Description Level

Item

Creator

Molson's (Lethbridge) Brewery

Physical Description

75.8 x 65.6 color photographic print

History Biographical

Photo shows Concord Coach replica built by Lethbridge Brewery. This model was used as a centrepiece at company events. It represents Concord Stage Coach on old style Pilsner Beer label. A full-sized replica Concord Stage Coach was hand built following the specifications of the Abbot & Downing Company of Concord, New Hampshire, which began building coaches in the early 1800s. The Stage Coach was a community service project of the House of Lethbridge Brewery. The original coach brought mail and passengers from Fort Benton, Montana, to Lethbridge. The replica made its appearance at fairs, rodeos and local festivals throughout the province. See P19900020001-GA for Lethbridge Brewery History.

Scope and Content

Photographic print shows Concord Coach replica built by Lethbridge Brewery & given to Exhibition Board on January 23, 1980. Print has explanation of ceremony, history of coach mounted below image: "H. B. Skilling, General Manager, and N. A. Willis, Sales Promotion Representative, of Lethbridge Brewery make the official presentation of the Concord Coach to George Chessor, President of the Lethbridge & District Exhibition Board, and Tony Perlich, 1st Vice-President of the Board. Looking on are B.K. Dickie, District Sales Manager for Molson's Western Breweries, and George Jarokosky, driver of the Coach and an Executive Director of the Exhibition Board. January 23, 1980. History comes to life in this replica of the famous Concord Stage, built by master craftmen to the exact specifications of the Concord Coaches that carried passengers and mail througout the Old West. The Concord was a masterpiece of construction. The spacious body with its gracefully curved panels was a superb piece of joinery. Each coach built used up the best part of twelve oxhides for the boots and the heavy through-braces on which the body was suspended. These braces helped absorb the shocks of early western roads. The coaches weighed 2,500 pounds. Each Concord Stage Coach carried nine passengers inside and as many more as could cling to the roof. As many as thirty-nine in one coach has been recorded. The stage coaches have gone from Alberta's roads, replaced by faster and more efficient means of conveyance. But their spirit lives on in this Concord Coach." The photograph and presentation took place at the Exhibition Grounds on January 23, 1980.

Accession No.

P19900020081

Collection

Archive

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