leather bag, and gloves. The back of the photograph is captioned “Native Art Display 1999”.

Image shows a taxidermy eagle with its wings outstretched. This was part of a Spirit of the Peace Museums Network travelling exhibition. The exhibition was called Focus 1899 and it was a celebration of the signing of Treaty 8, 100 years previous. The caption on the back of the photographs says “Native Art 1999 Treaty #8 – 1899.”

Image shows an animal skull on a pedestal. This exhibit was part of a Spirit of the Peace Museums Network travelling exhibition. The exhibition was called Focus 1899 and it was a celebration of the signing of Treaty 8, 100 years previous. The caption on the back of the photographs says “Native Display 1999.”

23 photographs relating to the Clarkson, Carveth and McDonald families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in May 1992.

16 photographs relating to the Leslie family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in June 1992.

10 photographs relating to the Patrick family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1992.

19 photographs relating to the Sherk family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1992.

10 photographs relating to the Oliver family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1992.

10 photographs relating to the Monkman family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in October 1992.

11 photographs relating to the Watt family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in November 1992.

14 photographs relating to the Spry family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in May 1993.

20 photographs relating to the Sheehan family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in June 1993.

27 photographs relating to the Patterson, Oatway and Pratt families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1993.

17 photographs relating to the McFarlane family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1993.

14 photographs of the Stoll and Clubine families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1993.

12 photographs relating to the Pool family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in May 1994.

11 photographs relating to the Somerville family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in June 1994.

13 photographs relating to the Lozeron family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1994.

11 photographs relating to the Crerar family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1994.

8 photographs relating to the McRae family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1994.

11 photographs relating to the Boyd and Cooke families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in May 1995.

8 photographs relating to the Tissington family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in June 1995.

6 photographs relating to the Rodacker family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1995.

14 photographs relating to the Balisky family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1995.

12 photographs relating to the Macklin family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in May 1996.

10 photographs relating to the Throness family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in June 1996.

8 photographs relating to the McNaught family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1996.

9 photographs relating to the Tomshak family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1996.

4 photographs relating to the Moon family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1996.

12 photographs relating to the Rycroft family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1997.

18 photographs relating to the Ward family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1997.

12 photographs relating to the Uri Powell family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1997.

14 photographs relating to the Biendarra family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1998.

12 photographs relating to the Ireland and Funnell families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1998.

16 photographs relating to the Heller family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1998.

12 photographs relating to the Anderson and Norman families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in July 1999.

15 photographs relating to the Wales family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in August 1999.

8 photographs relating to the Johnston family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in September 1999.

9 photographs relating to the Cameron family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in Summer 2000.

6 photographs relating to the Gudlaugson family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in summer 2000.

11 photographs relating to the Wilson and Lowe families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in Summer 2000.

9 photographs relating to the Binks family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in Summer 2001.

9 photographs relating to the Tofer Knechtel families celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in Sumer 2001.

5 photographs relating to the Kerr family celebrated with a Pioneer Family of the Month Display and opening tea in Summer 2001.

This file consists of photographs related to programming at the Grande Prairie Museum: school programs, special events such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Aboriginal Day, Living Village, Dominion Day, Heritage Day, Harvest Festival, Lantern Tours, Fiddlers’ Jamboree, Heritage Fair, Museum Recognition Day, and parades. There are also one-time events such as Elderhostel and Fashion Shows.

50 photographs of museum staff carrying out school programs such as dinosaur program, washing clothes, log cabin building, fur and feathers, and group activities.

Image shows a group of unidentified children including several Indigenous children posing together outside the Grande Prairie Museum. They were taking part in the museum’s school programming.

Image shows a group of unidentified children and two adults posing together in front of a small tipi in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. This activity was part of the museum’s school programming.

Image shows a group of unidentified children playing in the grass in front of a tipi. They were taking part in the “Pioneer Playtime” summer camp. Title is taken from the caption on the back of the photograph.

Image shows a group of unidentified children sitting in and around a small tipi in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. Sylvia Ranson is identified in the photograph. The caption written on the back of the image says “Native Know-How Program (July 2001) Muskoseepi Park Day camp.”

52 photographs of general special events at the Grande Prairie Museum and programming staff at events away from the museum.

76 photographs of Grande Prairie Museum parade floats in the County Fair Parades, Santa Claus Parades.

56 photographs of the annual Fiddlers’ Jamboree organized by the Grande Prairie Museum. The event began in the community room at the museum and outgrew increasingly larger facilities until they began to hold it in the Grande Prairie Regional College Theatre about 2000.

77 photographs of the annual Heritage Fair organized by the Grande Prairie Museum for schools and school children in the Peace Country.

Image shows an Indigenous woman wearing regalia and holding a talking stick addressing a crowd of students at a heritage fair. She is in shadow.

Image shows an Indigenous person standing in front of their Heritage Fair display titled “Natives of Alberta”.

Image shows a student Heritage Fair display titled “The Women of the Fur Trade.” The display includes dreamcatchers and a pair of beaded gloves.

Image shows a group of students posing in front of their Heritage Fair display titled “Metis Heritage.”

Image shows a group of students with their faces painted grouped together in front of their Heritage Fair Display titled “Remembering Yesterday Dancing Today.” One person is wearing Indigenous dance regalia.

Image shows several Indigenous dancers in the hallway at the Heritage Fair.

Image shows two students standing in front of their Heritage Fair display titled “The Canadian Fur Trade”. One student is wearing a coonskin cap, and the other is wearing a black wig with a feather and is wrapped in a blanket.

Image shows Pey Wapun Dancers in full regalia in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. They were taking part in Aboriginal Day events at the museum.

Image shows Pey Wapun Dancers performing in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. They were taking part in Aboriginal Day events at the museum.

Image shows Pey Wapun Dancers performing in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. They were taking part in Aboriginal Day events at the museum.

Image shows John St. Arnault of the Pey Wapun Dancers in regalia. The Pey Wapun Dancers were taking part in Aboriginal Day events at the Grande Prairie Museum.

Image shows Curtis Papastasis of the Pey Wapun Dancers in regalia. The Pey Wapun Dancers were taking part in Aboriginal Day events at the Grande Prairie Museum.

78 photographs showing costumed interpreters in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie Museum. Living Village was usually held on Mother’s Day in May and acted as the Opening Day for the year, but events throughout the summer became “living village” events as well.

Image shows an instructor and children assembling a tipi in the Grande Prairie Museum’s Heritage Village as part of the Living Village special event.

7 photographs of Father’s Day events include dancing in the community room, the antique car display and the crazy car auction.

16 photographs of Museum Recognition Day, which the Grande Prairie Museum held for a few years to promote the importance of museums and their volunteers. Photographs show museum volunteers working a variety of capacities in the Heritage Village.

33 photographs of Grande Prairie Museum activities on Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day. Activities include children’s games and programs in the park, drama in the park, costumed interpreters and the living village. The “parade” photographs in the Special Events series also relate to this category.

Image shows Sylvia Ranson (Program Co-coordinator) directing children in how to set up a tipi. This activity was part of the “Native Know-How” program during the Muskoseepi Park decamp.

43 photographs of Heritage Day activities at the Grande Prairie Museum on the long weekend in August. Activities are mostly of the “living village” variety.

Image shows two actors performing outside of the Grande Prairie Museum as part of Heritage Day special events. There is a Hudson’s Bay Company set piece. One of the actors is dressed as an Indigenous woman.

Image shows two actors standing in front of a tipi and a Northwest Company set piece. One of the actors is dressed as an Indigenous woman. They are performing outside of the Grande Prairie Museum as part of Heritage Day special events.

76 photographs relating to Harvest Festival activities at the Grande Prairie Museum each September. Activities include rope-making, threshing, singing, church services, and farmers markets, culminating in the Harvest Supper in the evening.

36 photographs of fashion shows put on by the Grande Prairie Museum from 1989-1992, using donated artifacts from the Collections Department as well as borrowed costumes. Mary Feldburg was the M.C. of the 1992 show, and the script which accompanied that fashion show is included in the Programming Series of the fonds.

7 photographs of the year 2000 Lantern Tours program. This program was a collaboration between the Grande Prairie Museum and the Grande Prairie Regional College in which first year drama students researched, wrote and performed 10 minute skits in the Heritage Village buildings. The program originated about 1998 continued for many years.

19 photographs relating to an Elderhostel Program supported by the Pioneer Museum Society’s Board of Directors. The program included tours, lessons in hot air ballooning and watercolour painting, and entertainment at Minnie & Walter Head’s cabin on the Wapiti.

This file consists of photographs of the stakeholders’ meetings in 1999, publicity for the Archival Records Survey, construction at the museum to provide a space for the Archives office, moving artifacts to provide room for archival storage, and people instrumental in starting the archives.

This file consists of photographs of projects and meetings with the Spirit of the Peace Museums Network and other museums in the BC and Alberta Peace Country. Spirit of the Peace projects the museum participated in include: the 1995 Regional project, the 1996 Highway Signs project, the 1997 Spirit of the Peace video; and 1999 Treaty 8 Display.

Image shows a production member kneeling beside actor Dale Dryer who is seated near a fire. Dryer played the role of a Beaver Elder in the Spirit of the Peace film. The title is taken from the back of the photograph.

Image shows a film production member standing beside actor Dale Dryer who is seated near a fire. Dryer played the role of a Beaver Elder in the Spirit of the Peace film. The title is taken from the back of the photograph.

Image shows actor Dale Dryer seated near a fire during filming. Dryer played the role of a Beaver Elder in the Spirit of the Peace film. The title is taken from the back of the photograph.

Image shows film production crew and actor Dale Dryer seated near a fire during filming. Two pf the production crew are looking at a monitor. Dryer played the role of a Beaver Elder in the Spirit of the Peace film. The title is taken from the back of the photograph.

3 photographs of an Alberta Museums Association meeting at the Grande Prairie Museum in 1985. Grande Prairie Museum was a founding member of the Alberta Museums Association.

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of guest books signed by visitors to the museum and museum events.

Physical description: 16 cm of textual records

Note:

One box (1/2/4/1) appears to be missing in the Vault.

Access points:

•      Textual record (documentary form)

Date: 1977-2007 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

This subseries contains 14 scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings and other loose newspaper clippings. The contents of the clippings are about the museum itself and its various events. Some of the clippings are about the South Peace Regional Archives. There is one file of newspaper clippings that contains the “Pioneer Family of the Month” column from the Daily Herald Tribune from 1992-2000.

Physical description: 16 cm of textual records

Access points:

•      Textual record (documentary form)

Date: 1965 – 2001 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of tapes of programs and/or events at the Grande Prairie Museum (including Edson Trail program, Christmas program, Harvest Festival Church Service, and Fiddlers’ Jamboree), oral history interviews of long-time residents of the south Peace River area, and recordings by Gordon Watt regarding the history of the railroad in northern Alberta.

Physical description: 190 sound recordings

Access points:

•      Sound recording (documentary form)

Date: 1965, 1985-1992 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of oral history interviews of long-time residents of the South Peace River area.

Physical description: 122 sound recordings

Access points:

•      Sound recording (documentary form)

Item is a recording of Lulu Sherk being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies. Lulu Sherk was a young child when her parents came to the Peace Country in 1909. They were part of the Bull Outfit, and came by Ox Cart over the Long Trail to Beaverlodge. Lulu married Charlie Edgerton in 1916, had one son and three daughters, and farmed near Beaverlodge. Charlie was killed in a car accident in 1941, and in 1958 Lulu married Hugh Allen, who had been an MLA in the United Farmers of Alberta government during the 1930s. Hugh passed away in 1972. Stories include the family’s trip to the Grande Prairie area, building a house using the technique of Russian Plaster, and activities of her children while growing up on the farm. Besides these topics of transportation, agriculture, immigration and homesteading and family and personal life, Lulu also talks about the environment and nature, sports and recreation and health services

Item is a recording of Fred Anderson being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies. Fred Anderson was born ca. 1900 and came to the Peace Country over the Long Trail from Minneapolis c. 1911 with his parents Mr. & Mrs. Swan Anderson. The Andersons operated a Stopping Place on the hill just north of Sexsmith for many years. Fred broke 90 acres the summer he was 13, and filed on his own homestead as soon as he could. At this time he rode bucking steers for entertainment. In 1926 he Irene Penn from the Bear Lake area. The stories include coming over the Long Trail with caboose and oxen, hunting for food on the trail, bringing in the first piano, operating the Stopping Place, riding bucking horses, and traveling with the local hockey teams during the winter. Besides these topics of transportation and immigration and homesteading, he also talks about his education at the Spirit River (Rycroft) School.

Item is an interview of George Apps by Margaret Heath. George Apps was born November 19, 1902 in England. At 24 he joined the Merchant Seamen, a career which took him to Australia, then to Canada. He tried farm work in Ontario, surveying in BC, and gold mining before becoming a trapper. He learned to live with and utilize nature on his trapline from Sturgeon Heights south to the Simonette, a distance of 45 miles. George trapped alone, accompanied by his three faithful huskies. His protection was a 22, long-shot rifle. He was conscientious about the care of his trap-line, from the time he began his winter trek till he stopped for the summer break. He took extreme care in preparing the trapline for the long season, bringing in necessary supplies and making sure his cabins were maintained and repaired. There were many times, however, when he nursed himself through a flu with his only shelter the spruce trees. George’s friends were the Thomas boys, Bob Williamson, Gorden Bodeker, Kenny Burr, Billy Harrington, Jimmie Calliou and Wilfred Goodswimmer. He made one visit back to England, and when he could no longer care for the trapline, sold it to Wilfred Goodswimmer. In retirement he often took Bobby Bassarab “trapping” on Williamson’s beaver dam. George passed away in Grande Prairie on January 7, 1993 at the age of 90. At his request his ashes were scattered on his trapline along the Simonette River.

Item is a recording of Elizabeth Balderston (née Morgan) and Bert Balderston being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies. Elizabeth Morgan’s family immigrated to Canada from Wales. She was born on the farm south-east of Sexsmith in 1914, and this is where she grew up. She married Bert Balderston, who was born in England in 1901, and came to Regina, Canada in 1909. The young couple bought land in the Sexsmith area in 1929 and farmed during the Depression. Bert, and later his grandchildren, were successful curlers. Stories in this oral history include traveling over the Edson Trail, going to Morningview and Sexsmith Schools, box socials, Johnson’s Post Office and Mail delivery, the Depression, Dairy Farming, curling, climate and farming, and progress in agriculture.

Item is an interview of Emily Berger by Margaret Heath. Emily Berger came to the Fairview area in 1928 with her husband Murdock Berger. In 1931 they moved to Sturgeon Lake where they ran the café for Mr. Clough for a year. Tom Kerr had a store and a post office there as well. The first white woman Emily met was Grandma Williamson at Sturgeon Lake. Because it was during the Depression, Murdock had to cash in a $200 life insurance policy for the family to live on, and look for work helping with harvest crews. They bought a homestead for $10 near Valleyview and lived there with no electricity, no running water, no school. When war started in 1939, Murdock joined the army. Emily received an army pension of $79. per month–they had never had it so good! Emily and Murdock had two boys, Wilf and Howard. Topics covered in this oral history include education (the boys went to school at the Sturgeon Lake Mission, then at Glen Leslie when the family lived in Bezanson) immigration and homesteading, poverty during the depression (being supplied with clothing by the Anglican Sunday School Van ladies, and traveling to town in the mail truck.

Item is a recording of an interview of Oscar Blais by Margaret Heath. Oscar Blais came to Grande Prairie as a child with his mother, father and seven siblings. His family started a dry cleaning business on 102 Street and Richmond Ave. about 1940. The business was on the main floor while family living quarters were upstairs. Grande Prairie had few facilities then: no running water (which was hauled by wagon for all purposes), no electricity, no phones, and no pavement or sidewalks. Development and progress came mostly from the efforts of volunteers. There was no shortage of work for the young people who chopped and piled wood, and helped with family chores. They utilized what recreational facilities there were, all of them outdoors. Hockey became Oscar’s passion, and he also played ball. When the seven Blais children started St. Joseph’s Catholic School, they pushed the school population to the 100 mark. American military personnel added to Grande Prairie’s population as they established an air base at the airport during World War II and continued to Dawson Creek with the construction of the Alaska Highway. They increased the size of the airport, which needed to handle both American and Russian planes. The construction of the D Coy Armouries as a training centre also became a center for dances. Drama was another popular activity for the young. Local groups performed in Grande Prairie as well as surrounding communities such as Sexsmith, Bezanson and Dimsdale. Travel was by horse and buggy until the late 1940s. There was an age limit for alcohol and playing pool. This was enforced by two constables, Russel Burgess and Rex Harper, until the RCMP began patrol. Crime was not a problem; rarely did anyone lock their doors. Oscar’s home was known as a place where complete strangers could find a meal or a bed, and Mrs. Blais fostered several children throughout the years. Oscar Blais served several terms on Grande Prairie City Council and as Mayor for several terms.

Item is an interview of Roy Borstad by Margaret Heath. Roy Borstad was born in Lamont, AB in 1932. His mother, Bertha May Furrow, from Spokane, Washington, died when Roy was only five years old. He and his brother Elmer came with their father to Chisholm where he worked with the Northern Alberta Railways. Roy went to Montrose School and Grande Prairie High School, walking from their small house on 96th Avenue and 98th Street to the schools on 99th Street and 101 Avenue, far less than his first school east of Edmonton, when he had to walk 4 ½ miles. As a teenager, Roy worked with his uncle, shoveling and hauling coal from the elevator and delivering house to house. By the time he was 16, he was an independent hauler with his own horse and wagon. In 1950, he purchased a truck and added wood delivery to the coal. He married Gloria Watson and the couple raised two daughters. Brother Elmer joined the Navy after high school, and when he returned home, Roy and Elmer started Borstad’s Cartage. They sold the business in 1972 and started Borstad Welding Supplies, which they sold in 1985. When the Borstad brothers were no longer in business, Roy and his wife purchased 40 acres south-east of Grande Prairie and started a dog kennel. They also raised Samoyds and Sharpes. Roy’s memories of Grande Prairie include the work involved in home care for two motherless boys, conditions of Grande Prairie streets especially after it rained, and hauling gravel and brick for construction sites. He was involved with the Kinsmen Club, the Rotary Club, coaching girls’ sports teams, and organizing the district for the Alberta Fastball Association, for which reason he is in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. He also served on County Council and as Reeve for several terms. Brother Elmer served on City Council, eventually becoming mayor and then as the MLA for the Conservative Party for the Grande Prairie constituency. After Gloria died, Roy married a second time to Barbara McDermid.

Item is an interview of Clarence Boyer by Mel Menzies. Clarence Boyer’s father, Ike Boyer, came from South Dakota over the Edson Trail. Ike brought cattle and horses with him, putting up hay along the way, and took up a homestead on the south side of Kleskun Lake in 1912. Here he married Bertha Delaney, a widow from Ontario with a family of six. Her girls were Lyla, Edna (Ames), and Ada (Briton); the boys were Johnny, Elvin and Archie. Clarence was the oldest Boyer, born in 1920. His siblings were Ruth, Ray and Harry. When the children were young, Kleskun Lake was full and ducks could be heard in the morning when it was wake-up time. They attended one-room East Kleskun School. (Ray’s retirement project was to move and restore this school, along with the teacherage and outdoor toilets). They got to school by walking, horseback or team and cutter. Clarence’s memories include the Christmas concert held each year at the school, skating rinks as family projects with hockey sticks of curved willow branches and pucks devised from various objects. In summer he was catcher on the softball team, without mitts or gloves, and remembers the inter-school ball games between schools which were 4-6 miles apart. When Clarence was 14 he worked on the farm because Ike was crippled, and in the winter he worked in the bush cutting logs, using cross-cut saws. He was paid for his labour with logs. He also trapped–squirrel hides yielded 7 cents each, and coyote hides made better money than bush work. Clarence enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941, went to Sicily with the Royal Canadian Dragoons as signaler. From there he was sent to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. War ended, and after a bout of pneumonia he got home in March 1946.Clarence ran the home farm and got more land working with tractors, and continued to work in the mills during the winter. Due to ill health, Clarence left the farm in 1952 and moved to Grande Prairie to work in the Massy Harris business, then in Sargent Motors selling cars, then farm machinery again for Shannon & Sons. Clarence married Ruby Norton and they had four children: Bryan, Shannon (Sheraton), Verna (Cochrane), and Wayne. Clarence spent his retirement years doing lots of walking, volunteering at the Grande Prairie Museum, having coffee with friends. He lost his eyesight, but was assisted by CNIB so he could still use tools in the shop. Clarence passed away on July 29, 1993.

Item is a recording of Ed Bredeson being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies. Ed Bredeson’s parents came from North Dakota, first to Minnesota, then to Saskatchewan, where Ed was born in 1903. They arrived in the La Glace area of Alberta about 1915, when Ed was 12 years old. The Bredesons were skilled wood workers. They built a log house and worked in the sawmills to make a living, sometimes trapping for extra income. There was no school when they arrived, so Ed worked with the others until he was old enough to work in the sawmills. While in Edson, waiting to come over the Edson Trail, Ed acquired a violin for $15.00. He learned to fiddle and played for dances in many different places, mostly being paid by what collection was taken at the occasion. The violin was broken after an especially “tipsy” celebration and unusable; for years Ed kept it, always hoping to have it repaired. Year later a niece had it repaired, and he was able to play for many more years. Ed married Mabel Berg and they moved to Glen Leslie where they took out a homestead. They were adept at making do with very little. They ran a cook house for crews from the lumber mills; they acquired a cow and built up a herd by saving the heifer calves. Things got easier once they began selling cream from the herd. With meat from hunting, a good garden, flour from their own crops, and the cream checks, they were able to afford clothes and shoes for their three children. For a while the children walked to Somme School, but then they got a horse. After Ed bought a Model T, he sometimes drove the school children to ball games at neigbouring schools too far to walk to. Mabel played an organ and Ed was fiddler at many wedding dances in the old Bezanson log hall, and later the new Memorial Hall at the hamlet of Bezanson. Mable had many talents, making all their clothing, knitting sweaters and socks, cooking, and even decorating cakes. Ed’s talent seemed to be attracting incidents with guns, icy rivers, moose and bears, but he survived to the age of 91 and passed away December 27, 1994.

Conditions governing use:

Item has been digitized. A transcript is available.

Item is an interview of Margo Brown by Margaret Heath. Margo Brown’s family, consisting of her parents and seven children, came from Edmonton by covered wagon to High Prairie and on to a homestead at Little Smoky Settlement in 1925. Her education had ended when she was nine years old, and now, at 12 years of age, she went to work as a mother’s helper for a family near High Prairie. Here she learned to cook, and received $120/month plus room and board, a great help to her family. In 1928, when she was 15, Margo married Tom Brown, who operated a garage in High Prairie. They sold the garage and set up a Stopping Place (which included a café, store and gas station) on the Smoky River, between High Prairie and Valleyview. With no school near-by, Margo helped her sons with correspondence lessons for the first few years, while her daughter attended school in High Prairie. Bears and moose came through their yard, so Margo learned to shoot. She made Christmas money by trapping and also acted as a fur buyer for the local hunters. When World War II began in 1939, an American repeater station was built close by the Brown’s Stopping Place. The Americans wanted coffee all day, and this soon became a staple at the Brown’s along with cigarettes and chocolate bars. In 1945, the Browns moved to Valleyview where Margo ran Margo’s Café. Few people lived in Valleyview then, and the main street was mud, with six buildings along it. There was no electricity or running water, and their groceries came from Grande Prairie or High Prairie by mail truck. The Americans relied on the route from Valleyview to Grande Prairie to get to Alaska, so the route past Sturgeon Lake became known as the Alaska Highway. Then Dick Strazer put up a light plant for those who needed power, and the café used a lot for they were open day and night. The rooms upstairs were rented by bus drivers from first the Morrison & Sargent busses, then Canadian Coachways. Margo also sold bus tickets. The Oil boom during the 1950s had a greater impact on Margo’s family then did the Alaska Highway. There was more traffic and more people. After running the café for nine years, Margo and Tom sold it and did some traveling but returned to Valleyview to retire. Tom died in 1968.

Item is a recording of Jack and Myrtle being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jack and Myrtle Brown by Margaret Heath.

Interview of Douglas Clarkson.

Item is a recording of an interview of Douglas Clarkson by Margaret Heath.

Item is part one of a recording of an interview of Aubrey Coates by P.A. Thompson.

Item is part two of a recording of an interview of Aubrey Coates by P.A. Thompson.

Item is a recording of an interview of Dorothy Comeau by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Laurence Connors by Margaret Heath. Lawrence Connors was born in 1904 and arrived in Grande Prairie in Aug. 5, 1914, after coming over the Edson Trail with his parents. His father was crippled so his mother worked as a housekeeper and dressmaker to help raise their six children. Lawrence attended Montrose school and after high school attended normal school in Camrose. He came back to teach at Halcourt for three years, then went into carpenter work. He never married and lived with his mother and built most of his home place. From 1940-1945 he served overseas.

Item is a recording of on interview of Fred Cranston by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Anna Dahl by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ella Demaine by Malcolm Menzies. Ella was born in Scotland, educated there, and married Tom Lang in 1928. Tom was an early pioneer who walked into the Peace River Country. He farmed 2 1/2 sections with horses and had one of the first tractors in his area. He died in 1935. In 1940, Ella married Mr. Demaine, who served in the Second World War, and passed away in 1956. Ella worked for the Co-op Store in three different locations in Grande Prairie for 25 years. Ella had four sons and one daughter: Alan took over the farm, Rayanne taught school in Sexsmith and Calgary, Stewart served with the RCMP, Ian was an engineer with Petro-Canada, and Michael was a principal at Old Scona School in Edmonton. Ella was a life member of the Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary. Besides her biography, Ella tells about the hamlet of Clairmont, her involvement with the Hospital Auxiliary and the history of the Grande Prairie hospital, farming after her husband died, taking census in the Clairmont area, her membership with the Women’s’ Liberal Association and the conflict this caused in her employment with the non-partisan Co-op Store, and her world travels in her later years. Interesting details in her story include taking a job without her husband’s knowledge and permission, getting political action to fix muddy roads, and Burns Night at the Legion.

item is a recording of and interview of Jean Donnison.

Item is a recording of an interview of Henry Dumas.

Item is a recording of Peter Fast being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview by Malcolm Menzies. It is about the Fitzpatrick family.

Interview with Phil Fitzpatrick.

Item is a recording of an interview of Noreen Ford by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of in interview of Alice Fortier by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Gene Gaboury by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview with Pat Gerow (née Watt) by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Herb and Edith Gitzel by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is recording of an interview of Tom Gorman by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Sister Alice Goulet by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Donald Grant by Malcolm Menzies. Donald Grant’s father came from Ontario in 1898 to the Waldron ranch in Pincher Creek. In 1905 the family came to Spirit River. Shortly after they brought up and wintered them with some losses. Donald Grant was born in 1913 after they had settled in the in the Bear Lake area.

Item is a recording of an interview of Olive Hoag by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Dora Hockey. This is part one of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Dora Hockey. This is part two of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Andy Hudec by P.A. Thompson.

Item is a recording of an interview of Percy Hunkin by Malcolm Menzies.Percy Hunkin came to the Peace River country in 1926 and worked for I.V. Macklin. In 1927 he bought a homestead on the Rio Grande, and in 1936 he became involved with the Monkman Pass Highway Association. This road was built by volunteer labour in 1937-1938. Much of it went through muskeg and heavy pine growth, but it was the shortest route to the coast. When war broke out, work on the highways stopped and later the government put in the highway to Dawson Creek. Percy farmed in Halcourt and married Marion McNaught. As well as his life story and the story of the Monkman Pass, Percy talks about railways and agriculture.

Item is a recording of an interview of Walter Johnson by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Verne Johnson by Malcolm Menzies. Verne Johnson was born in Beaverlodge in 1910. He started school in Beaverlodge in 1936, then worked in the Grande Prairie Land Office when he was 20 years old. Johnson married Ruth in 1944 and raised 3 sons and 1 daughter. They moved from the farm into Beaverlodge in 1976. In addition to his personal story, Verne talks about the Bull Outfit.

Item is a recording of an interview of Mac Kennedy by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Yukola Kildal by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Kinderwater by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Anton Kohalyk.

Item is a recording of an interview of Anton Kohalyk.

Item is a recording of an interview of Joan Landry by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of Henry Laurin being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies.

Interview of Emily Lewis.

item is a recording of Emily Lewis being interviewed by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Leonard Johnson by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jack Mackie by P.A. Thompson.

Item is a recording of an interview of Elizabeth Matlock by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Elizabeth Matlock by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Bill McCausland by Margaret Heath.

Interview with Johnny McDonald.

Item is a recording of an interview of Graham McFarlane by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Graham McFarlane by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Betty McNaught and Isobel Perry by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jenny McQuitty by Malcolm Menzies.

Interview with Ritchie McRae.

Item is a recording of an interview of Arvid Moe by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ola Moen by Malcolm Menzies.

Interview with Henry Monkman.

Interview with Henry Monkman.

Item is a recording of an interview of Gordon Moon by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Charlie and Winnie Moore by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Christine Morrice by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Alex Murchie by Malcolm Menzies. Alex Murchie was born in 1910 and came over the Edson Trail with his parents. His grandparents immigrated from Scotland and settled on Richmond Hill after coming in over the Edson Trail. His father homesteaded at Kleskun Hill in 1913. In 1934 he married Della who taught school at Kleskun Hill. They had 2 sons and two daughters. His oral history talks about growing wheat and raising cattle in the Peace Country, hauling grain to Clairmont, working with horses, dances and plays for entertainment, and the price of wheat, food and cattle

Item is a recorded interview of James Bowes (Jimmy) Oliver by CFGP’s Jack Soars.

Item is a recorded interview of Rudolph Olson by Malcolm Menzies. Rudolph Olson came from Buffalo, New York with his parents who homesteaded at Bear Lake in 1914. He attended school in a log building at LaGlace in 1919, then in the new school in 1921. He built Olson’s Garage at La Glace in 1939, and Mrs. Olson ran the first restaurant there. His oral history talks about the first settler at LaGlace named Dave Atkinson, the first store one mile north of LaGlace run by Mac Galhainney, the Norwegian settlers at Northfield, the Mennonite settlers in 1925-27, 32 sleds hauling grain to Wembley, taking people to the hospital in his snowplane which was also used by the RCMP east of Teepee Creek, the 1952 Co-op fire, and the 6060 Steam locomotive they took to Expo 67.

Interview with Tom Osborne, including information about the Alaska Highway.

Item is a recording of an interview of Lillian Osborne by P.A. Thompson and Frank Stoll. This is part one of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Lillian Osborne by P.A. Thompson and Frank Stoll. This is part two of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Art Patterson by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Harold Peters by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Hazel Peters by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Frank Pisatcky by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ethel Rutledge by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Nora and Edith Ryan by P.A. Thompson and Frank Stoll

Item is a recording of an interview of Bob Rycroft.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ted Reynolds by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jean Rooney.

Item is a recording of an interview of Mrs. Samuelson.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jean Sask by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of George Sayle by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Helen Shand by Malcolm Menzies.

Interview with M. Sherk.

Item is a recording of an interview of Marion Shofner by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Clarence and Martha Sjerdal.

Item is a recording of an interview of Bob Smith.

Item is a recording of an interview of Hugh Smith by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of May Smith by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Percy and Helen Smith by Margaret Heath.

Interview with Fred Steinke.

Item is a recording of an interview of Olive Stickney by Malcolm Menzies.

Interview with Bud Stewart.

Item is a recording of an interview of Frank Stoll by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Frank Stoll by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of John St. Arnault by Margaret Heath.

Interview with John St. Arnault.

Interview with John St. Arnault.

Interview with John St. Arnault.

Item is a recording of an interview of Helen Sutherland.

Item is a recording of an interview of Wally Tansem by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Wally Tansem by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview pf Roy Tink by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Jim Tissington by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ellis Turner by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Dave Turner by Margaret Heath.

Item is a recording of an interview of Peggy Walker by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of Jean Cameron telling her family history.

Item is an recording of an interview of Ernie Watt by Alice Fortier and Doug Clarkson. This is tape one of two.

Item is an recording of an interview of Ernie Watt by Alice Fortier and Doug Clarkson. This is tape two of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Ernie Watt by Margaret Heath.

Item is an recording of an interview of Sela Watts by Alice Fortier and P.A. Thompson. This is tape one of two.

Item is an recording of an interview of Sela Watts by Alice Fortier and P.A. Thompson. This is tape two of two.

Item is a recording of an interview of Inga Wold by Malcolm Menzies.

Item is a recording of an interview of Mabel Wood by Margaret Heath.

Biographies of Lee Alward, Charles Spencer and Frank Donald as told by Bill McBryan.

Interview with an unidentified woman.

Grandpa Throness telling a Christmas Story and poems.

Date: 1985-2001 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of tapes of programs and/or events at the Grande Prairie Museum, including the Edson Trail program, Christmas program, Harvest Festival Church Service, and Fiddlers’ Jamboree.

Physical description: 19 audio cassettes

Access points:

•      Sound recording (documentary form)

The audio track for the Edson Trail Video.

Note:

Two copies of the same audio track.

An audio recording of the Silvertones and Millers Old Time Band.

Audio recording of the 1988 Harvest Festival Church Service led by Rev. George Malcolm.

An audio recording of the Millers Old Time Players at the Hythe Senior Citizens Home.

Side A is an audio recording of the 1985 Christmas party at the museum featuring Sweet Adelines and Millers Old Time Band. Side B is an audio recording of the Hythe New Years Eve event.

Audio Cassette containing music from the first Fiddlers Jamboree, held in the Grande Prairie Museum community room in 1988.

Audio cassette containing music from the second annual Fiddlers Jamboree, held at the Golden Age Centre in 1989.

Audio cassette containing music from the third annual Fiddlers’ Jamboree, put on by the Grande Prairie Museum at the Golden Age Centre in 1990.

Two audio cassettes containing music from the fourth annual Fiddlers’ Jamboree, put on by the Grande Prairie Museum at the Golden Age Centre in 1991.

Two audio cassettes containing music from the 10th Annual Fiddlers Jamboree, put on by the Grande Prairie Museum at the Golden Age Centre in 1997.

Two audio cassettes containing music from the 12th Annual Fiddlers Jamboree, put on by the Grande Prairie Museum at the Grande Prairie Regional College in 1999.

Three audio cassettes containing music from the 14th Annual Fiddlers Jamboree, put on by the Grande Prairie Museum at the Grande Prairie Regional College in 2001.

An audio recording of old time music, identified as Old Smoky.

Date: 1991-1994 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of recordings created by Gordon Waite regarding the history of the railroad in northern Alberta.

Physical description: 49 audio cassettes

Access points:

•      Sound recording (documentary form)

An audio recording of the 1921 Duties of Railroad Operating Employees.

An audio recording of the 1921 Duties of Railroad Operating Employees.

An audio recording of the 1921 Duties of Railroad Operating Employees.

An audio recording of the 1921 Duties of Railroad Operating Employees.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Standard Railway Rules.

An audio recording of the 1921 Examination Questions on the Book of Rules for Operators.

An audio recording of the 1921 Examination Questions on the Book of Rules for Operators.

An audio recording of early communications for Edmonton and Northern Districts.

An audio recording of early communications for Edmonton and Northern Districts.

An audio recording of early communications for Edmonton and Northern Districts.

An audio recording of early communications for Edmonton and Northern Districts.

An audio recording on the demise of Northern Alberta Railways Train #1 and 2.

An audio recording of definitions technical terms used in railway and telegraphic work.

An audio recording of definitions technical terms used in railway and telegraphic work.

An audio recording of Morse Code telegraphic abbreviations.

An audio recording of Morse Code telegraphic abbreviations.

An audio recording on the Pembina Valley Railway, 1926-1929.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway, 1907-1928.

An audio recording on the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway, 1909-1929.

An audio recording on the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway, 1909-1929.

An audio recording on the Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway.

An audio recording giving a profile of J. M. McArthur, Northern Alberta Railways General Manager, 1937-1950.

An audio recording giving a profile of J. M. McArthur, Northern Alberta Railways General Manager, 1937-1950.

An audio recording remembering Canoe River.

An audio recording on the early years of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

An audio recording on railroads 100 years ago.

An audio recording on the greatest train in the world.

An audio recording on the Kettle Valley Railway.

An audio recording on the Kettle Valley Railway.

An audio recording on the Kettle Valley Railway.

An audio recording of steam railroaders.

An audio recording on female Morse Code telegraphers.

An audio recording on female steam railroaders.

An audio recording on today’s women railroaders.

An audio recording of railroad train sounds.

An audio recording of Telegraph by Peter Rosychuk.

An audio recording of Telegraph by Peter Rosychuk.

Date: 1975, 1981, 1991-2004 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of film and video collected or created by Grande Prairie Museum staff & volunteers. The series is divided into three subseries: Produced by Grande Prairie Museum, Produced for Grande Prairie Museum, and Grande Prairie Museum Video Library.

Physical description: 38 video recordings

Access points:

•      Moving images (documentary form)

Date: 1991-2004 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The sub-series consists of videos produced by the Grande Prairie Museum as it carried out day to day activities. Videos include Fiddlers’ Jamborees, a fashion show, a Christmas party, Museum Recognition Day, Harvest Festival, Lantern Tours, parades, programming, display openings, historical buildings, dedication of the Pipestone Creek Store, artifact inventory, an annual report, and an Edson Trail educational video.

Physical description: 24 video recordings

Access points:

•      Moving images (documentary form)

Volunteer Appreciation dinner in the Grande Prairie Museum community room emceed by Alice Fortier. It includes singing by the Sweet Adelines, and memories of Christmas by museum president Doreen MacDonnell, Joan Yates, Jennie Tetreau, Georgia Marsh, Doug Clarkson, Dwight Logan, and Margaret Heath. No sound system was used so some speakers are difficult to understand.

The dedication and grand opening of the Pipestone Creek Store on July 14, 1991 after it had been moved to the Pioneer Museum Society Heritage Village and renovated. Ceremonies are emceed by Alice Fortier and Doug Clarkson. Other speakers giving are Marion Field, Olive Stickney, John St. Arnault, Norman Eng, Frank Stoll, Hilda Bisgrove, Vic Alfred, Richard Brooks, Gordon Asquerth and his friend Steve telling stories about their experiences at the store and the Watts family who owned and operated the store. The final speakers are Pat Gerow, Joan Yates and their mother Sela Watts telling of life at the store, Betty McAllister who lived in the store after the Watts and Larry McAllister her son who donated the building to the Pioneer Museum. This was the 30th anniversary of the Pioneer Museum Society

This video of the 1991 fashion show put on by the Pioneer Museum Society of Grande Prairie & District opens with the song “Unforgettable” and still photographs from the past. This is followed by text and video of the museum displays and storage areas in 1992 and of museum staff preparing for the fashion show. The fashion show itself took place in the Golden Age Center and includes stories of the people who originally owned the garments as well as information about the clothing which is from the museum collections. The commentator is Mary Feldburg.

This video is about historical buildings in Grande Prairie in January 1992. It covers the Innes log cabin and Alloway house on 102 Street, the Forbes Homestead, the Alberta Government Telephones office on 93rd street, and the historical buildings in the Heritage Village at the Grande Prairie museum. Some detail and history is given of some of the buildings. There are also shots of a snow-covered Muskoseepi Park. Commentator is Alice Fortier.

Video of the 1992 Fiddlers Jamboree held in the Golden Age Centre. The video begins with scenes of displays in the Grande Prairie Museum and volunteers cleaning up in the kitchen after a museum dinner. Master of Ceremonies is Fred Mason.

Video of Museum Recognition Day in 1992. Video starts with footage of the museum displays and costumed interpreters inside the museum (laundry woman, nurses) and volunteers serving tea in the community room, then goes on to interpreters in the village (postmaster, church, Campbell cabin, storekeeper, blacksmith shoeing a horse, policeman and mad trapper, and school teacher. Video ends with speeches by president Doreen MacDonnel and curator Alice Fortier. There is also a recognition ceremony of Ernie Watt for Pioneer of the Year in 1992.

County Fair Parade in 1992 which includes the Grande Prairie Museum float. It is titled “Salute to the Trail of “42”, and the theme of the museum float is “Where were you in ‘42?” This was in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Highway.

Harvest Festival ca. 1995 showing church service in the Forbes Presbyterian Church, threshing with the hand-fed wooden threshing machine in the village, and fiddlers in the community room.

This video produced for the 1995 Annual Report includes an interview of Peter with Karla from the Grande Prairie Regional College. The interview includes discussions of the various galleries and displays, acquisitions, artifacts in the collection, artifact storage and good museum practice for taking care of those artifacts. Other sections of the report show Maryanne Thurber with the new Edson Trail kit for programming, an event involving a drama which uses the museum buildings as props, the Remembrance Day Exhibit with Duff Crerar as commentator, and the 1995 financial report and 1996 budget.

The Museum Show, produced by Instructor Karla Parks and the senior drama students from the Grande Prairie Regional College Arts Department. It includes short footage of an historical skit by the drama students and in-depth interviews of two museum staff. Curator Peter Goertzen talks about acquisitions and the care of artifacts, and programmer Maryanne Thurber covers the programs available at the museum, the role volunteers play in the delivery of services, and shows the new Edson Trail kit as well as the new storage room for textiles and small items in the collection. The interview includes opportunities for volunteers and a tour of the museum which shows projects done by volunteers.