Dance Through the Decades in photographs!

Well, it's been just over three weeks since we danced through the decades and we, at the Museum, are still talking about it!

It was a wonderfully successful and fun for all event, and we were so happy that so many of you came out to celebrate the centennial year of the Village of Peace River Crossing with us.

We must extend a massive thank-you to everyone who helped out, including

Ivan Schell	Ronda Cann	Beverly and Dale Shewchuk Family
Judi McMartin	Emmilee Miller	Peace Players
Jill Cairns	Jeremiah Gloor	Audrey Dewit
Anna Aleksov	Freson Bros.	Randy Hodgkinson
Marty O'Byrne	Bill Ruston	Dave Allan
Walter Mycek	No Limitz	Jeff McCann
GN Carriers	Pond Hockey	Peacefest
Rentco	Peace River Broadcasting	Record-Gazette
Peace Valley Inns	Peace country Coop	Holy Family Catholic Conference Centre
Mighty Peace Tourism	Alberta Culture, Community Initiative Program	Travel Alberta

Here are some photographs of the dance.

Artifact of the week - Studio Portrait of Cpl. George Clarke

79.1029.2, gift of Mrs. G. Umbach

This photograph, donated by Mrs. G. Umbach, is one of several that will be featured on the blog in the upcoming months to commemorate the First World War. Also known as The Great War, this massive conflict erupted on July 28^th, 1914. Britain, and by default, Canada, declared war on August 4^th, 1914.

Peace River resident Corporal George Clarke enlisted in Edmonton mere days after marrying Annie Southcott, who had come over from England to be his wife. Originally assigned to the 202^nd Infantry Battalion, Clarke was transferred to the 31^st Battalion and saw action in France and Belgium. His unit was part of the Occupation Forces in Germany towards the end of the war. He returned to Peace River and was integral to the construction of several key buildings in town. A copy of this photograph, accompanied by George Clarke’s military tunic (jacket) are currently on display in the Peace River Gallery at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre.

Although this portrait of Cpl. Clarke appears to depict him posing in a military camp, it was actually taken in a studio. The backdrop, complete with tents and a flag, is painted on canvas and Cpl. Clarke is standing on a drop-cloth.

Artifact of the Week - School Strap

If you recognize this artifact it is possible that you were a naughty student during your school days! This is a school strap that was donated to the museum by Pete Gardner who found the strap at Springfield Elementary during some summer cleaning. This would have been used to give bad students a slap on the back of the hand to smarten them up!

Although the strap has generally been out of use in Canada since around the 1970s, corporal punishment in schools was allowed until January 30^th, 2004 when it became outlawed under section 43 of the Criminal Code. Every province in the country had banned corporal punishment in their schools prior to the 2004 law except for one, Alberta. The Peace Wapiti School Division in Grande Prairie was the last division to allow the strap and other corporal punishment in Canada leading up to the 2004 law.

Although it is likely that this strap has been out of commission for well over 40 years, it remains a frightening artifact that may bring back some less than positive memories for a few of us. Come to the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre to see this artifact in our new school display and be sure to stroll by the mall on your way over to see our second school display. We’re showing some artifacts that are sure to bring back some more positive memories of your school days and are helping our younger visitors get excited about their return to school at the end of the month!   

M91.21.1 School Strap 

Historic Tours Available in August

Have you ever been curious about the St. Augustine Mission, the Mackenzie Cairn or Twelve Foot Davis? We have a number of Historic Tours coming up in August that will satisfy your curiousity.

Tours are offered free of charge on the following dates - just show up anytime during the allotted hours:

St. Augustine Mission
Provincial Historic Site, Shaftesbury Trail, River Lot 22, Highway 685

Sunday August 10th: 2:30-4:30 pm
Sunday August 24th: 1:00-4:00 pm

Mackenzie Cairn
National Historic Site, Shaftesbury Trail, River Lot 19, Highway 684

Sunday August 10th: 11:00-1:30 pm

Twelve Foot Davis
Fairgrounds Road off Highway #2 South

Sunday August 17th: 2:00-4:00 pm
Friday August 22nd: 6:30-8:00 pm



75.624.5, St. Augustine Mission Church, c. 1930 

Our partners for this project include the Municipal District of Peace, Mighty Peace Tourism, Northern Sunrise County, Town of Peace River, Alberta Infrastructure, Peace River Correctional Centre and Young Canada Works. For more information, please feel free to contact the Museum.

Artist of the Month - Judy Woods

This month, the Art Wall at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre displays the vibrant work of local artist Judy Woods.

Born and raised near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Judy moved to Peace River Country when she was sixteen. Judy's work reflects her love of horses and wildlife, although more recently she has been inspired to depict people in her art. While charcoal is her medium of choice, Judy also creates pieces using chalk pastels, coloured pencils, acrylic paints and photography.

As an E.A. with the Dixonville School, Judy has had the chance to share her love and talent for art with students. She inspires them to explore their own talents and organizes a local art show on their behalf entitled The Community of Artists.

We invite you to come and enjoy Judy's highly detailed and life-like work throughout the month of August.

Artifact of the Week- Clovis Point

This projectile point was found, along with several others, in the Nampa area by early homesteader, Logan Sherris. The point was likely hafted or attached to a short spear called a dart, which was mid-sized: between the length of an arrow and a spear. It is crafted from Peace River Chert which is a high quality stone material with outcrops along the Peace River. The craftsman made the piece by removing small flakes of stone from a core or nucleus using another rock or a softer material such as antler or bone until the desired shape was attained. What is of particular interest is the age of the piece. Considering the shape of the dart point, we can tell that it comes from the Clovis Culture meaning that it is likely around 11,000 years old. Near the base of the point, the craftsman removed a few extra flakes to thin it out towards the middle of the piece. This is known as fluting which may have aided in hafting the point and is the most telling characteristic of a Clovis Point.

Although some argue that the Clovis Culture may be older than 11,000 years, at around 13,200 years, it is the earliest known stone tool culture to have appeared in the Americas. The fact that this early Paleo-Indian artifact was found in the Peace Region suggests that the area may have been inhabited for many thousands of years! Be sure to stop by the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre to see this ancient piece of history and the oldest man-made artifact in our collection!

Clovis Point- 89.35.4

Alberta Heritage Days!

This weekend across Alberta, people will be experiencing, tasting, listening and viewing the roots of Alberta's history. The Peace Country is hosting fairs, rodeos, art and museum exhibits and tours as ways to entice us to explore our heritage and our natural environment. With this in mind, our Museum is offering tours of the St. Augustine Mission Church and Cemetery between 1 and 4pm on August 3rd. Pack a picnic lunch, take a drive along the historic Shaftesbury Trail (Highway 684) and stop at the little church to learn about the early agricultural and spiritual life at the mission. Then on August 4th meet us at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery at 10:30am for a tour that will remind you of veterans from World War I, Councillors and newspaper editors of the past and firefighters who once protected our community, all in commemoration of 100 years as Peace River Crossing. Later the same afternoon, a walking tour of the downtown area, starting at the Museum at 1pm, will highlight some milestones in our 100 year history. these tours will go, rain or shine, so do come prepared. As we celebrate our 100 years as a community, we are reminded of our own role today in making Peace River a fine community to live in!