DECK, CARD

Description: DECK OF PLAYING CARDS, IN BOX. THE DECK IS SEALED IN CLEAR CELLOPHANE. THE BACK OF THE CARDS HAS A SCENE OF A TOWN WITH A MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND. AT TOP RIGHT READS "BANFF, CANADA" IN GOLD. SCENE IS SURROUNDED BY A GOLD BORDER. THE ACE OF SPADES IS SHOWING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DECK. CELLOPHANE IS TORN HERE. THE BOX HAS A CARD GLUED TO REVERSE SO THAT THE TOWN SCENE IS VISIBLE. OBVERSE OF BOX READS "PLAYING CARDS" "BANFF, CANADA" IN WHITE ON DARK BLUE BACKGROUND; AND "SOUVENIR OF BANFF, CANADA" IN GOLD ON WHITE BACKGROUND. THREE SIDES OF BOX READS "BANFF, CANADA" IN WHITE ON DARK BLUE BACKGROUND. TOP FLAP OF BOX READS "IMPORTED BY: IMPORTE PAR: IRWIN TOY LTD.TORONTO. ONT.. CANADA. M6K 1X6", IN WHITE ON DARK BLUE BACKGROUND.

History: FRED DROSTE WAS BORN, RAISED, AND EDUCATED IN GERMANY. HE IMMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1930 TO ENGELFELD, SASK. HE LATER MOVED TO NALCAM, SASK, AND THERE MARRIED MINA IN 1934. IN 1945 THEY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED IN CARPENTRY (AT NEW ENERSON GARAGE). LATER HE WORKED FOR THE SEPERATE SCHOOL DISTRICT #9 AS MAINTENANCE MAN, AND RETIRED IN 1973. HE RESIDED IN LETHBRIDGE UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. FRED WAS A MEMBER OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH WHERE HE WAS THE CHOIR DIRECTOR FOR 30 YEARS. *UPDATE* IN 2010 NICOLE HEMBROFF MET WITH LORENZE DROSTE TO DISCUSS THE OBJECTS HE HAD DONATED TO THE GALT ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER, FRED DROSTE. SEE BELOW. ACCORDING TO DROSTE, THE CARDS WERE LIKELY ACQUIRED ON A HOLIDAY TO BANFF. HIS FATHER LIKED TO COLLECT THINGS HE PICKED UP ON HOLIDAY OVER THE YEARS. THE FAMILY WENT TO BANFF A FEW TIMES. DROSTE WAS UNSURE EXACTLY WHEN THE CARDS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED. SEE P20000020001 FOR MORE INFORMATION.