Fonds 382 Bill and Clarice Paul fonds

[1945-1992]. — 21 photographs.

Biographical Sketch

Bill Paul started a foundry in Camrose when he was eighteen but had to close shop to join the navy during WWII. He came to Grande Prairie in 1945 and took over the smithy and woodworking shop owned by R.J. Barley in order to establish the heavy steel fabrication and welding repair business, G.P. Ironworks on 99 Ave. It was the Peace country’s only foundry for years and tackled many needs including designing and building brush pilers and create portable welding units.

He had married Clarice Thelma Walkemeyer in 1941 and together they raised their family, Bill Jr., Patricia, and Susan in Grande Prairie. Clarice was also active in a business, managing their ice cream shop called “Milky Way” during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Her shop was across from the Hudson Bay Co. ( their family lived upstairs at the time) and she remembers making coffee all night for the men who were fighting the fire when the store burned. In 1951, Bill’s younger brother, Glen, joined the business. Bill semi-retired in 1973 and then opened the business Picture Perfect in the Evans building on 100 Ave. in 1985. One of his major accomplishements was the renovation of total interior of the building. Bill passed away July 29, 1991 in Grande Prairie and in 2009, Clarice moved to Wild Rose Manor.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of 21 photographs and 13 negatives of G.P. Iron Works building, caterpillar brushing equipment, downtown Grande Prairie with Clarice and children, Bill and Pat, the Hudson Bay store fire, and Picture Perfect renovations. Also included are 3 newspaper articles referencing the history of the G.P. Iron Works and a menu cover from Clarice Paul’s Ice Cream Shop, “Milky Way”.

Notes

Series 382.01	Photographs
Series 382.02	Paper Artifacts

Series 382.01

Photographs. — [1945-1990]. — 21 photographs.The series consists of 21 photographs and 13 negatives of G.P. Ironworks building, caterpillar brushing equipment at work, downtown Grande Prairie with Clarice and children, Bill and Pat,and the Hudson Bay fire. Also included are 4 newspaper articles referencing the history of the G.P. Ironworks and a menu cover from Clarice Paul’s Ice Cream Shop, “Milky Way”

Grande Prairie Iron Works Ltd., [1945-1961]
5 photographs; b & w; 3 x 3, 3 x 5
One photograph shows the original building of R. J. Barley being converted into a two storey shop building to house Grande Prairie Iron Works and three show the building during the 1950s-1960s. The fifth shows a 1950s truck and a portion of 99 Ave. looking west from their business.
Location: 0382.01.01-.05

Grande Prairie Iron Works Ltd., [1945-1950]
6 negatives; b & w; 2 x 3
6 negative of the Grande Prairie Iron Works buildings during the time period 1945-1950.
Location: 0382.01.06 -.11

Grande Prairie Iron Works Brush Piler, [1945-1950]
2 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3
Three Grande Prairie Iron Works workers show off their brush piler in a snowy field
Location: 0382.01.12-.13

Grande Prairie Iron Works Brush Piler, [1945-1950]
1 negative; b & w; 2 x 3
Three Grande Prairie Iron Works workers show off their brush piler in a snowy field
Location: 0382.01.12a

Grande Prairie Iron Works New Brush Piler, [1945-1950]
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3
Grande Prairie Iron Works newly constructed brush piler shown behind their shop.
Location: 0382.01.14

Grande Prairie Iron Works Brush Piler at Work, [1945-1950]
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3
Grande Prairie Iron Works newly constructed brush piler at work in the brush
Location: 0382.01.15

Grande Prairie Iron Works Brush Piler at Work, [1945-1950]
6 negatives; b & w; 2 x 3
Negatives of Grande Prairie Iron Works newly constructed brush piler being tested out.
Location: 0382.01.16-.21

Welding Truck Being Towed, 1953
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 4
Grande Prairie Iron Works truck with a portable welder on the back being towed by a caterpillar into an oil well site north of Sturgeon Lake Mission. It was the first well that was a major producer in the Peace country.
Location: 0382.01.22

Hudson Bay Store Fire, [1955]
3 photographs; b & w; 3 x 4
Photographs of the fire that destroyed the Hudson Bay Department Store on the corner of 100St. and 100 Ave. in Grande Prairie.
Location: 0382.01.23-.25

Clarice and Children by “Milky Way”, [1950]
1 photograph; b & w; 2 x 3
Clarice operated an ice cream store called “Milky Way” on main street in the 1950s.
Location: 0382.01.26

Clarice and Daughter, Pat, by “Milky Way”, [1950]
1 photograph; b & w; 3 x 3
Clarice and daughter, Pat, near their ice cream store, “Milky Way” on main street in the 1950s. Dr Storcer’s office and the Acme Department Store were close by
Location: 0382.01.27

Picture Perfect Renovations, [1990-1992]
4 photographs; colour; 4 x 6
Photographs showing Picture Perfect Frame & Gallery on the corner of 100St. 100 Ave. Bill Paul owned the building from 1985 to the early 1990s.
Location: 0382.01.28-.31

The Swans by Tim Heimdal, 1992
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6
Renovations on the Evans buliding included Tim Heimdal’s mural of the trumpeter swans on the brick facing next to the Gaiety Theatre.
Location: 0382.01.32

Clarice Paul, 1992
1 photograph; colour; 4 x 6
Clarice Paul is seen crossing 100 Ave. near the corner at 100 St.
Location: 0382.01.33

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Series 382.02

Paper Artifacts. — [1945-1992].The series consists of 3 newspaper articles referencing the history of the G.P. Iron Works and a menu cover from Clarice Paul’s Ice Cream Shop, “Milky Way”.

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[1945-1992]. — 21 photographs.

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content

Notes

Table of Contents

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