Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Andrew Moe family fonds |
| Reference code: | 0170 |
| Date: | 1927-1951 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 2 cm textual records
4 photographs 6 negatives |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess November 2004 Added to new database Sept. 2023 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
In 1905, Andrew Moe along with his brother-in-law, Lorentz Pettersen, emigrated from Norway to the United States. A year or so later, his wife, Thea, and young son, Arvid, joined him. Their daughter, Olaug, however, had recently died of diphtheria in Norway. Andrew and Lorentz worked as labourers until 1911 when they heard about the availability of 160 acres for $10 in the Peace River country. Andrew and Lorentz made the Edson trail trip first and Andrew filed on the NW 32-73-7 W6 in the Buffalo Lakes area before returning to Minneapolis to work until he had money enough to purchase a team and wagon and other necessities. The Johnsons (an uncle and aunt) agreed to travel on the settlers’ railroad car with the shipment of animals and household effects, and all arrived in Edmonton in the fall of 1911. The three families stayed there until February, 1912, when they loaded three sleighs hitched to two teams of horses and one team of oxen and set out for the north. Despite their inexperience in handling teams and hauling large loads up and down steep inclines, the journey to the Buffalo Lakes area was made in about a month. The first summer, 4 1/2 acres were broken and seeded to oats and a well was dug. The first few winters Andrew spent working in the Buffalo Lakes Sawmill. In 1916, the family purchased and moved to the homestead of Peter Melsethe, where a good spring provided water. Andrew Moe died in 1951 and his wife Thea died in 1975.
Custodial history
The records were deposited in Grande Prairie Regional Archives by Stanley Moe, grandson of Andrew, in 2004. An accrual of photographs was made in 2006 through David Leonard who had used them in his books, “The Grande Prairie of the Great Northland” and “The Last Great West.”
Scope and content
The fonds consists of six separate recollections of the experiences of Andrew Moe as recorded by his son, Arvid Moe, four photographs, and six negatives.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0170.01 | Item – Ferry at Pipestone Creek | [1935] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.1 negative |
| Scope and content:
The Pipestone Creek Ferry is unloading three cars, with two men on the ferry and one man on shore. Note: Published in David Leonard’s The Grande Prairie of the Great Northland, p. 204 |
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| 0170.02 | Item – The Smoky Bridge | 1949 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.1 negative |
| Scope and content:
A group of people stand by the river showing the nearly completed Smoky River bridge in the background Note: Published in David Leonard’s The Grande Prairie of the Great Northland, p. 248 |
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| 0170.03 | Item – Sawmill and Lumberyard | [1927] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.1 negative |
| Scope and content:
Men work in a sawmill operation. |
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| 0170.04 | Item – Lumberyard Operation | [1927] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Men taking rest from working in a sawmill operated by Larry Anderson, north of Grande Prairie. Note: Published in David Leonard’s The Grande Prairie of the Great Northland, p.182 |
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| 0170.05 | Item – Andrew Moe | [1930] | 1 negative : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Formal portrait of Andrew Moe. Note: Published in David Leonard’s The The Last Great West, p. 566. |
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| 0170.06 | Item – Arvid Moe at His Homestead near Buffalo Lakes | [1930] | 1 negative : b&w ; 2 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Arvid Moe with his team of horses. Log home in the background. Note: Published in David Leonard’s The The Last Great West, p. 567. |
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