Leduc West Antique Society

THE IGNITOR NEWSLETTER

VOL.17 No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 2006

"Living the Past for Future Generations"

Leduc West Antique Society Executive:                  www.leducwestantique.com

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Friday, February 24, 2006

in the

HOOPER BUILDING

at the
Alberta Heritage Exposition Park Grounds

at 6:30pm

Potluck Supper

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Walter Burak

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!!!!

Financially 2005 has been very good. The Swap Meet and Annual Exposition had good public support; however, the Country Harvest weather in September didn't co-operate and our attendance figures were down. With three planned events the chances of one of them having poor weather has been a problem the last few years. We finally received the Alberta Museum Association report for our site review in June. The report is 24 pages and well written. The entire executive has not had the chance to review it in detail, so much discussion will be necessary after the AGM. If someone is interested to read the report or to become involved with a committee to deal with the recommendations let me know and I will have copies of the report available at the AGM. This subject mainly deals with the Museum Affirmation Program. Some of this was discussed at the November Appreciation evening.

One subject that has received a lot of discussion over the past 4 years is the Hooper building. The Leduc County building inspector has accepted the structure and the file is now closed. Howard has decided not to formalize a third party lease agreement and therefore the building will be operated by a committee headed by Howard and two other members under guidance of the executive. Our potluck supper will be in this building on Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Plates, cutlery, coffee and juice will be provided. Bring a potluck dish. The Annual Meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. Door Prizes are welcome !! All prospective members are most welcome !! Agenda for the meeting will include the Financial report for 2005 and an election of officers for the 2006 executive and two director positions. This will be followed by a General Meeting with the new officers presiding.

So let's have a good turn out on Feb. 24 and allow Howard to show the building to the membership !!!!

There are going to be some changes with our day-to-day operations of the site. Marg, who has done most of the event planning for the past 13 years, is stepping down. Someone that commits over 1000 hours every year is not easy to replace. A big thank you to her.

This now leaves us to find individuals to fill the following positions:

• editor of the Ignitor Newsletter
• show chairperson - for our exposition show
• event co-ordinator - planning all other events at the site
• organization of casino and bingo workers
• supervision of attendance workers
• inventory update
• grant submissions
• perhaps other responsibilities and duties we all take for granted

Individuals who are willing to fill these positions please contact one of the executive. If there is a shortage of responses we may have to down size some of our events or functions (weddings, tours, family picnics, BBQs) and reduce ground upkeep duties. Last year the attendance workers spent a total of 55 days at the site. These workers were a tremendous help before and during our major events. Perhaps our show grounds appearance will not be the same without their help.

The financial paper work is not enclosed with this newsletter. All transactions have been completed for 2005; however, Keith and Ernie have not been able to review the statements. Ernie was on holidays the week of Jan. 14th and Ron is on holidays the week of Jan. 21st. Copies will be available at the AGM.

Enclosed are the raffle tickets for the year 2006. Using 2005 records some members will not be receiving raffle tickets. Please return them to:

LWAS
3230-97 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T6N 1K4
Attn: Jennifer Dziubiak

Jennifer Dziubiak (nee Bodnar) will be the raffle chairperson. If you have any questions concerning the raffle please call Jennifer at 465-4429 during office hours.

I know this newsletter is not up to our previous standards. We need an editor before the next newsletter in May. Hope to see many of you at the Hooper Building on Feb. 24, 2006. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

KOLLECTOR'S CORNER - Bill Smith

What a year 2005 was! Not only were we barraged with election lies but smothered with government scandals and bogus promises.. .more of the same old, same old. However, our generation has learned to turn a deaf ear and most did get out and vote. This is a democratic right nearly as old as antiques. Really in our country antiques only have to be 100 years old to wear said label. But, but, but.. .go over to Europe and if it isn't 500 years old, well it is not in this category.. .except art; most museums are brimming to the seams with 17th and 18th century art. As you cross Europe you see no end of statues of great past leaders and Saints, until you are finally exhausted and don't even bother to get your camera out.

However, getting back to the subject of antiques and collectables in our own country, and more particularly, closer to home. I must say it is getting harder and harder to find something that is new, but old. The shelves are getting taken over by flea market items and some items of lower quality. Good collectables have gone the way of the dodo bird. Dealers have taken a new route to dispose of their prime items with E-Bay; after all worldwide bidding brings a much better price and all in U.S.. ..funds. This is all very fine when you are up-to-date on computer skills, but help us poor illiterates who would not know how to turn a computer on.. .and we are getting too old to learn. We have missed the boat in so many fields of modern technology and one of the first things that comes to mind is the digital camera. They, like the computer, are almost out of date the day you buy them. Even the cell phone will do anything from tell you the time to almost being able to make your breakfast. I don't know whether to crawl under a rock or join the dinosaur group!

Once a collector, always a collector - How I can relate. You just can't push a button and stop collecting. So many times I have been asked about my regrets in selling my collection, which was 60 years in the making. Sometimes you wish you had kept this or that, in fact, I did go back to the buyer and bought a few things back, which were family items. Now someone else can enhance their collections and enjoy the items that the wife and I once cherished. Remember, you come in this world with nothing and go out with nothing. As one learned gentleman once told me, "You never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse." As you age your tastes change, the glory and the fun of collecting aren't what they used to be. It is better to be a has been collector than a person who had no hobbies or special interest. I think of what they have missed in life and I offer my sympathy.

Let's Take a Quick Tour Around the Leduc Site

There were many accomplishments, both small and large, that enhanced the well being of Leduc West. You will notice many new trees sprouted up here and there. They were actually moved in and well on their way to maturity. We can only hope that with no snowcap they survive the winter. We did put 35,000 gallons of water on them in late fall and spring will be here soon and watering will commence again. Flower gardens took

shape around the railway station, north side of the Founder's Building and over the Maday Log House.

A new painted registration booth greeted the tractor and display people at the North Gate. It was well needed. A fine cedar fence encompassed the northside of the lake. This was also something that was well needed for many years. Thank heavens no on ever backed their vehicle or trailer into the water. I am sure the ducks would not have appreciated that! Once the southside is landscaped it will be fenced in as well.

Water hook up was completed to the concession across from Bill Graham's Building, as well as a septic tank. This makes it so much more sanitary and handy for our volunteers in this venue. Just south is Sarah's Ice Cream Building, which will be opened for the 2006 Exposition. It is well on its way to being redecorated and painted for a mini concession.

The big Engine Building has been upgraded into a Master Museum Building, thanks to the work and dedication of the electrical people; drywall and a ceiling put on the finishing touches. The next step will be the same makeover in the Founder's Building.

The biggest artifact, and there were many in 2005, was the 1946 Maple Leaf Truck donated by George Mucha, fully restored and ready for parade days in the future.

A smaller item well worth noting was the 1910 Courting Bicycle, which took part in our parade even though the road was not conductive to the 4-wheel machine. What a novel idea; a three-person bike. The young couple sat in front and both could pedal and steer. Slightly behind them, perched on a seat with a single holding bar, sat the girl's mother with an evil eye on the poor young fellow courting her daughter.

Not so noticeable, but well worth noting, was the 300 plus hammer collection donated by the Estate of Heath Perter. Mounted on 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and suitably displayed way up on the south wall of the Founder's Building.

When you look up at the ceiling of the dance floor in from the Main Stage you will see it lined with aluminum matel. We do hope to have it fitted with appropriate lighting for this year's show.

In June, we will see the beavers making another 30 picnic tables. This will give us 90 tables, or a total seating capacity of 540 people. This should take some of the pressure off suppertime eating.

The Maday Log Home has now had a chimney built in the center of the building. Ready for its first occupancy of those who would venture to cook on a wood stove.

As you enter the North Gate this year you will be greeted by a 40-foot Eaton Pumper Windmill.

Recently, we acquired a miniature Circus consisting of 5 Circus Wagons built on a scale of 1-inch: 1-foot. Totally built by hand, wheels and all. Right from scratch. The Circus is complete in every way with small animals and it is painted very colourfully. Making the Circus was no small task, as it took one full winter to make one wagon. It came from Edmonton from an elderly couple, who are moving into a Seniors Residence. They wanted these gems to be where people could view them, not stuck in a museum warehouse. How lucky we were to acquire them.

There was likely many other items done and completed at Leduc West throughout the year. These were some of the items that came to mind as I drove around the site.

We need new members and new blood, more particularly.. .young blood. This is what keeps the fabric of any organization moving ahead. We realize time and dedication is needed and young families have less free time than in past years, with over taxation it is no wonder that two individuals of any household must work to make ends meet. 50 years ago we had to make our own entertainment.. .and we spent hours cleaning snow from the pond so we could skate a little (if we had skates) or play hockey. We would come back every weekend only to have to shovel mountains of snow for a few hours of fun. We made our own skis and snowshoes and yes, even slingshots and bows and arrows. Some of the lucky children even shot rabbits and squirrels for this hides, which we skinned, stretched on boards and sold. A rabbit hide was 5 cents. We trapped gophers and the tails brought in 2 cents, the same price we received for crows' eggs. I never heard of one child ever getting hurt in our area with our arsenal of weapons and traps. We learned respect and eventually, we earned respect. Did we miss anything? I am glad we saw the dirty 30s, it made us learn to appreciate the simple things in life. We saw the 1-room school, the frozen lunches when we walked to school. Our clothes were patch upon patch.. .with a hole in the middle. But we were survivors. I only hope some of this rubs off onto the generation that comes after us.

Memberships

Hopefully all members have paid their dues in 2004. Now it is time to pay your 2005 dues. Don't wait until the end of the year to renew. Better still. Change to a lifetime membership, as there is less hassle. As was pointed out above, try to get the younger generation interested. If you have any suggestions let us know and maybe we can incorporate something in the Parks events.