Fonds 155 Bezanson Family fonds

183 photographs

12 postcards

A 1987 reproduction of Bezanson’s trip over the Peace River Trail in 1906 documenting what he saw as a “land of promise”

Date: 1906-1933 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of 125 photographs portraying A.M. Bezanson’s first trip into the Peace Country in 1906, Teepee Ranch and all the activities there starting in 1908, Walter McFarlane’s survey crews which arrived in 1909, Bezanson’s trip into the Peace by automobile with A.J. Davidson in 1913, the making of the roads and townsite of Bezanson, activities on the Smoky River, The Beaver riverboat, the McFarlane family at Buffalo Lakes, and scenes from across the south Peace. There is also a copy of the booklet, “Looking Ahead in the Peace River Country to the Building of a City”, written by Bezanson ca. 1914.

Physical description: 0.5 cm textual records

130 photographs

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Arrangement:

Most of these photographs are pasted to yellow linoleum sheets as they were formerly part of a museum display. In many cases they have two identifiers: one beginning with 1990.30 (indicating that it is part of the Bezanson fonds) and one beginning with 2001.02 (indicating that it is part of the display).

Publication status:

Published

Booklet by A.M. Bezanson presenting the reasons for the rapid development of the Peace River Country and arguing for the inevitable trend of this development to lead to the establishment of important trade centers.

A. M. Bezanson and party look over the Grande Prairie for likely homesteading sites.

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2001.02.066

A view of Grande Prairie City, as it appeared in 1913.

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2001.02.070

A distant view of hamlet of Grande Prairie in 1911.

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2001.02.067

A.M. Bezanson with his automobile at Grande Prairie, Alberta in 1913.

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2001.02.069

First grain crop grown on the Grande Prairie. These grain stacks are on Smith & Sons farm.

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2001.02.063

A party of the first white women in Grande Prairie celebrating around an improvised tea table includes Lois Bezanson at far left.

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2001.02.068

In 1910, Grande Prairie was called Bear Creek and the only buildings were a “hotel” and a mission.

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2001.02.065

A party of settlers or surveyors having lunch at make-shift camp beside an abandoned log cabin.

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2001.02.062

A. M. Bezanson and party standing on a sweep of the “grande prairie” before settlement c, 1910.

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2001.02.064

Two copies of an image showing an Indigenous woman and her baby standing in doorway of a tipi at Lesser Slave Lake.

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2001.02.248

The Bezanson party with teams and covered sleighs crossing Slave Lake in the winter of 1908

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2001.02.249b

John Revillion and Bill Short push their loaded canoe across Slave River in 1906.

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2001.02.249a

John Revillion and Bill Short with their loaded canoe resting on the banks of Lesser Slave River in 1906.

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2001.02.250

The first car on the Edson Trail in December, 1913.

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2001.02.245

Loaded car starting down the Edson trail on December 9, 1913 from in front of the Edson Grocery Company.

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2001.02.241

Three copies of an image showing A.M. Bezanson, in a coonskin coat, with the Cadillac he drove over the Edson Trail in 1913. The man on the right was the owner of the Cadillac.

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2001.02.243

A.M. Bezanson’s loaded car on the Edson Trail, 6 miles north of the House River.

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2001.02.246

A.M. Bezanson and his automobile at mile 120 on the Edson Trail.

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2001.02.244

A.M. Bezanson enroute with the Cadillac he drove over the Edson Trail in 1913.

Loaded car on the Edson Trail in 1913.

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2001.02.247

Three copies of an image showing a man in a Cadillac on a snowy road. Each copy has a different caption on the back:”Winter road Grand Prairie to Grouard.””Cadillac trip Dec. 1913. Picture taken by A.M. Bezanson.””Doing an Indian winter road in a Cadillac Dec. 1913.”

Image shows three men standing near a car on a snowy road. The caption under the photograph reads “Winter Road – Grande Prairie to Grouard – Indian winter road in a Cadillac – Dec. 1913.”

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2001.02.242

Photograph of the Bezanson cabin on the banks of the Big Smoky in 1908.

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2001.02.474

Lars crossing the Smoky River by boat.

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2001.02.476

A.M. Bezanson with the “Dolly Varden” he caught in the Big Smoky in 1908.

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2001.02.475

The Big Smoky River in front of the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.480

A herd of horses cross the Big Smoky River near the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.479

The confluence of the Smoky & Simmonette rivers near the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.481

The ice-covered Big Smoky River above the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.478

The Big Smoky River in front of Teepee Ranch, the Bezanson’s homestead.

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2001.02.489

A.M. Bezanson’s boat on the Big Smoky in 1910. The bear shown on shore in front of the boat was shot while the man was standing in the boat going through rapids.

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2001.02.477

Photograph of a bear shot near the mouth of the Little Smoky River in 1910 or 1911.

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2001.02.484

Ferrying a team of horses across the Athabasca river in Dec. 1913.

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2001.02.483

Bezanson’s automobile navigates the snow covered road to Grouard in 1913.

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2001.02.482

A.M. Bezanson and his automobile on the snow covered north bank of the Big Smoky River.

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2001.02.486

A herd of horses belonging to the Canadian National Railway Survey party corralled at Teepee Ranch in 1908.

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2001.02.056

Settler’s cabooses stopped at Teepee Ranch in the winter of 1911-12.

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2001.02.061

Bezanson family traveling by caboose to Teepee Ranch in the winter of 1908.

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2001.02.053

A.M. Bezanson and his son on a horse-drawn mower, cutting the first crop on Teepee Ranch in 1909.

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2001.02.058

Malcolm Campbell and some companions with their dog teams in the winter of 1910-11.

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2001.02.055

Settlers traveling by caboose through Teepee Ranch, enroute to the Grande Prairie c. 1910.

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2001.02.057

Photograph of a sod-roofed log cabin at Teepee Ranch.

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2001.02.059

Photograph of a sod-roofed log cabin at Teepee Ranch.

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2001.02.054

Side view of Teepee Ranch Cabin and yard showing fenced play area for children and flower garden.

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2001.02.060

Bezanson party with several horse drawn sleighs crossing Sturgeon Lake in the winter of 1910.

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2001.02.206

Image shows Indigenous students gathered together standing behind a fence. The caption beneath the photograph says “Indians at Sturgeon Lake let out of school to see their first car – Dec. 1913.”

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2001.02.205

A.M. Bezanson’s automobile at a stopping place on the Sturgeon Lake-Grouard Trail.

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2001.02.204

Photograph of the town of Lake Saskatoon in 1911 with the lake in the background.

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2001.02.211

Beef cattle belonging to A.M. Bezanson at Lake Saskatoon in 1909.

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2001.02.208

A.M. Bezanson cattle grazing on the prairie at Lake Saskatoon.

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2001.02.210

A.M. Bezanson cattle being rounded up near the Hudson’s Bay Post at Lake Saskatoon in 1910.

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2001.02.209

A horse race during one of the first sports at Lake Saskatoon.

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2001.02.212

Settlers gathering at the Sports Grounds at Lake Saskatoon in 1909.

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2001.02.207

A settler identified as Webb traveling to the Bezanson homestead on a raft, by way of the Wapiti River.

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2001.02.312

A.M. Bezanson with his wife Lois and his sons, Frank and Jim.

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2001.02.314

A.M. Bezanson his two young sons at a Golf Course in Edmonton.

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2001.02.313

The flower and vegetable garden at Teepee Ranch, with farmyard buildings in the background.

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2001.02.317

Frank Bezanson as a toddler. He was born on Dec. 25, 1908.

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2001.02.315

Effie Flint poses on a swing at Bezanson’s homestead.

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2001.02.316

Exterior view of A.M. Bezanson’s office and store room.

Bezanson uses his automobile to skid the outhouse to a new site.

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2001.02.318

Bezanson’s herd of cattle at Teepee Ranch.

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2001.02.312b

A. M. Bezanson walking with his six-year-old son Frank.

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2001.02.319

The new road through the valley leads to the townsite of Bezanson.

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2001.02.321

The corner of the Bezanson home in 1915.

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2001.02.324

Leonard’s first store at Bezanson in 1914.

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2001.02.327

A view of the townsite of Bezanson from high up on the bank.

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2001.02.325

A view of the Simonette River from high on the bank near the townsite of Bezanson.

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2001.02.329

Marking one corner of the Bezanson town site, from where the Smoky River is visible below.

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2001.02.328

Crew stopped for a lunch break while building the road to the Bezanson townsite in 1914.

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2001.02.322

A. M. Bezanson with his dogs on the banks of the Saskatchewan River in 1907.

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2001.02.326

A.M. Bezanson showing another corner of the townsite of Bezanson.

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2001.02.041

Image shows Frank Bezanson as a child, posing outdoors with a hat in his hands. The caption on the photograph reads “Frank thinks a hat is too hot.”

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2001.02.044

Frank Bezanson at 18 months of age at the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.045

A very large plot of turnips served for cattle feed as well as kitchen produce.

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2001.02.323

A .M. Bezanson’s home the first winter after it was built. The outbuilding behind the house is the ice house.

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2001.02.048

The first crop of oats was harvested from the Bezanson homestead in 1909.

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2001.02.046

Frank and Jim Bezanson at San Diego in 1913.

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2001.02.049

Two copies of a photograph showing A.M. Bezanson and his family enroute home across a bench of the Smokey in the Model T.

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2001.02.047

Frank and Jim Bezanson in the swing at the Bezanson homestead.

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2001.02.052

Mrs. Lois Bezanson on board the Princess Louise with son Jim.

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2001.02.051

A. M. Bezanson’s farm, two miles below Bezanson’s town site.

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2001.02.050

Image shows the Bezanson townsite in the distance, surrounded by forest and hills. The town of Bezanson was planned and promoted by A.M. Bezanson, but doomed to decline when the ferry was put in at Goodwin Crossing instead of Bezanson Crossing.

Image shows the new Bezanson home.

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2001.02.038

The ferry landing below Bezanson, at which the “Beaver” is docking with a large crowd of people on deck.

Passengers at Bezanson disembarking from the “Beaver,” a long narrow river boat which operated on the Smoky.

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2001.02.036

The road from the Bezanson townsite down to the ferry landing on the Big Smoky River under construction in 1914.

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2001.02.039

Passengers at Bezanson disembarking from the “Beaver,” a long narrow river boat which operated on the Smoky.

Making a road from the ferry landing on the Big Smoky river to the townsite at Bezanson.

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2001.02.040

Road-building crew stopped for lunch while building the road to the Bezanson townsite in 1914.

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2001.02.042

Clearing the right of way for the road at Bezanson.

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2001.02.043

Portrait of Ancel Maynard Bezanson taken in 1907.

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2001.02.037

The Hudson’s Bay Company and other buildings at Dunvegan in 1909.

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2001.02.200

St. Charles Catholic Church and Mission at Dunvegan, complete with its outbuildings in 1909.

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2001.02.201

Buildings at Grande Prairie in 1910.

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2001.02.131

Indigenous women at Dunvegan in 1909, in a photo taken by W. G. McFarlane, land surveyor.

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2001.02.199

Horses from the McFarlane Survey outfit gather around the mosquito smudge.

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2001.02.202

Soccer game being played by members of Walter McFarlane’s survey crew.

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2001.02.121

Walter McFarlane survey crew rafting on the Wapiti River.

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2001.02.120

Horses from the Walter McFarlane survey crew swimming across the Wapiti River in 1909.

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2001.02.122

These two images show part of the Walter McFarlane survey crew in 1910.

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2001.02.115

Walter McFarlane survey crew on the Peace River near Rolla in 1911.

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2001.02.119

Fanny and her colt at the McFarlane farm near Buffalo Lake.

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2001.02.117

Image shows four Indigenous men racing horses at the first Lake Saskatoon Sports in 1910. The original title is taken from the photograph caption.

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2001.02.118

Image shows several Indigenous girls racing horses at the first Lake Saskatoon Sports in 1910. The original title is taken from the photograph caption.

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2001.02.116

Image shows several Indigenous girls racing horses at the first Lake Saskatoon Sports in 1910. The original title is taken from the photograph caption.

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2001.02.123

Ox team racing at first Lake Saskatoon Sports in 1910.

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2001.02.114b

Indigenous people and settlers congregating for Sports Day at Lake Saskatoon in 1910.

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2001.02.203

Registered Holstein cow & newborn calf on McFarlane’s Farm in 1912.

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2001.02.130

Jim McFarlane’s homestead buildings at Cutbank Lake.

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2001.02.132

Copy of a photograph showing A. Maynard Bezanson with a large trout he pulled from the Smoky River. The Bezansons lived at the junction of the Smoky River.

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Clifford’s homesite at Flying Shot Lake in 1910. Mrs. Clifford was the “midwife” for early Grande Prairie babies.

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2001.02.126

Image shows some of the crowd in the spectator stands at Lake Saskatoon Sports: Mrs. W. McFarlane (lower left) with Doris, Lorna, Graham, and Lillian.

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2001.02.125

Image shows a woman standing in a field during the Lake Saskatoon Sports Days. The caption on the back of the postcard reads “Looking down the race track at Lake Saskatoon.”

A horse and light buggy are pitted against a small pony and two children in a cart at the Lake Saskatoon Sports in 1916. The description on the front of the photograph reads “Some Race. Lake Saskatoon Fair. 1916.” The caption on the back reads “Bob Nevins.”

Two copies of a photograph showing men taking a coffee break while the women help unload the wagon. The Ganzeveld & Jazzard Threshing crew are at McFarlane’s Farm at Buffalo Lake. The caption on the back of one copy of the photograph reads “Threshing time circa 1930. Braybrooks’ Farm. Standing: Frank Jazzard’s outfit. Pol’s & Ganzeveld’s sitting down.”

Harry Horte’s snow cruiser – automobile out down to run on a sleigh track.

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2001.02.129

Ganzeveld & Jazzard threshing in front of the W. McFarlane Barn.

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2001.02.124

The Walter McFarlane survey crew which surveyed the south Peace.

Walter McFarlane picking saskatoons for his survey crew.

The Walter McFarlane survey crew in 1910.

Bill Muir doing the laundry while on a survey crew in the south Peace.

Graham McFarlane, son of Walter McFarlane, in 1913.

Bob Williams and Doris, daughter of Walter McFarlane, in 1927.

St. John’s Anglican Church in Buffalo Lake.

Mrs. Spread at the Bob Williams home in Bear Lake.

The McFarlane children playing at keeping store.

Date: 1906-1907 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of 16 photographs of scenes along the route Bezanson traveled, starting at Edmonton and proceeding overland to Athabasca Landing, up the Lesser Slave River and up to Peace River Landing. Photographs are of boats on the river, settlers traveling into the Peace, existing homesteads, posts and missions, and one of a first nations teepee.

Physical description: 16 photographs

16 negatives

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

Edmonton, the gateway to the Peace Country, from Fifth Street and Jasper Ave.

Party of settlers heading for the Peace Country with covered wagons and sleighs.

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Published c. 1914, in “Looking Ahead in the Peace River Country” by A.M. Bezanson

Party of settlers heading for the Peace Country with covered wagons and sleighs. On the Peace River Trail, March 20, 1907.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

A.M. Bezanson’s party of explorers stopping for lunch enroute to the Peace Country.

Eggie’s homestead 50 miles north of Edmonton, as viewed by A.M. Bezanson.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

End of the trail at Athabasca. By here A.M. Bezanson went by boat into the Peace Country.

York Boats were used to transport furs to market. On their return, they would bring in supplies and trade goods. To go upstream, sails or paddles were used, or a rope was passed to the shore and the boat towed by manpower.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

Companions enroute up the Slave River with their loaded canoe.

Loaded canoe going up the Lesser Slave River. “A tenderfoot navigating his own boat is likely to get his feet wet.”

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

Pulling into shore for the evening stop on Lesser Slave River.

Tom Lyllac’s homestead or stopping place at the mouth of Slave Lake.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

The “Northern Light” Steamboat aground in the Slave River in 1906.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

The Church (on the left) and the Monastery at the Roman Catholic Mission at Lesser Slave Lake. “These buildings were built entirely from material manufactured right on the ground by the missionaries themselves.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

The School (on the right) and the Convent at the Roman Catholic Mission in Lesser Slave Lake. “These buildings were built entirely from material manufactured right on the ground by the missionaries themselves.”

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

Flowers in the Hudson’s Bay Company garden at Peace River Landing on September 15, 1906.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

Image shows an Indigenous woman holding a child and standing at the entrance of a teepee on the prairie near Slave Lake. The original title is taken from the caption written on the back of the photograph.

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Published in 1907, in “The Peace River Trail” by A.M. Bezanson

Date: 1908-[1915] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of 11 photographs of the trip over the Long Trail by horse and caboose, the homestead and the area it was located in including photos of The Beaver riverboat which plied the Smoky, Lois Robillard and young Frank Bezanson, and the first crops harvested on the homestead.

Physical description: 11 photographs

11 negatives

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

A.M. Bezanson family caboose on the Athabasca River enroute to their homestead in the Peace Country, 525 miles from railway.

A.M. Bezanson and his bride, Dorothy Robillard Bezanson, enroute to their homestead in 1908.

Hill-top view of the Smoky River in the Peace Country, just below where the Bezansons built their homestead.

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Published c. 1914, in “Looking Ahead in the Peace River Country” by A.M. Bezanson

Hill-top view of the Smoky River in the Peace Country, along which the Bezansons built their homestead.

Pack of horses crossing the Big Smoky River near the Bezanson’s homestead.

A.M. Bezanson’s first home on the banks of the Smoky, a sod-roofed log home.

A.M. Bezanson and William Rae, M.P., hauling goods with a team of oxen on the Bezanson Homestead.

A.M. Bezanson cutting the first oat crop on the Bezanson Ranch in 1909.

Lois Robillard with young Frank Bezanson and the first oat crop in the background.

“The Beaver,” a long narrow river boat which plied the Smoky River.

Passengers disembarking from “The Beaver” at the ferry landing below the Bezanson homestead.

Date: 1913 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of seven photographs of the car on the Edson Trail, at Dunvegan, at the Catholic Mission near Peace River Landing, and one unidentified site which could be the Sturgeon Lake Mission.

Physical description: 7 photographs

7 negatives

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

The first automobile driven over the Edson Trail was a 1912 Cadillac sponsored by a Real Estate developer, Mr. Davidson, and A.M. Bezanson, shown here with A.H. McQuarrie, engineer of the Edson Trail.

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Published c. 1914, in “Looking Ahead in the Peace River Country” by A.M. Bezanson

Mr. Davidson, of Robertson and Davidson, Edmonton Realtors, at the wheel of the 1912 Cadillac he drove over the Edson Trail.

The 1912 Cadillac, driven by Mr. Davidson and Mr. Bezanson into the Peace Country from Edson, on the banks of the Peace River.

Image shows Indigenous children on the porch of the Peace River Mission School looking towards the first automobile in the Peace Country. The title is taken from the caption written on the back of the photograph.

Image shows Indigenous children gathered outside the Peace River Mission School to view the first automobile in the Peace Country in December 1913. The caption written on the back of the photograph says “Mission School. Peace River. Dec. 1913. Viewing first automobile ever seen.”

Davidson’s 1912 Cadillac at Dunvegan after driving over the Edson Trail.

Image shows Indigenous children lined up outside an unidentified mission school. The caption on the back of the photograph says “ ‘Mission Indians’ see their first automobile”.

Date: 1910-1914 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of landscape and activity scenes from across the Peace Country: the Grande Prairie, Lake Saskatoon, Swan Lake, Moberly Lake, Lesser Slave River and Athabasca River.

Physical description: 23 photographs

23 negatives

Access points:

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Publication status:

Published

One of the Boyd brothers viewing the land known as the Grande Prairie, accompanied by T.E. Cooke’s hounds.

One of the Boyd brothers viewing typical Grande Prairie country before settlement.

This herd of cattle on the shores of Bear Lake was typical of some early ranches on the Grande Prairie.

Homestead on the Grande Prairie, most likely that of Clyde Smith, who also had a butcher shop.

Herd of horses in a log corral on an unidentified homestead.

Traveler with tent, horses, and mosquito smudge on the shores of Moberly Lake.

Image shows a First Nations family with a teepee and drying racks on the shores of Moberly Lake. The title is taken from the caption written on the back of the photograph.

Hunter with one hour’s grouse hunting results in front of “Buffalo Lodge,” a sod-roofed log cabin.

Settlers, with loaded wagons and cabooses, crossing frozen Sturgeon Lake enroute to the Peace Country.

Image shows a pony race with a large group of spectators on the sidelines. The caption written on the back of the photograph says “Indians and Settlers. Dominion Day Sports 1911.”

Cowboy riding a bucking bronco on the open prairie. Often it was Indigenous young men who caught and broke wild horses for resale to settlers.

First buildings in the town of Grande Prairie, with Billy Salmond’s Hotel on the left and Patterson & Son’s Store on the right.

The first bank in the Peace Country was the Union Bank at Grande Prairie, located in Patterson & Son’s Store.

Ellis Borden in his garden on the shores of Swan Lake, inside the British Columbia border.

Ellis Borden in his garden on the shores of Swan Lake, inside the British Columbia border.

Lesser Slave River just below the lake.

River barge loading or delivering cord wood at the mouth of Slave Lake in 1912.

Looking south east, the tallest building is Patterson’s Store with log barn adjoining. Slightly to the right is the Lands Office.

Settlers crossing Athabasca River during freeze-up in December 1913.

The village of Lake Saskatoon on the south-west shore of Saskatoon Lake in 1914.

Double exposure of men and horse in front of the village of Lake Saskatoon viewed from the west in 1914.

Party of men and women at Fort McLeod, presumably with A.M. Bezanson, just before he left for the Peace Country.

J. B. Oliver in line-up for the opening of the Hudson’s Bay Reserve at Edmonton. He stayed in the line-up all night to save his place.