Fonds 174 John Putters fonds

12 photographs

3 CDs

Added to new database June 2023 – TD

Date: 1930-1955 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of photographs of Putters family members and friends. There are seven physical photographs, three photographs that were donated digitally, and digital copies of two paper artifacts.

Physical description: 9 photographs

textual records (digital copies)

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

•                Textual record (documentary form)

The Putters’ house on 98 St. The barn to the side of the house belongs to Mr. Clark who was a member of the NWMP. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Putters house on road to hospital. Mr. Clarke’s barn to right and behind on rent lot. Mr. Clarke was a member of NWMP in his younger days. Carlisles house was beside (south of Clarke).”

Image shows Mrs. Putters and her son Johnnie standing next to a car. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Mrs. J. Putters & Johnnie on a scow transporting vehicles over flood waters Slave Lake 1935. Note 1935 license plate, Grande Prairie had No. 29 on plates.”

Image shows Mrs. Putters posing next to her house. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Mrs. J. Putters behind house. Clarke’s house to the east (Clark ex NWMP – see barn pic.)”

Image shows Bobby Lewis sitting in a carriage. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Bobby Lewis in carriage on Main Street 1938-39. OK to use.”

Image shows a window display in a shop. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Window display Xmas 1933. Putters Electric. This store was located in what was later the Shoe Hospital owned by Tony ??. At this time it was on west side of Chinese Laundry which was west side of Bergman (Dick) Shoe Repair – called Victory Repair during war because of prejudice to Dick (a German immigrant) during WWII.”

Image shows a shop display of light fixtures. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Light fixtures display of the 1930s in Putters Elect. Store.”

Image shows Mr. & Mrs. Broughton cutting a tiered cake. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Mr. & Mrs. Broughton. Caretakers of the United Church 1930s, 1940s – I think they lived in the old log church then.”

Image shows Mrs. Putters standing in the snow in front of a row of elevators. The JPEG was originally titled “Mrs. J. Putters in front Alberta Pool elevator.”

Image shows Deane and Marj Toews walking down a church aisle. The JPEG was originally titled “Wedding pic-Deane & Marj. Toews”

Digital copy of Private J.J. Putters’ identification card while serving in the Second Reserve Battalion of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. The JPEG was originally titled “Typical D Company reserve ID-Sgt. Major Carney signature”

Digital copy of a ticket to a high school concert. The digital file was originally titled “Concert and dance”

Date: 1930-1955 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of 26 photographs (some prints, some digital) of Grande Prairie and area.

Physical description: 26 photographs

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Image shows a group of men posing in the snow. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Shops for Canadian Vocational Training were in the Drill Hall. The group pictured were returned veterans & 1st year apprentice training (JEP – 2nd from left was not a veteran.)”

Two men standing in the doorway of the hotel on a board sidewalk with water surrounding the building. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Slave Lake Hotel 1935 flood”

Picnickers at Lake Saskatoon in the mid 1940s.

Image shows a group of people sitting on the ground having a picnic. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Oldtimers picnic @ Lake Saskatoon – I don’t know anyone.”

A large crowd composed of adults and children wait in front of Grande Prairie’s Capitol Theatre.

Image shows the Grande Prairie High School and a building that was formerly used for army barracks. The caption on the back of the photograph reads “Back (east side) of GPHS – on left – to the north is a relocated hut from the Army barracks used as a IA [industrial arts] shop 1947.”

The Grande Prairie High School opened in 1950. This front view faced the park on the west side.

Grande Prairie Garage – Ford and Lincoln Dealers on the north end of 100 St. Grande Prairie High School looks newly built in the background and closer to the foreground a vehicle enters the car wash at the garage.

Copy of a postcard showing Richmond Avenue looking west, with CFGP and Herald Tribune buildings on the left and the Capital Theatre on the right.

The York Hotel on 101 St and 101 Ave., Grande Prairie, shortly after it was built.

Windsor Motors Ltd. built on the corner of 99 St. And 100 Ave. was a Chrysler dealership and Texaco station.

Aerial photograph of Grande Prairie showing 100 and 101 Streets, the railway, schools and housing to the north and west.

Five young people flank a model T car attempting to navigate a rutted street in Grande Prairie. Front left – Pat O’Hara. Right – Jack Freebury and Frank Tissington

A large group of children flanked by adults outside of the United Church in Grande Prairie.

Note:

This JPEG was donated as an email attachment. It was printed out for the purpose of identifying the individuals in the photographs. The printout and identification notes are located with the rest of the fonds.

A group of CGIT girls flanked by their leaders in front of the United Church in Grande Prairie. Barbara Redwood (Hofmeister) is the leader on the left.

Three CGIT girls pose with a large group of mothers in front of the Grande Prairie United Church.

Cars lined up to cross the flood waters at Slave Lake townsite

Floodwaters reach Mac’s Garage

Grande Prairie’s water tower with a man standing in the foreground, smoking a pipe.

A curling team of Jack Mantle, Merv Lewis, ? , and Joe Putters pose with brooms in front of the curling rink in Grande Prairie.

Jack Mantle standing behind Joe Putters who holds a curling trophy. Jack Mantle was a World War I veteran. A barn is in the background.

The D-Coy Armouries was used as a vocational training shop for the high school students. Here, Ted Baker, an army veteran, instructs two students, one of whom is a navy veteran.

Charlie Turner Sr. on the left of Charlie Turner Jr. during the framing and construction of the Army Drill Hall. The D-Coy Armouries (Army Drill Hall) was used as a vocational training shop for the high school students after the war.

Construction of the Army Drill Hall (now known as the D-Coy Armouries) showing the framing and roof joists with walls going up. The Drill Hall was used as a vocational training shop for the high school students after the war.

Date: 1940-1955 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of digital photographs showing what it was like growing up in the 1940s -1950s.

Physical description: 29 photographs

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Mary Jean Carlisle, Deane Toews, Darlene Conley, Ab Given, ? , Bob Littleton, Ches Walden

Two girls sit on the hood of a car in Grande Prairie.

Jeff Watson crossing the railway trestle in winter. Grande Prairie is visible in the background.

A group of teenage boys goofing around in front of a building.

Three women dressed in coats and hats caught walking along the street.

Two men in hats and leather jackets pose in front of a girl in the doorway of the Royal Bank.

A young girl sitting in the grass.

A group of girls skaters dressed in Scottish Highlander outfits pose, using a step ladder to form a pyramid.

Three girls dressed In festive costumes skate together in a line.

Wayne Fell and Marlene Frantzen, skating champions of the Peace River Figure Skating Champions, 1953, pose for the camera.

Grande Prairie hockey players, Jack Freebury, Bob Dowling and Duke Edmundson, pose for the camera.

Two hockey players with the Red Devils shown with three membership cards

Two hockey players with the Red Devils shown with three membership cards

Young teenager is photographed while climbing the corner of the brick facing of the Royal Café.

Duke Edmundson, Ken Head and one other man, one with a GPH jacket on, walking along a city street.

A group of Grande Prairie’s cadets standing by the H Huts. The digital file was originally named “Canada’s Last Line of Defense”

A group of CGIT girls and Cubs line up in front of Montrose School in readiness to parade.

A group of CGIT girls and Cubs form part of a parade past J.B. Oliver’s and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Porteous Hardware, and James Drug Store on main street.

A group of majorettes lead a parade down Richmond Avenue past the Grande Prairie Hotel and Marshall- Wells. Cars and people line the street.

A St. Paul’s United Church Young People’s Drama, “Look Out Lizzie”, held at Grande Prairie High School. Actors and actresses include (L to R): Bob Littleton, Janet Ophus, Margaret O’Brien, Joan Bellamy, Jim Henning, George Simpson, Albert Given, and Georgina Given (also Director).

Wapiti Lodge, built in 1950, housed students from the County who came to Grande Prairie for high school.

Children in junior grades seated at desks in a classroom.

A group of 12 teachers including Mr. Kujath (back, far left).

A group of 10 high school teachers including Mr. Kujath and Mrs. O’Biren

Student and teacher representatives on GPHS Students’ Council.

Student and teacher representatives on GPHS Students’ Council.

Grande Prairie High School grade twelve students.

GPHS grade twelve graduating class in suits and gowns, scrolls in hand, standing in the doorway of the school. Some teachers are also in the picture.

Date: August 2006 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of stories written by Johnny Putters in 2006: The Ole Swimming Hole, A Weekend Adventure at the Wapiti, Getting the Christmas Tree, The Mayor’s Acquaintance, and Anecdotes in Small Towns That Live On & On & On.

Physical description: 4 pages textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

This CD contains a 31 minute slideshow of photographs of Grande Prairie in the 1940s and 1950s. The photographs were gathered from former Grande Prairie residents and compiled for a slideshow shown at a reunion in Edmonton held on September 14, 2002.