Spirit River Settlement Historical Society fonds. — 1973-1989. — 72 cm of textual records. — 2 photographs.
Agency History
The formation of the Spirit River Settlement Historical Society began as a result of a field trip to the old Catholic Mission site and a search for the original town site of Spirit River in the fall of 1985. The first executive consisted of Gerard Dufour, President; Elaine Rein, Secretary; Harold Imes, Treasurer; and Pete Bondar, Vice-President. The Society adopted three aims: the restoration of important historical sites, the building of a museum which could include the concept of a pioneer village, and the creation of a history book of the area. The history book project was undertaken in 1987 by a separate committee of the society. Workers on the history book included Jean Gurnett (editor), Louise Schultz, Dixie Mitchell, Ethel White, Helen Sideroff, Alice Blackie, Isabel Thompson, Marian Imes, Gladys Durkin, Claudia Paish, Pearl Jarvis, Bark Kurz, Ann Haggerty, Doug Blackie, Sylvia Payeur, Bonnie Flintoff, Kathy Esselink, Joyce Delfs, aand Steve Jarman. The book was completed and printed by Friesen Printers in 1989. Work on the securing a site for a museum proceeded at the same time when Spirit River town council donated a piece of land. Much cleanup first had to be done, a ravine had to be filled in and a long drainage culvert installed. In the fall of 1987, the first building, the Charlie Orford Cabin, was moved onto the site and a $4000 New Horizons grant was obtained for its restoration. The loss of two of the areas most historic buildings, the Hudson Bay Post (demolished in 1986) and the Revellion Frere building (destroyed by fire) has spurred the society on to continue to preserve the area’s history.
Custodial History
The records were preserved by the Spirit River and District Museum and donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by the Spirit River Settlement Historical Society in 2009.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of records of the Spirit River Settlement Historical Society including executive records and records of their History Book Committee which consist of planning documents, financial records, minutes and correspondence, and original and/or edited copies of submissions to the Spirit River history book Chepi Sepe. The first sections of the Book Committee records include a history of the general region and the Spirit River Settlement area, the coming of settlers and the growth of agriculture, businesses, industries, municipal governments, the history of veterans of WWI and WWII, schools, churches, medical facilities, and cultural and recreational groups. The second main body of the records contains original and/or edited copies of over 630 family histories arranged in alphabetical order by surname.
Notes
Table of Contents
| Series 486.01 | Executive Records & History of the Society |
| Series 486.02 | Chepi Sepe – History Book Committee Records |
| Series 486.01 | Executive Records & History of the Society. — 1973-1988. — .5 cm.The series consists of a history of the society and an insurance document. | |
| Series 486.02 | Chepi Sepe – History Book Committee Records. — 1987-1989. — 71.5 cm.The Spirit River Settlement Historical Society History Book Committee was formed in order to begin work on a Spirit River community history book. The plan was to include the areas not represented already in other community histories. In 1987 the committee established an office and opened every Wednesday for inquiries and/or volunteer help. The committee was soon working in the evenings too. The first tasks were creating lists of names and organizations and convincing people that their stories and photographs were important to the success of the project. The target date for publication was the summer of 1989. Their main worry was funding as the book, estimated to be 750 pages, was estimated to cost between 50 and 60 dollars each. They were soon preselling by asking for and getting deposits which offered a chance to win a f ree copy of the published book. A column in the local paper, “The Signal” kept the public informed by their “History Book Update “column which included phone numbers forJean Gurnett (editor), Helen Sideroff and Isabel Thompson in case people had questions about how to write their family history. It also provided a place to list names of people the committee needed to find and to published deadlines for submissions. They applied for and received a New Horizons grant from the federal government and succeeded in getting the book Chepi Sepe (960 pages) printed in the fall of 1989.
The series consists of the History Book Committee records which include planning documents, financial records, minutes and correspondence, and original and/ or edited copies of submissions to the Spirit River history book Chepi Sepe. Subseries 4-13 record the history of the region and the Spirit River Settlement area, the coming of settlers and the growth of agriculture, businesses, industries, municipal governments, schools, churches, medical facilities, and the history of cultural and recreational groups. Also documented are the area’s veterans of WWI and WWII, The main body of the records, subseries 13, contains original and/or edited copies of over 630 family histories arranged in files in alphabetical order by surname. |
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| SubSeries 486.02.01 | Chepi Sepe – Planning Documents. — 1987-1989. — 1cm.The sub-series consists of the History Book Committee membership, lists of family names and feature stories, a list of donations towards a comupter purchase, a bibliography , a book layout, a brochure for advance sales of the book, and an information booklet for the Spirit River Homecoming event. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.02 | Chepi Sepe – Financial Records. — 1987-1989. — .5 cm.The sub-series consists of a budget for the History Book Committee, records of expenses in the creation of the book and bank statements. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.03 | Chepi Sepe – Minutes and Correspondence & Newsclippings. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm.The sub-series consists of Committee minutes of one meeting and correspondence mainly from Friesen Printers. Newsclippings include “Remember When” articles by Barb Kurz from The Signal (1987-1988) and “History Book Update” column from The Signal (1987-1988). | |
| SubSeries 486.02.04 | Chepi Sepe – Introduction & Cp. 1- Where the Rivers Flowed. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm.The sub-series consists of original writings for the Introduction and Chapter 1 “Where the Rivers Flowed” of the history book Chepi Sepe, including articles on “How Spirit River Got its Name”, “Dunvegan”, “Flora and Fauna of the Area”, “History of the Spirit River Settlement”, “Pioneer English and Calkins”, “The Bronco Creek District”and “The Happy Valley District”. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.05 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 2- “By Different Routes”. — 1987 -1989. — 2 cm.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 2, “By Different Routes” for the history book Chepi Sepe, which includes includes writings about people who came into the country via the trails and stopping places and also includes copies of portions of Hugh McIntyre’s diary of 1912. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.06 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 3- “The Ebb and Flow of Settlers”. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm. — 1 photographs.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 2, “The Ebb and Flow of Settlers” for the history book Chepi Sepe which recounts the life of early settlers, of farming and forestry and of customs and traditions established by the many immigrants. | |
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| SubSeries 486.02.07 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 4- “Changing Courses” Part 1. — 1987-1989. — 2.5 cm. — 1 photographs.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 4, “Changing Courses” Part 1, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to histories of municipal governments including the town of Spirit River, early businesses and services and the fire of 1943. | |
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| SubSeries 486.02.07 | Premier Strom & Mayor Kosowan. — 1987-1989. — 4 cm.. — 1 photographs.Premier Strom presents Mayor Kosowan with a Certificate of Town Status for the Town of Spirit River in 1971. | |
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| SubSeries 486.02.08 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 4- “Changing Courses” Part 2. — 1987-1989. — 1cm.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 4, “Changing Courses” Part 2, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to histories of communication, law and order, the military, and industry. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.09 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 4- “Changing Courses” Part 3. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 4, “Changing Courses” Part 3, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to histories of schools and churches. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.10 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 4- “Changing Courses” Part 4. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 4, “Changing Courses” Part 4, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to histories of health services including health units, hospitals and the seniors’ home. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.11 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 5- “Ripples Widen” Part 1 Clubs & Organizations. — 1987-1989. — 1.5 cm of textual records.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 4, “Changing Courses” Part 4, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to social groups, and histories of cultural clubs and organizations including 4-H clubs, Brownies and Guides, the Rebekah and Oddfellow Lodges, Knights of Columbus, Cadets, drama club, Women’s Institute, Catholic Women’s League, Gung Hi and Cuisine Club, Senior Citizens’ Happy Hour Club, Kinettes and Kinsmen, Happy Valley Commmunity Club, Woking Whirlers, Judy Brown’s School of Dance, Central Peace Folk Dance Club, Tops, Royal Canadian Legion & Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion, Spirit River Agricultural Society, Spirit River and District Band, Spirit River Municipal Library, Spirit River Masonic Lodge, and Order of the Eastern Star, | |
| SubSeries 486.02.12 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 5 – “Ripples Widen” Part 2- Sports Stories. — 1987-1989. — 1 cm.The sub-series consists of original writings or edited copies of Chapter 5 “Ripples Widen” Part 2, for the history book Chepi Sepe. Records relate to histories of sports groups including baseball, curling, ladies golf, hockey (Spirit River Rangers), sky diving and flying clubs, Also included is a history of the development of Moonshine Lake as a recreational area. | |
| SubSeries 486.02.13 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories. — 1987-1989. — 56 cm..The sub-series consists of original family story submissions and/ or edited copies contained in Chapter 6, “Converging Waters”, of the history book Chepi Sepe. Family histories are in alphabetical order by surname. | |
| 486.02.13.01 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – ” Alexander”- “Block” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Alexander, Alfred, Anderson, Andruchiw, Arndt, Atkinson, Baber, Babuik, Badiuk, Baisley, Banting, Barber, Bedson, Bell, Bennie, Bernard, Bilawchuk, Bjornson, Blackies and Browns, Block. | |
| 486.02.13.02 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Bodeker” – “Clarke” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Bodeker, Boomgaarden, Bott, Boyd, Boyko, Brehmer, Bremner, Brinkman, Brock, Broderick, Broddy, Brooks, Brown, Brownlee, Bryan, Buck, Burk, Burton, Cabana, Campbell, Campsall, Carder, Caryk, Cassie, Chabot, Chahley, Chandler, Christianson, Ciastko, Clarke. | |
| 486.02.13.03 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Collins” – “Dion” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Collins, Comrie, Cook, Cowlthorp, Cox, Cranshaw, Currie, Cuthbert, Czaban, Daly, Davidson, Davie, Davies, Davis, Debolt, Degiano, Delfs, Denis, Dexter, Didow, Dion. | |
| 486.02.13.04 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Dobish” – “Esselink” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames:: Dobish, Dodge, Dolhan, Dombrowski, Donaldson, Donison, Dop, Dorig, Dorrance, Drzewicki, Dufour, Durkin, Dwernychuk, Edey, Elliott, Ellis, England, English, Erikson, Esplen. Esselink. | |
| 486.02.13.05 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Farewell” – “Glenn” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Farewell, Farnquist, Fee, Ferguson, Fildes, Fitzsimmons, Flintoff, Foote, Fortin, French, Fried, Froome, Gaboury, Gagnon, Galbraith, Gallagher, Gammon, Gardiner, Gawryluk, Gebhart, Germain, Ghostkeeper, Gibson, Giles, Gingras, Glenn. | |
| 486.02.13.06 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Glidden” – “Gushlak”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Glidden, Glowasky, Goodall, Gordey, Goulet, Graves, Gray, Greidanus, Grela, Grenache, Grimm, Gudlaughson, Gulliver, Gurnett, Gushlak. | |
| 486.02.13.07 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Haggart” – “Howden”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Haggart, Hagle, Hakes, Hamel, Hamelin, Hamilton, Hans, Hansen, Harper, Harrington, Harrison, Hebrada, Henderson, Hepburn, Hesketh, Hessler, Hirning, Hnidzik, Hogg, Hoggarth, Holden, Holmberg, Honert, Horechka, Howden. | |
| 486.02.13.08 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Howrish” – “Isberg”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Howrish, Hrisook, Hrychan, Hucul, Hudson, Hull, Hurtubise, Hval, Imes, Inglis, Inkin, Innes, Isberg, | |
| 486.02.13.09 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Jack” – “Keown”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Jack, Jackson, Jarvis, Jassman, Jeffery, Johnson, Johnston, Jolley, Jordison, Juzwishin, Kachmar, Kaplan, Kariga, Kazakawich, Keay, Keebler, Keene, Keith, Kenny, Keown. | |
| 486.02.13.10 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Kerr” – “Kozuback”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Kerr, Keyser, Kincaid, King, Kirchner, Kirkness, Kitson, Klarholm, Knezevich, Knisky, Knox, Kolotylo, Karol, Kosabeck, Kosh, Kosowan, Kowalchuk, Kozuback, | |
| 486.02.13.11 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Kurys” – “Lewchuk”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Kurys, Kuryvial, Kuryz, Kushner, Kushneryk, Labrecque, Laing, Lambert, Laughland, Laventure, Law, Lawlor, Lefley, Lehman, Levins, Levy, Lewchuk. | |
| 486.02.13.12 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Lightfoot” – “McBride”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames:: Lightfoot, Lilge, Lillico, Lindsay, Listhaeghe, Lowes, Lychkun, MacDonald, MacDougall, MacGillivray, MacGregor, Madison, Maloney, Mandrusiak, Mann, Markovich, Marple, Martin, Matiaszow, Matvie, McArthur, Mc Birnie, McBride. | |
| 486.02.13.13 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “McCallum” – “Morrison”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: McCallum, McCarty, McCue, McDonald, McDougall, McEwen, McFadden, McGuinnis, McKellar, McLane, McLaren, McMillan, Menzies, Mitchell. Misunis, Moellendorf, Moore, Moravec, Morgan, Morris, Morrison. | |
| 486.02.13.14 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Mortensen” – “Payeur”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Mortensen, Mortland, Mueller, Murphy, Nasedkin, Neill, Neufeld, Nielson, Nikiforuk, Nooy, Nye, O’Connell, Oke, Orford, O’Rourke, Orr, Pack, Paish, Pankow, Park, Parkinson, Parks, Parlee, Paul, Payeur. | |
| 486.02.13.15 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Peacock” – “Pybus”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Peacock, Peebles, Peek, Peever, Pegg, Perra, Perras, Perry, Peterson, Pinchbeck, Pisarchuk, Pockett, Pohl, Polasek, Poll, Pontey, Portelance, Porterfield, Posefko, Potter, Prevost, Pronyshyn, Ptolemy, Purvis, Pybus. | |
| 486.02.13.16 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Rafley” – “Roy”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Rafley, Rappel, Ratcliffe, Rawluk, Reavley, Reed, Reid, Richardson, Rice, Ricker, Risser, Robertson, Roraph, Ross, Roth, Roy. | |
| 486.02.13.17 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Rycroft” – “Sideroff”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Rycroft, Rymar, Sadownik, Samuel, Sands, Sandul, Sanger-Davies, Sauder, Sawers, Sawyer, Schofield, Schonnop, Schultz, Scott, Searcy, Senner, Shaw, Shewchuk, Sideroff. | |
| 486.02.13.18 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Siqueira” – “Swanston”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Siqueira, Skoworodko, Sloan, Smakula, Smith, Smyth, Solli, Solomiany, Spady, Speers, Spink, Spurgeon, Squires, Stanich, Stadnyk, Stevens, Stewart, Stoner, Swanston. | |
| 486.02.13.19 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “Tak” – “Wetmore”. 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: Tak, Ternoway, Thomas, Thompson, Tomalty, Traplin, Tremblay, Tutton, Tyler, Vader, Vandermark, Van Egmond, Vansil, Wade, Wagner, Waknuk, Walker, Wasowicz, Watson, Watson-Weisenburger, Weberg, Wehrfritz, Wells, Wentzell, Werboweski, Wetmore. | |
| 486.02.13.20 | Chepi Sepe – Chapter 6- “Converging Waters” Family Histories – “White” – “Zyha” 1987-1989The file consists of original writings and/or edited copies for Chapter 6 of the book Chepi Sepe, recording family histories identified by the following surnames: White, Wilson, Winchell, Wing, Wlad, Wongstedt, Woronowski, Wright, Yanishewski, Young, Zan, Zeyha, Zolmer, Zuk, Zurock, Zyha. | |