HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

~ WHOOP-UP COUNTRY. CHAPTER

Number 1 NEWSLETTER January, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $4.00 per year. Send membership dues to: Mrs. Lucille Dalke, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. 0. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 326 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. Lucille Dalke, 938 - 9 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St. Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 607 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1976) Clarence Geiger, 1265 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2630 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs. Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave. A So.

ANNUAL MEETING OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

Because the Annual Meeting of the Historical Society of Alberta will be held in Lethbridge on Saturday, February 14th, we have decided not to hold a January monthly meeting.

The Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 14th, will be held in the Marquis Hotel, Lethbridge. There will be a business and discussion session in the afternoon, starting at 2:00 p.m. It will feature reports, resolu­ tions, and other items. A rfeport by the Education Committee on the teaching of history in Alberta schools • is particularly timely and should be of considerable interest. There will be a banquet in the evening where the guest speaker will be James H. Carpenter, retired Lethbridge Chief of Police. Cost of the banquet is $6.00 per plate. The detailed program is as follows:

10:00 a.m. Meeting of the Executive Committee, HSA. 2:00 p.m. Business session in the Convention Room, Marquis Hotel. 6:00 p.m. No-host cocktail hour. 7:00 p.m. Banquet—Master of Ceremonies: Frank A. Russell —Guest Speaker: J. H. Carpenter —Presentation of awards

It would greatly help the organizers if you would tell us if you plan to attend the banquet. Please phone the Museum (328-6455), Mrs. Lucille Dalke (327-3802), or Alex Johnston (327-3191) and leave your name.

************* THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY IN LETHBRIDGE We do not know whether or not the "new Opera House" was the Bijou Theatre, occasionally called the In Lethbridge, as elsewhere, the motion picture in­ Bijou Hall. We do know tliat the Bijou opened in dustry offered escapism. Live theatre and the music- the fall of 1907. (It was located at 428 - 5th hall were unable to meet the need for distration and, Street South and, in later years, became the Bijou as we will see, as cinema expanded these old forms of Motor Parlour Ltd., Bijou Motors, Bijou Motor and entertainment were pushed aside. Taxi Ltd., and,, finally, the Fleming-Kennedy Garage, which burned down.) In October, an item in the Lethbridge differs from many centres in that we have local paper congratulated G. A. Stevens, manager of in this city a man whose life has spanned much of the Bijou, on the quality of its shows. The Bijou the development of the motion picture industry. Since showed movies at least as early as November 14, 1907 1912, he has been involved in one capacity or another because an advertisement of that date read, "Picture with the industry. We refer to Alfred William show to commence 7:30 sharp and only two shows." Shackleford, called "Shack". However, there is no reason to think that this was the first showing of movies in Lettibridye as it A. W. Shackleford was born in Essex, England, in 1899 seemed to be quite a commonplace event at the time. and came to Calgary with his parents in 1909. While We suspect that movies were shown between vaudeville still a schoolboy, in 1912, he worked after classes acts in Oliver's Hall even earlier. as an usher at the Regent Theatre, Calgary, beginning an association with the motion picture industry that For a time the Bijou was the premier theatre in town continues in 1976. In 1920, he came to Lethbridge to and presented a regular program of plays, vaudeville, manage the King's Theatre. He was active with the and moving pictures. In May 1908, G. A. Stevens, Lethbridge and District Exhibition and Fair Board, manager, was said to have, "... returned from a the Community Chest, the Gyro Club, and the Cancer trip to Okotoks, High River, and Macleod. He has Society. In 1963, he received an outstanding achieve­ completed a regular moving picture route to take ment award from the Motion Picture Theatre Association place one night a week in each place." of Alberta. He entered civic politics in 1939; was mayor on three occasions, from 1944-47, 1952-55, and On October 12, 1908, the Lyceum Theatre opened its 1957-61; and retired from the local political scene doors to the public. It was later renamed the in 1964. During his mayoralty, the city's population Empress and the Roxy and is now the location of more than doubled (from 14,000 to 35,000) and plans Capitol Furniture (Lethbridge) Ltd., 326 - 5th Street were laid for the industrial expansion that followed. .South. Managed by Brown and Upp, the Lyceum adver­ tised "High Class Vaudeville and Moving Pictures". The motion picture industry in Lethbridge evolved, rather than began. In the early 1890's, the Alberta The Eureka Theatre also was operating by October Railway and Coal Company built a three-story brick 1908 although with some difficulty as the interior structure at the corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. was only partially finished. The Eureka was located (It served as headquarters for the Gait companies un­ on 5th Street South between 4th and 5th Avenues, a til they were taken over by the C.P.R.) The building site later occupied by Perlux Dry Cleaners and now was known as "The Opera House" because the first part of the Lethbridge Centre. It, too, advertised, floor contained a hall where various civic functions ''first Class Vaudeville and 5,000 feet of New Picture and amateur theatrical performances were held. It is Film". likely that lantern slide shows were held there as motion pictures did not begin until 1895 and were not Thus, by October 1908, there were in operation in available to small centres like Lethbridge until well Lethbridge the Eureka, Lyceum, and Bijou Theatres after the turn of the century. and Oliver's Hall, all showing moving pictures as part of their regular fare. In June and July of The Gait's "Opera House" ceased to be known by that that year there was frequent mention of "The Star name about 1899 and the sequence of names of halls Theatre"—no details, simply the words "Star becomes increasingly difficult to follow. In news Theatre". One is left wondering if this was the reports of 1899 there is mention of a function being start of a campaign to promote what later became held in the Building Company's Hall and another event, the Starland Theatre on 5th Street. which involved a visit to Lethbridge by Sir Charles Tiipper, being held in the Irrigation Hall. On January 22, 1910, the new Griffith Theatre opened with the production of "The Gay Musician" starring By January 1900, Oliver's Hall was the most important Miss Texas Guinan. It had been built by Samuel such facility in Lethbridge. It was located on the Griffith but seems to have been taken over almost second floor of a building on 5th Street just south of immediately by W. B. Sherman of Calgary and renamed the present Coal Banks Inn. (The White Lunch Restaur­ the Majestic. The Majestic was mainly a live ant occupied the ground floor of the building for many theatre but was for a short time a motion picture years.) About this time, apparently, Lethbridge theatre. Shortly before World War Two it became reached a size that made it appealing to eastern the Purity Dairy, now Palm Dairies Ltd., 516 - 5th touring vaudeville shows and theatrical troupes. They Avenue South. performed in Oliver's Hall. In 1907 a news item appeared that stated, "The Labour Temple is to be used The grand opening of the new Starland Theatre was as an Opera House for small companies after Oliver's held on Saturday night, January 28, 1911. It was Hall is no longer available. The bigger companies located at 330 - 5th Street South, now the site of are all cancelled until a new Opera House is built." the Alexandra Cafe. The new theatre was renamed the In the meantime, the musical comedy "The Girl From Phoenix in 1919 and the King's when it was taken Frisco" was held at Hill's Hall in July and the play over by new owners in 1921. (In 1922 the apostrophe "The Two Orphans" was held in the Labour Union Hall was dropped and the theatre was known as Kings.) in November, 1907. (Oliver's Hall reopened in spring 1908.) The New Morris Theatre opened its doors on November H. H. Granger. On May 18, the partners announced, 16, 1911, with Mr. A. E. Morris as owner and manager. "An appreciation. We wish to thank the public of Like the other theatres of the day, it featured a Lethbridge and district for its patronage of the mixture of moving pictures, vaudeville, live theatre, Kings Theatre. Now that the theatre is closed, we and wrestling. It was a small theatre but must have have transferred all our business to the Palace been the most attractive in Lethbridge in its day Theatre, where we are better able to offer you the and had, among other features, a canopy extending finest entertainment, with greater comfort and from the curb to the entrance. service.—H. H. Granger and A. W. Shackleford." (By 1926, Mr. Shackleford was also in partnership The Monarch (later the Lealta) was built at 258 - with James B. De Guerre, a prominent Lethbridge 13th Street North and opened in January 1912. tailor, in the'operation of the Henderson Lake Pavilion and Dance Hall, which opened on May 22nd.) In 1913, the Morris was taken over by W. B. Sherman of Calgary. Earlier, Mr. Sherman, described in news By 1929, the Palace had become the Capitol (Mr. reports as the theatrical magnate of western Canada, Shackleford affiliated with Famous Players, hence announced that he would build Sherman Theatres in all the name change) and people by the thousands were the major cities in western Canada and specifically flocking to see and hear the "talkies". At this mentioned Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, time, Mr. Shackleford had a five-year lease on the Regina, and Brandon. In Lethbridge, he took over Majestic, then catering exclusively to live touring the Morris, hired a Mr. Wilson as manager, and shows. But live shows began to decline in popularity carried on an extensive program of rebuilding and and soon died away. People were simply more renovating. The theatre must have been considerably interested in the ever-improving moving pictures with enlarged because the address of the new Sherman was voices and, very shortly, color. Movies were tried 414 - 5th Street South, and it included the Morris, at the Majestic for a short time but, for some the former address of which was 416 - 5th Street reason, the public would not accept them there and South. The theatre bore a variety of names through­ after various attempts to revive the old theatre, out its long life, as follows: Morris (1911), it was closed. Just before the Second World War it Sherman (1913), Orpheum (1917), Colonial (1920), was converted to the Purity Dairy, since renamed Palace (1924), and Capitol (1929). It was demolished Palm Dairies Ltd., and it is still used for that in 1974. purpose.

In late 1920, Mr. Shackleford, then working for the In 1933, Mr. Shackleford purchased the Empress at Film Exchange in Calgary, was offered $50 per week to 328 - 5th Street South and renamed it the Roxy. He go to Lethbridge and manage the King's Theatre. It then controlled the three major theatres in Lethbridge seated 365 and, according to Mr. Shackleford, the although, on the North Side, a small theatre called only management problem was to find 365 people to the Monarch was doing quite well. In 1938, the fill it. It played mostly re-runs and the new Monarch was renamed the Lealta and continued as such Westerns as the Colonial and the Empress played first until 1963, when it finally closed its doors after run movies at that time. The first advertisement 51 years of service. for the theatre appeared on January 24, 1921 and stated, "The Phoenix Theatre,was taken over at the About this time, J. Arthur Rank's Odeon Theatres beginning of the year by two returned war veterans decided to open a theatre opposite the Capitol, where who have decided to change the name of "Phoenix" to the Greyhound Bus depot is now located. The land that of "King's", under which name it will be known' was purchased but, because Lethbridge was off the in the future. The new management trust that patrons beaten path and the region was in the depths of the who have so kindly supported this theatre in the past Depression, the company lost interest in the develop­ will continue to do so in the future, and the manage­ ment and their plans were abandoned. ment hereby gives assurance that only the highest class pictures will be shown". The Roxy closed its doors in the early 1950's, thus severing another link with the past. Declining The next we hear of Mr. Shackleford was in a news attendance caused by television and the new drive- item of May 31, 1923, which read, "A. W. Shackleford, in theatres was the reason. Western Drive-In who has been prominently connected with the theatrical Theatres Ltd., a Calgary based organization, built business in the city for the past three years will the Green Acres Drive-In on the southeastern out­ shortly leave Lethbridge, having severed his connection skirts of the city. It was purchased by Mr. Shackle­ with the management of the Colonial Theatre. Mr. ford in 1951. Shackleford came here from Calgary. He took over the King's Theatre here first, and later conducted the A dream came true for Mr. Shackleford on Thanksgiving string of Rogers theatres here, the King's, Colonial, Day, October 9, 1950, when he watched crowds fill and Majestic. For the last three months he has been the new 950-seat Paramount Theatre. The opening manager of the Colonial only." The Kings closed for attraction was Bob Hope and Lucille Ball in "Fancy renovation on June 2 and opened again on September 1, Pants". 1923. [Presumably the Rogers mentioned above was Mark Rogers, Lethbridge businessman, who was shot In 1967 came the opening of the Paramount Cinema with and killed in his home in the early twenties. There 475 seats. With the Paramount, it was Lethbridge's was considerably mystery about his death.] first multiple cinema, an innovation that was designed to cut costs and to provide one answer to the drop­ According to a 1963 interview, Mr. Shackleford re­ off in theatre attendance caused by television. In turned, to Calgary for a time but was invited back to 1969, the College Cinema was opened. In 1974, the Lethbridge to manage the local Arena. For a time he impressive old Capitol Theatre was torn down to make did manage it ("the only time it ever paid for it­ way for the Lethbridge Centre. self") but by early 1925 was in partnership with In September 1975, Lethbridge's newest theatres, the the bldnde human female with whom it had fallen in Twin Cinemas 1 and 2 in the Lethbridge Centre, love, was beihg attacked by flash-popping photog­ opened to the public. raphers. Clutching, Miss Wray in one hand, it climtied to the top of the Empire State Building, Mr. A. W. Shackleford has seen the motion picture which in 1933 stood as the ultimate symbol of man's industry change from the nickleodeons of the early new civilltation. • Although the gorilla was doomed days of this century to the wide-screen, spacious to die,, witching crowds cheered as it knocked from theatres of today. He has dominated entertainment the sky a ti»chin6-gun-firing plane that had ventured in Lethbridge for many years. Still actively en­ too close to its skyscraper perch. . . . Fay Wray, gaged in the industry, his tradition of excellence the heroine, came originally from Mountain View, is being carried on by his sons. Alberta.

******* *******

William John (Bill) Fruet was a native of Lethbridge EARLY TRAILS AND THE AUTOMOBILE with a keen interest in the theatre. He was active with the Playgoers and displayed considerable talent In 1885, Catl Benz produced the world's first during amateur performances of that organization. practical•.«nd cc*imercially exploitable car. Henry He left Lethbridge in 1953 to attend the Banff Ford begin ififtss production of the Model T in 1908, School of Fine Arts, then went to Toronto to further eventually putting North America on wheels. By his theatrical career. By 1966, he was employed by 1914, the,.^i|tyla of cars was fixed and virtually all CBC, Toronto, as a film assistant and developed a of the truly Innovative automotive ideas had been flair for writing and directing as his knowledge of introduced. (for example, shock absorbers were television increased. He received critical acclaim availabl

— WHOOP-UP COUNTRY, CHAPTER

Number 2 NEWSLETTER March, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $6.00 per year. Send membership dues to: . Mrs. Lucille..Dalke, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. 0. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 326 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. Lucille Dalke, 938 - 9 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St. Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 607 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1976) Clarence Geiger, 1265 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2630 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs. Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave. A So.

MARCH MEETING OF SOCIETY World War I popularized the automobile. It had been in use for several years, Elliott Gait having pur­ There will be a meeting of the Whoop-up Country chased the first automobile in Lethibridge about Chapter of the Historical Society of Alberta on 1902. The Southern Alberta Automobile Club was Tuesday, March 23rd at 8:00 p.m.,, in the Assembly organized by city motorists on April 15, 1907. There Room of the Sir Alexander Gait Museum. Program will were advertisements like the following as early as be arranged by Al Candy and will consist of a talk on May 16, 1907, "C. L. Vrooman, The Central Hardware the birds of the region by Mr. Jack Hunt. You will Store, appointed agents for sale of 2-cylinder Reo receive more details later. and Buick autos. Also Ciement-Bayard, Jackson, Napier, Oldsmobile, Packard, Peerless, Pierce Great ******* Arrow, Stevens-Duryea, Thomas Flyer, and White Steamer." But it was not until after 1918 that the EARLY TRAILS AND THE AUTOMOBILE automobile in Alberta began to gain the popular appeal it has had since that time. In 1885, Carl Benz produced the world's first practi­ cal and commercially exploitable car. Henry Ford be­ The first tourists were adventuresome people, some­ gan mass production of the Model T in 1908, eventually times travelling in groups for mutual support. putting North America on wheels. By 1914, the style Roads of the time were of dirt construction at best, of cars was fixed and virtually all of the truly in­ but more frequently were only unimproved, unmarked novative automotive ideas had been introduced. (For prairie trails. Road maps were unknown. example, shock absorbers were available in 1902 and disc brakes in 1905.) The first Alberta road maps appeared in 1924. Trails were listed as either "heavy clay or loam" or "sandy". one was advised to bear left and follow the main line The former were "good in dry weather, slippery after of travel across rolling prairie country, avoiding showers, and heavy going after prolonged wet spells". all intersections and branch roads. After more such The latter were "good in wet weather but heavy after directions one eventually passed Canmore Station on prolonged dry spells". The motorist found his way by the left and followed the railway through scenic following colored rings on telephone poles. mountain country to Banff.

These colored rings were placed on the telephone poles In our own region, early trips to Waterton Lakes by the first members of the Alberta Motor Association, National Park were an all-day ordeal, especially if encouraged by Alberta and Montana Boards of Trade. wet weather was encountered. Routes of the Lethbridge The rings were 12 inches wide and were placed on the street railway system, which was built to accommodate first telephone pole around, or past, the section cor­ delegates to the Dryland Farming Congress in 1912, ners. Mr. N. H. "Brad" Bradley, retired Highways used a color code. Routes were called the Red, White, Engineer, once told me, "The scheme was devised after and Blue lines. World War I to take advantage of those road allowances that had telephone lines and, hence, each trail fol­ ******* lowed the first telephone lines connecting through the country. I believe the telephone poles were marked RE: "The Badge and the Blotter". first by early members of the Alberta Motor Association. In 1925, I had them renewed in the Lethbridge district I am pleased to advise you of the following resolu­ at the expense of Alberta Public Works, by Robert tion which was unanimously passed by City Countil at Barrowman, who was later the mayor of Lethbridge. a regular meeting held on Monday, February 23rd: The first trails so marked were dirt roads, blade- graded and improved with a few fresno-filled low "WHEREAS we, the citizens of the City of places. The low places were sometimes provided with Lethbridge, are most fortunate to live in wooden culverts and a few small corrugated steel ones. this Country, Canada, with its freedom, its These soon filled up, in the dry years after 1915, rule under law, its heritage and a future of with drift soil." hope and opportunity; AND WHEREAS to perpetuate these ideals it is The Black Trail ran from Great Falls to Lethbridge, essential that the history of one's society then went on to Calgary via Vulcan. From Calgary be recorded for all time; it continued on to Edmonton, being known as the AND WHEREAS one of those who has participated Black Route along that stretch. ("Trail" seems to in the making of our history has recorded a have been the popular designation, "Route" the term portion of same; word used on road maps and in travel folders.) NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council of the City of Lethbridge go on record as ex­ The road from Banff to Calgary was called the Blue pressing the thanks and appreciation of the Route. It continued on to Macleod, via Nanton and City of Lethbridge to JAMES CARPENTER for his Claresholm, where it was more frequently called the achievement of recording a segment of this Blue Trail. From Macleod the Blue Trail went to City's history so ably in his book, 'The Badge Glenwood and Cardston, then to the United States via and the Blotter'." the St. Mary Crossing. (A portion of the trail from Fort Macleod to Glenwood still retains the old color- Yours truly, code name.) (Signed) The rudimentary, fragmented Trans-Canada Highway of the day was known as the All-Red. The road from John Gerla Medicine Hat to Lethbridge and on through the Crows- City Clerk nest Pass was called the Red Trail. Also, the Drum- ******* heller to Calgary road was known as the Red Route. The Badge and the Blotter by James Carpenter. Pub­ The road from Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House was lished by Fort Whoop Up Chapter of the Historical called the Yellow Route. Society of Alberta. 157 pages. Hard Cover. Printed by Friesen's, Altona, Manitoba. Price $8.00 Another trail that has retained its old color-code name is the Black-and-white, which starts at the town The Badge and the Blotter is the intriguing story of of Manyberries and intersects the Trans-Canada Highway the law enforcement agencies in the city of Lethbridge (No. 1) between Dunmore and Medicine Hat. We have as seen through the eyes of a highly regarded and spoken to people who use this trail and they think efficient former Chief of Police. The story details there is a possibility that one or two of the marl' .d the early policing of Lethbridge by the North West telephone poles may still be standing. One individual Mounted Police from Fort .Macleod when the city was vaguely remembered seeing a band of faded color on but a dot on the map of the Northwest Territories. one or two of the poles along the trail although he It continues through to the present day and records did not know of its significance at the time. the growth, the organization, the personnel and the problems of the Lethbridge Police Force. The author Directions in the early booklets dealing with travel, has illustrated his story generously with pictures, as well as specifying the color to follow, took ad­ charts, reproductions of 'the blotter' and many ex­ vantage of landmarks along the way. To get from tremely interesting anecdotes relative to events and Calgary to Banff, for example, one went to the corner persons. The Badge and the Blotter by former Police of Centre Street and 8th Avenue in Calgary, then north Chief Carpenter is not only an accurate, well- to a brick school. One turned left at the school and, researched record of the Lethbridge Police Force after three miles, came to diagonal four corners where since its inception but it has, interwoven throughout. ^g^

THE SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM

AS PART OF ITS ONGOING PROGRAM TO PRESERVE SOUTHERN ALBERTA S HISTORY AND PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC

IS NOW OFFERING YEARLY PASSES

TO INTERESTED PATRONS OF THE MUSEUM. PASS HOLDERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE WHOOP-UP CHAPTER, HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA, 6 TIMES A YEAR.

INDIVIDUAL RATE $3.00

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INQUIRIES: SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT CITY OF LETHBRIDGE PHONE: (TO 328-6^55

ADDITION TO NEWSLETTER SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM NEWS

A couple of pages on the affairs of the Sir Alexander The museum has had some interesting times since it Gait Museum will be a part of regular issues of the started up in 1964, and moved to the old Gait newsletter from now on. The first such addition Hospital building in 1967. Under the able guidance appears with this issue. of the Late George McKillop, and Andy Staysko, George Watson and Clarence Geiger, the museum prospered and The Historical Society has a considerable stake in the flourished. During these years, a number of news affairs of the Museum as it was for about a decade the stories about museum events were published in this main project of the Society. It was in late 1963 that newsletter and in the Lethbridge Herald. Now a point George McKillop, George Watson, Andy Staysko, Alex has been reached where the museum staff would like to Johnston, and Lucille Dalke approached Mayor Frank keep members of the society, and City and district Sherring and obtained a couple of rooms in the Bowman residents, better informed about museum events. School. Three rooms were eventually filled with arti­ facts and the Museum opened to the public in February In 1973, Jack Elliott joined the museum as the City's 1964. Some years later, it moved to the old Gait Museum Supervisor. Later that year the museum was Hospital Building, where it is still located. By 1970 reorganized and opened to the public on a regular, or so, it began to be obvious that the Museum had out­ full-time basis. Now, the museum visiting hours are: grown the ability of the Historical Society to main­ tain it and Rosemary Allen was hired as a Museum Offseason Monday - Friday 1:00 - 4:30 P.M. Supervisor. She resigned in less than a year and, in 1973, Jack Elliott was hired. During Mr. Elliott's Summer Season Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 4:30 P.M. term the Museum has grown and has become an important All Year Sunday 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. part of the cultural life of the city. Another recent important event has been official We have every hope that the future of the Museum will recognition of the museum, with passage of The Museum be even more exciting than its past. Plans call for By-Law No. 3272 by City Council. The By-Law notes: the building of an Interpretive Centre, possibly as early as 1978. Building of the centre will be accom­ There is hereby established the Sir Alexander panied by demolition of the 1930 addition to the Gait Gait Museum, whose objective shall be to pro­ Hospital as it is in a bad state of repair. vide a non-profit, educational community ser­ vice for the City of Lethbridge and surrounding district by preserving available artifacts. documents, photographs, and other histori­ interesting and informative show should be greatly cal, artistic, and scientific items which appreciated by outdoors people now that winter is directly reflect the human history of coming to an end. Lethbridge and Southern Alberta, by dis­ playing the same and by making them avail­ Many new and interesting items have been donated to able for other like purpose enterprises the museum in recent months. With the closing of and research. the old No. 1 Fireball, it was necessary to retrieve many items of historical significance. Included in Some of the direct benefits to come out of the by-law the fireball collection are documents, records, have been receipt of regular provincial grants of photographs, hard leather helmets, a variety of $12,200 per year for museum operations, and creation brass hose nozzles, and perhaps the most interesting of a Museum Committee to include at least two members of all, the original alarm system. The end of the of the historical society. The current chairman of Canada Winter Games brought more interesting items the committee is George Watson. to the museum. The games collection consists of each of the three award medals, the official statistics The museum also figures prominently in the proposed and results, a selection of emblems and flags, all new ten year master plan for civic development in the official scrapbooks, the torch that was carried Lethbridge. The museum is a top priority for pro­ to start the games, and the official photographs posed expenditures of $840,000 in 1978 for major and film. These items are a significant contribu­ renovations and a new addition to the Gait building tion to the ongoing history of Lethbridge. to create an historical and a national exhibition centre linking the museum, and Fort Whoop-Up in The museum has also been looking towards the City's Indian Battle Park. Lethbridge's contribution would centennial year of 1985. Restoration work has be­ be $182,000, with the remaining funds to be contrib­ gun on the Fort Whoop-Up 2 inch field gun, to refurb­ uted by the provincial and federal governments. ish it to a presentable and functional condition. Much of the credit for this planning and proposal Mr. Chuck Bartlett of the Whoop-Up Black Powder Club, goes to Tom Ferguson, past committee chairman. and Dresser Clark Division, are working on the gun while Clarence Geiger and Frank Watkins have The museum staff continues to redevelop the museum offered to repair the carriage. This is a big job display program. In 1974, we cooperated with Blair and will take time and money. Even so, the gun is First Rider of the Bloods and Indian Affairs, to one of the most historic pieces in Canada. It was create The Blackfoot World. The display is a color­ the first field gun brought into what is now ful and interesting series of cases depicting objects Southern Alberta, and was brought to Fort Whoop-Up and images of Blackfoot prehistory, family life, re­ in 1871 by Healy and Hamilton for defense of the ligion, social life and politics. In 1975, we fort. It had a roving career. Made in St. Louis completed Blood, Sweat and Tears, a series of cases by Horace E.. Dimmick.,. the gun was first owned and with tools and photos of the agriculture, railroad used at Fort Union in 1832 by the American Fur and coal mining industries for which Lethbridge is Company, and was later sold to the Northwest Fur famous. This year we would like to create four Company. It also served on the Missouri River at different displays about early firearms, pioneer Fort Brule, Fort Cotton, Fort Barthel, and Fort trades and crafts, early school days, and civic Benton in Montana before being brought to Fort Whoop- government. However, the current budget restraints Up. The gun was confiscated by the North West make even this modest development very uncertain. Mounted Police and sold to J. D. Higinbotham in Fort Macleod in 1892. Mr. Higinbotham donated the gun to the City of Lethbridge in 1929. It was on display In 1975, the museum also ventured into travelling for years in Gait Gardens, and on one occasion at displays with the Photo Album of Lethbridge. The the Calgary Stampede, before being stored by the display consists of 24 large black and white photo­ City due to vandalism. graph panels which can be hung on walls, or on 12 easels, to provide a walk-around educational tour of the history of Lethbridge. The show has been a great Now that we have brought you up to date about museum success at Centre Village Mall, the Royal Trust events, we hope you will contihue to take an interest building, The Peramican Club, a Lethbridge Photography in your community museum. If you have any questions, Club meeting. The First Baptist Church, and many please write the museum and we should have an answer local schools. in the next Sir Alexander Gait Museum News column.

We also receive many shows from other museums. The ******* best received by local residents were both showii in 1975. Canadian Nature Art 75 arrived in October from Man is a grassland animal, having spent most of his the National Museums of Canada and was an .instant existence in grasslands or grassland-forest ecotones, success. The show consisted of the best of the cur­ hunting, gathering grassland foods, and cultivating rent nature art in Canada and proved beyond doubt grassland plants. that local citizens are quite willing to take time to view shows of national exhibition quality. Ladies' Fashions arrived for Christmas from the Provincial Museum of Alberta, as the latest of several fine The most significant change in human development shows circulated from Edmonton. The show depicted during the past century has been the acceleration of fashions from the 1880's to the 1940's, and was history. particularly well received by many local ladies. During the spring months of April and May this year, the museum will present the large Mammals of Alberta show from the Provincial Museum of Alberta.. This The time to make friends is before you need them. the human interest story of an organization which, Canada has lost its soul to the devil of quick and like most such forces, is generally considered to easy messages through phone calls, losing the power be cold, military and somewhat distant and removed. of true and lasting communications by letters. This book is recommended for historians and for Historians depend heavily on past correspondences. those who are interested in an inside look at what Official documents, like official biographies and the sometimes goes on behind the scenes of an efficiently newspaper reports of the day, betray their immediacy operated police system in a small city. after a few decades. Personal communication can be treasured, re-read and saved for the future. Thus, The Badge and the Blotter is now on sale and may be it is the private and personal exchanges which hold ordered from: the secrets of a past generation and its contribu­ Mrs. Lucille Dalke, Sec-Treas., tions for us. Fort Whoop-Up Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, ******* Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta EDMONTON—Fines for damaging buildings or other TIJ 4A2 property the provincial government declares to be of historic value get a whopping boost to $50,000 under ******* legislation introduced recently.

BRANDS ARRIVE IN ALBERTA While fines climb 1,000 per cent from their current maximum of $5,000, the heaviest jail terms possible According to a memorandum from the Brand office, the for ruining relics are doubled in the bill to a first cattle came from Montana during the early year. 1870's and were the property of Joe McFarlane near Ft. McLeod with brand J. 0. on left hip. After this "We want to make the penalties more equal to the U.S.A. ranchers came along with brands registered in amount by which people or companies could hurt the U.S.A. Not until 1876 did anyone keep a record of historic resources of Alberta," Culture Minister brands this being done by the N.W.M.P. Horst Schmid said.

Mr. C.E.D. Wood of McLeod was appointed the recorder Mr. Schmid, the government bill's sponsor, added of brands with a committee of three ranchers to that the measure also serves as a powerful proclama­ assist and examine applications and allot brands. No tion "to make people realize that historic sites legal status was accorded to these brands. In 1897 are valuable." the first brand act was introduced. This act provided for the compulsory recording of brands alloted to The Alberta Heritage Act, which Mr. Schmid's new bill cattle owners under government supervision. Some amends, was passed in 1973 to hand the province early brands were: - A.B.2; A.2.B; 2 A.B. Brands power to designate and preserve historic and have played a vital part in identifying cattle on archeological records and property. huge government leases, community pastures down to the lowly little cattle owner with a few head, but ******* still a vital contribution to his every day way of making a living. Indeed brands assist immeasurably History has made us; we are stuck with it. But we in tracking down the old time cattle rustler who are free to decide how much of it to remember and worked from horseback, to the modern day rustler in how much to forget. This is the measure of Free truck or camouflaged van, swiftly moving down the Will. blacktop highway to dispose of his loot and make illicit financial gain.

******* SKETCH OF A LIFE—CHARLES SCHAFFT edited by Vivian A. Paladin (Montana the magazine of Western History, The prairie farmers who "stuck it out" during the vol. XXVI, No. 1, January 1976 p. 34.) Great Depression are the stepfathers of agricultural techniques and equipment now used universally to ... I skipped the [Missoula] country and went produce food for a hungry world. The Depression re­ across the "Line" to "Whoop Up" supposed to be then duced the population of the Three Prairie Provinces a resort of the most desperate characters escaped by 200,000 in 10 years. Farms of the era knew little from the United .States. I saw some dead bodies there more than drought, dust, grasshoppers, and rust. But but the place was not so bad as represented. out of the farmers' efforts to combat the elements came such things as rubber-tired tractors, the chisel ... I was there partly in charge of the principal plow, the one-way discer, the Noble blade, the Fort, when Col. Macleod and his 300 Mounted Police practice of strip farming and trash cover farming to arrived from Fort Garry to subdue the outlaws and combat soil erosion by wind, and a means of poisoning drive out illicit traders. He came with siege guns the hordes of grasshoppers. It was a 10-year tinker­ to reduce our Fort, which had been reported in Canada ing binge to come up with new methods, according to to be bristling with cannon and needle guns, and he the author James Gray of Calgary. came, and found, open gates, a cripple [Schafft had both legs amputated 6 inches below the knees as a re­ ******* sult of freezing his feet and ankles in 1862] as second in command, and six or seven peaceable looking A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of citizens. Our only armament were two old steamboat hell. • cannons, and any amount of trade rifles, and our ******* whiskey was cached on the bottom of Belly River. I did not like the country much and was glad to learn in 1898 but it was discontinued in 1903. The that Indian difficulties had ceased across the line, Province of Alberta established the Provincial so late in November [1874] I started back for the Horticultural Station, now the Alberta Horticultural U. S. in company of Johnny Manning, Sandy Lane and Research Center, at Brooks in 1935. (Formerly it four others. On Milk River we were caught in a ter­ was a CPR horticulture demonstration and testing rible blizzard and further advance with wagons had to farm.) And, in 1975, the province undertook the set­ be abandoned. Three of the party started back and ting up of an experimental farm near Lacombe. three of us concluded to come ahead. ... A convey­ ance was rigged up for me, and after a most perilous ******* journey over the trackless prairie, we arrived on the Marias and reached the settlement on Sun River. Watch out for school children—especially if they are driving cars. ******* ******* Cynics say that history is merely a lie agreed upon. Chair-sitting and varicose veins.—Man as a genus is ******* only two or three million years old and for almost the whole of that time he has been a hunting, food- EXPERIMENTAL FARMS IN THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES gathering nomad. The discovery of agriculture and the plow made permanent settlement possible only The first experimental farm in western Canada was 5,000 to 8,000 years ago, and among its first con­ Hayfield Farm, which was organized by Lord Selkirk at sequences was the elaboration of chattels, including the Red River colony in 1817. (Selkirk died at Pau, the chair. . . . The recent substitution of chair- France, in 1820 and dictated, during his last days, sitting for ground-sitting by western man has resulted his plans for Hayfield Farm.) The Hudson's Bay in a substantial change in his leg vein stress Company organized two experimental farms when it took environment. And this change, in turn, has resulted over responsibility for the Red River colony. The in a higher frequency of varicose veins. . . . There first, under the direction of Chief Factor James is relative freedom from the condition among most McMillan, was organized in 1830 but failed in 1836. eastern peoples and absolute freedom from it among The second was headed by Captain George Marcus Gary primitive peoples. and was organized in 1838. It, too, failed within a few years. (The Red River experimental farms all ******* tended to hire large staffs, to erect elaborate buildings, and to import highly bred livestock. They You could retire nicely at 50 if you could sell your did not come to grips with problems of crop adapta­ experience for what it cost. tion and farming techniques. And, of course, they could do nothing about the lack of markets, which was ******* the basic problem.) The Canadian Pacific Railway set up experimental and demonstration farms throughout Archaeology.—Flint quarries have been discovered in western Canada, starting shortly after 1883. The the Crowsnest Pass region of Alberta. The flint out­ government of Canada opened the Brandon and Indian crops occur in the Livingstone Range at elevations of Head Experimental Farms in 1888 and established about 7000 feet. According to Dr. Barney Reeves, Experimental Stations at Lethbridge (1906), Lacombe University of Calgary archaeologist, this is the most (1907), Fort Vermilion (1908), Rosthern (1909), Scott important find in southern Alberta in recent years. (1910), Morden (1914), Beaverlodge (1914), Swift The flint quarries were first used about 8000 years Current (1920), Manyberries (1926), Regina (1931), ago, with peak use about the time of Christ. . . . Saskatoon (1931), and Melfort (1935). At one time, a About 1500 archaeological sites have been discovered large number of Illustration Stations (some of which on the Suffield military reservation of southern were later called District Experimental Substations) Alberta. Among them are one of the best Besant cul­ and Substations were affiliated with the Experimental ture sites, and one of the best McKean culture sites, Stations. (The modern trend is toward centralization in western Canada. of activities in a few large units called Research Stations.) The North-West Territorial Government ******* established an irrigated experimental farm near Calgary F^

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

— WHOOP-UP COUNTRY, CHAPTER

Number 3 NEWSLETTER May, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $6.00 per year. Send membership dues to: Mrs. Lucille Dalke, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. O. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 326 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. Lucille Dalke, 938 -• 9 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St. Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 607 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1976) Clarence Geiger, 1265 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2630 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs. Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave, A So.

JOHNSTON DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE FOUNDATION Co-chairman: Hon. G. Amerongen, Edmonton - Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly. M. L. A. On April 15, 1976 Government Services Minister Horst Edmonton Meadowlark. Schmid announced the appointment of a 12 member Board of Directors of the Government House Foundation. The Members: Foundation is established pursuant to an act of Legislature passed last fall. Fort Edmonton Park. This great undertaking is the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation System, one of the largest reclamation Harold Sissions, Peace River - active in service club schemes in America. It is part of an extensive pro­ and community work. Member of Alberta Historic Sites gram of irrigation planned for the coming years and Advisory Board. which will bring into annual productivity rain or no rain—a tract of semi-arid country which in time may Renovation work on Government House will be completed run into a million or more acres. What this means this summer and official opening is expected in August. to the wealth of Alberta cannot be now computed. This When the renovations are complete. Government House much is certain, that if the history of all other will provide an outstanding facility that can accommo­ irrigation schemes repeats itself, prosperity along date various government conferences, receptions and all lines will follow the opening up and colonization other official government events while still pre­ of these reclaimed areas, areas which are now sub­ serving the historical atmosphere of the stately jected to severe periods of drought. building. The Lethbridge Northern, as it is called, will bring ******* under the ditch approximately 105,000 acres. The main contract, let out to Grant, Smith and McDonnell From: THE FARM AND RANCH REVIEW May 20, 1922. C. F. Company, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, was for Steele, the author, was an Associate Editor and col­ earth work mainly amounting to $1,7000,000. About umnist -.^ith the Lethbridge Herald. He joined the half of this work has been done. The contracts for paper, then owned and operated by Senator W. A. masonry, steel bridge work, timber structures, etc., Buchanan, in 1920 and remained with it until his re­ running into hundreds of thousands of dollars, are tirement. Mr. Steele, who was born in Salt Lake City also going forward satisfactorily as fast as weather of English parents, was very active in community conditions permit. affairs. Probably Mr. Steele's best-known work was the book, "Prairie Editor", a biography of Senator The source of the system is the Old Man River, and Buchanan. the water will be taken out of this stream at a point nine miles west of the town of Macleod. In the THE LETHBRIDGE NORTHERN whole system, there will be 500 miles of main canals, IRRIGATION SYSTEM laterals and tributary ditches.- When the job is finished, 6,000,000 cubic yards of earth will have By C. F. Steele been moved, 3,000,000 feet of timber utilized and 12,000 yards of concrete, in addition to steel work, Far back in antiquity the prophets of Judah and Israel etc. A 640-foot dam will be required at the intake sang about the "deserts blossoming as the rose," which in addition to an earthen dyke to kteep b&ck the flood condition has since been made possible by the science waters, A massive concrete "regulator" will control of irrigation—a science older than" the prophets them­ the water entering the main canal, the sluice gates selves, reaching back as it does into the remote of which will weigh 12 tons each. Water will pour histories of Babylon, Egypt and the two Americas, north over the dam from two to three feet deep. and south. There will be two important and costly crossings In modern times. Western America has been transformed necessary in the system, the Old Man River and the by the magic touch of the waters diverted from the Willow Creek structure. The first one is 4,000 feet rivers and streams to the arid and semi-arid desert. long, the flume of which will be 14.5 in diameter. What traveller is not impressed with the wonders of It will be of steel and concrete supported by con­ this science when he traverses the reclaimed valleys crete piers resting on the solid rock 18 feet below of Colorado, Montana, Utah, Idaho, California and the bed of the river. The Willow Creek crossing 16 British Columbia? Or, coming nearer home, what miles from the Old Man River Crossing, is a flume Albertan has not seen or read of the fertility of the similar to the one over the river resting on three Coaldale district of Alberta—"The Gem of the West"— 80-foot girders on concrete piers. or the other southern sections of the province that have been brought "under the ditch?" At the 39th mile, another coulee will be crossed by means of a wood stave syphon 2,900 feet long and Man, since the historic curtain rose on the world, has 10 1/2 feet in diameter. Farther on still there is achieved many miracles, climbed many heights, gained another syphon to be built 900 feet long, also a many victories. But there has been no greater con­ regulator gate to serve the Monarch canal, which tribution to civilization than the spirit of pioneer. will carry water for 35,000 acres. from the Cypress Hills area, partly due to the economy From 1967 to 1972, the museum continued to grow and of such a structure and also to the fact that the new displays were added. By 1972 the attendance was Cypress Hills played a large part in the early history about 10,000 during the summer and from 2000 to 3000 of the area. during the winter. The Museian was open all year round, and was patronized by school groups from the Sufficient numbers of logs to build a small log cabin city and district within a radius of 200 miles, as were donated by the Provincial Government and cut and well as travellers from all parts of the world and hauled onto the site. The local Boy Scouts peeled the local people. logs and two men were hired to erect them. By 1972 the Museum was still having growing pains The small log museum was to be constructed in time to and a new addition was planned. Another 3,000 sq. join the Jubilee Year Celebrations of Medicine Hat in ft. was added to the building with over 10,000 new 1955. Further financial help was secured by contacting items being received. many pioneer families. Their names and date of arrival were burnt into the face of the logs with hot During these'years the City of Medicine Hat has branding irons to commemorate their pioneer interest. supported the Museum with a yearly budget which en­ ables them to operate with two permanent employees The small building was officially opened on July 4, a year. Aided by STEP and LIP programs which pro­ 1951. The Historical Society continued their efforts vide personnel, the Museum continues to operate in capturing the early history of the district by in­ twelve months of the year. terviewing old timers and their reminiscences were recorded on record discs and tapes through the courtesy The Medicine Hat Museum remains open all year - of radio station CHAT. The small museum was kept open Summer Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to during the summer months by volunteer help. Friday. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sun­ days and holidays. In September 1951, several valuable collections of Winter Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 Indian material were acquired and added to the p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and closed collection. Saturday and Sunday. Plans are in effect to remain open during the Winter months from 1:00 o.m. to In 1955 the Medicine Hat Museum was incorporated. In 5:00 p.m. on Sundays commencing January 15, 1975. 1956 due to construction of a subway near the park, Adult charge is $0.50 (June 15th to Labour Day) it was necessary to move the museum to a new location. with children and students admitted free. This The city provided land near the No. 1 highway at $0.50 charge is used to help employ College and Bomford Crescent and set aside almost a whole city University students during the summer months. block to take care of future expansion. The original log cabin was moved to this site in 1956 and ah ex­ ******* tension was built also using logs, creating a structure three times the size of the original museum. The Domestication of Wild Animals.—Biologists have catalogued 4,500 species of mammals. Of these, man The expanded building was not heated and had no facili­ has domesticated only 16 in an effort to meet his ties and was very difficult to keep clean eis there basic needs. Except for the reindeer, which was were problems with dust and a leaking roof. The domesticated in northern Europe and Asia during the Historical Society in charge did, however, have co­ fifth century, and a few recent attempts, particularly operation with some local clubs and volunteer help in by the Russians to domesticate wild species such as keeping it open. Mrs. Laidlaw and Mr. Stewart Wallace the eland, no wild urtgulates have been domesticated were responsible for a great deal of effort during since the time of Christ. In fact/ for all practical these years. It was evident that if the collections purposes, experiments with the domestication of large continued to grow, a better type of building was wild herbivores ended in the Neolithic period. Sheep necessary. The museum was receiving a great niomber of and goats, for example, are believed to have been visitors from the highway traffic as well as local domesticated prior to 10,000 and 5,000 B.C., respec­ citizens. It was obvious, therefore, that the loca­ tively. . . . There are a number of possibilities tion was ideal. for domestication. The eland is more gentle and easier to manage than some breeds of cattle. 1+ pro­ In 1964, the museum and the Historical Society de­ duces excellent meat, and its milk has twice as much cided to apply for Centennial funds to build a large protein and fat, a similar carbohydrate content, more building on the same site. Plans were drawn up and of certain minerals, and better keeping qualities than submitted during 1965 to the local Centennial Com­ milk from domestic cattle. Other likely candidates mittee. The committee recommended that a modern for domestication include the African buffalo, impala, brick and tile building be built with money supplied springbuck, and blesbuck. The African elephant many by municipal, federal, and provincial sources. Their prove superior to cattle as a meat source in some areas. recommendations were accepted. In Asia, the nilgai (the "blue cow" o:-^ India) is a possibility and in North Timerica, the bison. (We The log building was torn down; all artifacts wore learned too late that bison may use our native grass­ stored -for one year during the time the new building lands better than cattle. Bison and cattle eat similar was under construction. On June 10, 1967, the doors diets but bison seem to have a more efficient diges­ of the new Medicine Hat and District Museum were tive system and may be able to exist on lower quality opened to the public. The new building covered 3500 forage, particularly dry grassland forage. Bison tend sq. ft. at a cost of $85,000.00. The City of Medicine to disperse more and to be less selective when grazing. Hat took over the operation and was responsible for As a result they modify the cover less than do cattle. maintenance of the building under a City by-law. May Further, bison utilize forage on steep slopes and in 1967. The original small log cabin was reconstructed rough terrain. Even in feedlot, bison make weight inside the new building and is now a pioneer home gains that equal those of cattle.) display. ttk

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AS PART OF ITS ONGOING PROGRAM TO PRESERVE SOUTHERN ALBERTA S HISTORY AND PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC

IS NOW OFFERING

YEARLY PASSES

TO INTERESTED PATRONS OF THE MUSEUM. PASS HOLDERS- WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE WHOOP-UP CHAPTER,, HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA,, 6 TIMES A YEAR.

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INQUIRIES; SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT CITY OF LETHBRIDGE PHONEJ (^03) 328-M55

ii . • I'll :..•;.'I'. '. Ki' ytn,,-' ri ItlJ iU J.''Ht SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM NEWS With the summer season just around the corner, the museum hopes to show the Ernest Brown Photographs Spring has arrived in Southern Alberta, and is already during June, July and August. These photographs half over. The museum is presently hosting a natural of pioneer life in Alberta are unsurpassed else­ history exhibition from the Provincial Museum of where in Canada, and they should be a great attrac­ Alberta called Mammals of Alberta. We opened the show tion for our many summer visitors. particularly for our Easter family week program, but to confirm the booking, it will remain in the museum Many Southern Alberta residents will be travelling until the end of May. The show has been well received during the summer, and to make them better acquainted by a number of science classes from City schools. with other interesting museums in the province, we are including an article about a not-to-distant The ladies of the Sir Alexander Gait Chapter, I.O.D.E. neighbor. The following is by Mr. J. J. Barrie, also found the show an attractive setting for a bridge Curator of the Medicine Hat Historical and Museum social held in the museum on May 5th to sponsor the Foundation installation of new drapes throughout the museum reception area. We are very grateful for this kind The history of the Medicine Hat Historical and gift from the I.O.D.E., which provides a much more Museum Foundation is tied in with the history of the attractive setting for our visitors. The I.O.D.E. Medicine Hat and District Historical Society. It have also graciously offered to help in future pro­ all began in 1948 when a meeting of about a dozen jects, and with encouragement such as-this, the museum old timers was held at the home of Mr. Hector Lang, will continue to prosper. at that time the mayor of Medicine Hat. It was decided to form a society and the Medicine Hat and Some of the other spring events involve the museum's District Historical Society became a reality under future plans. Regarding the City's major facility the Chairmanship of Mr. Lang. plan for 1975-1985, and redevelopment of the museum in 1978, the museum recently began discussions with the It became evident from the very first that it would National Museums of Canada. On May 5th, a meeting was be more than a historical society. Local people held with Suzanne Graham of the Secretariat to the came forward with donations of pioneer material which National Museums Policy, and members of the museum com­ had accumulated in the garages and homes of the mittee and staff. The meeting was devoted to exploring members, It was decided that it would be necessary avenues of federal financing as outlined by Mile. to open a museum to house this material. As no suit­ Graham. Locally, the current operating budget has been able building was available, the group planned to set by City Council and it appears that the museum will construct a small building roughly 20 ft. x 35 ft. add only one exhibit this year, a display of pioneer in the downtown area. The city of Medicine Hat carpentry and wood working. The current budget donated a small piece of land in Riverside Park, and restraints severely limit funds, staff and progress at plans were formulated to build a log cabin type of this time. building. It was agreed that the logs should come The canal course is in a general easterly direction, "Frontier Calgary" is a compilation of the papers and at the 53rd mile, the Keho Lake Reservoir is presented at the Calgary Centennial Conference, reached. This is a natural depression without an which was held in May 1975 at the University of outlet. When full it will be 18 feet deep, and will Calgary. The Conference, and the book, were spon­ insure a supply of water for at least half of the sored by the Calgary chapter of the Historical system. Farther east still are the diversion canals Society of Alberta. ... The chapter is still able serving the Albion Ridge, Turin and Picture Butte to offer "Frontier Calgary" to Society members at a districts. As the system moves eastward, it slowly special low price of $3.85 per copy post paid. gets smaller and smaller until in the Picture Butte Cheque or money, order should accompany your order. country north and east of Coaldale, it disappears en­ Write to: tirely as that is the present end of the ditch. The Chinook Country Chapter, Box 4481, Station "C", Like a great trunk road, the main canal will stretch CALGARY, Alberta T2T 5N3 out carrying its freight which from time to time will be carried over branch lines extending in all directions ******* to serve the creator of the system—Man. Experience is a comb that nature gives to man after The work has progressed to a limited extent this win­ he is bald. ter. With the breaking of spring, the Lethbridge Northern area became a hive of industry as it was ******* last year. And in the meantime, those who are in­ terested in the success of the scheme—an enterprise Ken Liddell's Column.—Since offering a column about backed by the finances of the Province of Alberta— Charles Waterton, after whom lakes and other fine are planning to see that it "makes good.?" things in Southern Alberta were named, although he never saw them, I happened across a book of his There are two essentials in the success of this enter­ letters. prise. They are education in scientific irrigation practices .of the farmers already on the lands, and These reveal more of the squire of Walton Hall, near the breaking up of the large holdings into smaller Wakefield, Yorkshire, a world traveller, adventurer, tracts and the setting on them of experienced irriga­ author, soldier, intellectual, naturalist and taxi­ tion farmers. In a word, the problems are Education dermist. and Colonization. It is agreed that the area should be cut up into 160-acre farms with a family on every His years were those from 1782 to 1865. He died of quarter, that mixed farming be adopted including some concussion suffered in a fall. He was out for a good livestock. To this end .the government, the stroll when,he stumbled on some growth. district and all concerned are uniting their efforts. He was buried alongside a canal on the estate. The ******* cortege comprised four boats. One was a coalboat and it carried the squire's body. Others transported In 1909 a 400-acre Model Farm was organized near clergy and mourners. Stirling by the A. C. Bohrnsted Company of Minneapolis. The actual location was Wells Siding, The Waterton letters were gathered from archives and south of Stirling, and the purpose of the farm was to family vaults of the recipients. The man who edited grow winter wheat, which appeared to be a useful crop the book, R. A. Irwin, said Waterton was far ahead of in the region. his times because of his common sense. Irwin assessed Watertons' works years after his death. The book was ******* published in 1955 in London, England.

From: "Highlights of the Major FAcilities Plan 1975- Waterton discussed many things in his letters, from 1985". Harriet Beecher Stowe (who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin and whom he thought was a mischief-maker) to Mrs. Priority needs for facility development.—Priority No. Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894) the New Yorker who 4, Upgrading of the Sir Alexander"Gait Museum. The introduced "bloomerism" in 1848. recommendations include the following; (a) Reloca­ tion of the City of Lethbridge Health Unit; (b) Demo­ A bloomer was a costume for ladies. It consisted of a lition of the 1930 additions to the west and south short dress with loose drawers gathered round the ends of the main building; (c) Construction of new ankles. A broad, low-crowned hat usually went with environmentally controlled replacement display space it. of 6,000 square feet to include a National Exhibition Centre; and (d) Relocation of City storage and work­ Waterton thought the fashion made more sense than shop building. previous dress, a conclusion he reached after attending two lectures on the subject. We wonder what the late George McKillop would think if he could see these proposed plans and could relate Waterton, who was 48 when his wife died after child­ them to the 2-room Bowman School Museum that he and birth when she was 18, a year after their marriage, Andy Staysko, George Watson, and others started in the suffered numerous accidents, including a fall from a late fall of 1963 and opened to the public in February 21-foot ladder while pruning, and another shortly 1964. after, a tumble indoors due to his mode of dress after the first mishap, which left him with a stiff arm that showed no sign of healing itself. For conveTiience he would wear Scotch plaid rather than "Doctor," I said, "great as the pain has been, I a coat when d'ining. He would leave the table without thought it would have been greater." waiting for dessert. At one dinner his plaid became displaced at the shoulders. Waterton rose to Crowther replied', "I am not quite over yet." On straighten it. The servant, thinking he was leaving saying this he "ordered the buckle to be loosed." the table, quietly withdrew the chair. "In an instant," Waterton continued, "he had seized Waterton, "having no chair" came to the floor with my arm above and below the elbow and then, by main terrific concussion," and required additional treat­ force, he twisted it right and left and broke to ment. shivers the whole of the callus. This done, he turned up the disabled hand upon the disabled Not satisfied with progress of the arm under care of shoulder and exclaimed, 'now you have as good an his physician, in whom he had confidence otherwise but arm as I myself have.'" who was not a surgeon, Waterton, fearing a stiff arm for life, "consulted a common but very capable bone- Waterton underwent this treatment four months after setter." the shoulder had been dislocated "And a little more time and patience will enable me to follow my usual It's a wonder Waterton did not have his neck broken in pursuits without interruption. Our summer birds of process of the treatment. His letter about what he passage have not made their appearance, nor have we underwent makes interesting reading. yet heard the cuckoo."

The bonesetter, named Crowther, was short, stout and ******* "built like Hercules." Small debts are like small shot; they rattle around He told Waterton they would have a "spot of trouble," on every side and can scarcely be escaped without a and then proceeded to prove it. Waterton said he felt wound. Great debts are like cannon, of loud noise pain, under any form of "operation," was preferable to but little danger. him to a stiff and wasted arm for life. ******* It was, and you can take Waterton's own words for it, "a great and terrible operation" to adjust the shoulder Walking.—Walking was born with man, and man is the "which had been driven forwards," to repair the arm only true walker among the world's creatures. Others which had shrunk, the elbow which was out of joint, creep, crawl, climb, swim, fly; they hop, leap, and the hand which was injured. bound, gallop, and, most of all, they run. Man walks..... The great migrations were all made on Crowther set the stage for the opctativ^r.. foot. The Tar^'-firsy Mongols, and Huns rode their swift, shaggy ponies across Asia and much of Europe, "One stout man held me to the chair," wrote Waterton, and for awhile they conquered. But the men who came "and our lady's maid, who has the spirit of Ajax, was and stayed were the ones on foot, bringing their gods present with a bottle of soda water and a quid of and tools and household arts, and their families. ginger for me. These she duly administered while the Only the walkers, advancing at- the pace of the slowest doctor was fortifying himself with a glass of good among them, could bring the old men with the wisdom old Yorkshire ale." of the past, the women and children with the promise of the future. Men on horseback have been the con- Having gulped the ale, Crowther rolled up his sleeves querers of history, but men afoot have been the and went to work on Waterton in a fashion the squire thinkers, the dreamers, the organizers, and the described: founders of civilizations.

"He bound my wrist firmly to himself and told the maid ***** to unloose the buckle (which held Waterton to the chair) when he should order her to do so. If you worry about bodily functions, remember three simple rules: Fill what's empty; empty what's full; "He then pulled the arm out till he had nearly got it and scratch where it itches. straight. I heard a crack and thought that all was over. *******

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oSpo'j SG.Joi; iiaajn '&'S -SAy q^s - 201 -92 'OH o>isXBr,3 -p -y. HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

Number 4 NEWSLETTER July, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $6.00 per year. Send membership dues to:, — - - .. ••--_. Mrs. Lucille Dalke, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. 0. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 326 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. Lucille Dalke, 938 - 9 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St. Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 607 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1976) Clarence Geiger, 1265 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2630 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs, Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave. A So.

IRENE E. MCCAUGHERTY, n'ee WHEELER Mrs. McCaugherty has been painting ever since she won a certificate for a landscape painting while in Recently, Mrs. Irene McCaugherty of Fort Macleod Grade 3 at Fleetwood School. It was exhibited at donated a set of paintings to the Sir Alexander Gait the Lethbridge Fair. Mel Fengstad, while owner of Museum. This was a very generous gesture on her part the El Rancho Motor Hotel, bought three 36" x 96" ' because the 25 paintings involved, in addition to paintings to hang in the Outrider Bar. Unfortunately, representing a great deal of work, form a valuable these were lost in the fire that partially destroyed record of various aspects of southern Alberta history. the El Rancho £.jme years ago. Later this summer the paintings will be placed on dis­ play in the Assembly Room of the Museum where they can Irene McCaugherty was born in Hardeville, where her be viewed by members of the Historical Society and the father worked as a teamster at No. 6 Mine. He had public. come from eastern Canada in 1909 while her mother came from Scotland. In 1926, Mr. Wheeler bought a The paintings, now a permanent part of the Museum col­ property east of the present Woolco complex and the lection, will serve as a continuing source of viewing family moved there. As a result, Irene and her two pleasure and historical information to generations of brothers, Vincent and George, walked two miles to Museum visitors. They will be particularly effective Fleetwood School. Later she attended Central School in getting across to young people the history of our and Garbutt Business College. region. The McCaughertys have one son, Ron, who is ,teaching The 25 paintings, which took four years to complete, school in Sherwood Park, near Edmonton. There are measure 24" x 48". Twenty four of them were done three grandchildren. during the period 1963-67 and one has been completed since 1967. Irene McCaugherty's hobbies are writing and painting. It was the late Harold Long who opened the door to It was modeled after schools established in writing when he suggested that she interview James Chautauqua, in western New York state, where popular Wallwork, long-time CPR engineer. He knew so much summer concerts, lectures, and university courses early Lethbridge history that Irene became "hooked" were given, starting about 1874. on the subject and interviewed many oldtimers of the city and region. These stories, in turn, were the Travelling Chautauqua evolved from the lectures inspiration for many of her paintings. given in Chautauqua, New York, although there was no direct connection. Chautauqua developed into Mrs. McCaugherty calls her set of paintings "The four or five days of entertainment, including Romance of the Land". The set consists of: lantern slide lectures, plays, vaudeville, classical and jazz concerts, puppetry, magicians, and other 1 The Spring Move aspects of the variety show business. They toured 2 Buffalo Dance many parts of Canada. Occasionally local lecturers 3 The Kill on Foot were used; in Lethbridge one of these was Dr. J. H. 4 Indian's First Horses Rivers, warden of the Jail, a noted local orator. 5 Buffalo Plunge 6 Indian Raid on Indian for Horses Chautauqua filled a desperate need. It brought 7 Ambush on Gold Seekers drama, glamour, and live professional performance to 8 Ambush When Getting Wood for Steamer rural communities at a time when prairie roads were 9 Peace Maker White Marries Indian mere trails, and grass grew between the ruts on the 10 The Slaughter of Buffalo by White Man side roads. Many prairie women, particularly, but 11 War men, too, hungered for what Chautauqua had to offer. 12 Night Raid 13 River Escape—Retaliation by White Advance agents arrived in a particular town and made 14 Trader's Hell arrangements with the local Board of Trade to Sheran's Dream 15 guarantee a certain minimum sum of money and thus 16 Whoop-Up—Col. Macleod removed H H Trading Flag ensure the appearance of the Chautauqua. Anything 17 Signing of Treaty taken in over the guarantee was shared. (In the 18 Escorting Sitting Bull to American Border Depression years too many local groups found them­ 19 Texas Cattle Drive to Southern Alberta selves losing money on these guarantees, a factor 20 Settlers Moving In that helped to kill Chautauqua.) 21 Homesteader, The Sod is Broken 22 A Town is Born When the Chautauqua tent arrived, the whole town 23 Freighting, transportation downed tools, farmers stopped plowing, and women Iron Horse Power 24 stopped hoeing or preserving. Children dressed in 25 First Passenger Train—Montreal to Port Moody, fancy costumes and paraded down the Main Street, B.C. in 1886 chanting Chautauqua cheers and singing Chautauqua songs. Between afternoon and evening performances, She hopes that the paintings will "... excite some towns staged sports competitions; others held others to enjoy and explore the history of southern dances on opening and closing nights. Alberta, and of Canada, making them proud to be Canadians." The pictures were painted from stories Four things killed Chautauqua: the Depression; poor fathered from many oldtimers of the region. crops; the advent of radio which brought entertain­ ment to isolated farmsteads; and good roads which ****** made it possible for families to drive to a big town or city to see a movie. Land is not something you inherit from your parents, it is something you borrow from your children. The program for the 1922 Chautauqua was typical of ******* the period. It played Lethbridge, even though the city was on a circuit for travelling vaudeville, live theatre, and moving pictures. Here is a short descrip­ THE CHAUTAUQUA tion of a few of the various numbers which were included in the program reserved for rural audiences Chautauqua was live stage entertainment in tents. Its that year. purpose was to educate and only incidentally to enter­ tain although the latter, to many, became its most T. Dinsmore Upton is aptly nicknamed "The Friend of important function. All Kids." His desire is to impart to the kiddies something which will make them "play the game." He In Lethbridge the Chautauqua tent was set up in the served during the war as a recreational director with north side of Gait Gardens, just opposite the CPR ice the rank of captain. For years he has been the sheds. (Circuses were set up at the northwest end of supervisor of municipal playgrounds in several large the 9th Street, or Sage's Bridge because there was a cities. His lecture "Re-Creation Through Recreation" siding there where animals and equipment were unloaded. will leave a lasting impression on young and old. Chautauqua played most of the larger towns throughout Every boy, every girl, every young man, every young southern Alberta, including Foremost, Bow Island, woman, every one interested in young people should Macleod, and Pincher Creek. hear "Dinny" Upton. For more than 30 years, from the early 1900's to about 1935, Chautauqua was an annual highlight through­ The Eiler-Willoughby Ladies' Orchestra, which was an out the Prairie Provinces. Generations of small boys unparalleled success on the Eastern Six-Day Circuit made an annual game of sneaking into the Chautauqua of the Dominion Chautauquas, is returning to this tent, there to squirm through a lecture on, for ex­ circuit. The orchestra is led by Patricia Eiler, a ample, "With Allenby in Palestine and Lawrence in finished artist on the violin, with many seasons' Arabia". experience. Miss Willoughby has the distinction of the iron fittings are required. This is a job for a locations. Established under the terms of the blacksmith, of which there are very few today. How­ Alberta Heritage Act, 1973, the board will work ever, Western Metal Fabricators very graciously closely with various organizations, societies and donated both their facilities and the necessary individuals. To ensure that it has wide provincial materials so that Bill could manufacture copies of representation, it will hold meetings in several the original iron work for the replica carriage. centres in Alberta.

Restoration of the Fort Whoop-up cannon is nearly com­ The first chairman of the Heritage Sites Board is plete. Everyone concerned hopes to have the gun in a Brian Edwards of Edmonton, a well-known architect shootable condition, ready to open Whoop-up Days on with considerable experience in the historic July 19th. Beyond this, Lethbridge should have the gun preservation field. Mr. Edwards was a member of "talking" for the centennial in 1985. the earlier provincial Historic Sites Advisory Committee (which was replaced by the new Board) and ******* a chairman of a special committee which investigated the possibility of preserving Calgary's Rundle Lodge. Museums and heritage are now a pretty regular part of Arthur Gregg of Edmonton has been named vice-chairman. life in Alberta. Much of the credit must go to the A prominent investment dealer, Mr. Gregg also served various historical societies and'chapters, and con­ on the former Historic Sites Advisory Committee and cerned senior citizens in the province. However, con­ chaired the 1973 United Fund Campaign in Edmonton. siderable credit must also go to the Government of Alberta, without whose funds and services many things Other members of the new Heritage Sites Board in­ would not be possible. This has been particularly so clude: John P. Klemp of Calgary, a general insur­ under the present Minister of Culture, the Honourable ance adjuster who has been prominent in community Horst A. Schmid. activities; Mrs. Mary Lobay of Edmonton, high school administrator and chairman of the Edmonton Historical For example the Sir Alexander Gait Museum, as a re­ Board; Gordon Crowchild, Chief of the Sarcee Band of gional institution representing southern Alberta, re­ Calgary, who has a strong interest in the preserva­ ceives an annual museum and archive operating grant of tion of native cultures; Richard Secord of Winterburn, $12,200.00. Another example is the liaison office of a former member of the National Historic Sites and the Provincial Museum of Alberta, which provides an Monuments Board whose family has maintained a long­ effective consulting and technical service for all standing interest in Alberta history; Harold Sisson, public museums in the province. QC, of Peace River, lawyer and prominent community leader; and Dr. Richard Forbis, Professor of The Provincial Museum and Archives of Alberta was Archaeology at the University of Calgary and a mem­ built in Edmonton as the province's Confederation ber of the Advisory Committee on the Conservation of Memorial project. The museum displays Alberta's Historical and Archaeological Resources. natural and human history, with gallery space devoted to paleontology, zoology, geology, Indians, fur Among the duties of the Alberta Heritage Sites Board traders and pioneers. The archives are concerned with will be to assume the powers of the former Geographic the preservation of papers, photographs, tape record­ Board of Alberta, to approve with the minister's con­ ings and other documentary material concerning the sent the names of places and geographical features in history of Alberta. Provincial government records of the province. The Heritage Sites Board will reserve historical significance form a major part of the part of their meeting for heritage sites programs. archival holdings. The Provincial Archives, as well Anyone wishing further information may contact the as being a collection and preservation agency, is a Board's secretary, W. Dean Clark, Director, Historic valuable research centre for those who wish to Sites Branch, 10158 - 103 Street, Edmonton, telephone utilize the material found there. 424-7795.

The Archaeological Survey of Alberta is also part ******* Alberta Culture. The Survey keeps track of archaeolog­ ical investigations in the province to ensure the -high ALBERTA AT A GLANCE level of professional standards required. The Survey sponsors an active field program to assist in the The People location and recording of sites. Research permits are Population: 1,804,000. Change in year: +3.3%. issued by the Archaeological Survey to qualified Edmonton Metropolitan area: 529,000. Calgary scientists for field investigation, tests and excava­ Metropolitan area: 444,000. tion. The Archaeological Survey operates three kinds of field programs—first, gathering basic data about Language: Percentage distribution of population by Alberta sites through surveys and excavations; second, "language most often spoken at home,": English undertaking salvage excavations in advance of govern­ (90.8%), German (1.8%), Ukrainian (1.7%). Other ment projects such as highway or reservoir construction;; (4.3%). Also, French a..A%). third, monitoring archaeological activities by private industry developers prior to the development. Where They Live: Urban: 1,196,250. Rural farm: 236,025. Rural nonfarm: 195,595. Degree of The Alberta Heritage Sites Board is also of current urbanization: 73.5%. interest to many people in Lethbridge and district, who often wonder how historic buildings are preserved What they live in: Owned dwellings: 334,000. As and historic markers erected. Projects of this nature a proportion of all dwellings: 64%. are ultimately the responsibility of the Board, to act in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Culture, ******* whose department, through the Historic Sites Branch, preserves, interprets and develops Alberta's historic One should not speak unless he can improve on silence. •^ar

THE SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM

AS PART OF ITS ONGOING PROGRAM TO PRESERVE SOUTHERN ALBERTA'S HISTORY AND PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC

IS NOW OFFERING YEARLY PASSES

TO INTERESTED PATRONS OF THE MUSEUM. PASS HOLDERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE WHOOP-UP CHAPTER., HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA,, 6 TIMES A YEAR.

INDIVIDUAL RATE $3.00

FAMILY RATE $5.00 INQUIRIES: SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT CITY OF LETb|BRlD5E^,^^ PHONE: im) 328-6455

SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM NEWS

(Jack Elliott)

In the previous news column, we told you about the sleeve is very difficult. The gunsmiths of 1830 Photographs of Earnest Brown. Well, the show has didn't always make a completely straight barrel and arrived and will be in the museum until September 3rd. the Fort Whoop-up gun may have a very slight bend. Earnest Brown was a well-known early photographer and Therefore, the sleeve cannot be slipped in cold and museum custodian. From his arrival in Edmonton in welded, and some fitting and adjustment will be 1904, until his death in 1951, he was a leading figure necessary. In the end, the best method may be to in photographing, recording and publicizing Western heat the barrel, and chill the sleeve in dry ice for Canadian history. the final fitting—a methdd popular with gunsmiths and blacksmiths in 1830. The museum is involved with several projects this summer. Perhaps the most interesting is the ongoing The gun carriage presents a different problem. A restoration of the Fort Whoop-up cannon. George decision was made to leave the original carriage un- Marshall of the Fort Whoop-up Black Powder Club is restored at this time, because of the prohibitive th^ driving force behind the project. George's expense, the need for an accurate reference by interest and enthusiasm has gained the support of historians, and the very fragile condition of the various people and businesses in Lethbridge. Dresser original. George Marshall agreed that the most Clark Division is restoring the barrel as a contribu­ practical so.'.ution would be to make a replica or copy tion to southern Alberta history. This has been a of the carriage for public use and display. Bill long, tricky and expensive process. First, the 2- Anderson of the Black Powder Club was willing to inch bore had to be drilled out to 2 1/2 inches, to tackle the project. Bill has been.a classic example remove interior rust and corrosion, and prevent fur­ of the right man for the right job. He has consider­ ther deterioration. The next step is fitting a 2- able experience as a practical gunsmith, and has made inch high-speed steel sleeve into the bore, to return several black powder firearms from scratch. The wood the gun to its original dimensions. Fitting the work on the carriage is now almost completed and only being one of the very few lady trap drummers on the Undoubtedly you will hear some historical facts which platform today. you never heard before. Prof. Grimley is energy and vigor personified. Alexander Tomson, of London, Eng. His subject is "Present Day Problems of Self-Government Within the The above are only a few items on a program which British Empire." He is in close touch with the promises well to enhance the reputation which the affairs of the empire and will deliver a clean cut Dominion Chautauqua has already made for itself in^ analysis of the situation facing the empire today. its effort to achieve those high ideals of a higher He does not attempt to solve the problems but merely citizenship through social improvement and a better points out the details which confront those who are community spirit. solving them. This is an exceptionally fine item.

Mme. Baschi, famous Roumanian contralto, has appeared before the most select audiences of Europe, and her Two things you should never see being made are press notices are very fine indeed. We suggest that sausages and laws. our readers get a copy of "Chautauqua Talk" from any member of the Chautauqua committee and read the re­ markable testimonials which Mme. Baschi has received. Incidentally Chautauqua Talk gives full information The wood spool, a one-time staple of the home sewing regarding the entire program. kit and plaything of generations of children, is now little more than a memory. The American Thread The Famous Kilties Band of Belleville, Ont., which has Company, Stamford, Conn., one of the world's largest toured the world, and which played twice before producers of industrial thread, announced recently royalty, will render two complete programs—one in the that it would close its only wood spool plant and buy afternoon and one in the evening. The band will be plastic spools instead. The company made 55 million assisted by H. D. Newcombe, baritone, of Halifax, N.S. wooden spools annually. Wood spools were made of Mr. Newcombe has a voice of excellent range and power. birch and, because birch spools required a complicated manufacturing procedure, cost from 2 l/2<: to 4 1/20 Dr. Frederick Poole, English traveller, gives his each. Plastic spools are simply, extruded from an in­ noted illustrated lecture: "With Allenby in Palestine jection mould and cost much less. and Lawrence in Arabia." We suggest that you read in Chautauqua Talk what English papers have to say about ******* Dr. Poole and his lecture. The Barred Rock breed of poultry, known to generations The Reed Metropolitan Players take the stage with the of farm women up to and shortly after World War II, noted English comedy, "Mrs. Temple's Telegram." The is virtually extinct. An occasional small flock may play was originally produced at the Oxford theatre, be maintained at a university as a curiousity and as a London, Eng., where it enjoyed a run of one year. potential source of germplasm. We suppose the same After touring the smaller cities of England, and is true of Plymouth Reds, Wyandottes, Black Minorcas, everywhere receiving the highest praise of both press and all the other breeds of poultry one used to see in and public, the management brought the production to farmyards throughout the west. America. At the Garden theatre. New York City, "Mrs. Temple's Telegram" had one of the longest Broadway ******* showings on record, remaining at this playhouse for 193 nights without interruption. The truly free man is one who can turn down an invita­ tion to dinner without giving an excuse. The Royal Filipino Orchestra has come thousands of miles across land and sea in order to entertain the ******* people of western Canada. Their programs have placed them in front rank of musical organizations. Culture Minister Horst Schmid recently designated 17 Alberta locations as provincial historic sites. Matthew Wayman, a noted Canadian author, having pre-war Among them are Massacre Butte, near Cowley, and the connections with the editorial staffs of the Toronto Standoff Whiskey Post at the junction of the Belly and Telegram and Daily News and Morning World, will lecture Waterton Rivers. Historic sites are protected by the on "The Economic Problems of Europe and How They Affect provincial government and, occasionally, are developed Us." This lecture is the result of long and earnest as tourist attractions. ... As far as we know, study at home and abroad—the facts he presents are nothing remains of the Standoff Whiskey Post. It was facts of experience. located close to the junction of the rivers and has been destroyed by the meandering of the streams. Mattison Wilbur Chase, a powerful and moving orator, Massacre Butte is a couole of miles northeast of will lecture on: "Why; or the Problem of Life." Cowley. The marker, designating the massacre of a There is a rich vein of original humor running through­ party of immigrants by Blood Indians under Medicine out the whole of this happy philosophic discussion on Calf, is at the foot of the hill to the west. the meaning and purpose of life. Happy indeed is the man who, after attempting to solve the riddle of life, ******* can face an audience with an optimistic gospel and leave behind enduring conviction. Birthdays are fun when you're young but too frequent when you're old. Professor 0. B. Grimley, a fine type of Canadian citizenship, speaks on the subject "In Defense of ******* Great Britain." Prof. Grimley is one of the very few close students of the colonial policy of the empire. God gave us memory, that we might have roses in December. BULL TEAMS From: "Scarlet S Gold", 1941, p. 89 (no It is fairly well established that the last bull author given).—Previous to the Canadian Pacific Rail­ team to cross the plains from Fort Benton, a dis­ way, "bull teams" were used in the 1870's and early tance of 240 miles, was in the spring of 1885, the 1880's to transport goods and supplies from Fort outfit being in charge of F. Burel, wagon boss for Benton, Montana, into Alberta and Saskatchewan. the I. G. Baker Company, who owned the train. Thes'e Travel was only possible for about eight months of the teams were utilized in the Fort Macleod region for year, during which time the pasture cost nothing. The freighting purposes until the transfer of the Baker bulls, of course, were really oxen, but were invari­ interests to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1889, when ably called "bulls". These cattle were broken in as the latter company disposed of them. steers four years old, and sometimes used three or four years, possibly more, and then sold for beef. Travellers from England, who penetrated this far In making up a team, the leaders were usually cattle western country in the late sixties and seventies, that had some experience, having been probably so came across these bull teams slowly trudging across utilized for two or more years. It was quite an the prairies. Said one such traveller: undertaking to yoke up an unbroken team, so that trains travelled in brigades, so as to have plenty of We were approaching Fort Whoop-up from the east and force available if any trouble occurred, which it it was toward evening when we topped a small rise quite frequently did. and looked down on the plain beneath. Some distance away—it must have been five miles—we could hear The teams of oxen were hitched in three wagons: lead, the sound of voices, ever and anon raised in a swing, and trail. Also a cart carrying a cooking out­ hoarse shout. At first we could see nothing. Then fit, blankets and a tent. As a rule the lead wagon from behind a large coppice or clump of trees we carried about 60% of the load, the second about 25%, saw emerge some toiling, plodding oxen. We could and the third about 15%. As much as 15 tons of see them plainly through our field glasses, swinging freight were carried by the three. Two men were de­ along in that peculiar gait of the bovine. As they. tailed to each team, for men were expensive and cattle walked the dust drifted from their plodding hoofs ih were not, therefore, it was necessary to economize as little clouds. Team after team came into view, until much as possible on men. there was nearly a half a mile of them stretched out. A man on horseback rode up and down the line. Under unfavorable conditions it was necessary to un­ The sun was nearing the horizon and we stood and hook the swing and trail wagons, and the teams would watched them until the plodding, swaying oxen, take the lead wagon over a bad piece of ground, and dragging their wagons behind them, were lost in the then come back for the swing and trail wagons, either haze of the autumn sun. separately or together. So the outfits travelled in brigades, consisting of several bull teams, usually ******* five or six, and frequently seven or eight, and when they were strung out they made an imposing spectacle. Youth lives on fantasy, old age on memory. In . middle age comes the cold douche of reality when at On very steep hills two or more of these teams would last we know what we can do. be coupled up. If a soft marshy piece of ground was met with, or streams, and their soft margins needed ******* to be crossed, the teams were taken over, uncoupled from the wagons, then attached to the wagons on the On shaving.—The average man, if he begins shaving far side by a long chain, and the wagons drawn at 15, will shave away by age 70 a total of 27 1/2 through. These wagons were strongly built, on a feet of whiskers. If he remains clean-shaven from broad guage of five feet, and were all well covered puberty to post mortem, our average man will have in heavy canvas, with bows on the wagon box, so that spent about 3,350 hours or 139 days of his life in all the goods were kept perfectly dry, no matter how daily scraping from his face bristles that will grow' bad the storm, and good shelter for the men could be again tomorrow. The poet. Lord Byron, equated obtained. When the bull trains travelled in brigades shaving with female pain, probably occasioned by the there was as a rule a wagon boss, who rode on horse­ standard of razor available in the early 1800's. . . . back and directed the outfit in all its details. The About 70% of American men use dry, electric shavers men as a rule did their cooking, not carrying any while about 60% of British men use wet, manual special man for the purpose, and their food consisted razors. . . . George Bernard Shaw, at the age of six, of fresh meat, beef and game. ...The oxen all drew watched his father shaving and asked, "Daddy, why do by a yoke, so in that respect the first cost of you shave?" His father looked at him for a full harness was not great, and there was very little minute, said, "Why the hell do I?", then threw his breakage except for an occasional ox bow, and very razor out an open window and never shaved again. rarely a yoke. HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

WHOOP-UP COUNTRY, CHAPTER

Number 5 NEWSLETTER September, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $6.00 per year. Send membership dues to: Mrs. Lucille Dalke, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. 0. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 326 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. Lucille Dalke, 938 - 9 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St., Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 607 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1976) Clarence Geiger, 1265 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2630 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs. Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave. A So.

THE C. P. R. BRIDGE

From 1885 to 1894, Lethbridge was the western terminus The new line between Lethbridge junction, and of a narrow gauge railway between the town and Dunmore Macleod (now Fort Macleod) was 37 miles long. Junction on the Canadian Pacific Railway main line There was a spur line into Lethbridge 1 1/2 miles near Medicina Hat. The narrow gauge line was operated long, making the total distance between the two by the Alberta Railway S Coal Company (successor to points 38 1/2 miles. Besides very heavy earthworks, the North-West Coal s Navigation Company), which may the new line included the construction of 20 wooden have held a charter to build the Crows Nest Railway bridges, having a total length of 12,063 feet, con­ into southeastern British Columbia. In any event, taining 15 million board feet of timber. Two preliminary moves toward the building of the Crows streams were crossed, the St. Mary River south of Nest line and before being taken over by the C. P. R., Lethbridge, and the Belly River on the west side of the A. R. & C. Co. made extensive surveys to affect a the Blood Indian Reserve. Both were low level crossing over the Belly (now Oldman) River just west crossings and, in getting down to the adopted level, of the townsite. it was necessary to build trestles and trestle bridges across the mouths of very deep coulees, In 1893, the narrow gauge railway was leased by the which were tributary to the main river valleys. C. P. R. and brought to standard gauge. Then the Several of these bridges exceeded 100 feet in height C. P. R. built the Crowsnest branch line in 1897-98. and many were from 400 to 600 feet long. It connected Medicine Hat, on the main line, with Kootenay Landing, on the south end of Kootenay Lake. By 1904-05, the 20 wooden bridges were in a bad state [The railway was built under authorization of "An Act of repair. Estimated cost of replacing them was to authorize a subsidy for a railway through the $1,065,000. Loosening of bolts, washouts, prairie Crowsnest Pass" (60-61 Victoria, Chapter 5), assented fires, and scaffold fires caused by sparks from to June 29, 1897.] locomotives were constant hazards. Further, operating costs on the line were heavy, because of the steep In June 1906, the Winnipeg Free Press scooped the grades, and only partial loads could be hauled. And Lethbridge Herald in an announcement regarding the much of the line ran through the Blood Indian Reserve, new bridge. The Winnipeg paper got onto the story which was unproductive of business. and headlined it, "One of the Wonders of the World". The story said''the C. P. R. had decided on a steel During the summers of 1904 and 1905 survey parties bridge, which will be one of the wonders of the were placed in the field to find an alternate route world. Wm. Whyte is in Montreal conferring with Sir to Macleod. Even at that time it appeared as if a Thomas Shaughnessy [president of the C. P. R.] re­ major bridge would be required and the Lethbridge garding the enterprise and it is understood that a Herald reported on November 22, 1905 that "Nothing decision had nearly been reached to go ahead this definite will be known as to the exact location of season. . . . The new bridge will be about one mile the big new bridge until the two survey lines being long and 300 feet high. The purpose in building it run are completed and submitted." is to straighten the track and shorten the distance between Lethbridge and Macleod. The grade on the (About November 15, 1905, Lethbridge was made a new line will be much easier and heavy loads can be Divisional point on the C. P. R., that distinction carried at much less cost. . . . The iron mills are being transferred from Macleod. It was an obvious very busy at the present time and it is thought indication that the C. P. R. intended Lethbridge to that difficulty will be experienced in getting any be the major center on the line and that a through of the material this year. The construction of the railway with a bridge to the west were essential to masonary work will be gone on with immediately and the plan. In the meantime, Lethbridge was rapidly the iron girders will be along during the season of reaching city status in spite of the geographical 1907. As a result of building the new structure disadvantage of being located off the main railway the track will be diverted to the north side of the line at the end of a 1 1/2-mile-long spur.) Belly (now Oldman) River. . . . The plan of the new structure is to construct a double bridge, the On January 3, 1906, the editor of the Lethbridge railway bridge being above, with a traffic bridge Herald had a bright idea. He wrote it up in an below." editorial entitled "Need of Bridge", saying: "The decision of the C. P. R. to erect a bridge across the Hopes for the traffic bridge, which must have been Belly [now Oldman] River in order to shorten the slim from the start, finally vanished. In a story route between here and Macleod is important in headlined "No Chance for Bridge", the Lethbridge several respects. For years the town has hoped the Herald reported on January 3, 1907 that, "Wm. Whyte railway would take this action as it was felt that wrote to say that there was no chance of a traffic the present course of the road between here and bridge in connection with the railway bridge. He Macleod had considerable effect on Lethbridge's pointed out that the order for steel had to be future as a railway center. . . . But great as the placed a long time ahead and nothing had come from need for a railway bridge at this point, still just the city or province. He anticipated that a great as imperious is the demand for a bridge to accommodate deal of time would be necessary to get the reguired the farmers north and west of us, whose natural aid from the government and so had decided to go market is Lethbridge. At the moment they have to go ahead without the traffic bridge. The estimated quite a distance out of their way in order to cross cost of a traffic bridge by Mr. Woodman was much the river. . . . As a matter of fact, farmers within too low. [We know nothing of Mr. Woodman, presum­ 10 miles of us go to Claresholm with their produce ably an engineer hired by the city or province, and simply because they will not allow their horses to his estimated cost was not given.] Mr. Whyte con­ pull heavy loads up the steep hills between their cluded by saying that the C. P. R. had already homes and Lethbridge. . . . Efforts should be made placed its order for steel." at once to ascertain if the C. P. R. would permit a driveway to be erected alongside their tracks. Once Design the permission of the C. P. R. is obtained, it would be necessary to ask the government of Alberta to The design finally chosen was a steel viaduct con­ grant a sum toward defraying the expenses of enlarging sisting of 44 plate girder spans 67 feet 1 inch the bridge and Lethbridge would be expected to assist. long, 22 plate girder spans 98 feet 10 inches long, . . . The Board of Trade and the merchants must com­ and one rivetted deck lattice truss span 157 feet mence this campaign immediately." long, carried on 33 rigidly braced rivetted steel towers. Each tower consisted of two "bents", the The C. P. R. was approached and, one assumes with high bents consisting of Nos. 23 to 56, inclusive. reservations, agreed to consider the building of a traffic bridge as part of the new railway bridge. On The towers were designed with a batter (incline) of May 31, 1906, Mayor Rogers was told by Vfin. Whyte, head one to six, which, with the girders of the spans official of the C. P. R. in the west, that the new of the roadbed spaced at 16-foot centers, gave bridge might be started in the fall and rushed to ample spread at the base of the towers to keep the completion. Mr. Whyte went on to say that the C. P. R. maximum uplift due to horizontal forces (wind), when would be quite willing to allow a traffic bridge to unloaded, within reasonable limits. The tower spans be built, provided the government of Alberta would were made 67 feet long in order to give longitu­ stand the expense. When this was conveyed to the dinal stiffness to the towers and reduce the trac­ Lethbridge Board of Trade on June 7th, W. C. Simmons, tion stress in the lower legs, M.L.A., said he was willing to approach the govern­ ment but had to have facts—when and where the new Stresses in the towers were calculated to provide bridge was to go, etc. The Board of Trade decided to for four conditions: With the bridge unloaded, again approach Mr. Whyte in Winnipeg, wind at an angle of 45° to center line of track at 50 lbs to the square foot; bridge loaded, wind as . A transit was set up at F and additional hubs above but at 30 lbs per square foot; bridge unloaded, labelled E, C, and X were established using W as a wind normal to center line of track at 50 lbs per foresight, then T, S, and R were established from square foot; and bridge loaded, wind normal to the west end of the bridge using F as a foresight. centre line of track at 30 lbs per square foot. The This gave 8 points along the center line of the live load provided for consisted of two consolidation bridge, not all of which were visible from all engines coupled together, each weighing 337,000 lbs, others. Hub X, which was located a short distance followed by a uniform train load of 4000 lbs per up the bank on the east side of the river, was chosen linear foot. All in all, the structure was designed as a starting point for all measurements. There to meet C. P. R. specifications for steel bridges were several reasons for this. From X there was a for 1905. Material used in construction was mild, good opportunity to get a sufficiently long base line open hearth steel of 60,000 lbs ultimate strength. for triangulation. At it, also, the triangulation (The imaginary train used in stress calculations base could be laid out at right angles to the center seemed to be one that covered about five towers.) line of the bridge, making it equally valuable for work in the direction of W as in the direction of F, The ground was fairly level, offering a good Owing to the uplift from the wind it was necessary to opportunity to measure and check the base line. And, design an adequate means of anchoring the column finally, it was important to start the river work footings to the piers. Anchor bolts 2 1/2 inches in immediately as the substructure contractors were al­ diameter and 8 feet 11 inches long were used in such ready on the ground at the time of measurement. Hub a way that one corner of a tower was fixed, the other X was close at hand and no delay would be occasioned three being free to move with expansion or contraction in laying out excavations for the river piers. of the steel.

On account of the great height of the structure and The center line had been measured by both the loca­ the severe winds so frequently experienced, it was tion engineer and the engineer making the preliminary decided to use spans of the through instead of the survey but neither was thought to be sufficiently deck-plate girder type. (In other words, the railway accurate for the construction of the foundations. track was nestled between two 8-foot high spans in­ stead of running on top of the girders.) This The river banks in the vicinity were steep and rendered it practically impossible for derailed cars irregular and it was decided to start measurements to leave the deck. (A derailed car in falling from in both directions from X, so that any error in the the structure would have knocked out tower legs and measurement of the center line would be distributed bracing, owing to the great spread of the bents.) on both banks, instead of being thrown on one. (In September 1907, when this was being done, no de­ The track was carried on 8-inch x 12-inch ties, tailed plan of the bridge was yet available and, 'spaced 12-inch centers, which were supported by two hence, it was not safe to suppose that any. small lines of steel stringers, spaced 8 feet center to errors in the total length of the viaduct would be 'center. The floor beams in all the spans were taken up by the erection of steel. Accordingly, •spaced 16 feet 5 1/2 inches apart throughout the all possible means were followed to ensure a correct jstructure. chainage throughout the length of the bridge and nothing in the way of laying out piers was done un­ All of the spans from the east abutment to bent No. til this length was finally decided upon.) 16, and from bent No. 62 to the west abutment, were made 67 feet 3 inches long, and 100-foot spans were An unsupported steel tape was not suitable for used between the towers for the remainder of the measuring because of the prevalent high winds. A Structure, with the exception of the space between supported steel tape was not used because it was bents Nos. 60 and 62. At that point there was a not thought to-be practicable. Something less steeply cut bank, and it was considered inadvisable sensitive to wind and fluctuations in temperature to place a tower or bent upon it. A rivetted deck- was required and a graduated wooden rod was chosen. lattice Warren type truss was used to span over this It was made on the spot of a well-seasoned 16-foot bank. long, 2-inch x 4-inch piece of cedar. Brass plates were attached to the 2x4 and a highly accurate 15- Laying Out and Construction of the Substructure foot long measuring rod resulted. A 90-foot long standard base was constructed and used periodically To a non-engineer in 1976, the laying out of the sub­ to check the accuracy of the measuring rod. structure seemed to be a crude process. Measurements were started, plum bobs protected by wind shields being used to get from one level to First, two "hubs" were laid out at each end of the another. Eventually, the distance between F and W bridge, close enough to the ends to be of use was found to be 5516.908 feet by actual measurement, throughout construction but not so close as to be 5516.860 feet by triangulation. The difference was disturbed during construction. The hubs consisted of only 0.048 feet, or about 1/2-inch. (Previous 4-foot lengths of 8-inch x 8-inch timber cemented into measurements were out by as much as three feet.) holes, carefully levelled off, and the center marked. All of this took about six weeks of very trying These were fenced, leaving sufficient space in the time, especially on account of the high winds. exclosure to set up a transit and, by special arrangement, a sighting rod was always left standing In laying out the foundations, it was only necessary over the center, which had been established by a to turn off at an angle of 90° from the center line, small brass brad. The two hubs constituted the center and to measure out the given distance to the center line of the bridge, fror which all other measurements of the particular foundation. "Bent" hubs were set were made. The hub at the west end of the bridge was up at these various center points, a transit was labelled "W", that at the east end was labelled "F". located over them in turn, and the measurements

Cont'd after Museum News ^^

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SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM NEWS

by Jack Elliott

A successful summer season has ended at the museum for tion, Mr. Marshall was the major inspiration and 1976. Approximately the same number of visitors key figure in making the necessary restoration entered the museum this summer as in 1975. The museum arrangements with private and corporate benefactors, visitor hours effective August 30 are: and in bringing those arrangements to completion. Mr. Marshall's unselfish efforts have truly contrib­ Monday - Friday 1:00 - 4:30 P.M. uted to the preservation and understanding of human Saturday Closed history in the Lethbridge region. Sunday 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. Speaking of restoration, I've had many calls about New displays have been completed at the museum and are bottle collecting and glass restoration this year. available to the public. A display on pioneer carpen­ The following are comments for collectors of glass try titled The Woodworker has been added to the perma­ by Ivor Noel Hume, from his book Historical nent gallery, and The One-Room School is being rein­ Archaeology: A Comprehensive Guide. troduced due to popular demand. The travelling exhi­ bition Photo Album of Lethbridge proved so popular "Most pottery and glass objects will stand up well with Lethbridgonians last year that two more travelling to washing under a running tap, provided they are photo exhibitions were developed for public use: The scrubbed with a brush of medium stiffness and with Photo Album of Coal Banks and Irrigation in Southern an intelligent amount of vigor. A double sink is Alberta. best for the job; one load can be soaking to soften the dirt while another is being washed. Both sinks The restoration of the Fort Whoop-Up cannon is about should be fitted with a combination faucet so that done. Bill Anderson of the Fort Whoop-Up Black Powder a constantly warm (though not hot) temperature can Club in co-operation with Western Metal Fabricators be maintained, and the head should be of a pivoting has completed the replica carriage, and Dresser Clark type that can pour the water straight down into the Division is nearly finished fitting the new sleeve in center of the sink. A combination spray-and-jet the gun bore. The efforts of George Marshall of the head should be attached to the tap so that the force black powder club deserve particular recognition. of water can be controlled, the spray generally Without remuneration, and with no desire for recogni­ being the most satisfactory. Because it is necessary to wash in running water (otherwise the dirt becomes used in association with Hardener 3416.) can be used. suspended in solution and settles back onto the Because this glue has no solvent, it is imperative artifacts), a vast quantity of dirt goes down the that there be no errors in the assembling of the drain; it is important therefore that the sinks be pieces. The only safe method is to mend all the fitted with plug-hole filters and easily cleanable fragments together with Scotch tape and then use a traps. needle to channel the epoxy glue into the cracks from the inside of the vessel. If the neck is too small "In some cases, objects in a fragmentary condition or to allow this, the vessel can be taken apart at the made up of numerous small parts may come into the lab mid-section, and the two halves repaired separately. still in a protective cake of soil. This can either It may be necessary to reconstruct missing fragments be picked away by hand or removed by a jet of water. with celluloid strips before the halves are finally ' The latter can be provided by attaching a small-gauge glued together. rubber pipe to the tap or by using a well-aimed toy water pistol. The latter is particularly recommended "The problems of repairing decayed bottle glass are for removing compacted dirt from the crevices of particularly acute because the structure breaks down skulls. inward from the fractures, thus rendering the joined edges extremely unstable. If the decay is "Soaps and detergents are of little assistance in the only superficial, satisfactory results can be washing of artifacts, for they only generate bubbles achieved by inverting the bottle over a supporting that prevent the washer from seeing what he is doing. peg and simply painting slightly thinned epoxy Besides, washing under running water makes their use marine varnish onto the surface. The bottle requires impossible. Much has been written in recent years an unnaturally high gloss, but this can be removed about the wonders of ultrasonics as a labor-saving when the varnish is thoroughly dry by gently rubbing means of washing artifacts. With the same object in the surface with the finest grade of steel wool. view, one writer advised laying the sherds out on trays and searing them with a steam hose. I abhor "Drying the decayed glass in acetone and then im­ such practices and contend that there is no substi­ pregnating it with epoxy varnish in a vacuum tank tute for the human hand working in close harmony with has been successful in treating bottles recovered the watchful human eye. Only by this primitive means from shipwreck sites. But first it is necessary to can one be sure that the glaze is not coming off the wash the glass in running fresh water for a long pottery, or that the glass is not flaking. Further­ time to remove all the salts. Such prolonged more, I do not believe that mechanical methods can washing is also necessary for porous pottery re­ extract every last grain of dirt from the bore of covered from the ocean, otherwise the salts will every pipe stem or from the broken edges of every slowly leach out destroying the surface in the sherd, and that is essential if the pieces are to be process. tightly glued together again. "The reconstruction of glass and porcelain "After washing and drying, each group of fragments is generally calls for refined techniques. In re­ divided by type and ware (usually into paper cups pairing the bowls of wine glasses I have had some grouped in open cardboard boxes) and set out on a success with building up the missing areas in thin table. The group is still kept together in an allot­ vertical strips of clear celluloid anchored with ted area of the table, the spaces usually being marked cellulose glue to a rim band of the same material. off with \70od or cardboard dividers. Once this skeleton has been constructed, fragments of the glass wall (which would not otherwise stay "The gluing together of glass calls for care and in place) can be glued onto it. This is by no patience. If all the pieces of a vessel are present, means an ideal method, but it is cheap, simple, and mending should begin from the bottom up. Working transparent. Even if something more substantial is from both ends at the same time generally results in ultimately intended, the technique enables an a gap or overlap in the midsection. By building up otherwise unmanageable collection of fragments to from the base toward the mouth, the natural tendency stay together well enough for the vessel to be of the walls to spring apart is minimized, and, on measured and drawn. reaching the mouth, it is possible to draw the sides of any gap together with string while the last glue "New plastics are constantly coming on the market joins are setting. With the development of epoxy and therefore it is unwise to claim that any one glues, many people have been prompted to use them for product is the most efficient that can be found. repairing pottery and glass on the ground that they However, the material currently used by the better ^ are much stronger than other glues. When thrown onto glass restorers is a German product named Technovit. concrete, test samples of glass mended with epoxy glue (Technovit 4004-A, available from Kulzer S Co., G.M.B.H., shattered into numerous new fragments while the glued Frolingstr. 29, P.O.B. 261, Bad Homburg v.d.' Hohe, joins held. The trouble is that if one makes a mis­ Germany.) It is readily workable before it hardens, it take while putting a vessel together with epoxy glue, adheres to glass like glue, and is available in both it cannot be taken apart again. Because the glue takes transparent and opaque forms, making it usable for some hours to set, there is a very real likelihood restoring either glass or porcelain. To recreate a that the joined pieces may slip and finally bond in a missing fragment of a mold-decorated flask, the first quite useless relationship. step is to make a. plaster of Paris patch, shaping it against an exterior mold made from a piece of alu­ "Cellulose glues hold best on porous surfaces, but for minum foil backed with modeling clay. The foil pre­ this reason they are less effective on porcelain or vents the plaster from sticking to the clay. After glass. the mold has been removed the plaster is sculpted to re­ produce the surface decoration (either incuse or in re­ "An epoxy glue such as Hysol 2038 (Hysol Corporation, lief) , and then the finished product is covered with 322 Houghton Avenue, Olean, New York. Hysol 2038 is another molding material such as Silastic 501 RTV rubber. The plaster is chipped out from the back, leaving the impression of the decoration in the mold, which remains in position to receive the Technovit. When this has set, the mold is removed and the ornamen- required by the contractor in excavating for the piers A large house had to be removed during construction. were laid out. This was done before the ground was This was "Coaldale", the home of Elliott T. Gait, disturbed and in the river it was done on the ice. General Manager of the Alberta Railway & Irrigation Company (successor to the Alberta Railway S Coal Later, owing to the design of the steel work, it was Company). It had been built soon after the opening found necessary to have a precision of l/8th-inch in of Drift Mines Nos. 1 and 2 in December 1882. (It the finishing of the top of the piers. Points were had not been lived in since the Robert Watson family set for the forms and, after considerable cement had moved out following the flood of June 1902.) been put in, points were set with fine nails for the finishing of the top of the piers. PERSONNEL AND MISCELLANEOUS

The plant used by the contractors for the substructure Mr. F. M. Young was the engineer in charge of the was: 2 orange peel dredges; 1 clam shell dredge; 1 survey party which located the route of the new drag line dredge or excavator; 3 stiff leg derricks; Lethbridge to Macleod line and the crossings of the three 6-inch submerged centrifugal pumps, one 8-inch Oldman River at Lethbridge and Monarch. Mr. C. N. suction centrifugal pump; 3 traction engines for Monsarrat, Montreal, designed the bridge and the steaming and driving pumps; 2 traction engines to consulting engineer was Mr. C. C. Schneider, furnish steam for thawing out the bottoms of frozen Philadelphia. The work was handled from the office excavations during the winter; 2 hoisting engines for of the assistant chief engineer, Mr. J. E. Schwitzer, handling concrete; 2 Raymond concrete pile drivers; Winnipeg, who was responsible for the original con­ 1 crusher with elevated bin; 2 Smith mixers; 1 Ransome cept. Mr. F. St. C. Farran was in charge of con­ mixer; and a great deal of smaller plant. struction, assisted by Mr. Blair Ripley, who had immediate charge of the field work. Mr. Ripley, in The first few feet of the land excavations were taken turn, was assisted by Mr. A. T. McDonald and Mr. out by teams and scrapers and the balance by pick and J. R. Middletoh, rodmen. Mr. J. Rankin supervised shovel. Then the excavations were staked out, ready the erection of steelwork for the C. P. R. for piles, which were driven by the Raymond Pile Company of Canada. Piles were driven and made as The contractor for the steelwork was the Canadian follows: sheet steel was fitted over a collapsible Bridge Company, Walkerville, Ontario. Company tapering core. The core and casing were driven to personnel included Mr. A. L. Colby, manager of con­ the required resistance, then the core was collapsed, struction, and Mr. J. W. Stoughton, superintendent leaving a sheet steel casing in the ground. This was of erection. Mr. C. F. Prettie, superintendent on filled with cement, making a concrete pile, which v;as the ground, had direct charge of the bridge company later cut off to leave one foot of the pile in the in the field and had a gang of about 100 men. footing of the piers. Footings for the land piers were put in place and concrete was poured, for each The contract was let for the building of the bridge pier in turn. on November 8, 1905. During the winter of 1906-07 a special engineering party was put into the field The river work was different. Dredges were used to to make a preliminary survey of the site. Among clear sand and gravel off shale, which lay about 20 other jobs, the survey party measured the bridge feet below the water, and then an open caisson was crossing. Steel tapes were used and, although the sunk to fit close to the shale. (Caissons consisted engineers were very careful, their final measurement of 10-inch X 10-inch timbers, weighted down with old was found to be three feet in error. rails. Gaps between the caisson and the shale were filled in by driving sheet steel alongside the During the first week of December 1907, when the timbers.) The caisson was pumped out after being put design of the bridge had been completed, the work in place and footings were prepared for the placing of finally laying out the center line and locating of concrete. When a caisson could not be pumped out, the position of the pedestals for the viaduct began. divers were used to clean debris out of the bottom and concrete was poured under the water. The contract for the excavation and substructure was awarded to John Gunn S Sons, of Winnipeg, the work Much of the work of constructing the substructure was to be completed by March 1, 1908. The excavation undone by the flood of June 1908 when pits were work was started in September 1907. Concreting be­ filled in, forms destroyed, and much other damage gan in November 1907 and carried on continuously caused. through the winter but owing to delays caused by extreme floods in the early spring and other diffi­ A 1:2:4 mixture of concrete, sand, and gravel was culties met with in connection with the river used in the pouring of concrete piles and for the foundations, the substructure was not completed un­ underwater cement pouring and a 1:3:6 mixture else­ til February 1909. [In June 1908, the river reached where. All of the gravel used came from the excava­ a level one foot higher than the previous record in tions along the river bottom and was clean enough to June 1902.] use without further treatment. This was very profitable for the contractors. Also, sufficient coal Steel work began on August 15, 1908 and was com­ was taken from one of the excavations to feed the pleted on June 22, 1909. The bridge opened for boilers furnishing steam for several river piers. traffic on November 1, 1909.

The cement used was "Buffalo Brand", made near Calgary, and "Exshaw Brand", made at Exshaw, Alberta. FIRST TRAINS OVER THE C. P. R. BRIDGE The alignment of the Lethbridge bridge is a tangent throughout, there being a 1 degree curve at the On October 23, 1909, the Lethbridge Herald reported, east approach to the bridge and a 3 degree curve at "First train over the new bridge. The first train the west approach. The grade is 0.4 per cent, over the new cutoff from Macleod arrived in Lethbridge rising to the west for the whole length of the bridge. this morning. The train was in charge of Conductor Choquette and Engineer Moore. [The train consisted The east end of the viaduct is 3,800 feet west of of an engine and the special car 'Minnedosa', with Lethbridge Station. Inspector Drury, Superintendent Chudleigh of Cranbrook, N. E. Brooks, district engineer of Calgary, and Contrary to a general belief, there is no speed limit others aboard.] The bridge over the Oldman River was on the bridge. At the west end of the bridge there completed yesterday, with the exception of putting in is a yard limit board which effectively limits the a few rivets. A small amount of ballasting is also to speed of eastbound freight trains to 30 mph. However, be done at the east end of the bridge." passenger trains did not have to observe the yard limit board and, in the past, have come onto the Immediately following completion/of the bridge, bridge at full speed (60 mph). Speed is not a factor several flat cars loaded with Lethbridge residents with westbound traffic as there is no opportunity to and visitors were pushed across the bridge, the loco­ get up speed while leaving the Lethbridge yards. motives likely being operated by the engineers who had worked with the construction gangs. The first full Some quantities involved in the structure were: dry tonnage freight train over the bridge from east to excavation, 18,110 cubic yards; wet-excavation, 4,870 west was operated by James Wallwork, one of cubic yards; concrete, 17,090 cubic yards; concrete Lethbridge's best-known early locomotive engineers. piling, 1,676 piles; riprap, 339 cubic yards; and This event is supposed to have taken place on October steel, 12,200 tons. It required 645 cars to trans­ 21, 1909. (The date is surely wrong in light of the port the steel actually used in the erection of the Herald's report of October 23rd.) bridge to the bridge site. Contractors plant re­ quired about 40 cars, timber ties and guard rails Another puzzle is a statement made many years later about 53 cars, besides which there were additional by Engineer Fred James, who claimed to have taken the cars involved in coal hauling, making in all about first eastbound full tonnage freight train across the 900 cars. new bridge on December 2, 1909. ******* A new timetable for the Lethbridge-Macleod run came into force on October 31, 1909 and the bridge ACCIDENTS DURING THE BUILDING OF THE C. P. R. BRIDGE ' officially came into use on November 1, 1909. Three men died during the construction of the C. P. R. ******* Bridge at Lethbridge and, after its completion, a trespasser was killed in a fall. There was one Oliver Watmough remembers as a boy watching the con- accident that only resulted in the victim breaking struction of the C. P. R. Bridge. At the time he both his wrists, although he fell 160 feet. Here are lived on a farm in what is now West Lethbridge. His short accounts of those accidents. jmost vivid memory is the noise of the pneumatic rivetting hammers as they pounded home the rivets on July 15, 1908. Lethbridge Herald.—"Two men suf­ the bridge. According to Mr. Watmough, the noise focated by gas in an effort to rescue a boy. Dead echoed throughout the river valley, especially on are Fred Rush, a young Englishman, and George N. Istill days, and seemed to the young boy to go on Thompson, a recent arrival from North Dakota. The forever. [The air compressor plant was placed on the boy was George Anderson, whose home was nearby. The ground near the Lethbridge abutment, and compressed accident occurred at 2:00 p.m. . . . One of the air at 100 Ibs/sq. in. was piped out onto the bridge cement piers [Pier 23] was sinking so Gunn & Co., to the point where the rivetting traveller was contractors, were asked to sink a hole near it to located. From that point flexible hoses led to the see why. The company sank a hole to 25 feet and pneumatic rivetting hammers, which were used through­ found that the pier was on top of an old abandoned out the work. There are approximately 328,000 field entry to the Gait Mines and that the entry was only rivets in the structure.] partially filled with slack and other debris. Gas arose from the entry, making it dangerous to work in ******* the shaft near the pier and the engineers ordered work stopped and a fan constructed to get the gas C. P. R. BRIDGE STATISTICS out. . . . Little George Anderson and Willie Neidig were playing nearby and George Anderson climbed down The savings affected by the new line, as compared to the hole. He was overcome by gas and Willie Neibig the old, were: 5.26 miles less line; 1,735 degrees saw him lying on his back on a timber about 15 feet less curvature; 37 fewer curves; 401.5 feet less rise down. He told his mother who gave the alarm. and fall; and the securing of a 0.4 per cent grade, as . . . Workmen came immediately. Mr.. W. A. Campbell compared to a 1.2 per cent grade on the old line. On went into the hole and picked up the laoy but was the new line there were only two bridges, both large overcome by gas. Rush and Thompson volunteered to viaducts, one over the Belly (now Oldman) River at get them, went into the hole and attached ropes to Lethbridge, 5,327.6 feet in length, with a maximum the unconscious boy and man. Then they were over­ height of 314 feet from the bed of the river. The come by gas and fell to the bottom of the hole. second bridge over the Oldman River near Monarch is . . . The man and boy were hauled up by Engineer 1,900 feet long and 146 feet in height above the bed Blair Ripley and Rodman A. T. McDonald. Mr. F. of the river. Hodson volunteered to get the men but collapsed before he reached the bottom and had to be hauled out. Steelworkers were brought from England to work on Mr. W. W. Carvis volunteered to get the bodies and did the bridge. The only one of whom we have personal so although he was in bad shape afterwards. . . . The knowledge was the late Sidney Peake Sr., who came boy was about 10 years old. . . .Dr. Frank Mewburn to Lethbridge with his brother to work on the pronounced the men dead when he arrived after a few bridge. We believe the brother returned to England minutes." but Sidney Peake remained and his descendants live here still. We believe that other Lethbridge April 7, 1909.—Lethbridge Herald. "Man dies in fall families came here at the same time and would like from bridge. At 9:00 a.m. William Smith fell off the to hear from them. floor space and fell 300 feet to the ground. It was the first fatality on the new bridge. He was 24 years In fact, we would appreciate hearing from anyone of age and came from Hamilton, Ontario. He was a mem­ with new information or personal accounts of the ber of the Y.M.C.A. baseball team in 1908. The work bridge. We have gone over back issues of the was stopped for the rest of the week. Smith left a Lethbridge papers and have extracted much of the wife and three small children." [Mr. Smith was making significant information from them. We have copies connections on the steelwork on the top of tower No. of technical papers by J. E. Schwitzer, C. N. 47 when he fell to his death.] Monsarrat, and Blair Ripley, all of which were pre­ pared within a few years of completion of the October 19, 1909. Lethbridge Daily Herald. "A tres­ bridge. In the next few months we hope to interview passer met his death. The body of a man found dead C. P. Rail maintenance personnel to obtain a modern under the big bridge about midway over was identified view of the bridge. as John Johnson, a workman employed at the C. P. R. camp at Kipp as a waterman. He had been in town with We attempted to get information on personnel involved a group of fellow wor)anen and was on his way back to in the design and construction of the bridge and on camp when the mishap occurred. He was from Montreal the contracting companies. To this end we wrote to and had come to Lethbridge only a few weeks before as the Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa, and the part of an extra gang to work on railway construction Ontario Archives, Toronto, but there is no informa­ near Kipp. He was about 20 years of age. The rest of tion on either personnel or companies. We contacted the men in camp took up a subscription to bury him." the C. P. Rail Archives, Montreal, at the same time but, to date, have had no reply. There are many Late winter—early spring, 1909. We weren't able to pictures of the bridge in the possession of the locate the news report of a serious fall involving Glenbow-Alberta Institute archives, Calgary, but Andrew (Red) Cleaver although the episode was re­ little or no factual information. ported. Mr. Cleaver was working on the bridge and fell from about Pier 14 or 15 onto a steep slope which ******* was covered by 12-18 inches of snow. The fall was about 160 feet but Mr. Cleaver luckily only broke both Canada, with four million square miles of territory wrists. Apparently he slid another 50 feet down the and only four hundred years of documented history, slope after landing. is a country more preoccupied with space than with time, with environment rather than tradition. ******* ******* The Lethbridge Historical Society intends to prepare a booklet on the C. P. R. Bridge and to make it avail- The silence of the past—for any but the words of able to the general public. The bridge is Lethbridge's the rich, the powerful, or the clerical—is vast, most famous landmark and, while local citizens tend to Those whose lives we would like to know about spoke; take it for granted, visitors usually are impressed. they did not write; and their words have gone. The bridge was, and is, a major engineering feat. It is a tribute to its builders that, 67 years after its completion, the bridge is still perfectly safe and carrying loads that its designers never even imagined. HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

- WHOOP-UP COUNTRY, CHAPTER

Number 5 NEWSLETTER ISSN 0382-9812 November, 1976

Membership in the Whoop-up Country Chapter, Historical Society of Alberta, including a subscription to the quarterly Alberta Historical Review, newsletters, and notice of meetings, can be obtained for $6.00 per year. Send membership dues to: Mrs. M. E. Robison, Treasurer, Whoop-up Country Chapter, P. O. Box 974, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4A2

SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1976-77

President Alex Johnston, Marquis Hotel Past President Frank A. Russell, Box 325 Vice President Carlton R. Stewart, 1005 - 23 St. No. Secretary Dr. R. A. Lacey, 1912 - 14 St. So. Treasurer Mrs. M. E. Robison, 1-323 - 28 St. So. Council Member (1978) Andrew J. Staysko, Green Acres Lodge Council Member (1978) James H. Carpenter, 2117 - 14 Ave. So. Council Member (1977) Mrs. Donna Coulter, 315 - 17 St., Fort Macleod Council Member (1977) Albert Candy, 507 - 7 Ave. So. Council Member (1975) Clarence Geiger, 1255 - 5 Ave. A So. Council Member (1976) Ray Schuler, 2530 - 22 Ave. So. Social Convenor Mrs. Nora Everson, 802 Park Towers Apt. Social Convenor Mrs. Wyn Meyers, 1236 - 5 Ave. A So. Social Convenor Mrs. Lucille Dalke. 6.38 9t" h' -St-rp.p.r Sn.

NOTICE OF MEETING Pigeon Lake and, more recently, as a member of the Historic Sites Board of the province. He has been The regular monthly meeting of the Whoop-up Country active in community affairs as past chairman of the Chapter of the Historical Society of Alberta will be Edmonton United Way and northern treasurer of the held in the Assembly Room of the Sir Alexander Gait Canadian Institute for the Blind. Museum on Tuesday, November 23rd, 1975, at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Gregg came to Canada from Belfast, Northern Ireland The program will consist of a talk by Arthur E. Gregg, in 1930 at age 17 and spent 22 years in banking in Executive Director, Alberta Historical Resources Toronto before coming to Edmonton in 1949. He went Foundation. This foundation, established four years into the investment business in 1952 and in 1956 opened ago by the Alberta legislature, provides an independent the Edmonton office of McLeod, Young, Weir S Co., Ltd. vehicle for businesses and individuals to assist in as founding manager. He retired in July as a vice- the preservation of historic sites and buildings. It president. is empovvfered to acquire property, receive gifts, and generally to assist in the preservation of Alberta's heritage. The foundation has established offices at 121 - 8th Avenue S.W., in Calgary. The newsletter has been assigned International Standard Serial Number, ISSN 0382-9812. The number was assigned Sites that are being looked at in Lethbridge with a by the National Library of Canada, which has been view to preservation include the No. 1 Firehall, designated the Canadian centre for the International Sheran's Mine, and the Gait Building (formerly the Serials Data System. This includes the provision of Gait Hospital). information on the publication to the system's central files in Paris. The purpose of the International Mr. Gregg retired recently as an investment dealer. Serials Data System is to provide an up-to-date record He has been active in the field of history for many of world serial publications. The ISSN number is in­ years as a member of the board of Rundle mission at tended to facilitate the identification, location and ordering of the various publications. southern Alberta continued to be watered by conven­ tional shovel irrigation. ******* Siphon tubes were followed by "gated" irrigation IRRIGATION METHODS pipe with multiple, controllable outlets along its length. This development further reduced the work Irrigation has been practiced in many countries for involved in the irrigation of row crops but the many centuries. According to the Bible, irrigation pipe still had to be moved by hand. The system was originated at about the same time as man and at the not widely used in southern Alberta. same place, for in Genesis 2:10 it states, "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from Sprinkler irrigation technology evolved in the thence it was parted, and became into four heads." period immediately after World War II. Two things Ancient irrigation works can be found in Egypt, Iran, made it possible: the advent of impact-type China, Turkey, India, Spain, and even in England. In rotating sprinkler nozzles and the availability of the western hemisphere, the people of Peru, Mexico, quick-connecting, cheap, lightweight alvuninium pipe. and the southwestern United States practiced irrigation The increasing relucta.nce of farm laborers to be thousands of years ago. employed in conventional flood irrigation, and labor's cost, hastened the acceptance of sprinkler Until recently, irrigation was synonymous with inten­ irrigation in southern Alberta. sive human labor. As we have mentioned, since pre­ historic times men have diverted streams to irrigate The late W. L. Jacobson had much to do with the their crops. Such diversions involved the building of introduction of sprinkler irrigation technology to dams or weirs, the construction of main canals, and this region. Mr. Jacobson returned to the Lethbridge the running in of field laterals and ditches. Once Research Station from Regina in 1948 and, almost the system was installed the farmer was faced with the immediately, set up an irrigation substation at continual drudgery of channeling the water to the Taber. With the assistance of A. L. McFadden and fields, shoveling rows open, closing off rows that no Russell Lunney, he undertook studies on sprinkler longer needed water, and maintaining the system irrigation and soon amassed a body of data on the against erosion or damage by rodents. subject. McFadden and Lunney quickly entered the commercial irrigation field and farmers throughout In southern Alberta, the methods that developed were the region became aware of the new technology. Later typical of those throughout western North America. the Taber Substation was moved to Vauxhall, where They involved the construction of main canals to take irrigation studies are still underway. irrigation water from the headgates of the system to the farms. Laterals were constructed to convey the In those first sprinkler irrigation systems, lengths irrigation water to groups,of farms and, at intervals of aluminium pipe were coupled together and the along the laterals, ditches were constructed to take sprinkler nozzles were held above the crop by the water to individual farms. The farmer then in­ risers. Water was supplied by pumps at pressures stalled permanent head ditches and, each year, con­ ranging from 40 to 80 pounds per square inch. structed field ditches as required. Skilled After a given application of water (usually 3 to 5 irrigators ran in field ditches on the contour with inches per acre) the system was dismantled and uncanny accuracy. In the irrigation sea.son, water moved by hand to the next "set" or location, where was let into the various ditches in turn, finally it was reassembled. Such systems are commonly seen ending up at the farm field. Moveable dams, con­ throughout southern Alberta, many of them installed sisting of a 7-foot length of 2 x 4 to which was during the 1950s. attached a 3- x 5-foot piece of canvas, were placed across the field ditches to stop the water and raise Some saving in labor was achieved by mounting the it to a level where it would flow onto the field pipes on large-diameter wheels, which were advanced through holes in the ditchbank. Irrigators knew every 12 to 24 hours across a field. Water was exactly where to divert the water to irrigate most supplied under pressure to a main line and the pipe effectively with the least shoveling. At harvest, the had to be disconnected and reconnected whenever it field ditches were plowed in to make large fields was moved. The low clearance of the pipe limited suitable for the operation of combines or other farm the use of these "side roll" devices to alfalfa and machinery. Ditches in hay fields tended to be other relatively short-growinu crops, also a permanent. limitation of the risers of the first sprinkler irrigation systems. Such systems are still widely The system, which was in use from about 1900 to 1945, used. Stronger couplings wore de'^'eloped, which en­ depended on level fields with a slight slope away abled a farmer to tow quartor-mile lengths of pipe from the ditch and a soil that was heavy enough to by tractor. This system, . illed "skid-tow", carry water in the ditches without excessive losses. trampled and destroyed m. .i crop as it was hauled Irrigated areas in southern Alberta were the bottoms back and forth. We haven't seen any "skid-tow" of former glacial lakes on which had been deposited a systems in southern Alberta. couple of feet of silty clay soil. Even so, a large percentage of the water was lost by percolation be­ Then came the develoi-'ment of the first irrigation tween the head gates and the farm field. Much of it machine, the center-pivot irrigation system, in­ ended up as seepage and contributed to a sa)inity volving buried pipelines to a centre point, rather problem. than open ditches. It was invented by Frank Zybach of Columbus, Nebraska, and patents were issued in The development of siphon tubes in the early 1940s re­ 1952. At least one of these systems has been in duced some of the shoveling, especially with ro\. use near Bow Island for about 20 years and numerous crops, but setting and moving the tubes was a time- others have been installed more recently. consuming job. Most of the irrigated lands of THE PHOTO ALBUM OF LETHBRIDGE

is a photographic travelling display available through your regional museum. 74 black and white photos are arranged on 24 panels (each 24" X 32") to portray historic Lethbridge and its people: Indians, pioneers, police, buildings, schools, merchants, prominent figures, agri­ culture, street scenes. The scenes will entertain you, and provide an informative look through windows into the past. They can be hung on walls, or on art easels, to provide an accessible "v/alk around" tour. The ALBUM is designed to be handled easily by an adult with a small car and is packed in satchels. The display can also be shipped out of town (at cost) in a security crate. Book Now. For further information contact:

The Sir Alexander Gait Museum Community Services Department City of Lethbridge Phone (403) 328-6455

A photographic travelling display available through your regional museum. 34 black and white photos are arranged on 12 panels (each 24" X 32") to portray the historic coal mines around V7hich the town of Lethbridge began to grow. These are entertaining and educational views through windows into the past. They can be hung on walls, or on art easels, to provide an accessible "walk around" tour. The ALBUM is designed to be handled easily by an adult with a small car, and is packed in satchels. The display can also be shipped out of town (at cost) in a security crate. Book Now. For further information contact: The Sir Alexander Gait Museum Community Services Department City of Lethbridge Phone (403) 328-6455 THE SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM

AS PART OF ITS ONGOING PROGRAM TO PRESERVE SOUTHERN ALBERTA'S HISTORY AND PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC

IS NOW OFFERING YEARLY PASSES

TO INTERESTED PATRONS OF THE MUSEUM. PASS HOLDERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE WHOOP-UP CHAPTER^ HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA. 6 TIMES A YEAR.

INDIVIDUAL RATE $3.00 FAMILY RATE $6.00

INQUIRIES: SIR ALEXANDER GALT MUSEUM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT CITY OF PHONE! mrw-m^s

•yr'7aa.irrr!K..mrmi^i!W^r^''^\'-rf

IRRIGATIOfl Ii'l SOUTHERN ALBERTA

A photographic travelling display available through your regional museum. 29 black and white photos are arranged on 12 panels (each 24" X 32") to portray the early development of irrigation farming in Southern Alberta.

These are entertaining and educational views through windows into the past. They can be hung on walls, or on art easels, to provide an accessible "walk around" tour. The show is designed to be handled easily by an adult with a small car, and is packed in satchels. The display can also be shipped out of town (at cost) in a security crate.

Book Now. For further information contact: The Sir Alexander Gait Museum Community. Services Department City of Lethbridge Phone (403) 328-6455 v Center-pivot irrigation machines consist of a series "trickle irrigation". Only the soil surrounding of water sprinklers of the impact type mounted on a the crop plants is wetted and, hence, there is a 6-inch pipe that is in turn supported by a row of great saving of irrigation water. The technique seven or more mobile towers. Water is piimped into the was perfected in Israel in recent decades. Water pipe from a source at the center of the field, and the is brought to the field in conventional pipes, then towers carry the system around the center pivot. The run out into smaller hoses with holes located rate of advance is set by the speed of the outermost adjacent to each crop plant. The method has applica­ tower; an alignment device detects any laggards and tion in nurseries and orchards. moves each tower to line up with the one beyond it. The net effect is for the (usually) quarter-mile-long pipe to move as a radius through a circular field of about 133 acres. (Most of the systems are designed The irrigated lands of southern Alberta are located to irrigate a quarter section, or 150 acres, but primarily in the Brown and Dark Brown Soil zones water cannot be applied to the corners. Recently, because the greater the difference between natural systems have been designed to irrigate 530 acres, or rainfall and the water requirements of crops, the a full section of 640 acres except for the corners. greater the likelihood of a successful irrigation Some of the more sophisticated systems are designed enterprise. to follow a buried wire and, by means of extendable pipe, will irrigate the corners of a field.) *******

Many of the systems are reversible, and the farmer Throughout history, the instinct of irrigation can back them out of mudholes if necessary. The engineers has been to concern themselves with delivery pipe is usually carried about 8 feet above putting water on the land but to make little pro­ ground, making it possible to irrigate even such vision for draining it off. Great irrigation crops as corn. The sprinklers are spaced so that works have been utterly destroyed by improper the water is applied at an increasing rate with drainage, water-logging, and salinity. . . . Southern distance outward along the pipe. (The greatest Alberta is no exception. At least 100,000 acres of amount has to be delivered to the outer end of the our 865,000 acres of irrigated land are seriously pipe, or the circumference of the circle.) affected by salinity (alkalinity) and water-logging. The problem has been creeping up on us since the The center-pivot irrigation machine now enables a first water was applied to the land. Now serious farmer to apply water automatically. Once the system attention is being given to the water-proofing of is set for a given application, it advances con­ ditches to prevent seepage. Farmers are encouraged tinually in a circle, applying irrigation water with­ not to apply irrigation water wastefully. But we out need for additional attention except routine have a long, costly way to go to restore and renovate maintenance and repair. Water can be applied lightly the irrigation systems of southern Alberta. (as little as l/3rd-inoh) and frequently, thus making possible at long last the irrigation of coarse- ******* textured sandy soils. While more research is needed, there are many indications that fertilizers, Attention is being paid to one of the more shameful herbicides, and insecticides can be applied in precise episodes in Canadian history—the evacuation of amounts with the irrigation water. And the system Japanese, many Canadian-born, from British Columbia adjusts to the terrain, making possible irrigation in 1941. Lethbridge had a particular interest in without expensive land levelling. the evacuation because many of the Japanese evacuees came here to work in the beet fields. Now Japanese In addition to the United States and Canada, center- own many of the farms they worked on in 1941-45 pivot irrigation systems are being installed in Lybia, while others have taken their place in the business Australia, Hungary, France, and the Middle East. and professional life of the region. A seminar on Great pools of water, covering thousands of sguare the Japanese-Canadian was held at the University of miles, have been detected below the Sahara and the Lethbridge in October and speakers included Dr. deserts of Saudia Arabia. Center-pivot irrigation David Suzuki and Dr. Ted Oshiro, both from the systems may be the means whereby man will finally University of British Columbia. Recent articles and utilize this groundwater. books on the subject include:

Center-pivot irrigation systems show up clearly on Iwaasa, David B. 1976. The Japanese in southern the "pictures" taken from LANDSAT satellites, two of Alberta 1941-45. Alberta History vol. 24, no. which orbit the earth at a height of about 550 miles. 3 Summer, pp. 5-19. (The satellites are synchronized with the sun and take "pictures" of any particular spot on earth every 9 Ward, W. Peter. 1976. British Columbia and the days.) Irrigation companies in southern Alberta, for Japanese evacuation. Can. Historical Review example, could quite easily count the number of center- vol. LVII, no. 3 September, pp. 289-308 pivot irrigation systems operating at a particular time by looking at LANDSAT pictures of that approximate Adachi, Ken. 1975. The Enemy That Never Was: A date. On 9-inch x 9-inch false color infrared photo­ history of the Japanese Canadians. McClelland graphs, which show a region about 115 miles x 115 and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, pp. 456. $14.95. miles in size, the center-pivot irrigation fields in summer show up as circular red dots about l/32nd-inch across. Memories of a sheepherder.—When we were out in the The drip method of irrigation is used to a very shearing camps, our main conversation was women and limited extent in southern Alberta. It involves the booze, and while we were in town, especially in the application of irrigation water through emitters, beer parlors, it was sheep and dogs. rather than sprinklers, and is sometimes called ******* THE SASKATOON particularly the saskatoon. Growers now have 15 acres in saskatoons and could increase production There are few Canadians who have not picked, and en­ to 400 acres if plants were available. joyed eating. Saskatoon berries. It has been called Canada's National Fruit. It occurs across the Availability of good plants is the greatest dif­ prairies and is one of the few abundant fruits avail­ ficulty in establishing saskatoons as a commercial able in season. It was well known to the Indians of crop. They can be started as soft wood cuttings in the region. the greenhouse but these'often winterkill. Saskatoons can be propagated by root sprouts but Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.,) was called by there are only a few of these per plant and propaga­ the Blackfoot Ok-a-nook (the shrub) and Ok-kun-okin tion in this way tends to be uneconomic. Most (the berry). The modern Blood Indian surname. Oka, is growers use seedlings, which are easy to obtain but an abbreviation of the name for the Saskatoon berry. slow to come into production. Further, from 5% to It was probably the most important vegetable food of 60% of seedlings are poor types and eventually have the Blackfoot. The berries were used in great to be removed from the nursery. Commercial produc­ quantities in soups, stews, and meats, and were dried tion is hampered also by the long time needed to for winter use. A soup made from buffalo fat and bring bushes into full production; many do not berries mixed with buffalo blood was a favorite des­ achieve full production for seven years. sert at Blackfoot feasts. The species was discussed by most of the early explorers, David Thompson having We have much to learn about management of saskatoons— this to say: "On the great Plains there is a shrub about pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, and chemical bearing a very sweet berry with a dark blue color, weed control. much sought after, great quantities are dried by the natives; in this state, these berries are as sweet as The saskatoon is already established as an ornamental the best currants, and as much as possible mixed to , and can be obtained in bushes that grow from 2 to make pemmican; the wood of this shrub or willow is 15 ft tall in shapes that vary from globular hard, weighty, and flexible but not elastic and, through upright-spreading to columnar. All produce whenever it can be procured, always forms the arrow an abundance of cream-colored flowers in spring and of the Indian." During the berry-picking season the blue-black fruit in summer. In the fall the foliage camp was moved to a favorable location. Women and often turns to dark purple, red, yellow, and brown. girls gathered the fruit in rawhide bags which, when filled, were emptied into larger storage bags. Later ******* the fruit was dried in the sun. A forked stick of the Saskatoon was used in religious ritual. Blackfoot A pessimist is a well-informed optimist. r.ames of localities included: Cherry Coulee, ami- onaskway; Many Berries Coulee, ako-nisk-way; Many ******* Berries Creek, aka-ehniskway; and Many Cherry Bushes Valley, aka-onask-way. Macleod Gazette October 26^ 1894.—Jerry Potts, the hero of a hundred buffalo hunts and victor in vari­ Nowadays the saskatoon is being developed into a com­ ous affairs with foes of every description, has at mercial crop that is uniquely Canadian. The first last had to "take down" before an ordinary, common, cultivars of A. alnifolia to be introduced were "Smoky" black, long-horned, bob-tailed bull, which ran h.im and "Pembina", which were released by the Beaverlodge to earth over a cutbank on the Cochrane range last Research Station in 1952, after many years of testing week. It must indeed have been a humiliating and evaluation. Since then three more cultivars have spectacle to have witnessed the famous scout and been named: "Altaglow", an ornamental introduced by Indian fighter scudding across the plains in front the Alberta Horticultural Research Station at Brooks; of the wrath-snorting bull, and lucky for him he "Northline", introduced by the Beaverlodge Nursery; found a convenient cutbank, from which point of and "Forestburg", introduced by the Beaverlodge vantage he let the bull have it right square in the Research Station. About 150 selections from a breeding face with duck shot, but he declares that he was program started in 1959 are being tested at the much disturbed. Beaverlodge Research Station. ******* Recently the Peace Country Small Fruit Cooperative was formed to promote production of small fruits. One should not speak unless he can improve on silence.