- Other Name
- HOUSE ALARM SYSTEM
- Date Range From
- 1908
- Date Range To
- 1973
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL, GLASS, BRASS
- Catalogue Number
- P19760096000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- HOUSE ALARM SYSTEM
- Date Range From
- 1908
- Date Range To
- 1973
- Materials
- STEEL, GLASS, BRASS
- No. Pieces
- 32
- Height
- 31.1
- Length
- 8.3
- Width
- 18.4
- Description
- .1 HOUSE ALARM BOX. ABOVE DIMENSIONS. STEEL, GLASS, BRASS. PAINTED RED. BOX IN PENTAGONAL SHAPED WITH ROUND CASEMENT IN FRONT FACE. A COG-WHEEL BRASS MECHANISM IS IN THE CASEMENT. CASEMENT FACE IS GLASS EDGED WITH COILED GOLD WIRE MOTIF. A KNOBBED BRASS LEVER IS ON MIDDLE RIGHT SIDE OF BOX. BOX FEATURES A VARIETY OF CIRCUIT WIRE CONNECTORS. BACK SIDE FEATURES 3 HOLES. BOX IS EMBOSSED AT TOP CENTRE WITH A CLENCHED FIST SYMBOL AND "GAMEWELL CO." .2 HOUSE ALARM GONG AND KEY WINDER. 84.4 CM HT. X 12.1 CM TH. X 33.0 CM WTH. X 35.6 CM DIA. BRASS, OAK WOOD. 2 PIECES. NATURAL COLOURS. CIRCULAR BRASS GONG IS MOUNTED ON OAK FRAME AND CASE. TOP OF CASE IS CONVEX WITH 6 CARVED BALLS ALONG TOP EDGE. A BRASS COG-WHEEL MECHANISM IS INSIDE CASE (ABOVE GONG) BEHIND CRACKED GLASS DOOR. KEY WINDER FITS IN KEYHOLE AT BOTTOM LEFT OF GLASS DOOR. BRASS KEY WINDER IS FLANGED. 4 WIRES AND A RING FOR HANGING PROTRUDE FROM TOP OF GONG CASE. A LABEL SCREWED ONTO DOOR STATES: "THE NORTHERN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED. .3 PUNCH REGISTER. 17.3 CM HT. X 12.7 CM WTH. X 22.9 CM LTH. BRASS, WOOD, GLASS. 7 PIECES. BASE PAINTED BLACK. REGISTER IS A KEY-WOUND BRASS COG-WHEEL MECHANISM CONTAINED IN A BRASS AND GLASS CASE. KEY WINDER IS MISSING. REGISTER IS MOUNTED ON A HOLLOW PAINTED WOOD BASE. MECHANISM OPERATES A ROLL OF PAPER TAPE MOUNTED IN A BRASS SPOKED REEL AND FEED THROUGH A PUNCH AND ALONG A GUIDE PLATE. A SMALL (3.6 CM HT. X 3.8 CM DIA.) BRASS CUT SITS BELOW PUNCH HEAD TO CATCH PIECES OF PUNCHED OUT PAPER, AS TAPE IS FED THROUGH AND PUNCHED TO RECORD FIRE CALLS. TAPE REEL DIA 12.7 CM LABEL ENGRAVED ON CASE ABOVE PUNCH HEAD READS: "HARRINGTON-SEABERG MOLINE, ILLINOIS". THE PUNCH REGISTER IS WIRED TO AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND OUTSIDE FIRE ALARM BOXES AT VARIOUS STREET LOCATIONS. .4 TAPE TAKE-UPS. 22.0 CM HT. X 7.2 CM WTH. X 15.0 CM LTH. BRASS, STEEL. 2 UNITS (6 PIECES). BLACK FINISH ON STEEL. SERIAL NO'S. 105662, 105793. 2 IDENTICAL UNITS, EACH CONSISTING OF A KEY-WOUND MECHANISM IN A BLACK STEEL CASE. A TAKE-UP TRIP LEVER IS MOUNTED ON THE KEY WIND POST OF EACH UNIT. A BRASS SPOKED REEL IS GEARED TO THE MECHANISM AND TRIP LEVER ON EACH UNIT, TO TAKE UP THE USED, PUNCHED TAPE COMING FROM THE PUNCH REGISTER. SPOKED REEL DIA. 12.7 CM. ENGRAVED LABELS ON CASES FEATURE CLENCHED FIST AND READ: "GAMEWELL THE GAMEWELL CO., NEWTON, MASS." AND SERIAL NUMBERS. THESE ARE COMPANION UNITS TO THE PUNCH REGISTER. .5 KEY WINDER. 0.5 CM TH. X 1.8 CM WTH. X 8.6 CM LTH. BRASS, STEEL. NATURAL COLOUR. RATCHET-STYLE SQUARE KEY FOR WINDING SPRINGS ON TAPE TAKE-UP UNITS. KEY RATCHET TENSION HAS BEEN REINFORCED WITH STEEL LEAF SPRING MOUNTED WITH BRASS WIRE AND SOLDER. .6 PACKAGE OF PAPER TAPES. 15.5 CM HT. X 11.5 CM DIA.PAPER, WOOD. 6 PIECES. 6 PAPER TAPE ROLLS TO REFILL PUNCH REGISTER ARE WOUND ON WOOD CORES AND WRAPPED IN BROWN PAPER. PACKAGE HAS BEEN OPENED. EACH ROLL IS 2.5 CM WIDE. .7 RELAY. 7.0 CM HT. X 9.4 CM WTH. X 17.7 CM LTH. SOAPSTONE, CORDAGE, BRASS, STEEL, BAKELITE, WAX. NATURAL COLOURS. RELAY IS MOUNTED ON A RECTANGULAR SOAPSTONE BASE. MOUNT HOLES ON UNDERSIDE OF BASE ARE PLUGGED WITH WAX. RELAY FEATURES BAKELITE INSULATED COILS, BRASS WIRE CONNECTORS AND FITTINGS, AND A SPARK GAP ADJUSTABLE FOR WIDTH AND TENSION (BY COIL SPRING & CORD). .8 TEST SWITCH. 4.9 CM TH. X 9.6 CM WTH. X 13.5 CM LTH. BRASS, STEEL, MASONITE, BAKELITE. BLACK FINISH ON STEEL AND MASONITE. TELEGRAPH KEY-STYLE CIRCUIT TEST SWITCH, WIRED IN-LINE AND USED TO TEST HOUSE LARM BOX CIRCUIT. KEY IS BRASS WITH BAKELITE KNOB, MOUNTED ON STEEL BASE, MASONITE BASE PLATE, BRASS MOUNTING BOLTS. .9 VOLTAGE REGULATOR SWITCH. 12.0 CM HT. X 20.5 CM DIA. BRASS, CAST IRON, STEEL, CERAMIC. 3 PIECES. BLACK PAINTED BASE. "SERIAL #172836" UNDERSIDE OF BASE. SWITCH CONSISTS OF BRASS WHEEL-STYLE HANDLE ATTACHED WITH SET SCREW, BRASS FACE PLATE, AND CERAMIC/BRASS/STEEL/IRON BASE. BASE FEATURES 3 SCREW LUGS, 2 WIRE CONNECTORS AT SIDE, TURNING STEEL CENTRE SHAFT, CERAMIC INSULATED BRASS CONTACTS ON UNDERSIDE, SERIAL NO. PLATE ON UNDERSIDE, AND ROTATING CONTACT BETWEEN BRASS CONTACTS & CENTRE SHAFT. BOTH FACE PLATE AND BASE ARE EMBOSSED WITH DIRECTIONAL ARROWS AND: "TO LOWER (AND) RAISE VOLTAGE, WARD LEONARD ELECTRIC CO., BRONXVILLE, N.Y., U.S.A.", AND: "TO RAISE RESISTANCE". .10 D.C. VOLTMETER. 10 CM HT. X 20.2 CM DIA. BRASS, GLASS. BLACK PAINTED CASE/FACE. METER FEATURES BRASS/GLASS FACE, BLACK PAINT TIM ON FACE, AND INCREMENTS FROM 0-150 INSIDE GLASS FACE. METER IS NUMBERED "15522" (INSIDE GLASS FACE). EMBOSSED ON FACE: "WAGNER ELECTRIC MFG. CO., TYPE-D., ST. LOUIS, U.S.A." THIS IS A COMPANION UNIT TO THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. .11 D.C. AMMETERMETER IS SIMILAR IS ALMOST ALL RESPECTS TO D.C. VOLTMETER DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY AND IS ALSO A COMPANION UNIT TO THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. INCREMENTS ARE 0-500 MILLI-AMPS, AND METER IS NUMBERED "15571" INSIDE GLASS FACE. .12 RECTIFIER. 13.5 CM HT. X 12.7 CM WTH. X 27.9 CM LTH. BRASS, STEEL, BAKELITE, WIRE. BLACK COLOUR. "STYLE NO. 947766-A" ON PLATE. ITEM CONSISTS OF TWIN COILS, ANOTHER COIL AND A CIRCUIT PANEL ALL MOUNTED ON STEEL CHANNEL. BASE AND INTERCONNECTED WITH INSULATED WIRES. WIRE CONNECTORS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FURNISHINGS ARE BRASS. A STEEL SPECIFICATION PLATE IS MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE TWIN COILS AND FEATURES A CLENCHED FIST SYMBOL, AND READS: "RECTOX RECTIFIER". OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDES: "A.C. VOLTS 105-115-125, D.C. VOLTS 30-45-60, .60 CYC., STYLE NO., .115 AMPS, LICENSED UNDER PATENT 1.640.335, ETC., WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MFG. CO.", ETC. .13. 15 CM TH. X 31 CM WTH. X 56 CM LTH. BRASS, STEEL, BAKELITE, RUBBER, WOOD, GLASS, WIRE WITH BRAID COVER. BLACK.UNIT CONSISTS OF SMALL VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH WHEEL CONTROL AND 0-500 MILLI-AMP D.C. AMMETER MARKED: "TRIPLETT, MODEL 521" MOUNTED ON BOARD WITH EMBOSSED BRASS PLATE "GONGS". 4 MOUNTING BOLTS, 1 AT EACH CORNER. GONG AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ON REVERSE SIDE.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- SYSTEM WAS LOCATED IN OPERATOR'S OFFICE IN FIRE HALL NO. 1, BUILT 1908-09 BY SMITH BROS. & WILSON, ARCHITECT: J.A. MCDONALD. WHEN A PASSERBY PULLED THE STREET ALARM, THE BOX NO. WOULD REGISTER AS PUNCHED HOLES ON PAPER TAPE. FIRE OPERATOR CHECKED NUMBER AGAINST A BOX REGISTER & WROTE OUT NUMBER FOR FIREMEN. OPERATOR THEN PRESSED HOUSE ALARM BOX LEVER TO TRIGGER HOUSE ALARM GONG AND ALERT DUTY SHIFT FIREFIGHTER CREW TO RESPOND TO FIRE. SYSTEM OPERATED ON 100 M.A. AT 48 VOLTS. *** UPDATE JUNE 2012 *** IN JUNE 2012, THE GALT DEVELOPED A SMALL EXHIBIT TO COMMEMORATE AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED BY THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPT. MUCH OF THE EXHIBIT’S CONTENT CENTRED ON THE GALT’S COLLECTION OF FIRE ALARM BOX/SYSTEM OBJECTS. TECHNICAL DATA WAS SOURCED DIRECTLY FROM PERSONS INVOLVED WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA FIRE MUSEUM. NEW INFORMATION ON THE USE OF THE HOUSE FIRE ALARM BOX WAS PROVIDED IN JUNE 2012 BY RETIRED FIRE CHIEF LAWRENCE DZUREN. DZUREN STATED IN 2012 THAT THE BOX’S LEVER WAS PULLED EVERY TIME A FIRE CALL CAME INTO THE HALL BY PHONE. THE LEVER’S FREQUENT/DAILY USE MAY EXPLAIN WHY OPERATORS CHOSE TO REMOVE THE BOX’S HINGED DOOR - DOCUMENTED HISTORICALLY IN GALT ARCHIVAL IMAGE P19760218007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON BOX AND SYSTEM’S RECEIVER/REGISTER, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19760096000
- Acquisition Date
- 1976-03
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- FIRE BELL
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- BRASS, STEEL, COTTON
- Catalogue Number
- P19950037009
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- FIRE BELL
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- BRASS, STEEL, COTTON
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 28
- Diameter
- 19.1
- Description
- LARGE AND HEAVY BRASS BELL WITH WHITE COTTON ROPE. BELL IS MADE ENTIRELY OF BRASS AND HAS CYLINDRICAL SHAFT AT TOP. ROUNDED BRASS COLLAR SLIDES OVER BELL SHAFT. AT TOP OF SHAFT IS LARGE HEXAGONAL BRASS BUT WITH WIDE CIRCULAR BASE. COLLAR ON SHAFT HAS TWO KNOBS EXTENDING FROM SIDES. A LENGTH OF WHITE COTTON ROPE HAS BEEN WOVEN AROUND KNOBS CREATING LOOP. HINGED ON INSIDE OF BELL IS 16.5CM STEEL STRIKER WITH BALL END. AT END OF STRIKER IS STEEL PLUG WITH LOOPED STEEL RODS IN IT. FASTENED TO LOOP IS 46CM LENGTH OF WHITE COTTON ROPE. ROPE HAS KNOT IN ITS END. BRASS HAS MILD AMOUNTS OF GREEN CORROSION. STEEL STRIKER IS HEAVILY OXIDIZED AND INSIDE OF BELL IS HEAVILY TARNISHED AS WELL.
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- SEE P19950037001-GA. BELONGED TO WILLIAM H. SHORT, LAST FIRE CHIEF OF THE OLD NO.1 FIRE HALL IN LETHBRIDGE. *UPDATE* IN 2016 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT RUTHANN LABLANCE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF CLOTHING, INCLUDING A BELT DONATED BY SHARON DEREK. THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WAS COMPILED USING ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. THE DONOR, SHARON DERRICK, IS THE NIECE OF AGNES SHORT. AGNES CHRISTINA SHORT WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1916 TO WILLIAM H. AND BERTHA SHORT (MAIDEN NAME UNKNOWN). SHE GRADUATED FROM LETHBRIDGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE AND THEN ATTDNED THE CALGARY GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR NURSING TRAINING, WHICH SHE GRADUATED FROM IN 1939. AGNES WAS THE SUPERVISOR AT THE GALT HOSPITAL FROM 1939-1945. SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE NURSING STAFF OF LETHBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51 FROM 1947 UNTIL 1958. SHE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT THE LETHBRIDGE HEALTH UNIT FROM 1964 UNTIL HER RETIREMENT. SHE RETIRED IN 1980 AFTER 42 YEARS OF NURSING. AGNES PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 78 ON OCTOBER 20, 1994. WILLIAM HENRY SHORT WAS AGNES’S FATHER. HE WAS BORN IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN 1889 AND MOVED TO CANADA IN 1909. HE INITIALLY WORKED FOR THE CITY WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT IN LETHBRIDGE FOR TWO YEARS, BEFORE SPENDING 51 YEARS IN SERVICE OF THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE OVERSAW THE INTRODUCTION OF MOTORIZED FIRE ENGINES, SWITCHING FROM HORSE POWERED WAGONS, IN 1913. HE ALSO SAW THE DEPARTMENT GROW IN SIZE FROM ONLY 13 TO 49 MEN. HE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 84 ON NOVEMBER 18, 1974. WILLIAM’S WIFE BERTHA L. SHORT PASSED AWAY ON JULY 28, 1989. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT AGNES’S LIFE, THE SHORT FAMILY LIVED IN NUMBER 1 FIRE HALL, WHERE WILLIAM WAS FIRE CHIEF. WILLIAM H. AND BERTHA ALSO HAD ANOTHER CHILD, WILLIAM D. SHORT. HE WAS BORN ON AUGUST 16, 1916 AND PASSED AWAY ON AUGUST 5, 1990. HE WAS MARRIED TO MYRTLE (NEE NELSON) SHORT AND THEIR CHILDREN INCLUDE THE DONOR, SHARON DERRICK. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR COPIES OF THE ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. *UPDATE* IN 2018 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BOXED TEXTILES AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING A NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS DONATED BY SHARON DERRICK. ON 1 MARCH 2018, PUNDYK INTERVIEWED DERRICK REGARDING HER DONATION. THE INFORMATION BELOW HAS BEEN EXTRACTED FROM THAT INTERVIEW: A NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS DONATED WERE CONNECTED TO THE DONOR’S GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM H. SHORT AND HIS CAREER AS FIRE CHIEF IN THE NUMBER 1 FIRE HALL IN LETHBRIDGE. “YOU SEE, DURING THE YEARS THAT HE WAS THE FIRE CHIEF,” DERRICK BEGAN, “THEIR QUARTERS ACTUALLY WERE IN THE BACK OF THE FIRE HALL. SO STUFF KIND OF GOT ACCUMULATED THERE. THE WHOLE FAMILY [LIVED IN THE FIRE HALL]. WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WAS THERE ALL THE TIME. MY FATHER [WILLIAM D. SHORT] WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE FIRE CHIEF.” WHEN ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY MEMORY OF SEEING HER GRANDFATHER WEARING ANY OF THE ARTIFACTS, SUCH AS THE HELMET (P19950037014) OR THE FIRE PANTS (P19950037008), DERRICK RECALLED, “YES, BECAUSE LETHBRIDGE WAS SMALL AT THE TIME AND WHEN WE LIVED IN THE FIRE HALL AND THE BELLS WENT OFF, WE WOULD OFTEN WALK OVER TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE FIRE. I WOULD SEE MY GRANDFATHER OUT THERE, AND I’D SEE MY FATHER WHEN HE WAS ON SHIFT. THERE WERE SOME HUGE FIRES RIGHT DOWNTOWN. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT DATES – PROBABLY BACK IN THE LATE ‘40’S, EARLY ‘50’S. [IN ONE INSTANCE], MY DAD WAS ALSO ON THE BACK OF A FIRE TRUCK, SPEEDING TO A FIRE, AND ANOTHER TRUCK CAME ALONG AND HIT HIM IN THE BACK. HE SUFFERED VERY SEVERE INJURIES FROM THAT. AND I SAW THAT TOO. I WAS JUST ON MY WAY BACK TO SCHOOL.” “WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WAS ALWAYS IN AND OUT [OF THE FIRE HALL],” DERRICK WENT ON, “THERE WAS A BELL TOWER THERE, WHERE THEY HUNG THE WET HOSES UP TO DRY. THERE WERE RICKETY OLD WOODEN STAIRS GOING ROUND AND ROUND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THE FIRE HALL TO WHERE THE BELL USED TO BE. I USED TO GO UP AND DOWN THOSE STAIRS, AND HOP AND PLAY. AND IN THE BASEMENT THERE WAS PRISON CELLS, BECAUSE IT USED [TO BE] THE POLICE STATION MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE. IT WAS A COMBINATION OF FIRE AND POLICE. AND, THERE WAS A BIG FURNACE DOWN THERE. I USED TO GO DOWN AND WATCH THE FIREMEN PUSH COAL INTO THE FURNACE TO KEEP IT GOING. IT WAS AN INTERESTING PLACE TO BE AROUND.” “MY GRANDFATHER WAS ON THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE CHIEFS,” DERRICK CONTINUED, “HE WAS VICE-PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK. THEY HAD ASKED HIM TO COME UP AND TAKE THE PRESIDENCY, BUT AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, HE DECIDED HE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THE FAMILY FOR THE TWO YEAR TERM IN NEW YORK, SO HE TURNED THAT ONE DOWN. THOUGH HE DID REMAIN ON THE BOARD FOR MANY YEARS.” AN ARTICLE IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2000 READS, “WILLIAM SHORT RETIRED AS LETHBRIDGE FIRE CHIEF IN 1962, ENDING A CAREER AS CHIEF WHICH BEGAN IN JANUARY 1945.” A HERALD ARTICLE FROM 1974 ADDITIONALLY STATES THAT SHORT “JOINED THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1911. HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT IN 1919 AND CAPTAIN IN 1922.” AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE TITLED, “LETHBRIDGE WELL PROTECTED BY MODERN FIRE DEPARTMENT,” PUBLISHED IN 1967 IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD READS, “[IN 1910] THE FIRST FIREHALL THAT [WAS] LOCATED AT 4TH STREET AND 2ND AVENUE SOUTH WAS TORN DOWN. IT WAS A TWO-STOREY BUILDING. A THREE-STOREY FIREHALL WAS BUILT IN ITS PLACE ON THE SAME SITE. THAT EARLY BUILDING HOUSED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT, SERVED AS CITY HALL AND THE POLICE STATION…” WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE DONATION OF HER FAMILY’S ARTIFACTS DURING THE 2018 INTERVIEW, DERRICK EXPLAINED, “I WAS THE EXECUTOR FOR MY AUNT’S WILL AND WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY SHE [WAS LIVING IN] MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER’S HOME. ALL THIS STUFF HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE HOUSE, SO WHEN WE WERE CLEANING IT OUT FOLLOWING HER DEATH, WE CAME ACROSS ALL THESE THINGS. WHILE I KEPT SOME AS MEMENTOS, MY SISTER AND I [DECIDED TO DONATE OTHER ITEMS TO THE MUSEUM].” PLEASE PERMANENT FILE P19950037001, FOR MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION AND COPIES OF ARTICLES REGARDING THE FAMILY HISTORY.
- Catalogue Number
- P19950037009
- Acquisition Date
- 1995-05
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- WOOD, NICKEL PLATE
- Catalogue Number
- P19683223000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date
- 1906
- Materials
- WOOD, NICKEL PLATE
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 9.2
- Length
- 17.0
- Width
- 17.0
- Description
- DECAL ON FRONT MARKED "NORTHERN ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED". :N295E" ON BACK. GREEN PAINT ON TOP EDGE.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- EDUCATION
- History
- USED IN WESTMINISTER SCHOOL, TORN DOWN IN MAY 1968.
- Catalogue Number
- P19683223000
- Acquisition Date
- 1968-05
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- FOOT OPERATED BELL
- Date Range From
- 1909
- Date Range To
- 1909
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- NICKEL PLATE, BRASS, IRON
- Catalogue Number
- P19641361000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- FOOT OPERATED BELL
- Date Range From
- 1909
- Date Range To
- 1909
- Materials
- NICKEL PLATE, BRASS, IRON
- No. Pieces
- 3
- Length
- 6.3
- Width
- 15.8
- Diameter
- 26.0
- Description
- NAME PLATE ON SIDE & FOOT PEDAL: "NEW DEPARTURE BRISTOL PAT'D, CONN, U.S.A. MFG. CO." IRON BASE, NICKEL PLATE BELL, BRASS FOOT PEDAL."
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- BELIEVED ACQUIRED BY LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1909.
- Catalogue Number
- P19641361000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-12
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- FIRE BELL
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- IRON, STEEL, WOOD
- Catalogue Number
- P19641363000
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- FIRE BELL
- Date
- 1917
- Materials
- IRON, STEEL, WOOD
- No. Pieces
- 2
- Height
- 71.1
- Diameter
- 30.4
- Description
- ROPE & WOOD PULL ATTACHED TO STEEL CLAPPER. FRAME PAINTED RED.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- PURCHASED IN 1917 & USED ON FIRE ENGINES UNTIL 1953 AS A WARNING.
- Catalogue Number
- P19641363000
- Acquisition Date
- 1964-12
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- PICK-HEADED AXE
- Date Range From
- 1960
- Date Range To
- 1990
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- WOOD, METAL
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010003
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- PICK-HEADED AXE
- Date Range From
- 1960
- Date Range To
- 1990
- Materials
- WOOD, METAL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 4.0
- Length
- 89.1
- Width
- 25.5
- Description
- FIRE AXE OR PICK-HEADED AXE. WOODEN HANDLE WITH METAL HEAD. HANDLE IS UNFINISHED WOOD, WITH A BRIGHT 6.5CM ORANGE STRIPE APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE HANDLE FROM THE HEAD. THE KNOB AND GRIP OF THE AXE CURVES SLIGHTLY AND IS SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN THE REST OF THE HANDLE, UNTIL THE JUNCTION WITH THE METAL HEAD (THE SHOULDER), WHERE THE HANDLE IS THE WIDEST. METAL HEAD HAS A BLADE AND PICK. OVERALL IN FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION. SEVERAL SCRATCHES IN THE WOODEN HANDLE, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE HEAD. THE GRIP AND KNOB IS WELL WORN AND SCUFFED. A LARGE SLIVER OF WOOD IS MISSING FROM THIS AREA, BUT GIVEN THE WEAR PATTERN, THE SLIVER WAS LOST EARLY IN THE AXE'S USE. METAL HEAD IS VERY WORN. IT APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A RED FINISH AT ONE POINT, WHICH IS ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE. REMNANTS OF RED REMAIN ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HEAD, WHERE THE HEAD AND HANDLE MEET. BLADE AND PICK OF HEAD ARE BOTH WELL USED AND HAVE LOST THEIR SHARPNESS.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- THIS FIRE AXE (PICK-HEADED AXE) WAS USED BY THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF DONATION, JESSE KURTZ, DEPUTY CHIEF – SUPPORT SERVICES (RETIRED), EXPLAINED THAT THIS AXE WOULD BE “USED IN FORCIBLE ENTRY, OVER HAUL, VENTILATION [AND] IS STILL USED TODAY, BUT [NOW WE] HAVE FIBERGLASS HANDLES OR COMPOSITE HANDLES.” IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN, CONDUCTED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING: CLIFF “CHARLIE” BROWN (HIRED IN 1966, RETIRED 2004), TREVOR LAZENBY (HIRED IN 1994), RAYMOND “RAY” PETIT (HIRED 1965, RETIRED 1998), AND LAWRENCE DZUREN (HIRED 1959, RETIRED 1992). BROWN ADDED “PROBABLY THAT’S WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOTED FOR, IS AN AXE, BECAUSE AN AXE WAS USED SO MANY TIMES. … WHAT THE HYDRANT KEY COULDN’T DO, THE AXE DID … THIS OLD AXE WAS GOOD. IT WAS A GOOD OLD PRY-BACK, PRY AXE … SOMETIMES WE HAD TO GO TO A FARM FIRE. THEY HAD A POND THERE. WE HAD TO GET THE WATER, SO WE’D CUT A HOLE IN THE ICE WITH OUR AXE.” LAZENBY AGREED: “THIS IS ONE OF THE CLASSIC FIRE SERVICE TOOLS … THIS WAS PROBABLY THE PRIMARY TOOL THAT WE WOULD GRAB OFF THE TRUCK YEARS AND YEARS AGO IF WE HAD TO VENTILATE THE ROOF OF A STRUCTURE. BACK IN THE DAY WE DIDN’T NECESSARILY HAVE A CHAINSAW OR A K-12 SAW TO CUT THROUGH THE SHINGLES AND THE SHEETING AND THE SHIPLAP BOARDS AND SO IT WAS HARD WORK … THESE GET TAKEN OFF THE TRUCK ALL THE TIME BECAUSE WE’RE NOW IN THE HABIT OF TAKING TOOLS WITH US ON MOST CALLS … THESE [AXES] HAVE CHANGED. THE HANDLES ARE NO LONGER WOODEN; THEY’VE GONE TO FIBERGLASS. THEY’RE A BIT LIGHTER. THEY’RE MORE IMPACT-RESISTANT. YOU DON’T GET SLIVERS AND SPLINTERS WITH FIBERGLASS LIKE YOU DO WITH THE OLD. WE USE TO SAND THESE DOWN WITH SANDPAPER. WE WOULD OIL THEM UP A LITTLE BIT TO KEEP THE FINISH NICE AND THE HEADS WOULD RUST LIKE CRAZY, SO AGAIN, LIKE OUR HYDRANT KEY WE WOULD GET THE STEEL WOOL OUT OR SANDPAPER AND SAND IT AND OIL IT TO KEEP IT FROM RUSTING UP. AS OFTEN AS OUR TRUCKS GET WASHED, THESE USED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE EXTERIOR TAILBOARD OF THE TRUCK, SO EVERY TIME WE DROVE THROUGH INCLEMENT WEATHER OR WASHED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS EXPOSED TO ROAD GRIME AND WET.” PETIT ELABORATED: “WE USED THEM QUITE A BIT IF THERE WAS A VENT ON THE BUILDING, TO TEAR THE VENT. SAY THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ATTIC AND YOU WANTED TO TEAR THE VENTS, WE’D USUALLY USE AN AXE LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF THE PICK SO YOU COULD GET UNDERNEATH THE METAL AND RIP IT … I DEFINITELY USED THEM … MOSTLY HOUSE FIRES, LIKE FIRES IN THE ATTIC AND THERE’S A VENT AND YOU TEAR THE VENT OFF AND SOMETIMES YOU’D TRY TO MAKE THE HOLE BIGGER SO THAT SMOKE AND STUFF CAN GET OUT. BUT LIKE I SAY, EVENTUALLY, WE DIDN’T USE AN AXE TO MAKE A HOLE, WE USED A POWER SAW.” DZUREN AGREED: “IT’S FOR CHOPPING OR FOR GETTING, AGAIN, THROUGH ANY TYPE OF WALL WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUNCTURE A HOLE THROUGH THERE.” SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010003
- Acquisition Date
- 2015-02
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- WOOD, STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19950037016
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Materials
- WOOD, STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 3.6
- Length
- 39.3
- Width
- 15.5
- Description
- STEEL PICK-AX WITH RED WOODEN HANDLE. AX HEAD HAS TRIANGULAR HATCHET BLADE WITH CURVED 6.5CM PICK SPIKE AT OPPOSITE END. PERPENDICULAR FROM BLADE AND PICK ARE TWO STEEL TANGS WHICH WOOD HANDLE FITS INTO. WOOD HANDLE HAS WIDE MIDDLE PORTION AND NARROWER HAND GRIP. WOOD IS CRACKED AND SPLITTING SLIGHTLY INSIDE AX HEAD TANGS. HANDLE IS PAINTED RED AND PAINT IS WEARING OFF. HANDLE ALSO HAS WHITE PAINT SPLATTERS. STEEL ON AX HEAD ALSO HAS WHITE PAINT SPLATTER AND HAS SLIGHT AMOUNT OF CORROSION.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- SEE P19950037001-GA. BELONGED TO WILLIAM H. SHORT, LAST FIRE CHIEF OF THE OLD NO. 1 FIRE HALL IN LETHBRIDGE. *UPDATE* IN 2016 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT RUTHANN LABLANCE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF CLOTHING, INCLUDING A BELT DONATED BY SHARON DEREK. THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WAS COMPILED USING ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. THE DONOR, SHARON DERRICK, IS THE NIECE OF AGNES SHORT. AGNES CHRISTINA SHORT WAS BORN ON APRIL 20, 1916 TO WILLIAM H. AND BERTHA SHORT (MAIDEN NAME UNKNOWN). SHE GRADUATED FROM LETHBRIDGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE AND THEN ATTDNED THE CALGARY GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR NURSING TRAINING, WHICH SHE GRADUATED FROM IN 1939. AGNES WAS THE SUPERVISOR AT THE GALT HOSPITAL FROM 1939-1945. SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE NURSING STAFF OF LETHBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT #51 FROM 1947 UNTIL 1958. SHE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT THE LETHBRIDGE HEALTH UNIT FROM 1964 UNTIL HER RETIREMENT. SHE RETIRED IN 1980 AFTER 42 YEARS OF NURSING. AGNES PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 78 ON OCTOBER 20, 1994. WILLIAM HENRY SHORT WAS AGNES’S FATHER. HE WAS BORN IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN 1889 AND MOVED TO CANADA IN 1909. HE INITIALLY WORKED FOR THE CITY WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT IN LETHBRIDGE FOR TWO YEARS, BEFORE SPENDING 51 YEARS IN SERVICE OF THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE OVERSAW THE INTRODUCTION OF MOTORIZED FIRE ENGINES, SWITCHING FROM HORSE POWERED WAGONS, IN 1913. HE ALSO SAW THE DEPARTMENT GROW IN SIZE FROM ONLY 13 TO 49 MEN. HE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 84 ON NOVEMBER 18, 1974. WILLIAM’S WIFE BERTHA L. SHORT PASSED AWAY ON JULY 28, 1989. ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT AGNES’S LIFE, THE SHORT FAMILY LIVED IN NUMBER 1 FIRE HALL, WHERE WILLIAM WAS FIRE CHIEF. WILLIAM H. AND BERTHA ALSO HAD ANOTHER CHILD, WILLIAM D. SHORT. HE WAS BORN ON AUGUST 16, 1916 AND PASSED AWAY ON AUGUST 5, 1990. HE WAS MARRIED TO MYRTLE (NEE NELSON) SHORT AND THEIR CHILDREN INCLUDE THE DONOR, SHARON DERRICK. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR COPIES OF THE ARTICLES FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. *UPDATE* IN 2018 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BOXED TEXTILES AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING A NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS DONATED BY SHARON DERRICK. ON 1 MARCH 2018, PUNDYK INTERVIEWED DERRICK REGARDING HER DONATION. THE INFORMATION BELOW HAS BEEN EXTRACTED FROM THAT INTERVIEW: A NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS DONATED WERE CONNECTED TO THE DONOR’S GRANDFATHER, WILLIAM H. SHORT AND HIS CAREER AS FIRE CHIEF IN THE NUMBER 1 FIRE HALL IN LETHBRIDGE. “YOU SEE, DURING THE YEARS THAT HE WAS THE FIRE CHIEF,” DERRICK BEGAN, “THEIR QUARTERS ACTUALLY WERE IN THE BACK OF THE FIRE HALL. SO STUFF KIND OF GOT ACCUMULATED THERE. THE WHOLE FAMILY [LIVED IN THE FIRE HALL]. WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WAS THERE ALL THE TIME. MY FATHER [WILLIAM D. SHORT] WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE FIRE CHIEF.” WHEN ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY MEMORY OF SEEING HER GRANDFATHER WEARING ANY OF THE ARTIFACTS, SUCH AS THE HELMET (P19950037014) OR THE FIRE PANTS (P19950037008), DERRICK RECALLED, “YES, BECAUSE LETHBRIDGE WAS SMALL AT THE TIME AND WHEN WE LIVED IN THE FIRE HALL AND THE BELLS WENT OFF, WE WOULD OFTEN WALK OVER TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE FIRE. I WOULD SEE MY GRANDFATHER OUT THERE, AND I’D SEE MY FATHER WHEN HE WAS ON SHIFT. THERE WERE SOME HUGE FIRES RIGHT DOWNTOWN. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT DATES – PROBABLY BACK IN THE LATE ‘40’S, EARLY ‘50’S. [IN ONE INSTANCE], MY DAD WAS ALSO ON THE BACK OF A FIRE TRUCK, SPEEDING TO A FIRE, AND ANOTHER TRUCK CAME ALONG AND HIT HIM IN THE BACK. HE SUFFERED VERY SEVERE INJURIES FROM THAT. AND I SAW THAT TOO. I WAS JUST ON MY WAY BACK TO SCHOOL.” “WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WAS ALWAYS IN AND OUT [OF THE FIRE HALL],” DERRICK WENT ON, “THERE WAS A BELL TOWER THERE, WHERE THEY HUNG THE WET HOSES UP TO DRY. THERE WERE RICKETY OLD WOODEN STAIRS GOING ROUND AND ROUND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THE FIRE HALL TO WHERE THE BELL USED TO BE. I USED TO GO UP AND DOWN THOSE STAIRS, AND HOP AND PLAY. AND IN THE BASEMENT THERE WAS PRISON CELLS, BECAUSE IT USED [TO BE] THE POLICE STATION MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE. IT WAS A COMBINATION OF FIRE AND POLICE. AND, THERE WAS A BIG FURNACE DOWN THERE. I USED TO GO DOWN AND WATCH THE FIREMEN PUSH COAL INTO THE FURNACE TO KEEP IT GOING. IT WAS AN INTERESTING PLACE TO BE AROUND.” “MY GRANDFATHER WAS ON THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE CHIEFS,” DERRICK CONTINUED, “HE WAS VICE-PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK. THEY HAD ASKED HIM TO COME UP AND TAKE THE PRESIDENCY, BUT AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, HE DECIDED HE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THE FAMILY FOR THE TWO YEAR TERM IN NEW YORK, SO HE TURNED THAT ONE DOWN. THOUGH HE DID REMAIN ON THE BOARD FOR MANY YEARS.” AN ARTICLE IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2000 READS, “WILLIAM SHORT RETIRED AS LETHBRIDGE FIRE CHIEF IN 1962, ENDING A CAREER AS CHIEF WHICH BEGAN IN JANUARY 1945.” A HERALD ARTICLE FROM 1974 ADDITIONALLY STATES THAT SHORT “JOINED THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1911. HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT IN 1919 AND CAPTAIN IN 1922.” AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE TITLED, “LETHBRIDGE WELL PROTECTED BY MODERN FIRE DEPARTMENT,” PUBLISHED IN 1967 IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD READS, “[IN 1910] THE FIRST FIREHALL THAT [WAS] LOCATED AT 4TH STREET AND 2ND AVENUE SOUTH WAS TORN DOWN. IT WAS A TWO-STOREY BUILDING. A THREE-STOREY FIREHALL WAS BUILT IN ITS PLACE ON THE SAME SITE. THAT EARLY BUILDING HOUSED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT, SERVED AS CITY HALL AND THE POLICE STATION…” WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE DONATION OF HER FAMILY’S ARTIFACTS DURING THE 2018 INTERVIEW, DERRICK EXPLAINED, “I WAS THE EXECUTOR FOR MY AUNT’S WILL AND WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY SHE [WAS LIVING IN] MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER’S HOME. ALL THIS STUFF HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE HOUSE, SO WHEN WE WERE CLEANING IT OUT FOLLOWING HER DEATH, WE CAME ACROSS ALL THESE THINGS. WHILE I KEPT SOME AS MEMENTOS, MY SISTER AND I [DECIDED TO DONATE OTHER ITEMS TO THE MUSEUM].” PLEASE PERMANENT FILE P19950037001, FOR MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION AND COPIES OF ARTICLES REGARDING THE FAMILY HISTORY.
- Catalogue Number
- P19950037016
- Acquisition Date
- 1995-05
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE
- Date Range From
- 1890
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL, LEATHER
- Catalogue Number
- P19970115001
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE
- Date Range From
- 1890
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- STEEL, LEATHER
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 113 (CHAIN)
- Diameter
- 14 (BALL)
- Description
- ROUND STEEL BALL ATTACHED TO A STEEL CHAIN WITH A LEG SHACKLE AT THE END. ALSO ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE BALL IS AN ADJUSTABLE LEATHER STRAP, USED BY PRISONER TO LIFT THE BALL OFF THE GROUND. MARKED ON THE SURFACE OF THE ANKLE CUFF IS "TOWER (?) PATENT MAY 26, '74, SEPT. 4, '77, MAR. 5, '78, DEC. ?. '79 DEC. 5, '82". HINGE STAMPED "4" ON ONE SIDE AND "D" ON THE OTHER. SURFACE OF BALL IS STAMPED WITH A LARGE "A". LEATHER IS STILL REASONABLY SOFT.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- DONATION MADE ON BEHALF OF DONORS FATHER, EDWARD E. BUCHANAN, FORMER SENIOR STAFF SERGEANT, ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE AT LETHBRIDGE FROM MAY 1944 TO NOV. 1950. ACCORDING TO DONOR, ITEM BELONGED TO THE NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE AT LETHBRIDGE, BUT WAS GIVEN TO THE LETHBRIDGE JAIL WHEN IT OPENED IN APPROX. 1909. USED TO KEEP A PRISONER IMMOBILE IN THE UNFENCED PRISON YARD. MR. BUCHANAN WAS A MEMBER OF THE ALBERTA PROVINCIAL POLICE FROM 1919 UNTIL 1932 WHEN HE TRANSFERED TO ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. RETIRED IN 1950, THEN BECAME DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA. FATHER WAS GIVEN THE ITEMS BY WARDEN OF LETHBRIDGE'S JAIL, HERB HOLT IN THE LATE 1950'S. FOR DONOR'S PERSONAL MEMORIES AND HISTORY OF DONATIONS SEE PERMANENT FILE. SEE P20020090001-GA FOR COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY OF EDWARD BUCHANAN. **** ON 18 JANUARY 2013, BALL AND CHAIN (P19970115001) AND OREGON BOOT (P19970115002) DONOR TED BUCHANAN (TB) VISITED THE GALT TO PARTICIPATE IN A COLLECTIONS-REQUESTED INTERVIEW. THE INTENT OF THE INTERVIEW WAS TO CLARIFY DETAILS SURROUNDING BUCHANAN’S 1998 ACQUISITION AND POSSESSION OF A HANGMAN’S NOOSE (P19990088001). ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING BUCHANAN’S OWNERSHIP OF THE BALL AND CHAIN AND THE OREGON BOOT WERE DISCUSSED, QUESTIONS POSED BY KEVIN MACLEAN (KM). RELEVANT EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW ARE BELOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY, PLEASE SEE P19990088001’S PERMANENT FILE. TB: “WELL HE HAD A TRUNK IN THE BASEMENT WHERE HE KEPT A LOT OF THIS, THE OLD MEMORABILIA THAT HE HAD. AND AS MUCH OF IT AS I CAN REMEMBER WAS ALL, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WAS KEPT IN THAT BIG ROOM, TRUNK.” TB: “HE HAD TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE BALL AND CHAIN AND THE OREGON BOOT WHILE HE WAS STILL WITH THE RCMP HERE (LETHBRIDGE). IT CAME OUT OF THE OLD RCMP DETACHMENT BUILDING THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THEY BUILT THEIR NEW FACILITY, THEY HAD FOUR OR FIVE JUST LIKE HOUSES THAT WERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE PRESENT POLICE STATION IS. AND THEN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT PROPERTY, BECAUSE THEY OWNED THE WHOLE FOUR CITY BLOCKS THERE, WHERE CITY HALL IS, THE YATES MEMORIAL CENTER, AND THE SENIORS’ CENTER AND THE CURLING RINK AND ALL THAT. THAT WAS ALL RCMP PROPERTY; WELL IT WAS NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE PROPERTY ORIGINALLY. AND WAY OFF ON THE EAST SIDE WAS WHERE THE STABLES WERE, BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL WAS BY HORSEBACK UNTIL THEY STARTED BRINGING IN AUTOMOBILES AND SO THEY HAD QUITE A STABLE THERE. WELL THEN THEY HAD TO BUILD A JAIL OUT HERE, SO THEY BUILT A JAIL ADJACENT TO THE STABLES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY AND THAT’S WHERE THE BALL AND CHAIN AND THE OREGON BOOT CAME INTO PLAY, BECAUSE THE LAND DOWN THERE WAS GOOD GARDENING LAND AND THEY HAD BIG GARDEN CROPS OUT THERE AND THEY WOULD HAVE SOME OF THE INMATES GO OUT THERE AND HOE THE GARDEN AND LOOK AFTER THE VEGETABLES AND DO THE WATERING AND WHATEVER AND THIS IS WHY THEY HAD TO RESTRAIN THEM.” KM: “DO YOU REMEMBER ANY SPECIFIC STORIES WITH THAT BOOT, WHO WORE IT OR ANYTHING, LIKE THAT?” TB: “NO.” KM: “SO ALL YOU KNOW IS THAT THOSE ITEMS CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE BARRACKS?” TB: “THAT’S RIGHT, IN FACT THE REASON THAT DAD SAID HE TOOK POSSESSION OF THEM BECAUSE WHEN THEY TORE DOWN THE OLD STABLES AND THE OLD JAIL THEY WERE JUST DESTROYING IT, EVERYTHING WAS JUST GOING TO THE CITY DUMP AND HE HAPPENED TO SEE SOME OF THESE THINGS AND HE THOUGHT THEY WERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN VIEWING IN THE FUTURE.
- Catalogue Number
- P19970115001
- Acquisition Date
- 1997-12
- Collection
- Museum
- Other Name
- AIRCRAFT SAFETY BELT, LAP TYPE
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CANVAS, METAL
- Catalogue Number
- P20110016003
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- AIRCRAFT SAFETY BELT, LAP TYPE
- Date
- 1938
- Materials
- CANVAS, METAL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 6.3
- Length
- 75.2
- Width
- 10.5
- Description
- MILITARY ISSUE SAFETY BELT. TWO PIECE CANVAS STRAP WITH QUICK RELEASE PULL IN CENTER. TWO CANVAS RELEASE TABS ATTACHED TO HANDLE ARE COATED WITH STIFFENING AGENT AND SHOW MINOR CRACKING. CANVAS IS KHAKI COLOURED WITH VARIOUS STAINS AND DISCOLOURATIONS. TRACES OF GREEN PAINT ON SOME METAL PIECES. BACK HAS BLACK INK STAMPED, “M.E.C2.1938,” AND “G33053,” AND FADED SMALL CIRCULAR MONOGRAMS ON EACH SIDE. SMALLER CANVAS STRAP ATTACHED AT ENDS BY METAL RINGS, JOINED IN CENTER BY TWO D-RINGS AND METAL HINGE.
- Historical Association
- MILITARY
- History
- SAFETY BELT WAS OWNED BY DONOR’S LATE HUSBAND MATTIS “MATT” SLAVICH. AS STATED IN SLAVICH’S OBITUARY IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, “MATT WAS BORN IN LETHBRIDGE ON AUGUST 10, 1920 AND PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE ON AUGUST 17, 2010 AT THE AGE OF 89 YEARS.” ACCORDING TO THE LEGION MAGAZINE ONLINE LAST POST, “CORPORAL MATT C. SLAVICH SERVED WITH THE ROYAL CANADIAN ORDNANCE CORPS IN WWII. HIS WAS ASSIGNED THE SERVICE NUMBER M28060.” IT IS UNCLEAR WHY A MAN SERVING IN THE ARMY WOULD POSSESS AN AIRCRAFT SEATBELT. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE BELT’S PRESENCE IN A TRUNK WITH THE REST OF SLAVICH’S ARMY SUPPLIES AT THE TIME OF DONATION, IT WAS LIKELY USED BY HIM DURING WWII. ROG DENNIS WITH KARKEE WEB RESEARCH TEAM HAS SAID, “THE MILLS EQUIPMENT COMPANY WAS INVOLVED WITH PRODUCING WEBBING SINCE THE LATE 1920S. THIS PARTICULAR HARNESS CAN BE SEEN IN THE MILLS EQUIPMENT COMPANY’S GOLDEN JUBILEE BOOK, PUBLISHED IN 1956. SETTING ASIDE A SOLDIER’S SKILL IN ‘ACQUIRING’ ITEMS, AN ARMY MAN MIGHT HAVE AN AIR FORCE ITEM BECAUSE THIS ALL CENTERED ON AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT. PERHAPS THE HARNESS WAS A FITMENT IN GLIDERS AND WAS SOUVENIRED AFTER THE LANDING? FROM THE START R.A.F. PARACHUTE INSTRUCTORS WHO TRAINED ARMY PARACHUTISTS AND I BELIEVE IT STILL IS, ALBEIT THE LAST ‘IN EARNEST’ PARA DROP HAVING BEEN DURING THE SUEZ CRISIS, IN 1956. THERE IS THEREFORE A CROSS-OVER ON THE EQUIPMENT FRONT, WITH ITEMS HAVING STORES CODES BOTH IN THE ARMY’S V.A.O.S., AS WELL AS A SEPARATE CODE IN THE R.A.F.’S AP 1086. LAP STRAPS ARE TYPICALLY WHAT AIRCRAFT PASSENGERS USE, EVEN TODAY. CREW MEMBERS ‘UP FRONT’ USE 4-POINT VERSIONS, THOSE SUCH AS AIR GUNNERS WORE LAP STRAPS.” ACCORDING TO SLAVICH’S DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE, CORPORAL MATTHEW CLARENCE SLAVICH ENROLLED IN THE 15TH L.A.D. R. - R.C.O.C. - C.A. (A) ON APRIL 10, 1941. SLAVICH SERVED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BEFORE HE WAS DISCHARGED ON APRIL 17, 1946. HIS ATTESTATION FORM LISTS PREVIOUS MILITIA EXPERIENCE WITH THE 112TH FIELD BATTERY R.C.A. BETWEEN 1937-1941. SLAVICH WAS GRANTED LEAVE DECEMBER 12 TO 17, 1945 IN ORDER TO RETURN TO EDMONTON TO MARRY MISS JOAN LILLIAN FORD. ACCORDING TO SLAVICH’S PERSONNEL SELECTION RECORD, “SLAVICH IS A JOVIAL, EASY-GOING INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NO DIFFICULTY MAKING FRIENDS OF BOTH SEXES. HE APPEARS TO BE VERY WELL ADJUSTED IN HIS PARTICULAR JOB AND EXPRESSES NO DESIRE FOR CHANGE. HIS APPEARANCE IS VERY FAVOURABLE AND HIS PERSONALITY ATTRACTIVE AND SOMEWHAT ENCLINED TO BE EXTROVERTED. STABILITY APPEARS TO BE QUITE ADEQUATE AND HIS MORALE IS DEFINITELY HIGH.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING SERVICE RECORDS, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.
- Catalogue Number
- P20110016003
- Acquisition Date
- 2011-06
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Date Range From
- 1980
- Date Range To
- 1990
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- PLASTIC, CHROME
- Catalogue Number
- P19960112074
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1980
- Date Range To
- 1990
- Materials
- PLASTIC, CHROME
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 85.8
- Width
- 4.8
- Description
- ORANGE PLASTIC BELT WITH CROSS-STRAP. REVERSE IS DARKER ORANGE/RED. CROSS-STRAP IS SEWN TO BELT; TWO METAL RINGS FOR ADJUSTING SIZE. "ALBERTA MOTOR ASSOCIATION" IN BLACK ON EXTERIOR OF STRAP. BELT HAS STAMP INSIDE READING "REGULAR AAA STOCK NO.3164 MFG. USA." METAL CLASP ON EITHER END.
- Subjects
- REGULATIVE & PROTECTIVE T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES. FOR A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE COLLECTION, SEE RECORD P19960112001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLICE SERVICES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF INTERVIEWS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CURRENT AND FORMER LETHBRIDGE POLICE, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19960112000.
- Catalogue Number
- P19960112074
- Acquisition Date
- 1996-12
- Collection
- Museum
Images
