Fonds 018 Birch Hills Historical Society fonds

89 photographs

Date: 1976-1992 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of correspondence, budgets, and news clippings concerning the publication of Grooming the Grizzly, as well as a book of notes recording the dates of news clippings on Wanham. Letters from well-known Wanhamites, such as Helen Harrington and Ed Prevost, are included in this series.

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Date: 1918-1998 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of historical documents as well as current information on the town of Wanham and surrounding area gathered for use in Grooming the Grizzly. There are photocopied pages of a Land Titles Register dating back to 1914, a collection of receipts and war ration books from Clarence & Delphine Lampert, some community calendars and store receipts, two NAR railway timetables from 1958 and 1963, and news clippings (including the 1905 issue of The Evening Journal when Alberta became a province and a 1950 Northern Echo dealing with the issue of the Whitecourt cut-off).

Physical description: 4 cm of textual records

Rail service time table for northern Alberta

Rail service time table for northern Alberta

Catalogue selling bicycles, repairs, skates accessories

A by-law to regulate Highway Traffic, written by Edmonton City Council.

Ad for Wanham Hotel that features two bears

Calendar from Joe’s Coffee Shop.

Wanham and Belloy business bill headings

Date: 1919-1980 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of photographs donated by families in the Wanham area for use in Grooming the Grizzly. There is also a community collection with no specific donors named.

Physical description: 89 photographs

Eleven students outside Steele School c. 1930. Front row: Francis Fortier, Cecile Prevost. Second row: Octave & Fred Simons, Leo Prevost. Third row: Ben Fortier, Yvonne Prevost, Dell Fortier, Camille Prevost, Adolph Fortier. Back row: Ernie Siemens.

Two bachelors are leaning on a wooden fence, smoking pipes. Sid and Walter Francis were early settlers in the Wanham area.

Winter snapshot of one man leaning on tractor while the other is sitting on top of the steel wheel.

In the fall, Ted Henry is standing on wide gage wagon on Mert Sale’s outfit. Paint and Berry are the horses.

Ted Henry is holding two harnessed horses in a snowy field. Twilight was born May 24, 193? and Pride was born June 7, 1935.

Cropped snapshot of Mr. and Mrs. Henry standing in front of flowers and a field.

Snapshot of Ted Henry, wife and two teenage children inside home.

Snapshot of an older Mr. And Mrs. D. Guilche standing beside a car.

Snapshot of Mr. And Mrs. Hines on their wedding day in Jan. 1937

Bill Ormiston and the 12 horse Ormiston outfit breaking the prairie for agriculture at Wanham, Alberta.

Bill Ormiston and the 12 horse team working the field.

Bill Ormiston and his 12 horse team working the field at Wanham.

Surveyor’s crew of seven men with a surveyor’s transit and level marker. Charles Gummerson is identified as the man holding the red and white marker.

A young Chris Bain with glasses and a cap is facing the camera while Duane’s back is to the camera. Trees and a house are visible in the background

An unidentified man and woman are standing, hands on hips, in front of trees.

An unidentified man is standing beside a woman holding a baby. Several wood buildings and a dog are visible in the background.

Winter photograph of John Siebel standing with a horse at Peoria. The horse is identified as “Peggy Onede”. A wagon wheel and fences are visible in the background.

Winter snapshot taken at Bill Davis’ place showing picket fence buried up to the picket. Individuals identified as Albert Davis, John Siebel, Ruben Siebel, Art Davis, Bill Davis holding Virginia Davis, and Mel Siebel in front.

Portrait of William Metheny at age 23. He was born in 1881.

Class photograph of grade nine girls singing at a Christmas concert. They are identified as Edith Bush, Stephan Jackaboski, Mary Putio, Gloria Johnson, Clara Lampert, Donalda Bozarth, Bertha Svenunggard, Lois Hutchinson and Dorothy Metheny.

Formal wedding photograph of Ray and Emma (nee Bohnke) Metheny

An elderly Emma and Ray Metheny are standing with Karen Metheny in the yard outside their home. The side of their house is visible.

Lusco Christensen washing laundry on a wash board outside the log house on his homestead in the Wanham area.

Class photograph of teacher with children. Back row (L to R): Joey D’Albertanson, Doug Laughy, Brett Leriger, Mickey Sather, Mrs. Zmean, Bill Bennett, Wayne Watson, unknown. Middle row: Bobby Gruener, Allan Parlee, Philip Krishka, Darlene Hucul, Eva Dragomatz, Carol Tansem, Dorothy Munro, Yvonne Lane, Joan Zmean. Front row: Paul Prevost, unknown, . On the front side of the photograph is written “Brendan” and on the back is written “ carol” in childish printing. Both are in pencil.

High School Class photograph with teacher. Front row: Alex Posty, Alec Evanchuck, Harvey Parlee, Richard Bobier, Dennis Sather, Donald Lund. Back row: Sandra Connell, Bernice Jennings, Sharon Quamme, Sybil Parlee, Laura Webster, Viola Rutledge, Mrs. Wishloff. The teacher and several students are wearing jackets with the word “Wanham” partially visible.

Outside photograph of ten unidentified teenage students and one teacher in front of school.

Fourteen unidentified graduating students are standing in front of a mural. The mural shows land sloping down to the water, trees and a boat.

Photograph of a road crew south of Wanham identified as: R. Laughy, Joe Meyer, Ed Fortier, Dave Fortier, Ole Tansem and Bill Laughy.

Panoramic view of Main Street, Wanham.

Panoramic view of Main Street, Wanham.

Panoramic view of Main Street, Wanham.

Aerial view of the village of Wanham with grain elevators in the background.

Art, Minnie, Vera and Peter Tansem with Gladys Tansem on the horse. The first store in Wanham, with a Deering Farm Machines & Implements sign on it, is behind them.

Ollie Pickard, Ray Tansem and George Turner in front of Peter Tansem’s store and post office in Wanham.

Inside the Wanham dance hall, Vera and Ida are singing on stage. Dorothy Fowler, Laura & Clarence Lampert are in the front of the stage. Art and Dora Tansem’s wedding dance was on Dec. 1945.

Photograph of the old Central Hall with windows boarded up.

N. Sather, W. Tansem and Joyce Sinkwich watch as president Jim Rutherford burns the mortgage for C.O.C.O. Hall in a metal pie plate, whilst sitting in C.O.C.O Hall.

Close up image of President Jim Rutherford holding the burning mortgage for C.O.C.O Hall near a metal pie plate.

Gordon McDonald, Stuart Bennett, Luscar Christensen and Don Farris posing with brooms and two rocks at the Wanham Rink for the 1951 Grande Prairie Curling Bonspiel.

Bill Trumpower throwing the first rock in Wanham’s 1951 mixed bonspiel.

Curling Champs from Spirit River: Gerald Blonski, Elaine Harrington, Romana Purcell and ? Beamer pose inside the Wanham Curling Rink.

Snapshot of Bud Ireland and Dave Wiegel inside the Wanham Curling Rink. Spectators are watching the game through windows above.

Eleven members of the Astros baseball team, their manager and bat boy are photographed in front of bleachers and a fence.

Photograph of the women who served at the banquet for the Friendship Train standing and kneeling on the stage. Back row: Mrs. Leriger, Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Richard Johnson, Lillian Jacobsen, Mrs. Jacobsen, Mary Sather, Helen Fimrite, Mrs. Wiegel, Mrs. Harrington. Front row: Elaine Harrington, Doris Ayling, Patsy Leriger and Hazel Smith.

Knox Presbyterian Church congregation standing outside at Rev. Dick Moore’s farewell service.

Group of children with decorated bicycles about to begin a parade or race. Two small buildings or booths are visible in the background.

Aerial photograph of the Wanham Plowing Match, which was started in 1971.

Aerial view of Wanham Campground. Motor homes, trucks, cars and farm equipment are visible. Photograph taken during the Plowing Match in Wanham.

Aerial view of Wanham taken at the time of the annual Wanham Plowing Match.

Twenty members of the Wanham Plowing Committee pose with a sign which reads “Wanham Where the plowing Champions Meet”. Back row, left to right: Bud Sather, Bill Lunn, Dennis Sather, Allan Lawson, Walter Sinkewich and Ted Sallis. Middle row: Shirley Wells, Sharon Zamorsky, Elaine Dick, Bev Wells, Wendy Sather, Lorraine Putio, Betty Grusie and Ruth Elhorn. Front row: Vi Wilde, Arlene Borlund, Tara Foote and Jim Sather.

W. Tansem hitting the fence post in a fence-post driving contest, presumably at the Wanham Plowing Match. W. Tansem is seen elevated and surrounded by spectators.

Opening ceremonies for new fire station at Wanham, Alberta. Seven men are standing in front of three fire-fighting vehicles. Two men are holding a plaque and a piece of paper. Three fire-fighting vehicles are labeled “Improvement District No. 19”.

Six photographs of Wanham landmarks. First three photographs: Alfalfa Processing Plant from different distances. Fourth photograph: Wanham School. Fifth Photograph: Grizzly Bear Motor Inn and U.F.A. Sixth photograph: Wanham & Area Recreation Center.

Twelve photographs of buildings, implements and the Grizzly Bear Museum sign. First photograph: sign for the “Grizzly Bear Prairie Museum” with painting of a grizzly bear on logs. Second and third photographs: log house with some farm equipment visible. Fourth and fifth photographs: Knox Presbyterian Church. Sixth to tenth photographs: farm equipment, wagon and machinery. Eleventh photograph: distance shot of the museum’s buildings. Twelfth photograph: farm vehicles and tractors.

Harry Jones and Albert Dudding are in the doorway of Guy Norton’s homestead. One man is holding a pitcher while the other is seated and playing a banjo.

Bert Moss standing in a snowy field with fences and trees in the background.

Peter and Minnie Tansem are standing on the wooden porch of a white wood-frame house.

Clifford Tansem beside a steel-rimmed tractor pulling a binder. Wally Tansem is the binder operator.

Pat Greeny is holding a child on his lap in front of a white frame house. An animal is grazing on a field in the background.

Indoor photograph of Ed and Helen Harrington in the front row. Back row, left to right: Lynn, Ruth, Elaine and Jean Harrington.

Close up of an elderly E.M. Johnstone who was one of the earlier doctors in the Wanham area.

A man is walking in between two women down a snowy road. He is smoking a pipe and holding a container with a logo on it. The woman to his right is carrying a paper bag or items wrapped in paper.

Five young girls and a young boy are standing in front of a white wood lined ledge holding several pictures. Long floral drapes can be seen on either side of the children.

The men of the No. 11 Platoon “C” Company C.A. (B.) T.C. No. 133 are photographed in front of the Army Recruiting Centre on Jan. 21, 1943.

Outdoor group photograph of students in front of road and Johnson house (in the trees). Back row, from left to right: Leroy Tansem, Doris Blonski; Norma MacDonald, Milton Metz, Teddy Lipinski, Tom Cameron and George Nelitz. Third row: Audrey Bryndzak, Betty Trump, Francis Jakubowski, Kazimira Jakubowski, Leola Fowler, Steffe Jakubowski and Catherine Metz. Second row: ?, Helen Jakubowski, Roy Trump, Buddy Playdon, Robert Sawers and Jack Cameron. Front row: Clara Lampert, Doreen Playdon, Eugenius Lipinski, Lewis Wiegel, Matt Bryndzak, Wallace Tansem and Stan Sawers.

A man and a woman are bundled up in a horse drawn sleigh next to the Prevost’s home-store. A “Massey-Harris” sign and barn are visible. A sign on the house reads “Radios and Accessories”.

Dark clouds of smoke rise from the fire that destroyed the Tansem and Sandercock store in 1943.

Myrtle Wrolson and Hermel Girard (hotel owner) are standing on the steps of the Wanham hotel.

John, Ruth and Richard Johnson are standing with Oscar Oakleaf in front of some trees. Oscar is getting ready to take another chew of snuff.

Oscar Oakleaf, Carl Erstad and Pete Anderson are standing in front of a stand of small poplars.

Two adults and five children of the Nelitz family are standing in front of an field and open water.

Nine members of the D. Moore, Richard Johnson and Henry Fitch families are standing in front of a wood pile. A wood house is visible in the background.

Photograph of Wanham Hall at its original location, later location of the U.F.A.