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Alberta local histories are a fascinating primary source for learning not only about our own families but about their neighbours, friends, associations, and community involvement.
Belgravia Books & Treasures has in stock a number of these invaluable resources. If you're a student of genealogy, curious about the past, or just seeking a way to slip the bonds of time and move back to a gentler world, come to Belgravia Books and check out these local histories.
Remember that we have a sale on at this moment: for every five items selected, including these informative Alberta local histories, the least expensive is free. And the GST is included in all of our prices.
Along the Fifth; a history of Stony Plain and district, 1982, reminds us that Edmonton isn't the only pioneering community along the North Saskatchewan. Find out who the district's first homesteaders were, and when they arrived (it was a long time ago!); learn why the 1919 influenza epidemic (yes, they dealt with a flu pandemic too) introduced sow-thistle to the district; and find out the name of the first white woman born west of Edmonton.
Beau Mont, historie de Beaumont et district, 1885--1960, 1985, discusses Edmonton's near neighbour, one of the pillars of the Franco-Alberta community. (The text is in English and French.) Read an interesting local history: learn the other official language!
Bucking poles & butter churns; history of Lone Pine and district, 1972, has interesting endpapers: the livestock brands of area ranches are reproduced, suggesting the huge diversity of the industry in a bygone era of unfenced prairie ranching. Three members of the North Lone Pine Women's Institute, Jeanette Johnson, Christine Milne, and Marilyn Leis, compiled this history.
Edison, the way it was, 1980, is a local history delivered in a narrative style from the notes and observations of a local pioneer named Daphne Garrison.
Edson 75 years, a history of the town, by Marguerite Ahlf, 1986, is a rarity among local histories in being the product of a single author rather than a committee.
Edson to Grande Prairie trail, 1982, concentrates on the development and growth of this key link between two Alberta pioneering centres.
Footprints on Mi-Chig-Wun; memoirs of Sunnyslope pioneers (n.d., after 1966?), is edited by H. Gratz, and features a handy alphabetical index to help readers find the pioneers and ancestors who helped develop Alberta.
Forgotten echoes; a history of Blackfoot and surrounding area, 1982. Discussions include the Barr colonists, Lloydminster, the two national railways, Kitscoty, the North West Mounted Police, and the Alberta Wheat Pool.
From buffalo chips to natural gas; New Brigden, 1984, deals with the history and people of Calthrope, Esther, Anatole, Sedalia, and other pioneer communities along the CNR line north of Oyen.
Gleanings after pioneers and progress, 1981, is a production of the Alix-Clive Historical Club, and treats those locales, as well as Sargent, Satinwood, North Star, and St. Patrick.
The golden years; Barrhead, 1978, covers the gamut: early history, agriculture, churches, hospital and nursing care, and sports.
Hanna north; a rural history, 1908--1978, 1978. Edited by Jean James, the text covers Royalton, Meadowlands, Antelope Hill, Solon, Chain Lakes, Netherby, and Crow Hill, among many places discussed.
Harvest of memories; history of Kingman and districts, 1981, discusses the life of First Nations people and later settlers in the area between Camrose and Tofield. Areas studied include Miquelon Lakes and Dinant.
The hills of home, Drumheller Valley, 1973, in the words of Marguerite Playle, "is a story of the valley pioneers and the opening of the coal mines, and will take its place among the histories of Western Canada."
History of Hinton, by Hazel Hart, 1980, walks the reader through every aspect of the Gateway to the Rockies, from natural resources, politics, and social and cultural activities.
Lac La Biche, yesterday and today, 1975, is replete with names from Alberta's past: Plamondon, Berny, Beaver Lake, Normandeau, the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway, and much more.
Land among the lakes; a history of the Deville and North Cooking Lake area, 1983. Locales covered include Ardrossan, Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont, Lindbrook, Tofield, New Sarepta
Leduc reflections, 1899--1981, is among the most accessible local histories in the lavishness of its illustrations and the completeness of the captions. Only in these pages will you learn the occupation of a Leduc resident who is the great grandson of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the Impressionist painter. Remember, you read it here first!
Lethbridge News and Macleod Gazette, 1882--1900; a subject and biographical index, 1981, is indispensable to the researcher wanting to trace Southern Alberta's history through the 19th-century press.
Ogden whistle; a history of: Millican, Ogden Flats, Maryland, Valleyfield, Bonnybrook, South Hill, Cepeear [I am not making this up!], Lynnwood, Lynnwood Ridge, River Glen, Crestwood, C.P.R. Ogden Shops, 1975. The title says it all!
Pioneer pathways, rural Wetaskiwin, 1981, is a two-volume book discussing the environs of Wetaskiwin. Lots of photos, maps, detailed descriptions of farm families and organizations. (Sadly, this estimable work is silent on just why it is cars cost less in Wetaskiwin!)
Pioneer round-up, 1973, discusses a number of settlements in northwestern Alberta: Albright, Demmitt, Goodfare, Hythe, Lymburn, Valhalla.
Prairie sod and goldenrod, Crossfield and area, 1977, was 15 years in the compiling, and features many period photographs and accounts of pioneers and developers.
Pride in progress; Chipman, St. Michael, Star, and districts, 1982.
Roscoe, South Dakota, 1883--1958, Diamond Jubilee, 1958, a local history of the pioneer west produced by our near neighbour. The photographs, stories, and sequence of development will all sound familiar to avid readers of these first-hand pioneering accounts.
Sherwood Park, the first twenty-five years, 1983, is a treat for the eyes and a fount of local information about Edmonton's near neighbour.
Siding 16; the history of Wetaskiwin continued, 1930 to 1960, is another unusual local history in that it is written as a monograph by a sole author, in this case A. Bert Reynolds. It includes a discussion of the RCN corvette that bears the town's name.
Teepee Creek terror, a local history of Grande Prairie and Northern Alberta, is edited by Margaret Thibault and Jean Rycroft, and includes contemporary newspaper illustrations of the gear a local cowboy needed. Charming!
Through the years; a sociological history of the Ardley, Delburne and Lousana areas, 1980, recounts life in this part of Red Deer county. This book is where you learn about coal mining along the Red Deer River, as well as district histories of Bellgrove, Collins, Mound Lake, and Rosedale, and much more.
Vegreville (let's hear it for Vegreville!) is the subject of two titles in our local history collection. Dr. Samuel H. Hardin, one of the few named authors of a local history, wrote History of greater Vegreville, (1969?). Topics include Whitford, French Canadian settlement, Ukrainians and their progress, along with dozens of biographical sketches.
Vegreville in review; history of Vegreville and surrounding area, 1880--1980, 1980, a two-volume work, has discussions of Lavoy and district, the Jewish community of Vegreville, the Rolland M. Boswell Hospital, Chautauqua, St Martin of Tours parish, church, and school, and much more.
West of the 4th, a local history of the Lloydminster region, including Flowerdale, Westminster Park, Spencer, Kinella, Uneeda, Allister, Winona, Rivercourse, McLaughlin.
Wheatfields and wildflowers; a history of Rycroft & surrounding school districts, 1984. Individual chapters are given over to the history of Volin, Greenway, Silverwood, New World, Prestville, Broncho Creek. |
