Table Of ContentThe
Cornerstone
I J OURNAL OF THE ALBERTA HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION
Volume 15, Number 3 • Summer 1992
m 1 1 1992.^
Marion 360 Excavator, Diplomat Coal Mine, Forestburg
i.irii
TTie Alberta Historical Resources Founda- ine
tion, Pa rovincial Crown Agency, was estab-
lished in1 976 to assist in the preservation of
tobhjee c Ptrso v ainndc e 'tso ehnicsotuorriacg e b uainldd i npgrso,m ostiete s p aunbd- Cornerstone
lic awareness of Alberta's past. Donations JOURNAL OF THE ALBERTA HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION
and bequests of funds or property' receive the
tax benefit of a donation to the Crown.
Annual dues are $10.* which entitles a Mike \inlligan had a steam shovel a beautiful red steam shovel.
supporter to receive the Foundation's quar- Her name u-'os Mary Anne . M ike Mulligan urn very proud of M ary
terly journal, The Cornerstone.
Anne. He always said that she could dig as much in a da\ as a
Albertans are invited to contact the Foun- hundred men could dig in a week.
and infodratimon'as toffiicoe wni t hof t shuebijr e cetnsq u iarnide s, e vneenwtss -Virginia Lee Burton, Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. 1939.
which they want to share through the pages
of The Cornerstone .
Cover: The Marion 360 excavator, a 1927 state-of-the-art ma-
Please direct all enquiries to: chine, removed the overburden from coal seams at the Diplomat
Mark Rasmussen Coal Mine in Forestburg. Last used in 1979, the 750 ton machine,
Coordinating Director
one of the world's largest and oldest excavators, was removed from
Old St. Stephen's College the pit in 1982. A potential Registered Historic Resource, it has
8820 - 1 12 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P8 been unprotected from weather, vandals, and birds. Once restored.
Phone:431-2300 It w ill be featured in the proposed Diplomat Mine Interpretive Site.
The AHRF Board awarded the Marion 360 a grant under the
Board of Directors
Honorary Chairman Foundation's new Transportation/Industrial Artifact Preser\'ation
Di. J.W. Grant MacEwan Programme. Photo Credit: Historic Sites and Archives Sen,-ice,
Calgary .A.lberta Culture and Multiculturalism.
Chairman In This Issue:
Charlach Mackintosh
Letter from the Minister 3
Members Letter from the Foundation's Chairman 5-134
ZRuols e Bmoagray Fennell CCaallggaarryy- Spring Grants Review
Jean Hoare Claresholm Heritage Bed & Breakfasts,
Gerry Howis Manning Restaurants, and Tea Houses 14-1178
C. Redvers Perry Baliac
Robert Phillips Milo Main Street Alberta Update
Jack ReiUy Wetaskiwin Gushul Studio 2109
Jean Rycroft Sexsmith
Yvette Vincent Bonny\'ille Books and more
Don Wheaton Edmonton
Publisher
Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
Editorial Policv
Editor
The purpose of The Cornerstone is primarily to inform others of the
Barbara Dacks
Foundation's activities and secondarily to communicate heritage news
Designer from around the province. The Foundation is u nable to pay for anicles
Grant Elston or photographs used in The Cornerstone. Use of submitted material is
Silicon Type & Graphics (Edmonton) at the discretion of the Editor.
The Foundation receives technical and
administrative support from Albena PRIMARY FUNDING FOR THE
Culture and Multiculturalism and is
responsible to its Minister. ALBERTA HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION
COMES FROM
ISSNO 707 - 7 05X
mm
o
The Cornerstone
is p rinted on recycled paper. THE SOURCE OF MANY BENEFITS
Page 2 The Cornerstone Summer 1992
Message from the Minister
Dear Foundation Members:
As we enjoy another great Alberta summer, let me suggest
a f amily outing to one of t his province's colourful heritage
attractions. Whether a major provincial development such as
the Royal Tyrrell Museum, a civic facility like the Claresholm
Museum, or one of t he community -based projects sponsored by
the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation like the Main
Street Project in Lacombe, visiting heritage sites provides
adventure that is b oth entertaining and educational.
Alberta's network of t hese fascinating historical facilities
and sites is growing at a f ast rate. This summer, the Fort
George 'Buckingham House Provincial Historic Site near Elk Point opened on a picturesque
vista overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. It tells the story of t wo competing fur trade
posts and illustrates life i n the fur trade era. In September, after years of p reparation, the
Reynolds 'Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin will open, providing a "hands-on" look at our
transportation, agricultural, and industrial history. It is t ruly world class and will be a
wonderful family experience.
Some new or recent local features that you might wish to visit include the museums at
Bonny ville, Vermilion, High Level, Etzikom, the Basilian Fathers' Museum in Mundare, the
Dr. George House in Innisfail, the Dickson General Store Museum, the Big Valley Railway
Station and Round House, and the Sexsmith Blacksmith Shop. There are over 130 of t hese
attractions across the province, with access for all.
Happy touring ar\d 1 h ope to see you visiting our heritage sites this summer.
Yours truly,
Doug Main
Minister of C ulture and Multiculturalism
Summer 1992 The Cornerstone Page 3
Message from the
Foundation's Chairman
Dear Foundation Members ,
This issue describes local projects awarded grants from
the Fouruiations spring applications review. In total,
approximately 1 00 projects were provided with over
$650,000 in Foundation sponsorship. I t hink you will find
the range in projects impressive, both m terms of g eogi-aphi-
cal distribution and the kind of w ork being widertaken.
The number and variety of t hese endeavours speak well for
the health of A lberta's heritage community and the public' <
appreciation for historical resources.
The Foundation has been working hard to ensure that the nuixrnmm amount of i ts
lotteries funding is p assed on to the public. Aside from continuing to simplit\ our
administration, we have also greatly reduced our cash reserves over the Lis: >c jr ro place
the money in the communities where it w ill do the most good. I a m pleased ri • > j > that we
now have a balanced budget and that none of t he principal of o ur lottenes junainz i< l ost
to administrative expenses.
In the Minister s message, the Honourable Doug Main invited you all to tow-
Alberta's heritage resources this summer. I w ould like to echo that, and encourage you to
take advantage of t he extraordiruiry opportunities presented by our expardmg network of
heritage attractions. These sites make history come alive and offer us a better sense of o ur
own roots and pride as Albertans. As a f amily experience, these quality times will he long
remembered by you and your children, as ivill the knowledge gained.
Have a great summer and enjoy your heritage.
Yours sincerely ,
Charlach R.D. Mackintosh
Chairman of t he Board
Page 4 The Cornerstone Summer 1992
prmg
rants Review
Okotoks Town Hall Building ( 1 903) was one
of t he projects awarded an AHRF grant this spring.
very year the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation provides financial assistance and
Jl y l obtains technical aid for hundreds of heritage projects in Alberta. Primarily community-
based initiatives, these projects preserve local landmarks, enhance our cultural environment, and
provide tangible evidence of our past. As well as offering social and educational benefits, they often
stimulate tourism, create adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and revitalize business and residential
At the April meeting, the Board approved • 3 Education $3,420
grants totalling $627, 530 to 96 projects, as • 11 Heritage Awareness $37,800
follows: • 6 Publications $15,585
• 14 Feasibility Studies $109,638 • 13 Research $93,550
• 43 Historic Resource Preservation $333,077 • 2 Roger Soderstrom Scholarships $8,000
• 1 T ransportation/Industrial Artifact • 2 W orkshops, Seminars, Conferences $ 1 ,250
Programme $25,000 • 1 Professional Development $210
At the June meeting, the Board also approved funding of $9,750 for 6 cemeteries, a $4,000
supplement to the St. Jean Baptiste Mission Church, Falher, an $8,000 supplement to the Red Deer
CPR Bridge, and $6,600 to the Gushul Studio.
continued on page 6
Summer 1992 The Cornerstone
Page 5
Funded Projects Chung Building (P uffer side) , L acombe, $5 ,000;
St. Laurence Anglican Church, Monitor,
Feasibility Studies: Medalta Potteries, $1,800; W. W. Arcade Building (Goodridge
Medicine Hat, $7,500; Saamis Archaeological Block), Edmonton, $25,000; Camrose CNR
and Teepee Site, Medicine Hat, $15,610; Cen- Station, $15,000; Carmichael Homestead,
tral Memorial Park, Calgary-, $5,195; Walterdale Hythe, $5,000; Christ Church (Anglican), Fort
Playhouse, Edmonton, $ 1 5 ,000; Okotoks Town Macleod, 55,000; Edgerton Museum, $1,500;
Hall Building, $9250; Ferris Residence, Hampton School, Ohaton, $4,000; John
Edmonton, $1,083; Discovery- Centre (Old Walker Bamett House, Edmonton, $10,000;
Western Decalta Office Building), Turner Myster\- Lake Log Cabin, near Barrhead, $4,500;
Valley, $12,500; John Walker Bamett House, Old Billiard Hall (Koopman Building),
Edmonton, $2,500; Newbrook Observatory^ and Lacombe, $3,500; Old Courthouse, Blairmore,
Residence, $10,000; Russo Greek Catholic $9,500; Ryley Museum, $5,000; St. Charies
Orthodox Parish of Topovontz, Smoky Lake, Catholic Church, Meams, $3 ,000; Toleff Omlid
$5,000; Saskatoon Mountain Historical Re- Homestead, Hythe, $5,000; Village General
source Complex, Beaverlodge, $10,000; St. Store, Hanna, $5,000; Gushul Studio, $6,600;
Charles Catholic Church, Meams, $2,000; St. Jean Baptiste Mission Church, Falher,
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish of Protec- $4,000; Red Deer CPR Bridge, $8,000;
tion of B lessed Virgin Ma^>^ near Radway,
$4,000; Ukrainian Settlement Bloc Transportation/Industrial Artifact
Ecomuseum, Bruderheim, $10,000; Programme: Marion 360 Excavator, Diplomat
Coal Mine, Forestburg, $25,000;
Historic Resource Preservation: Anderson
Professional Development : A ria Hill , H S A
Apartments, Calgar\-, $10,000; Haig Residence,
Lethbridge, $20,000; Hiebert House, Dldsbur^^ Training Workshop, $210;
$10,000; Knox United Church, Calgary,
$21,000; Sheriff Robertson House, Edmonton, Education: 1992 Mackenzie Bicentennial
Tourism Project, 51,000; 101 Years m the
$ 7 , 750; St. Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church
of Boian, Willingdon, $2,227; St. Norbert's Communirs' - Lacombe Oral History Project,
Roman Catholic Church, Provost, $11,000;
$220; Stony Plain Walking Tour: Teacher's
Multicultural Heritage Centre, Stony Plain, Kit Development, $2,200;
$2,000; Wood's Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary-,
Calgary, $7,500; George Pegg Botanic Garden, Heritage Awareness: Christian Reformed
Glenevis, $34,000; Allison House, Pmcher
Church of Nobleford Cairn, $2,000; Conrad's
Creek, $2,500; Chown Residence, Edmonton, Post Interpretive Centre, $15,000; Bukowina
$5,000; GibbonsResidence, Edmonton, $6,000; School Roadside Point of Interest Sign, $ 1 ,500;
Hillhurst United Church, Calgar>', $2,200; Barrhead Newspapers: Preser\-ation and Public
Kaughman Residence, Cardston, $4,500; Availability, $5 ,000; Pioneer Families of South-
Knight/Hancock Residence, Raymond, $3 ,000; em Alberta Biographies, $2,500; A Historical
Knox Evangelical Free Church, Edmonton, Review and Photographic Display of the Cas-
$2,000; Nimmons Residence, Calgar>', $3,500; tle Mountain and Banff Intemment Camps,
Ramsay House, Calgary, J 7, 500; Richards $3,000; Nobleford Heritage Park Interpretive
Block, Edmonton, $5,000; St. Peter's Roman Signage, $800; Fort Macleod Historic Area
Catholic Church, Strome, $5,000; Ferris Resi- Plaques, $1,500; Portage from the Past, Peter
dence, Edmonton, $5,000; Eraser and Seabloom Fidler Country, $5,000; Commemorative
Block, Calgary, $15,000; Molstad House, Plaque: George R. Ball Family Windmill, $500;
Edmonton, $5,000; Our Lady of the Rosar\- Historic Calgar^- Week 1992, $1,000;
Hospital, Castor, $18,000; Puffer/Chung Build-
ing (Chung side), Lacombe, $4,000; Puffer/
Page 6 The Cornerstone Summer 1992
Publications: Barnstormers, Bushpilots,
Bombers, and Airbuses, $4,000; History of t he
65th Mount Royal Rifles in Western Canada, Reminder
$1,500; County of Leduc No. 25 History,
$3,000; l^Jostalgic Stories of Jasper's Past,
$2,800; Historic Fort Macleod Walking Tour, Application deadlines are 1 F eb-
ruary and 1 September each year,
$1,285; losegun Reflections: History of Fox
for grants in the following catego-
Creek, $3,000;
ries:
Research: Inventory and Assessment of
Feasibility &. Planning Studies
AGT's Historic Buildings, $6,300; Flying Historic Resource Preservation
Workhorse of the North: The Story of Fairchild
Workshops, Seminars, Conferences
71C CF-ATZ, $7,500; Practice of Architec- Research
ture and Construction in Calgary, 1900-1940,
Professional Development
$6,750; Banff Heritage Resources Inventory
Education
and Assessment, $10,000; Alberta Midland
Publications
Railway Research Project, $2,500; Medalta's Heritage Awareness
Advertiques and Named Products, $5,000;
Cemeteries
United Church Artifact Collection Project,
Transportation/Industrial Artifact
$10,000; East Calgary (Inglewood) Building Preservation
Inventory, $10,000; Turner Valley Oral His-
tory Project, $10,000; Canadian Anthracite
For further information, please
Coal Company Ltd., $5,000; I Remember
contact Monika McNabb, Grants
When: Recollections of Everyday Life in South-
Officer, Alberta Historical Re-
west Alberta, $7,500; CNR Big Valley: Rail-
sources Foundation, 8820 - 112
way Centre 1910-1991, $5,000; Saskatoon
Street, Edmonton, T6G 2P8.
Mountain Historical Resources Complex,
$8,000;
Roger Soderstrom Scholarships: Mortlach Restaurants continued from page 1 7
Research Project, $6,000; Survival and Adap- museum, the Cornelia Wood Library and
tation: An A nalysis of Dryland Farming in the Archives, The Homesteaders' Kitchen, Gal-
1940s and 1950s in Southeast Alberta, $2,000; lery Restaurant, an old-fashioned candy store,
a h andicraft store, a b anquet and meeting room.
Workshops, Seminars, Conferences: Dan- It f eatures period artifacts and furnishings, dis-
ish Canadian Conference (1 1th), $500; Inter- plays of p ioneer themes and families. Teen
drama performed on weekends, with buffet
pretation Canada's Spring Training, $750.
Fridays. For reservations call: 963-2777.
Cemeteries: St. Paul's Church Cemetery,
Cardston, $2,000; Colinton Cemetery,
Athabasca, $2,000; St. George's Stretton Cem-
etery, near Marwayne, $1,150; North Park Pio-
neer Cemetery, Marwayne, $1,100; Newbrook
Pioneer Cemetery, Thorhild $ 1 ,500; Svea Cem-
etery, Wetaskiwin, $2,000.
Summer 1992 The Comerstone Page?
xamples of ^
Walterdale Playhouse
(Old Firehall No. 6, 1910)
Edmonton : $ 15, 000 for architectural designs
necessary to upgrade the floor and roof system to
meet building code starviards. Built as Strathcona
Firehall No.l , t his heal brick laridmark was re-
named Firehall No. 6 when Strathcona and
Edmonton amalgamated in 1912 and was in use
until 1 954 . A furniture warehouse for the next 20
years, it deteriorated until Walterdale Theatre
Associates leased it i n 1 974 and began restoration .
Almost completely ongind outside , t his is t he oldest
remainingfirehall in E dmonton and Calgai-y . ( Reg-
istered Histonc Resource ) ,
Okotoks Town HaU Building (1903)
Okotoks: $9,250 for an engineering study on
the condition of the fowidation and a feasibility
study onfacade and interior rehabilitation. Builtby
heal pioneer carpenter Charles Minue for the
town's first mayor, Dr. Fred Stockton, the buck
and sandstone structure with its arched unridou's
and elaborate cornice has been a medical office,
dentist's office, drugstore, general store , b usiness
office, home to the Union Bank of Canada
(Okotoks' first bank) , a nd court house.
Newbrook Observatory and Residence
(1951-52)
Newbrook:
$10,000 for a study
to restore, preserve,
ar\d devehp the site.
One of s everal north-
ern observation sta-
tions, built f rom 1946
on by the Canadian
government in coop-
eraaon with the Americans, to study the upper
atmosphere, this Dominion Observatory made the
headlines on 4 O ctober 1957 when photographs by
staff member Art Griff en confirmed the existence
of t he world' s f irst artificial satellite . S putnik I .
Page 8 The Cornerstone Summer 1992
Saskatoon Mountain Historical Resource
Complex
Beaverlodge: $10,000 for a f easibility stvidy
to identify themes and the economic basis for an
interpretive centre and $8,000 for archaeological
testing. Applicants hope proposed excavations will
uncover further evidence of the earliest knovun
human occupation in northern Alberta, about
10,000 years ago.
Sheriff Robertson House (1913)
Edmonton : $ 7 , 750 for exterior rehabilitation
work. W. Scott Robertson came to the village of
Edmonton in 1881, bought a general store, and
became wealthy from land investment. He was
appointed Deputy Sheriff of the district in 1 884 ,
then Edmonton's first Sheriff in 1905 after the
Province was formed. Robertson was active in the
social and cultural life
of t he community and
built an opera hall on
Jasper Avenue . His
house is a n^excellent
and unusual exam-
ple oft he internation-
ally significant Prai-
rie Style p ioneered by
American architect
Frank Lloyd Wright
in 1900. (Provincial
Historic Resource)
Wood's Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary
Calgary: $7,500 to
develop a c ontrolled access
and site protection. The
Sanctuary contains one of
the last stands of t he Rocky
Mountain Douglas fir,
Alberta's largest tree,
known to grow up to a bout
50 metres high and a metre
across. In other areas , t his
species has almost disap-
peared due t o f ire a nd lum-
bering. Two trees at this
site are 95 and 284 years
old. (Provincial Historic
Resource)
Summer 1992 The Cornerstone
Page 9
Knight/Hancock Residence (1926)
Raymond: S3,CCCfor exterior painting. In-
terested inr anching and sugar beet production.
Utah entrepreneur Jesse Knight sent his sons to this
area in J 9 01 . T he family bought 56,600 acres of
land and created the toun of R aymond, named for
eldest son. Oscar Raymond Knight. Raymond
Knight set up the region s sugar beet industry and
became a renowned horseman and rodeo organ-
izer. His h ouse combines an overall Prairie Style,
developed by American architects Frank Lloyd
Wright andLouis L . S ulln an . u nh classical detail-
ing ofv raditioruil Georgian Reiiial.
(Registered Historic Resource)
St. Peter's Roman Catholic
Church (1927)
Strome: S5 .000 to upgi-ade the
heating system and restore exterior
stairs . T his church played a r ole in the
social deielopmem of t he SpringLake
dismct before WWU . I t i cas an early
centre for German settlers who had
moved to the areafrom the U.S. after
1 903 . ( R egisteredHistoricResource)
Fraser and Seabloom Block (1912)
Calgary : S J 5 , 000 for facade
restoration. Promoted and inteip)reted by
the Old Time Calgary Society, this
commercial building u.ith businesses on
the ground floor and apartments above is
on the Historic Walking Tour of t he
neivly designated historical district of
Inglewood, the oldest settled area of t he
city . The Fraser and Seabloom Block's
brick facade . f eaturing extensive and
unusual sandstone uork. is one of t he
most ort-iate along Xinih Avenue.
(Potential Registered Historic Resource)
Page 10 The Cornerstone Summer 1992
