Billy Salmond fonds. — 1906-1958. — 18 cm of textual records, 6 photographs, 265 postcards.
Biographical Sketch
William McCasuland “Billy” Salmond was born in 1889, in Ontario. He received his education there, attending the Kingston Business College in 1910. Following college, he worked his way west, arriving in the town of Grande Prairie in 1911.
Upon his arrival in Grande Prairie, Billy was hired to manage the primitive Bredin Hotel because of his genial manner and his cooking skills, but he saw the need for better hotel accomodations, and in 1912 built his own hotel. Two stories in height, of lumber construction, this was the first real hotel in Grande Prairie. There were 14 rooms on the top floor, with the office, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. All meals were served at tables. Later, a livery stable was added at the back of the lot.
Mr. Salmond also farmed and kept herds of cattle in the Grande Prairie area. He had the reputation of being a good stockman and an enthusiastic athelete. Billy remained a life-long bachelor. Other family members who came to the Peace Country included his sister Mrs. George Head and his parents.
Mr. Salmond passed away in 1963.
Custodial History
Records were donated to the Grande Prairie Museum by Laura Partlow and Martha Head, the children of Billy’s sister, Mrs. George Head.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of six photographs and personal papers, including a permit to cut hay on Dominion Land; Kingston Business College workbooks relating to his education; a hotel register and account book from the Salmond Hotel; an envelope advertising Grande Prairie’s Fourth Annual Agricultural Fair 1913; a 1916 program for an event in Spirit River; and some miscellaneous business account books and papers. In the series of 265 postcards, there are many with personal messages to Mr. Salmond.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds
Un-used portions of college workbooks contain information regarding the Grande Prairie Hotel and other business ventures
Artefacts from Billy Salmond’s home are included in the museum collection
Some items are in over-sized storage
Table of Contents
| Series 043.01 | Personal Papers |
| Series 043.02 | Kingston Business College |
| Series 043.03 | Salmond Hotel |
| Series 043.04 | Business Records, Miscellaneous |
| Series 043.02 | Kingston Business College. — 1910. — 5 cm of textual records.The series consists of 9 college workbooks containing hand-written examples of business records. |
| Series 043.03 | Salmond Hotel. — 1917-1919. — 7 cm of textual records.The series consists of 3 hotel registers recording daily registered guests from September 20, 1917 to November 12, 1919. |
| Series 043.04 | Business Records, Miscellaneous. — 1907-1912; 1954-1958. — 5 cm of textual records.The series consists of receipt books, cheque stubs, account books and cash books from other business ventures of Billy Salmond’s. Some miscellaneous receipts and correspondence is tucked in the books. |