Blog Author: historical society

Childhood Bliss in Prince Albert's Historic Downtown

Submitted on February 17, 2012 - 10:10am

The following remembrance was written by Historical Society Member and volunteer Kerry Hubel. Her remembrance is from the early 1960’s.

One of my early memories of early downtown Prince Albert involved regular days at the Memorial Swimming Pool in the summer.

Teachers Learn How P.A.'s Historical Society Can Help With Treaty Education

Submitted on February 10, 2012 - 10:09am

The Prince Albert Historical Society has finished its first day of First Nations/ Metis Education workshop for teachers in the area.

There are teachers representing Sask. Rivers, P. A. Catholic and Living Sky School Divisions as well as 4th year students from SUNTEP.

This two day workshop is meant to show teachers what resources we have at the Historical Museum, and to develop lessons that they can use in the classrooms. The lessons the teachers will develop will be made into a booklet and given to the schools to use as a reference and starting point.

History of Prince Albert's Official Flag and Coat of Arms

Submitted on February 3, 2012 - 11:37am

Prince Albert’s official flag and coat of arms are important symbols displaying the city’s past and present.

The Prince Albert flag was designed by Miss Milda Hunter of Arborfield and modified by Mr. Carter Watson and the Celebration Committee during Prince Albert’s 75th Jubilee Year in 1979.

It was declared the “Jubilee Flag” until January 1, 1980 when it was announced the Official Flag of the City of Prince Albert by the City Council.

Great Childhood Memories of PA

Submitted on January 25, 2012 - 12:45pm

by Ken Guedo

As a child in the early 1950's, I can remember walking to town on the "Old Shellbrook highway" once a month.

We lived next to Frank Moore’s Market Garden and across the road from another market garden owned by Joe Hum.

Historical Society Meets Tonight - New Members Encouraged To Join

Submitted on January 19, 2012 - 2:16pm

Hey Everyone!
Things are happening around the museum this winter… we have volunteers in almost everyday doing work in the Archives and with the Collection.

Members Meeting will be held Jan. 19th at 7:30pm at the Historical Museum. We welcome new members at the meetings. Membership costs $10/year and allows you unlimited access to the museums through the year as well as 10 social events a year.

If you would like a tour of the Police and Corrections, Education or Historical Museums we would be happy to show you around.

Can You Identify These People

Submitted on January 10, 2012 - 2:09pm

This is a call for all who have a Facebook account. Please visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/princealberthistoricalsociety, and look at the photos that we have posted.

Photo Opportunities at the Police and Corrections Museum

Submitted on January 5, 2012 - 8:19am

Would you like to take some creative photos for your Facebook page? Are you searching for a location to stage some interesting family photos? Maybe you just need a memento to add interest to stories from your summer/winter vacation. If this sounds like you, the Rotary Museum of Police and Corrections has what you are looking for!

Origins of the Hudson's Bay Company

Submitted on December 20, 2011 - 11:26am

The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and is one of the oldest in the world. Today, what most people know HBC as is “The Bay”.

The company also owns several other chains like Zellers. It operates retail stores throughout Canada and has it’s headquarter in Toronto, Ontario.

However, when the company first came into existence, it was very much a fur trading business.

Historical Paintings at the Museum - Brought to Life With Some History

Submitted on December 9, 2011 - 3:06pm

Stephanie Lipsit

Here in the museum, we have various artwork on display. I have always been curious who the artists behind the paintings have been.

I started by looking at two paintings painted by Adrian Germiquet. Both paintings were commissioned by the city of Prince Albert in the 30's.

Amazing Inventions for the Modern World from the Historical Museum

Submitted on December 2, 2011 - 9:09pm

When you come down to the Historical Museum, you'll find many, many interesting items from years past. With all the pressure to be environmentally friendly, trendy, and to still manage to live your life these days; you could go shopping for all the new items constantly being manufactured, or instead, you could come take a look backwards at some of the interesting and versatile inventions of the past and take a queue from them instead.

Hair Wreath

Submitted on November 23, 2011 - 9:38am

One artifact in the museum that rarely fails to shock onlookers is the 1870 wreath of hair made by Mary Renton of Carluke, Ontario. Although seen as somewhat unusual by today’s standards, hair art thrived from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. The wreath in the museum was made during the Victorian Era, a golden age for all kinds of hairy objects including rings, bracelets, necklaces, toothpick holders, and lockets. Hair is a great material to make objects out of because it can last for hundreds, if not thousands, of years in dryoitions without deteriorating.

Diefs Chiefs

Submitted on November 17, 2011 - 5:19pm

The Man from Prince Albert

The Diefenbaker House, located on 19th St. W, contains two alcoves. At the time, one was used as a telephone bench; the other was used for coats and boots because the house had no first floor closets. This “closet” alcove now houses different artifacts pertaining to Diefenbaker. Above the alcove, the sign reads “The Man from P. A.”

Museum Open This Afternoon

Submitted on November 11, 2011 - 9:32am

We are open Nov. 11 from 1-4pm. Admission by donation.

Photo:
Prince Albert has had a long history of being involved in battles. This photo is only a few of the Tiger Moths that flew in, out and around Prince Albert. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan operated during WW2, with the Elementary Flighing School #6, at the airport in PA.

Museum War Memorial

Submitted on November 7, 2011 - 11:20am

The PA Historical Museum will be open Friday Nov. 11, from 1-4pm. Everyone welcome. Admission by donation.

See the items that past soldiers have used, and brought home.

This is the unveiling of the Cenotaph in Prince Albert, June 3, 1927. This war memorial stands in front of the Queen's Bench Courthouse on Central Avenue. It is a constant reminder of all those who fought for our country.

Come Visit the Old Fire Hall

Submitted on November 1, 2011 - 1:19pm

If you didn’t know already, the Prince Albert Historical museum was once the old firehall. It was built in 1912, with Prince Albert’s own bricks none the less.

The force started as a vounteer fire brigade, there are many pictures in the Bill Smiley Archives of members and chiefs in past uniforms.

Lecture Series - Historical Society

Submitted on October 27, 2011 - 2:49pm

The lecture below is part of our Lectures at the Library series - this one is Nov. 4 at 2:00 PM in the theater at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library in Prince Albert.

Sharing Indigenous Knowledge

Years of Historic Photographs

Submitted on October 26, 2011 - 7:08pm

In 1995, the Prince Albert Daily Herald made the transition to digital photography.

As the paper no longer had a use for their archive of photographic negatives that had been accumulating since 1959, they donated those hundreds of thousands of pictures to the Prince Albert Historical Society for preservation.

Great Local Athletes - 1920 Olympic Medalist - Earl Thompson (Thomson)

Submitted on October 13, 2011 - 2:01pm

As the first Olympic Games after World War I, the 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honour the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the War. Earl Thompson was one of three Canadian Gold Medalists at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in the 110 metre hurdles.

Thanksgiving Trivia

Submitted on October 7, 2011 - 9:11am

Happy Thanksgiving! Your piece of trivia for the weekend!

January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...
"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Taxi Club Fleet circa 1940

Submitted on October 6, 2011 - 1:57pm

Ken Guedo

At first glance,this may appear to be a group of chaffeurs waiting for their clients. They are in fact waiting for clients,but it is a fleet of taxi cabs owned by Black and White Taxi .

The taxi stand was located at 46 12th street West.This would be where the Bank of Nova Scotia would eventually be built.

The picture was taken circa 1940 on 12th street East, just off of Central Avenue.

History of the Prince Albert Exhibition

Submitted on October 4, 2011 - 8:37am

In the Words of the Pioneer - Lana Alberts

The annual Prince Albert Exhibition began in 1883 and took way with a gala parade. These parades were originally sponsored by travellers and represented a float for every store in Prince Albert. The first exhibitions were similar to a country fair and were primarily agriculture events.

Local citizens made up the majority of the crowd along with people from Shellbrook, Rosthern, and nearby districts who attended the exhibition by special fair trains.

Culture Days at Historical Museum Until 4

Submitted on September 30, 2011 - 1:13pm

The PA Historical Museum is celebrating by holding an Open House Sept. 29 and 30th from 1-4pm. Free Admission.

Homesteaders

Submitted on September 27, 2011 - 5:40pm

by: Lana Alberts

In the Prince Albert district, farming was the major occupation of the people in the early years. Settlers came to the area to homestead and work the land.

Homesteading was a rough life and it took years of hard labor to build up a productive farm. Many of the men who took up homesteading had no previous experience and encountered many hardships. Settlers could obtain one hundred and sixty acre homesteads for ten dollars, however, some conditions applied.

Culture Days

Submitted on September 23, 2011 - 12:36pm

Next week is Culture Days!

The PA Historical Museum is celebrating by holding an Open House Sept. 29 and 30th from 1-4pm. Free Admission.

Ghost Hunting in Prince Albert

Submitted on September 15, 2011 - 10:20am

Here’s a challenge for you ghost hunters in Prince Albert: try to visit all these spooky spots in one night….

1) Start at the old fire hall, now the home of the Prince Albert Historical Museum. There is a rumour among the staff that a poltergeist living in the tower followed a tour guide down the ladder, and now resides in the basement, making noise and slamming doors. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the combination of artefacts, stories and aged mannequins is sure to give you a chill.