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"I've done more physical work since arriving than
I ever dreamed possible…we enjoy watching the results of our efforts gradually
bringing a civilized orderliness to the place."
Excerpt from a
letter by Myrle Campbell to her parents, September 7, 1919 from “Challenge of the Homestead”
the Peace River letters of Clyde and Myrle Campbell, 1919 -1924. |
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Peace River Bible
Institute was first located near Berwyn, 145 km northeast
of Sexsmith, in 1933. The school, under the
direction of Miss Hattie Kirk, was relocated to Sexsmith
in 1935, with the goal of providing a teaching
environment that allowed students to combine personal beliefs with academics. Phyllis Prestley and Agnes Edy, students from the
Institute, saw wood in the 1940s. |
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By the 1940s, styles
changed to accommodate the demands of the war years. Clothing for women turned to shorter
and slimmer silhouettes, accompanied by short jackets and coats. A stylish young woman
walks along the sidewalk past Mr. and Mrs. Harry Watcher in the doorway of R. H. Watcher
Jeweler & Optician. 1945 ca |
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Grande Prairie celebrated its
prosperity during annual Winter Carnivals, six days of citywide activities that were held
in the 1920s. The City was decorated with evergreens and events such as concerts, hockey
games, ski jumping competitions and dances were planned to round out the programs. Five
women dressed up for curling, snowshoeing and hockey represent “Canada’s Winter
Sports” in the Northern Winter Carnival parade in 1929. |
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The settlement on the
Upper Pinto Creek was known as Stoney Meadows. Residents such as Mrs. Shettler and Little
Joe lived in cabins that were situated close to the trail that headed toward Pipestone
Creek, crossing the Wapiti. They are shown here drying meat in 1941.
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A meeting of United Farm Women of Alberta (accompanied by their families)
at Bredin on Bear Lake in 1924. The U F W A was succeeded in 1949 by The Farm Women’s
Union of Alberta whose objectives were to obtain improved educational, health and welfare
services, promote a continuing education program for farm women and develop citizenship
and leadership. The FWUA also involved itself with political action regarding changes to
divorce laws and revision of the Estate Tax Act and Income Tax Act to benefit farm women |
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Wives of the threshing
crew on the farm of Tom Sheehan, east of Clairmont. The
threshing crews were instrumental in the once yearly harvest and delivery of grain to
market, a highlight on the farm calendar. Families accompanied crew members to the
farmsites and everyone had a job to do so that the grain would be harvested before bad
weather set in. Women were flexible enough to adopt some of the western ways of life when
convenient but retained many of their own customs, such as carrying their youngest on baby
boards.
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