Fonds 710 Elmer McLaughlin Fonds

Summary information

Repository: South Peace Regional Archives
Title: Elmer McLaughlin fonds
Reference code: 0710
Date: 1983-1994 (date of creation)
Physical description: 88 photographs
Language: English
Dates of creation, revision and deletion: Processing begun July 2024 – JL
Processing completed August 2025 – TD

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Elmer was born on September 29, 1915 to Ira and Nellie McLaughlin, likely while they were living in Grenfell, Saskatchewan. In 1928, the family moved to the Bezanson area. Ira served as MLA for the Grande Prairie district for seven terms, from 1944 until he retired in 1971.

Elmer had six children in his first marriage: Jim, Judy, Rick, Joy, Rod, and Deb. He later remarried to Pearl Talbot Rycroft, a widow with four children: Kay, Linda, Doug, and Harry.

Elmer died at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie on February 14, 2001 and was buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.

Custodial history

These photographs were taken by Elmer McLaughlin and passed on first to his wife, Pearl, and later to Pearl’s daughter from her first marriage, Kay McNally, prior to donation.

Scope and content

This fonds contains photographs take by Elmer McLaughlin depicting rural life in the Bezanson area. The most common subjects depicted are barns and farmhouses with captions included to describe their location or ownership.

Notes

Title notes

Title of fonds based on contents.

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Accruals

No accruals are expected.

Access points

  • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
  • Agriculture (subject)
  • Buildings & Street Scenes (subject)

Series descriptions

Reference code Title Dates Physical description
0710.01 Item – Norman Love’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Cows and calves in a pen in front of a red barn. Identified as belonging to Norman Ben Love (Chrenek), Sexsmith.

0710.02 Item – Bob Cochrane’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn belonging to Bob Cochrane east of Grande Prairie.

0710.03 Item – Arnold Ludwig’s Barn  May 1989 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Pickup truck parked in front of a barn belonging to Arnold Ludwig east of Grande Prairie.

0710.04 Item – A. Johnson Barn  August 1990 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Pickup truck and trailer by barn and outbuildings at A. Johnson’s Teepee Creek farm.

0710.05 Item – Jim Robertson’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Jim Robertson’s red barn by Bezanson.

0710.06 Item – D. Clarkson’s Barn  June 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

D. Clarkson’s red and white barn located east to Grande Prairie. The barn is standing next to a cattle run and gas station pumps with two grain silos in the background.

0710.07 Item – Harvey Bulford’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Harvey Bulford’s barn under snow. The barn has a fence around it and power lines are visible. The barn is located near Bezanson.

0710.08 Item – Lloyd Finch’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Photograph of Lloyd Finch’s wooden barn. The barn is next to a horse paddock and a rusted vehicle.

0710.09 Item – Herb Kimble (Scott)’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Photograph of Herb Kimble (Scott)’s barn by a dog playing in snow. The barn was built by Meles Meyers in 1928 and located east of Grande Prairie.

0710.10 Item – Henry and Martha Wagner’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Photograph of Henry and Martha Wagner’s barn in winter. The barn is leaning and located East of Kleskun.

0710.11 Item – Walter Waldner’ Barn  September 1989 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Photograph of Walter Waldner’s barn, near Bezanson, with a dog beside it and a car parked in the background. The barn showcases a new metal roof.

0710.12 Item – Bob and Morene Binks’ Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Broken fence and trailer parked in front of barn in winter. A red truck can be seen in the background. Identified as belonging to Bob and Morene Binks.

0710.13 Item – Floyd Meyer’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with lean-to in field. The photograph shows fencing and a powerline near the barn. Identified as belonging to Floyd Mayer and located in the Kleskun Hill area.

0710.14 Item – Larry Dorscheid’s Barn  April 1989 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Larry Dorscheid’s wooden barn with hay around it.

0710.15 Item – John and Sadie Sarmaga’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

John and Sadie Sarmaga’s red barn. A painted image of a cow is visible on the barn. Identified as located near Bezanson.

0710.16 Item – B. Binks’ Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn in field sitting by fence. Identified as belonging to B. Binks and located at Paschatag, Kleskun Lake. Located East of Grande Prairie.

0710.17 Item – Vic Ouclair’s Yard With Barn  February 1987 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Image of Vic Ouclair’s yard. Photograph includes a red alfanete barn built in 1931, next to hay bales. Other buildings and white house are sitting next to the barn.

0710.18 Item – Annie Maen’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

A side view of Annie Maen’s wooden barn. A horse is grazing to the left of the barn, and a fence can be seen in front of it. Location identified as Bad Heart.

0710.19 Item – Rivertop School Building n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Photograph of Rivertop School, built in 1929. School building is sitting on a grassy lawn with trees in the background.

0710.20 Item – Bezanson Seniors Cottages  1989 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Image of Bezanson Seniors Cottages sign with homes in the background. Identified as being opened in 1989.

0710.21 Item – Grant and Margaret Moore’s Barn  1992 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Grant and Margaret’s farm in 1992. The photograph shows a wooden barn located next to an outbuilding and a rusty grain silo.

0710.22 Item – Bad Heart Straw Church n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Straw church located in Bad Heart. Building is on a grassy lawn and surrounded by trees.

0710.23 Item – Honala and Leslie Frasers’ Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Dirt road leading to Honala and Leslie Fraser’s farmyard. Visible among the building is a red barn and a white building with a windmill on top. Motorhomes and a pick up truck are visible in the background.

0710.24 Item – Fenton’s Barn  May 1992 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

The Fenton’s wooden barn in May 1992. The barn is sitting behind a chicken cook with chickens and a red barrel. Other wooden buildings are shown alongside the barn.

0710.25 Item – Teepee Creek Store  August 1990 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Teepee Creek Store: Groceries and Hardware with gas pumps on the right.

0710.26 Item – Adam’s Ranch Barn  August 1990 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn with moose antlers located on Adam’s Ranch.

0710.27 Item – Harluk’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Harluk’s red barn, with stairs, on a snowy yard. There are hay bales next to the barn.

0710.28 Item – McQuaig Bros’ Barn  August 1990 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn sitting by road with hay bales. A carport with trailer is shown to the right. Identified as belonging to Wick and Blanche Hoag of McQuaig Bros, and originally belonging to Captain Blake. Location identified as Smoky Flats northeast of Teepee Creek.

0710.29 Item – Stanley Sparks’ Farmyard  September 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Stanley Sparks’ field and farmyard. Photograph shows multiple buildings include a wooden barn, a white fence, and a pickup truck. Identified as being located at Bad Heart.

0710.30 Item – Herman Wendt’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Herman Wendt’s red barn behind a windmill.

0710.31 Item – H. Kimble’s Barn  August 1989 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

H. Kimble’s barn in August 1989. Identified as the last photograph before the barn was demolished. Yellow backhoe with operator visible beside the barn.

0710.32 Item – Benny Lightfoot’s Barn  November 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Green and red barn on snowy lawn. Barn is sitting next to a wooden building with a ladder and an open paddock. Identified as being Benny Lightfoot’s barn near Bezanson.

0710.33 Item – J. Hunter’s Barn  September 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with weather vane. Depicted next to dirt area with trailers in the background. Identified as J. Hunter’s barn near Bezanson. Titled Old Harry Card Barn – Julia Jordon.

0710.34 Item – D. Ames (Beaver)’s Barn  September 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with sliding doors and trailers on either side. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, “Beavers – Rose Don.” The note accompanying the photograph reads, “D. Ames (Beaver) Bezanson.”

0710.35 Item – Andy McNally’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

White-washed barn with cattle chute in front. Barn had originally been at Oliver Menard’s place but was moved to Andy McNally’s place near Bezanson.

0710.36 Item – Ralph Jervan-McRae’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Blue and white barn on snowy yard. Identified as being Ralph Jervan -McRae’s located East to Grande Prairie.

0710.37 Item – Jack Hunter’s Barn  March 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden semi-collapsed barn in field photographed in March 1988. Barn is located next to another wooden structure. Identified as being Jack Hunter’s old place.

0710.38 Item – Harvey Ford’s Barn  March 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Stone barn with tire in front. Identified as being Harvey Ford’s old barn near DeBolt.

0710.39 Item – Alex Monkman’s Barn  July 1983 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red painted wooden barn, behind fence, with Cutbank Lake in the background. Identified as belonging to Alex Monkman.

0710.40 Item – Charlotte Patterson’s Barn  November 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn with open door located on snowy lawn. Identified as belonging to Charlotte Patterson near Bezanson.

0710.41 Item – Harry Lang & Joe Hendrick’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red Barn and outbuildings on snowy lawn. Identified as belonging to Harry Lang and Joe Hendrick.

0710.42 Item – Lyle Berg’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn next to red tractor on snowy lawn. Identified as belonging to Lyle Berg and originally built by John Boychuck.

0710.43 Item – Annie Maen’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with fence on grassy lawn, located near Bad Heart. Identified as belonging to Annie Maen.

0710.44 Item – Bob and Mary McNally’s Barn  May 1994 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with fence and trees in background. Identified as belonging to Bob and Mary McNally.

0710.45 Item – Wes Stark’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Green pickup truck and tractor next to wooden barn. Identified as belonging to Wes Stark, Ottawa.

0710.46 Item – Bud Patterson’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Bud Patterson (Weegar)’s wooden barn behind hay. Located near Bezanson. Noted as the “last barn we all worked on 1940.”

0710.47 Item – Pete Moor’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with shingles and fencing. Identified as being Pete Moor’s barn.

0710.48 Item – Bert Ogden’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn next to blue barrel on snowy lawn. Identified as being near Bezanson and owned by Bert Ogden.

0710.49 Item – L. Fels (Jack Lowe)’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

L. Fels (Jack Lowe)’s barn located near Bezanson. Wooden partially collapsed barn on grassy field.

0710.50 Item – Ray Berg’s Barn  July 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn located next to a red tractor and water barrels. Identified as being Ray Berg’s barn near Bezanson.

0710.51 Item – Sexsmith Museum’s Barn n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn at the Sexsmith Museum, located by red pickup truck and historic farming tools.

0710.52 Item – Dick Laverick’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

A wooden barn on grassy field. Building was first a house, and later converted into a barn. Identified as belonging to Dick Laverick near Bezanson.

0710.53 Item – B. McPhee’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn with carport on grassy lawn. Identified as belonging to B. McPhee and located near Bezanson.

0710.54 Item – Don Stark (Jack Stark)’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Partially collapsed wooden barn beside hay bales. Part of a red tractor is visible in the foreground. Identified as being located near Bezanson and owned by Don Stark (Jack Stark).

0710.55 Item – Brian and Jean Boyd’s Barn  June 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn with white ladder and tractor in front. Identified as being located East from Grande Prairie. Belonging to Brian & Jean Boyd (Moor).

0710.56 Item – A. Johnson (Weiss) Barn n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with paddock in front of field. Identified as belonging to A. Johnson (Weiss) and located North of Kleskun.

0710.57 Item – Alvin and Alice Rode’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Alvin and Alice Rode’s wooden barn. Located North of Kleskun. Identified as the “Old Huber Place.”

0710.58 Item – Pat Rooney’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn on snowy field. Identified as belonging to Pat Rooney and located near Debolt.

0710.59 Item – Joan and Andy Norman Madon’s Barn  July 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Cow outside a wooden barn. The barn was built in 1930 and identified as belonging to Joan and Andy Norman Madon.

0710.60 Item – Alfred Wales’ Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red painted wooden barn in front of snowy yard. White fencing is located on either side of the barn. Located East from Grande Prairie and identified as belonging to Alfred Wales.

0710.61 Item – Bayley’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

White washed wooden barn by snowy road. Identified as being Bayley’s. Barn was built in 1928 and located near Crooked Creek.

0710.62 Item – Menard (Struhan)’s Barn n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn on snow. Barn is sitting next to a horse trailer. Building is identified as belonging to B. Menard (E. Menard), and is located near Bezanson.

0710.63 Item – Rob Patterson’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red painted barn next to hay bales. Built in 1927. Identified as being owned by E. Weegar (R. Patterson) and located near Bezanson.

0710.64 Item – Mac McLaughlin’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn sitting next to tractor on snowy lawn. Identified as “Uncle Mac’s Barn”. Owned by Mac McLaughlin and located near Bezanson.

0710.65 Item – P. Donahue’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with other outbuildings on grassy field. Identified as belonging to P. Donahue and located East from Grande Prairie.

0710.66 Item – Albert Sorenson’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn next to cattle run. Located near Bezanson. Identified as belonging to Albert, Jane, and Paul Sorenson.

0710.67 Item – Stan and Nita Sarmaga’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Stan and Nita Sarmaga’s wooden barn.

0710.68 Item – Peak Ripitosky’s Barn  September 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn by field with Shenk (tradesman). Identified as belonging to Peak Ripitosky.

0710.69 Item – Albert and Karen Schulze (Norton)’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with hay lift and hay inside. Identified as being owned by Albert and Karen Schulze (Norton). Located near Bezanson.

0710.70 Item – Jim Clarkson’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn belonging to Jim Clarkson and located east of Grande Prairie.

0710.71 Item – Charley Moon’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Winter scene of barn with a second smaller barn off to the side and hay bales in the background. The barn was built in 1932 by Ross Wales for Charley Moon and belonged to Grant and Margaret Moon at the time the photograph was taken.

0710.72 Item – Fenton Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Disused barn belonging to Helen and Bruce Fenton of Bezanson.

0710.73 Item – DeBolt Museum Barn  May 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Log barn with a sign reading “Pioneer Museum” over the door. The barn is in Hubert Memorial Park in DeBolt.

0710.74 Item – Bob Arnold’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn with hay bales to one side. The barn belonged to Bob Arnold and [?] Sorenson of Teepee Creek.

0710.75 Item – Regnier Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn belonging to W. Regnier of Bezanson.

0710.76 Item – Log Barn at DeBolt  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Log barn at DeBolt. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, “At DeBolt. Got to find out. [indistinct] DeBolt.”

0710.77 Item – Kleskun Lake Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Log barn with a cow in the pen outside. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, “Kiddine. ‘Andy Murchie’s’.” The note accompanying the photograph reads, “Kiddines (A. Murchie) Kleskun Lake.”

0710.78 Item – Kohalyk Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn built by Alf Olson for a member of the Kohalyk family in 1936. The note accompanying the photograph reads, “J. Bulford (Kohalyk) Bezanson.”

0710.79 Item – Jensen & McPhee Barn  February 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Wooden barn with metal grain bins and a small trailer to one side. It is identified as the Jensen and McPhee barn near Bezanson.

0710.80 Item – Turner Barn  August 1986 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

The Turner barn near Bezanson, built in 1924.

0710.81 Item – Hollingworth Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Barn belonging to Dean and Wanda Hollingworth in Teepee Creek. It also belonged to Harold and Jean Love at some point in the past.

0710.82 Item – Vinettes’ Home  September 1988 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

The Vinettes’ old home in the Bezanson/Fitzsimmons area, being used as a shed. There are two canoes lying upside down out front.

0710.83 Item – Young’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn belonging to John Young near Wembley. It also belonged to Jack Stephenson in the past.

0710.84 Item – Mackeys’ Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Barn belonging to Oscar and Ann Mackey. There is a person standing in the doorway, and two people standing in front of the shed beyond the barn.

0710.85 Item – Ames Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Badly leaning disused barn belonging to Irving “Tyke” and Alice “Allie” Ames. A note indicates that it was the Rooneys’ old barn.

0710.86 Item – Paddy Brown’s Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Paddy Brown’s barn and a couple other outbuildings in the winter.

0710.87 Item – McNally Barn  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Red barn belonging to Barney and Kay McNally in North Kleskun. It previously belonged to J. Rode.

0710.88 Item – Barn in Winter  n.d. 1 photograph : colour ; 4 x 6 in.
  Scope and content:

Barn with a pickup truck and tractor parked outside, with hay bales, farm machinery, and fences in the background. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, “Ott Pattersons 1914.”