Wrapped loosely in brown paper are yellowing, brittle pages that usher a reader through the winding corridors of Barrhead’s past.
1928-29 is written on one of the bundles stacked on a series of shelves. Untie the string and you see copies of The Barrhead News, the Leader’s original title.
On top of the front page you learn the “editress” was Mrs. C. N. Bateman, the publisher W. Worton and the charge $2 per year. The main news is a Christmas power cut in Barrhead; this segues into a compilation of briefs about people’s holiday plans, their comings and goings, their dinner arrangements. There are also snippets about who is sick, who is recuperating.
Turn the pages carefully and you see headlines like “Mammoth Grain Elevator” and “New Health For Tired-out Women.” One advertisement promotes “Hooper’s Garage Night And Day Service” and another urges readers “Don’t Let Foods Stale.”
Many stories might seem absurdly parochial, but the passage of time invests significance in the most mundane events.
This peek into local history, into a way of life nearly 85 years ago, is a unique feature of the Barrhead Centennial Museum, which is preparing to reopen for a summer with several key dates. These include:
• Saturday, May 26: The 16th Annual Antique Car Run, hosted with Barrhead Recreation Parks and Tourism and the Fort Assiniboine Historical Society. It coincides with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. There will be an 8-10:30 a.m. breakfast at Fort Assiniboine Community Centre. Vehicles will leave Fort Assiniboine Museum for Barrhead at 11:30 a.m. The feature car will be a 1952 Fleet Line Deluxe Model, in honour of the Queen;
• Thursday, June 7: Seniors Day. Seniors from Hillcrest Lodge will be encouraged to come to the museum;
• Sunday, July 1: “Cupcakes and coffee” for Canada Day.
The museum has been basking recently in the media spotlight thanks to an article in April’s edition of the magazine, Westworld, which mentions its 28-piece collection of animal trophies and skins donated by the family of Barrhead resident Albert Werner. It is one of the largest such collections in Canada, the magazine says.
Visitors can see such magnificent African creatures as water buck, a python, a kudu, a zebra, sables and nyala. The animals were hunted in Mozambique in August, 1973.
“Since the article appeared there has been a very positive response,” said Anna Churchill, president of the Barrhead and District Historical Society, which runs the museum. “We’ve had calls from a long way away. People are interesting in coming to have a look.”
The museum off Highway 33 is bigger than it appears from the outside. Since opening in the summer of 1967, it has seen several additions.
Upon entering, the visitor comes across an extensive wall display of photos depicting the area’s pioneer history. There are pictures of early settlers next to farming machinery and buildings. One photo shows two nurses, another a female taxi driver.
“You can tell the women who settled here were really tough,” said Churchill.
In a nearby room there are stacks of archival material on families, organizations and churches. There is also an old printing press and shelves containing bundled copies of The Barrhead News.
A laminated copy of The Barrhead News’ first edition, on Sept. 15, 1927, can be seen in another room. The main headlines are “Large Crowd Attend Mosside Fair” and “Barrhead Is On The Map,” while the editorial headed “This Changing World” underlines the importance to business of annual stocktaking. The paper cost $1.50 per year.
Next to the paper are photographs of Barrhead’s first bank in 1927, The Bank of Toronto, which is little more than a shed, and the first stores: Kenneth Robertson’s store, Norman Scott’s drug store.
“To be honest the archives are a bit of shambles at the moment,” said Churchill. “We are going to have to do a lot of sorting out.”
It is just one of the huge challenges facing the 15 historical society board members, who are volunteers and have to make do with very little resources. They receive small grants from the Town and County councils, and the Alberta Museum Association. Getting permanent museum status would be helpful. Although there is no charge for visiting the building, entrance is by donations.
“We would love to find a curator,” said Churchill. “That’s what we really need. We have just one employee, a STEP (summer temporary employment program) student. What we would like to do is create themes or a walk through time to enrich the visitor’s experience.”
While thought has gone into part of the layout – for instance, memorabilia from the First and Second World Wars are in one section and old toys in another – some artifacts appear randomly assembled; it means the visitor can be constantly surprised.
A cupboard dating back to 1880 is one of the oldest items. It was handmade from butternut wood by a skilled carpenter for Mr. and Mrs. James Derby Sr. of Wright, Quebec. The donor was George Hertz.
There is also a bread-mixing pan, originally owned by Mrs. Viola Kruschel in 1917, and a 1920s washing machine, which was found in 1976 in the bush during a clean-up of an old saw mill along the Freeman River. It was discovered on Bernie Zutz’s land.
A piano belonging to Eleanor Menzies in the early 1900s is still playable, although badly in need of tuning. The accompanying bench was homemade.
There are several outside farming exhibits, representing the town’s primary industry. This includes a 1928 tractor and a restored Belle City thresher, donated by the Sanderson family.
Churchill is not sure when the museum will open this year. It could be the May 19 long weekend or May 26.
Over the last few years visitor numbers have been rising: 2009, 579; 2010, 667; and 2011, 824.
“Those figures are not too bad when you consider we are only open three full months,” said Churchill.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the end of May to September. It is shut through the winter, but can be open by appointment. For instance, sometimes school parties want to visit.
For more information, contact Anna Churchill at 780-674-5824.
