Local Resources for Researching Wetaskiwin & Area Families - S. Aney & E. Young

(Note: May 2010 - This article was published in Nov. 2009 issue. At AGS spring conference it received the Kenneth Young award for best article on Local Content)

 

For those who have families with a history in Wetaskiwin and area, we have compiled some resources to help you with your research.

 

Wetaskiwin Genealogical Society Library

Email address:            wetaskiwin@abgensoc.ca

Hours of Operation:   Tuesdays 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Location:                     City of Wetaskiwin Archives, 4904 – 51 Street

 

Community History Books

 

1. Siding 16, vol 1 – An early history of Wetaskiwin to 1930
1. By A. Bert Reynolds, Printed in 1975
2. Siding 16, vol 2 – A History of Wetaskiwin 1930 – 1960
1. By A. Bert Reynolds, Printed in 1980

Individual names and the names of businesses indexed alphabetically by

3. Freeway West, Complied history of area south and east of Pigeon Lake, copyright 1974
1. Including School districts: Anthony Hill, Bidinger, Twin Creek, Ernest Park, Lone Ridge, Rapid Creek, Bonnie Glen, Falun, Fletcher, Pigeon Creek, Mound Red, Pigeon Valley, MaMa-O, South Pigeon Lake, Peaceful Valley, Richmond
2. Index pages 1061 – 1072
4. Pioneer Pathways, 2 volume compiled histories of Rural Wetaskiwin,
1. published in 1981 by Circle 8 Historical Society
2. Includes School Districts: Angus Ridge, Battle River, Bear Hills, Bigstone, Brightview, Bulyea, Cherry Grove, Dundonald, Haultain, John Knox, Lucas, Peace Hills, Pleasant Prairie, Weiler.
3. Over 1000 individual names indexed
5. Angus Ridge – A Community History 1917 - 1959
1. Compiled by the Angus Ridge Women’s Institute
2. Not indexed
6. From Frontier Days in Leduc & District, 1891 - 1956
1. Originally published in 1956
2. Reprinted in 1980 by the Leduc Historical Society & 75^th Anniversary Committee
3. Not indexed
7. The Golden Trail – published by the Camrose Canadian in 1955
1. History gleanings from 1905
2. Covering the area east of Hwy 2A from Strathcona on North to Lacombe on South, and eastward approx 80 miles.

 

Compiled Family Histories

 

1. Claus Ballhorn Family, 1848 – 1995
2. Descendents of Martin Benz & Dorothea Schmeller

By John D. Benz, 1983

3. Supplement to Anthony Dorchester and His Descendents – generations 6 – 12

By Janice Dorchester, 2008

4. Mary Sorena Lund, 1890 – 1900s – by Cathryn Brecka
5. Frans Oskar Issaksson, Pieti  PETERS, Ruusa Mikkosdotter PAAVOLA

Compiled by Wilfred Peters, 2005 – 2007

6. The A. W. Rix Family, Wetaskiwin AB, 1877 – 2000

By Hilton H. Rix, 2004

 

Death & Burial Records

 

Wetaskiwin & Area Cemeteries as transcribed by AGS

1. Wetaskiwin Memorial Cemetery at 1997                                  SW-23-46-24-W4

2. Wetaskiwin Old Cemetery at 1997                                          NW-14-46-24-W4

3. Sacred Heart RC Cemetery (Wetaskiwin) at 1993                    NE-15-46-24-W4

4. Transcripts of RC Registers (Wetaskiwin) at 1995

5. St. Norbert’s Cemetery, Millet                                                 SE-29-47-24-W4

6. Millet Cemetery                                                                      SE-29-47-24-W4

Several Printouts of other Alberta Cemeteries compiled by AGS

 

Moore Funeral Home Records, 1924 – 1937

Approximately 800 burials recorded by date of death.

            Not Indexed

            Note: this was not the only funeral home operating in Wetaskiwin during those years.

 

Index to 1901 Census – NWT (Alberta & Saskatchewan)

District of Alberta #202

District of Assiniboia East # 203

            District of Assiniboia West #204

            District of Saskatchewan #205

            District of Athabaska #206A

 

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Other Community Resources for Family History Research

 

1.  Wetaskiwin City Archives                 780-361-4434

                                                                        archives@wetaskiwin.ca

                                                                    4904 – 51 Street

 

·       Holdings include, but are not limited to:

o   assessment rolls,

o   school attendance records for City and County schools,

o   family histories

o   community histories

o   obituary database,

o   newspaper clipping files

o   a photo studio collection

 

2. Wetaskiwin Public Library                  780-361-4446         

http://www.wetaskiwinpubliclibrary.ab.ca/

5002-51 Avenue

 

·       The library has a collection of 35 or more community histories from communities across Alberta.

·       A list of them is available from the Library or from Wetaskiwin Branch of AGS

 

Note:

·       The following resources are largely not indexed, are not online, and are not set up to do extensive research for you.

·       We suggest that if you are unable to research on site, that you contact us at the Wetaskiwin Genealogical Society for volunteer look-ups.

 

3. Wetaskiwin Heritage Museum           780-352-0227

                                                                        wdhm@persona.ca

                                                                        5007 – 50 Avenue

 

• Women of Aspenland
• 65 women of influence in Wetaskiwin and area have been researched and profiled in a unique exhibit.
• Family, personal accomplishments and influence in the community are addressed
• Information and photos on site
• Names of the Women of Aspenland are on file at the Genealogy Society Library

 

• Library Holdings:
• Family Histories:
• Claus Ballhorn  Family
• The House of Jevne
• LeNasseur Family
• Colonel Gilbert Edward Sanders – memories 1863 – 1955
• John James Rix Family
• Villeneuve Family

 

• Swedish Families
• 28 area families have small histories compiled
• list is of these families is available at the Genealogy Society Library
• The Story of Swedish Settlement in Ukraine – by Jorgen Hedman
• A Swedish Girl -  by Mildred E. Rasmuson
• Includes surnames: Olson, Peterson, Johnson, Rasmuson
• Biographies:
• A Celebration of Life – Leander A. Bussard
• Many More Matejkas – Joseph Majakay
• A Lot of Living – by Wilda Rowland

 

• Community Histories – Central Alberta
• Duhamel
• Mecca Glen Memories    (east of Ponoka)
• Battle River Valley
• Tales and Trails of Millet, Vol 1 and Vol 2
• Trail Blazers, 1972          (Winfield, Conroy)
• Freeway West               (Falun area)
• Ponoka 50^th anniversary 1904 – 1954
• Ponoka Panorama
• Pioneer Pathways, Vol 1 and Vol 2 – (rural Wetaskiwin)
• Wetaskiwin School District #264
• From Frontier Days – Leduc & District 1891 – 1956
• Bittern Lake Sifton District
• Gwynne Historical Society
• Siding 16, vol 1, vol 2, vol 3      Wetaskiwin

 

4. Wetaskiwin Branch, Canadian Legion          780-352-2662

                                                                               legion86@incentre.net

                                                                                    5003 – 52 Avenue

 

• 52 War veterans were interviewed by Austin Willis in 1996 / 97 and recorded on VHS
• These tapes are on site at the Legion and can be viewed there or borrowed locally.
• The tapes have not been transcribed, but 26 are also on CD format
• A list of persons interviewed is available at the library of Genealogy Society library
• Currently a province-wide initiative called “Memories Recovered” is underway to interview veterans in Alberta and leave the DVDs in local branches of the Canadian Legions.
• 14 DVDs have been received at Wetaskiwin Legion 86 Branch
• A list of all recorded interviews to date is at the Genealogy Society library

 

5. Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame                    780-361-1351

                                                                                    randy.kvill@gov.ab.ca

                                                                                    at Reynolds Alberta Museum site

 

This is a National institution. As such, the materials are mostly beyond the local scope, but are valuable for background on RCAF and flying ancestors

 

A major resource: “They shall Not Grow Old” – a Book of Remembrance

            By Les Allison & Harry Hayward, 1992

            Published at Brandon MB by Leech Printing

This book has compiled short biographies of Canadian Airmen and Airwomen who lost their lives in WWII

 

Other library holdings include many books in the following categories connected with Canadian Aviation:

·       Aviation History

·       Bush Pilots

·       RCAF

·       RAF

·       BCTAP – (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan)

·       Biography – Hall of Fame members (48)

·       Biography – Female (21)

·       Biography – General (approx 180)

 

Other Resources:

Funeral Cards - download the PDF with details
Resource Links: