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A slice of 1930’s Sylvan Lake heaven

Published

3 months ago

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Hey local history buffs, the above video is a great snapshot of a place and time, in this case, 1930’s Sylvan Lake, AB.

Lake Cottages have always prompted whimsical names. Sylvan Lake is no different. This story showcases some great photos from the 1930’s and also includes a Directory from the 1960’s. Names like “Seldom Inn” and “Turkey Teepee” stand out.

Below is a photo of the Webster cabin, known as the LA-ZE-LOT. George Webster (second generation) with grand-daughters Kari-Lynn Shiells and Susan Marie Shiells.

the LAZ-E-LOT

“Robin Nest” home on 41st Street and 50th Avenue

The above photo shows the “Robin Nest” home on 41st Street and 50th Avenue in the early 1930s. The people are unnamed except as “Grandma and Ed”. Ed was the maker of the wooden figurines in the picture.

Two very interesting accessions have come to us out of the blue from two very interesting contributors. The first one came through registered mail from a lady by the name of Gertrude Lambert in Edmonton whose father, Mr. Elliott, had been a teacher at the Olds Agricultural College and, later, Vermilion College. They built a cabin at Sylvan Lake about 1921 where the whole family spent the next 18 or 19 summers (until 1939). She and her daughter had been down to hunt up their old cabin which is still standing and while they were in town, picked up the current Sylvan Lake News with a write-up about our then new Archives. So, without so much as a phone call, she sent a collection of beautiful old photos and an accompanying registered letter. She was later down for a visit and brought additional pictures. Another interesting side of this story is that we also have met the present owner of the same cabin whose father, Dr. Charles from Calgary, purchased the cabin from the Elliott family and they have been coming here every summer since 1943. We also have pictures from this family.

Here’s what we do know. The Elliott family built their cabin at Sylvan Lake about 1921 and came every summer until 1939 when WWII broke out. William taught at Olds, later Vermilion Agricultural Cottage; children Gertrude (Edna) and Bill, Jr.

From left to right: Mrs. (Edna) Elliott; Dr. Jack Elliott (guest); Mr. William Elliott; Jack Elliott (guest); and Bill Elliott. In front is 5-year old Gertrude.

Elliott Family Cabin (Grey Glen), circa 1930

Above is a picture of the Elliott family and their guests gathered on the porch of their Sylvan Lake cottage (circa 1930). From left to right: Mrs. (Edna) Elliott; Dr. Jack Elliott (guest); Mr. William Elliott; Jack Elliott (guest); and Bill Elliott. In front is 5-year old Gertrude. On the back is written: Originally Grey Glen / address 13 Street, 2nd road from (corner) road from Red Deer which went along the waterfront. Built approximately 1920-24 by my father W.J. Elliott and son William S. Elliott (Site: 33rd Street East)

Davey family, next door to the Grey Glen, Elliott’s Cottage at 13th Street in Sylvan Lake

Above, the Davey Cottage, circa 1930’s

This is the cottage belonging to the Davey family, next door to the Grey Glen, Elliott’s Cottage at 13th Street in Sylvan Lake, circa 1920-38. An older woman and two children are standing by a screened-in porch and a man is sitting and reading a newspaper inside.

Davey Family, circa 1930s

Above, the Davey Family, circa 1930s

The Davey Family owned the cottage next door to the Elliott’s cottage at 13th Street in Sylvan Lake, circa 1920-38.

Jean Phillips, Gertrude’s Elliott’s friend

Above, Washing Clothes, circa 1930s

Jean Phillips, Gertrude’s friend from Edmonton, bringing in the washing at Grey Glen Cottage.

William Elliott sawing wood

Above, Sawing Wood in May, 1941

William Elliott sawing wood with a buck saw at Buck Saw

Polishing Shoes

Above, Jean Phillips, Gertrude Elliott’s friend from Edmonton, polishing her shoes on the deck of Grey Glen, Elliott’s Cottage.

The Elliotts at Grey Glen

Edna & William Elliott [1930]

Mr. and Mrs. William Elliott are standing by their cottage, Grey Glen.

Gertrude Elliott, Grade 12

Above, Gertrude Elliott (Edna), 1938

This is a picture of Gertrude Elliott taken in 1938 when she was a Grade Twelve student (later, Edna Lambert – donor of these pictures). Her full name was Edna Gertrude Elliott.

Taken at Grey Glen Cottage

Former Elliott Cottage in 1996

Above, The (Former) Elliott Cottage in 1996

In March of 1996, Mrs. Lambert’s daughter drove her mother to Sylvan Lake to see if they could find the old cottage on 13th Street built by Mrs. Lambert’s parents, the William Elliotts. They were successful, despite the fact that the name of the street had been changed to 34th Street. Mrs. Lambert, in her letter which accompanied the pictures stated that it appeared “in excellent condition, well cared for and very familiar”. It had been renamed Sherwood Lodge (formerly, Grey Glen) This picture was taken by Mrs. Lambert and her daughter that day and sent to the Archives with the historical pictures.

William Elliott

Above, Mr. William Elliott Sawing Wood with a Buck Saw – May, 1941

Bill Elliott

Bill Elliott at Grey Glen Cottage [1938]

The name Grey Glen is on the fence as well as the roof of the cottage.

Life Guards

Above, Sylvan Lake Life Guards, circa 1937-38

Gertrude and Bill Elliott worked as life guards on Sylvan Lake for two summers just before the outbreak of World War II, then the family sold the cottage, Grey Glen.

Jean Phillips

Jean Phillips – Chore Girl, circa 1930s

Jean Phillips was a friend of Gertrude Elliott’s who was visiting at Grey Glen Cottage. She is holding a water pail in her left hand, a bottle in her right hand, and has a blanket or towel over her right arm.

Below you’ll find a directory from the 1960’s. Collectively they form a portrait of a much simpler time.

For other Todayville stories from the Sylvan Lake Archives, CLICK HERE.

If you have a unique and interesting stories you would like to see on todayville, you can do one of two things. Either register for free (except for business) or send us an email with details to rdnews@todayville.com. Learn more about the Sylvan Lake Archives.

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Community

New state-of-the-art facilities about to be unveiled at RDC

Published

21 hours ago

Duane Rolheiser

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From Joel Ward, President & CEO of Red Deer College

State-of-the-art facilities enhance learning, living and athletic experiences at RDC

As we continue to transition to University status, we have been busy preparing our facilities for the anticipated growth of programs and services to serve our ever-expanding number of students. Dr. Paulette Hanna, in her guest article last month, outlined the new programs we are offering this year. The new Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation and Visual Effects, along with new programs in Justice Studies, Health Care, Education and Business ensure opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and great careers in central Alberta.

To accommodate the anticipated growth, RDC embarked on the largest facilities expansion in our history. Great programs, well delivered in modern facilities, ensure RDC’s ability to meet the learning needs of our students and our communities.

Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre/Centre des Jeux du Canada Gary W. Harris

Construction is completed, on time and on budget ($88M). We are in the process of moving in and will be hosting an open house and tours for the community in late August. Watch for the grand opening announcement coming soon. You will want to see this amazing facility.

This iconic facility celebrating health, wellness and sport will serve our learners and our communities for years to come and will serve as the legacy of the 2019 Canada Winter Games. And did I mention its design will take your breath away? Stantec, our design and architecture partner, and Clark/Scott Builders Inc., our general contractor, along with our faculty, staff and community partners have created something special, and I know you will be inspired by this newest addition to our College and our community. And it has approximately 2,500 solar panels on the roof along with 276 panels on the solar walkway, and is part of our green energy master plan, which will reduce our heat and cooling costs by almost one third. By the end of 2018, over 3,600 solar panels will be installed at RDC.

Residence

Construction is on time and on budget ($20M) for the 145 studio suites to open in January 2019. It is not a box with rooms. Its uniqueness makes it unlike any residence built before. Again, our team of designers have created something special. Gathering stairs, collaboration spaces and units designed by and for our students, ensure not only an incredible living space, but spaces that support learning. And did I mention that the south, west and east facing walls will be populated with solar panels?

Alternative Energy Lab (AEL)

Construction is completed, on time and on budget ($10M). Partnering with the Federal Government who funded 50% of the cost, this new teaching, learning and research space will demonstrate and showcase new alternative energy solutions for consideration by business, industry and local homeowners.

Information sessions, demonstrations of new technologies and research into the efficacy of alternative energy solutions in central Alberta will be the primary focus of this new facility. New programs will be developed to assist in the installation and trouble-shooting of new technologies. The addition of the AEL to our Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing gives RDC a great one-two punch to support small and medium businesses in applied research, rapid prototyping and 3D printing in central Alberta.

We will hold the grand opening later this fall. Watch for information sessions and tours open to the general public right after the grand opening.

The change occurring at RDC is breathtaking. New facilities, new programs and the Premier’s announcement granting University status has made 2018 the most transformative year in our history. And there is more. This fall we will host five national sporting pre-Games events leading up to the Canada Winter Games, and then we will host competition in the same five sports during the Games in February and March, 2019. Following the Games, RDC will host the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Volleyball National Championship from March 6 to 9 – the first time since 1987.

And we have to find a name for our new University…

Joel Ward is President & CEO of Red Deer College

This column was first published in the Red Deer Advocate on July 28, 2018

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Community

George and Katherine Goruk celebrate 70 years together

Published

2 days ago

Lloyd Lewis

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Let’s all take a moment and celebrate this amazing achievement – 70 years of marriage. Congratulations to George and Katherine (nee Shupenia) Goruk.

George Goruk (now known as Geedo by his family) was born on the family homestead North of Bellis Alberta on May 21, 1929. He is the third son of a family of eight born to William and Jennie Goruk who were among the earliest settlers in the Bellis area northeast of Edmonton. He grew up on the family farm and attended the North Bellis High School.

He first met Katherine (Kay) Shupenia (now known as Baba) in Edwand in 1945. Katherine was born in Spedden Alberta on February 8, 1932 and was the second eldest of a family of six born to Humphrey and May Shupenia. Their first meeting occurred when Kay and her siblings where chasing cows on horseback near Edwand and George and his buddies had hid in the ditch and scared the heck out Kay’s horse(s). Later George would take Kay and other friends to dances in Smoky Lake in his 1938 Ford. As Kay said, she fell in love with his jalopy and the two were married in Bellis on August 8, 1948. Their wedding reception was held in the loft of a newly constructed barn on the Goruk Family farm. They had to be married before the hay and farm animals moved into the barn which still stands today. They spent their first year of marriage on the original William Goruk homestead site and soon after their first son Dennis was born on August 19, 1949 they moved to their first farm located one mile North of Edwand Alberta which had been purchased from his father-in-law with the help of his father.

They farmed for one year then moved to Edmonton where George started his career in the oil industry as a roughneck on service rigs during the early development of the Leduc oilfield. During this time their second Darrell was born on October 16, 1952 and third son Bernie on October 16, 1955. George worked his way up a field superintendent with Kenyons Well Servicing and in the summer of 1959, the family moved to Red Deer Alberta. In 1962 George acquired the assets of Chupp Well Servicing and started Target Well Servicing Ltd. In 1972 they purchased a 360 farm along the Medicine River seven miles South and six miles West of Sylvan Lake. George continued to run Target Well Servicing while he and Kay also ran a cow calf operation at their new family farm. Target was sold to Thomson Industries in 1973 and George continued on as a Vice President of Thomson and President of Target Well Servicing which he expanded by starting up service rig companies in Wyoming and Texas as well as the first Canadian Service Rigs in Australia. He continued to grow the Thomson Well Services division by adding Nitrogas Well Services in Calgary, L&M Oilfield Rentals in Edmonton and Arrow Supply in Corpus Christie Texas. All during this time when he was travelling the world and building these new companies, Kay took book keeping courses and continued to “hold down the fort” and look after the farm which she reminds him of every now and then.

In 1978 Thomson was acquired by ATCO Ltd and George became the President of ATCO Oilfield Services and continued to oversee Target (renamed ATCO Well Servicing) and the other Thomson companies he established. Initially ATCO continued to grow the service rig business and over time divested the Well Service division companies and exited the well servicing and drilling business.

George officially retired in 1994 but continued to raise registered Quarter Horses and Polled Hereford cattle at his farm(s) near Sylvan Lake which is now a hay and grain operation with barley, wheat and canola that he continues to farm with his sons. On the other hand Kay has not retired and continues to look after George and their house and her huge garden……which she reminds him of every now and then.

Today George and Kay’s family has grown to number 27 including their three sons, 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.