Material Type

Artifact

Date

1949

Materials

BRICK, CEMENT, STEEL

No. Pieces

1

Height

12.0

Length

20.5

Width

9.8

Description

MADE TO LOOK LIKE A FIREPLACE. CONSTRUCTED OF SMALL RED BRICKS AND GREY CEMENT. THE BACK IS FLAT, AND THE FRONT IS ROUNDED. IN THE CENTER IS A CHIMNEY AND UNDERNEATH THIS IS A BLUE GRILL. ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CHIMNEY IS A TRIANGLE-SHAPED COMPARTMENT, WHICH ARE PAINTED BLUE INSIDE. THE BOTTOM IS LINED WITH GREEN FELT. THE CHIMNEY HAS "24" WRITTEN ON IT IN BLACK FELT.

Subjects

HOUSEHOLD ACCESSORY

Historical Association

DOMESTIC

History

THE ASHTRAY CAME WITH A SIGN WIRED TO IT THAT SAID "AN ASHTRAY WITH COMPARTMENTS ON EACH SIDE FOR NEW CIGARETTES AND FOR MATCHES CONSTRUCTED OF HOMEMADE BRICKS AND CEMENT BY BOMBARDIER BILL BOS IN 1949 AS A GIFT TO HISB ROTHER-IN-LAW -- AL. P. BAINES". IT ALSO HAD A ROLLED UP PIECE OF PAPER IN EACH SIDE COMPARTMENT, ONE SAID "MATCHES" AND THE OTHER "CIGARETTES". THERE WAS ALSO A ROLLED UP PIECE OF PAPER TAPED ONTO THE GRILL TO LOOK LIKE A CIGARETTE. AL (OR ALGERNON) BAINES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN COWLEY, AB UNTIL HIS FAMILY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1919. IN 1928 HE ENTERED THE SERVICE OF THE STANDARD BANK OF CANADA AS JUNIOR CLERK. IN 1929 HE LEFT THIS POSITION AND BECAME A SELF-DESCRIBED "JACK OF ALL TRADES AND MASTER OF NONE". IN 1934 HE WAS HIRED AS A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE WITH IMPERIAL MOTORS LIMITED. ON JUNE 18, 1940 HE VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED IN THE CANADIAN ARMY SERVICE CORP. AFTER BASIC TRAINING HE WAS POSTED TO HEADQUARTERS INSTRUCTIONAL CADRE OF HOME WARE ESTABLISHMENT TO INSTRUCT NEW RECRUITS IN THE ARTS OF DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE OF ARMY VEHICLES. IN 1941 HE WAS PROMOTED TO ORDERLY ROOM SERGEANT, IN RED DEER, AB. AT THIS TIME HE BECAME ENGAGED TO AGNES GIBSON, AND THEY MARRIED DEC 31, 1941. HE WAS THEN PROMOTED TO WARRANT OFFICER, CLASS TWO, AND ASSUMED THE DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERGEANT-MAJOR OF THE MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY. IN MAR. 1945 HE BECAME ATTACHED TO MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. HE WAS DISCHARGED DECEMBER 5, 1945 WHILE SERVING AT THE LETHBRIDGE PRISONER OF WAR INTERNMENT UNIT. HE RETURNED TO IMPERIAL MOTORS UNTIL 1961, AND WAS THEN OFFICE MANAGER FOR A FARM SUPPLY OUTLET. IN 1963 HE BECAME SELF-EMPLOYED AS AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. HE LATER BECAME A TEACHER AND WAS SUPERINTENDENT FOR SEVEN YEARS. SEE P19990035001-GA FOR ADDITIONAL HISTORY.

Catalogue Number

P19990035090

Acquisition Date

2000-07

Collection

Museum

Less detail