Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Elmer Hagglund fonds |
| Reference code: | 0121 |
| Date: | 1916-1964 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 1 pamphlet
85 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Added to new database June 2024 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Elmer Hagglund was born in Minnesota, U.S.A. in 1899 where his father was section foreman for the Great Northern Railway. Elmer began his railroad career working for his father on the section, and was later hired on as a brakeman for the same railway. He immigrated to Canada in 1920, and in 1922 was hired on as part of a four-man crew for Northern Alberta Railways at Webster, north of Sexsmith. When he arrived at Webster with his wife Anna and daughter Beulah, there was nothing but bush and railroad tracks, so they took a homestead near the Webster Trestle bridge on which they built a log cabin. Anna cooked for the railroad crew. There were no roads and the only way to get in or out was by rail.
In 1924, Mr. Hagglund was promoted to conductor at Sexsmith, and the family moved to another homestead at S.E. 12-75-4-W6th. Their second child, Gordon, was born there. After working as a conductor at Sexsmith for about 10 years, Elmer was promoted to extra gang foreman and built the railway from Whitelaw to Fairview, with approximately 150 men working under him. Later he transferred to running trade and hired out as brakeman, working his way up to conductor. He had a regular run on passenger trains from McLennan to Dawson Creek.
After 42 years of service, Mr. Hagglund retired from the railroad in February 1964. He died in Grande Prairie on September 9, 1994.
Custodial history
Jean Hagglund, daughter-in-law to Elmer Hagglund, loaned these photographs, booklets, and leaflets, along with many railway artefacts, to the Grande Prairie Museum for a 1996 display called “80 Years of Railway.” When the display was dismantled, she decided to donate the articles to the museum. In 2000, the photographs were transferred to the care of the Grande Prairie Regional Archives.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of photographs of Elmer Hagglund’s career with railroading in the Peace Country, such as scenes of the Webster trestle bridge, an early ED & BC engine, Elmer Hagglund as section foreman in Sexsmith, the first Diesel to come into Dawson, and the switch crew at McLennan in 1944. The collection includes photographs of technical problems with rails and cars in the 1960s and photographs of Elmer’s retirement party in 1964. There is also a pamphlet with local timetables for Northern Alberta Railways.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Related material
Artefacts from Elmer Hagglund’s railroad career are included in Grande Prairie Museum collections.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Transportation (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 1996.24.19 | Item – The First Diesel Train, Dawson Creek | ca. 1940 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7 in. |
| Scope and content:
The first diesel train to come into Dawson Creek being escorted by four “out-riders.” |
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| 1996.24.20 | Item – Building the Webster Railroad Bridge | ca. 1916 | 1 photograph ; b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Webster Bridge (over the Badheart River) on the Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railroad under construction. The right-of way was on the Hagglund homestead. |
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| 1996.24.21 | Item – Crossing a Trestle Bridge | ca. 1916 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
A Canadian National Train pulling a Northern Alberta Railway passenger car across a trestle bridge. |
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| 1996.24.22 | Item – Train Wreck on the E.D. & B.C. Railway | ca. 1916 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
The E.D.& B.C. (Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railway) was nicknamed the Extremely Dangerous & Badly Constructed Railway. Train accidents were common. Here, part of a train is off the track and in the bush. |
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| 1996.24.23 | Item – Building the Webster Trestle Bridge | ca. 1916 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
The Webster Bridge (over the Badheart River) on the Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railroad under construction. The right-of way was on the Hagglund homestead. |
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| 1996.24.24 | Item – Switch Crew at McLennan | 1944 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. |
| Scope and content:
Five men from the Switch Crew at McLennan in the fall of 1944 include Vic Gooch, Albert Dupris, Dutch Turniga, Elmer Hagglund & Garnet Ross. |
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| 1996.24.25 | Item – Elmer Hagglund on a Railroad Speeder | 1924 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.5 x 2.5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Elmer Hagglund sitting on a railway speeder in 1924, when he was section foreman in Sexsmith. |
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| 1996.24.26 | Item – Railway Steam Engine | ca. 1916 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two children looking out the window of a Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia Railway steam engine. |
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| 1996.24.27 | Item – Elmer Hagglund, Railroad Employee | 1963 | 1 photograph : colour ; 2 x 3 in. |
| Scope and content:
E.I. Hagglund in the doorway of the train station. On the left is a notice board which reads “Train Bulletin”. |
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| 1996.24.28 | Item – J.P. Brown, Railroad Engineer | 1938 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 3 x 5 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two men at the window of a train engine over sign which reads “J.P. Brown, 42 years of RR service, 1896 to 1938”. |
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| 1996.24.29 | Item – Northern Alberta Railways Timetable Northern Alberta Railways |
1955 | 1 pamphlet |
| Scope and content:
Pamphlet with a map of the Northern Alberta Railway route and times of stops going and coming from Edmonton to Grande Prairie. |
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| 1996.24.35-37 | Item – Train Wrecks in the South Peace | ca. 1964 | 3 photographs : colour |
| Scope and content:
Photographs of an accident between a Canadian National train and a truck at a railroad crossing. |
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| 1996.24.38-82 | Item – Railroading in Northern Alberta | ca. 1964 | 45 photographs : colour |
| Scope and content:
Scenes of NAR trains, tracks, trucks, accidents, and repair work. |
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| 1996.24.83-104 | Item – Elmer Hagglund, Retirement Party | 1964 | 21 photographs |
| Scope and content:
Photographs of Elmer Hagglund’s retirement party in 1964. |
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