Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Spirit River Immigration Hall fonds |
| Reference code: | 0659 |
| Date: | 1917-1930 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 3 cm textual records |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processing date and archivist unknown. Exported from AoR Nov. 2024 – JL Database conversion completed Sept. 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
The Spirit River Immigration Hall was constructed in April 1917 in order to support the huge influx of settlers that were arriving. The Hall was built by Mr. N. Cuthbertson of Edmonton, which caused some controversy as local contractors felt they didn’t have a proper opportunity to bid. The Hall was to be 76 feet long and 34 feet wide with several outbuildings. The interior consisted of several rooms for sleeping and a communal kitchen for food preparation.
The settlers and their families had free accommodation at the Hall. Some travelers extended their stay for reasons such as not having picked out their farmstead yet, or their belongings had not yet arrived.
The immigrants who utilized the Hall arrived from places throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. The final destinations listed in the records were as varied as where the immigrants had arrived from. A few of the places listed are Blueberry, Pouce Coupe, Waterhole, Grizzly Bear, Rolla, Cut Bank, Wanham, Bad Heart, and Grande Prairie.
The Spirit River Immigration Hall later became a boarding house for girls that were attending high school in Spirit River.
Custodial history
The Spirit River Immigration Hall records were donated by the Spirit River District Museum in 2016. The records were found at the local John Deere dealership who upon realizing they were not their records donated them to the Spirit River Museum.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of two ledgers listing the settlers who stayed at the Spirit River Immigration Hall. The book recorded: Name, Nationality, Age, Port of Entry, Proposed Destination, Occupation, Date of Arrival at Hall, Date of Leaving Hall, and Remarks.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Restrictions on access
No restriction on access.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Settlement and Immigration (subject)