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Chauvin Museum, 4810 1 Avenue, Chauvin, AB (2026)

10/14/2026

This unique instrument belonged to Betty Lou Pitman Gibbard, a bright, adventurous young woman whose life took her from Chauvin classrooms to teaching and missionary work far afield.

The daughter of Ernie and Elsie Pitman, Betty Lou grew up in a family deeply involved in church and community life. They attended summer Presbyterian services at Edinglassie School, later became involved with the Christian and Missionary Alliance church south of Ribstone, and eventually joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chauvin, where Ernie served as an elder and family members taught Sunday School and helped at Christian camps. The family was also active in the local 4-H Beef Club, showing calves, giving speeches and participating in tours. Ernie was the first leader of the Chauvin Beef Club, serving for seven or eight years.

Betty Lou’s life of service began with her teaching certificate from the University of Alberta. She went on to teach for three years in Métis schools in northern Alberta, followed by a period teaching junior high at Chauvin School. Former students fondly remember her as a caring and kind teacher.

Betty Lou then spent three years studying at Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta. After completing her studies, she joined the Sudan Interior Mission and travelled to Nigeria, where she taught school for two and a half terms.

In 1970, she married Harry Gibbard, who had grown up in the Marsden area. The couple eventually made their home on a farm in the Onion Lake area, north of Lloydminster where they raised their children.

The instrument associated with Betty Lou’s missionary work is identified as an “Organette“ mobile organ. A little bigger than a large suitcase, it was much easier to transport than a conventional household or church organ.

Unlike some antique organettes that play music automatically from perforated paper rolls, Betty Lou’s instrument has a piano-style keyboard. She would press the keys with their fingers while pumping the bellows with her feet to produce the sound.

For a teacher and missionary travelling to unfamiliar communities, such a compact instrument could have been a valuable companion. Music has long brought people together through worship, singing and fellowship, and a portable organ offered a way to accompany hymns without relying on electricity.

Although we don’t know which songs Betty Lou played, we can imagine familiar hymns such as Holy, Holy, Holy, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, How Great Thou Art and Abide with Me being played and sung with the help of her organ. It’’s connection to her missionary work gives it a special significance beyond its construction.

This keyboard organ represents the practical tools people carried with them in their work and the ways music could bring people together. Its size makes the story especially appealing: an instrument that could be packed and transported like luggage may have brought music to places where a larger organ would have been impractical.

More importantly, it offers a tangible connection to Betty Lou Pitman Gibbard - a woman who travelled to teach, served far from home and remained connected to the faith and communities that shaped her life.

Thanks to the generosity of her family, this unusual instrument can now help preserve and share her story. The Chauvin and District Museum is pleased to have the opportunity to care for such a meaningful piece of local history. Sometimes, the smallest objects carry the biggest stories - and this unique organ is a wonderful example!

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Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

GO EAST of Edmonton Daytrips & Getaways

10/07/2026

As families gather around Thanksgiving tables this year, we remember that in the early days of the Chauvin district, a community supper was often the social event of the season.

A good harvest and a well-stocked woodpile brought peace of mind as winter approached. With the crops in and preparations for the cold months well underway, families could finally take time to visit with neighbours, attend a church supper, or enjoy a community gathering.

Interestingly, Thanksgiving was not always celebrated on the second Monday of October as it is today. When Canada first established an official Thanksgiving holiday in 1879, it was observed on November 6. Over the following decades, the date varied from year to year, sometimes falling in October and sometimes in November. For example, Thanksgiving was proclaimed for October 26 in 1904, just before Alberta became a province in 1905. Settlers in the Chauvin district and across the Prairies would have celebrated Thanksgiving on several different dates before the holiday was permanently fixed as the second Monday of October in 1957.

Regardless of the date, Thanksgiving on the prairies was closely tied to the harvest season. Harvest suppers, church dinners, community hall meals, and box socials brought people together from miles around. Families travelled by wagon, buggy, horseback, and later by automobile to spend an evening visiting with friends and sharing a delicious meal.

These gatherings were about much more than food. They were opportunities to exchange local news, welcome newcomers, raise funds for community projects, and strengthen the friendships that helped prairie communities thrive. After supper, the evening often continued with dances, concerts, card games, and lively conversation that lasted well into the night.

Harvest suppers held a special place in the hearts of local residents. After months of hard work in the fields, they provided an opportunity to celebrate the season's blessings and give thanks. Long tables were filled with turkey, chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, homemade buns, pickles, pies, cakes, and plenty of coffee and tea to keep the stories flowing.

The success of every supper depended on volunteers. Women spent days baking and preparing food, while men helped organize the hall and make arrangements for the crowd. Everyone contributed, and the result was a true community effort.

Many local families were known for their hospitality. Ernest Peterson, remembered by many as “Turkey Ernie,” raised turkeys and enjoyed visiting with neighbours while selling them after harvest. Along with his brother and farming partner, Johnny, their door was always open, and there always seemed to be room for one more person at the table.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we remember the countless volunteers, cooks, organizers, and community builders who made these gatherings possible. Their efforts created more than memorable meals - they helped build the strong sense of community that continues to define Chauvin today. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

09/30/2026

One of the recent additions to the Chauvin and District Museum is a very special one indeed - a hand crafted model of the historic Butze elevator, recently donated by Dave Landels of the Bow Valley Model Railroad Association in Calgary.

What a delightful and generous surprise it was when Dave dropped the model off for the museum. This remarkable piece will make a wonderful addition to our displays and help preserve the story of one of the area's most recognizable landmarks.

For decades, the Butze elevator has been a favourite subject for photographers travelling Highway 17. Standing proudly on the prairie skyline, it has become one of those iconic sights that instantly connects people to the history of rural Alberta. The elevator has even been featured in several publications, including ‘Grain Elevators: Beacons of the Prairies’ by photographer Chris Attrell.

The story of the Butze elevator dates back to 1916 when the Bawlf Grain Company erected the first elevator at the site. Local resident Lloyd Baynham is believed to have hauled the multiple loads of lumber used in its construction. Chris Sigurdson became the first agent, purchasing grain for the Bawlf Grain Company and later for the Alberta Wheat Pool. Other agents over the years included Fred Ramsey, Ted Ecland, and Red Frickelton.

Wooden prairie grain elevators like the one at Butze were once a familiar sight across Western Canada. Often called ‘Prairie Skyscrapers’ or ‘Sentinels of the Prairie,’ they stood beside railway tracks in thousands of farming communities. More than just grain storage facilities, they were economic and social gathering places that helped shape prairie life.

The distinctive brown/maroon colour of many elevators became synonymous with the Alberta Wheat Pool, whose dark red oxide paint scheme became one of the most recognizable symbols of prairie agriculture.The famous bright turquoise-teal colour known as ‘Grain Elevator Green’ was adopted much later in the company's history

Sadly, these historic wooden structures have largely disappeared from the landscape. Once numbering in the thousands across the Prairies, only a small fraction remain today. Fire, demolition, changing transportation systems, and the construction of large modern grain terminals have all contributed to their decline.

The full size Butze elevator remains privately owned and is no longer in operation. Looking to the future, the Chauvin and District Museum hopes to one day raise sufficient funds to preserve this prairie landmark to ensure that future generations can experience an important piece of our agricultural heritage firsthand.

Until then, we are thrilled to share this wonderful model with museum visitors. Our sincere thanks go to Dave Landels for his generosity and thoughtfulness in helping preserve the story of Butze and its iconic elevator.

Today, September 30, also marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. As we celebrate and preserve local history, we also recognize the importance of remembering the experiences of Indigenous children and families affected by the residential school system. Every Child Matters.

# # # #

Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

s Child Matters

09/23/2026

For generations, the local café was more than just a place to eat - it was the heart of Chauvin.

Every morning at 10am and again at 3pm, merchants from along Main Street would step away from their stores, gather around a table with a fresh cup of coffee, and catch up on the latest local news. Business, community events, crop conditions, town projects, and the occasional friendly debate were all discussed over steaming mugs.

For several decades, Wednesday afternoons brought another cherished tradition. Many businesses closed for the afternoon, giving residents the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely lunch at the café. What started as a meal often stretched into an afternoon of conversation, laughter, multiple cups of coffee, and, almost certainly, a slice of pie - or two.

The building pictured here was home to a succession of café owners who helped shape Chauvin's social life for over half a century.

By 1922, the Village of Chauvin had begun issuing restaurant licences, approving operators that included Saker's Cafe, the first known café in this location. It proudly promoted itself as "The Home of Good Eats." The café also benefited from a progressive neighbour - James Goodall Sr installed a 32-volt power plant that supplied electricity to his garage and to the café, bringing this modern convenience to both businesses at a time when such a service was still a novelty.

In 1930, the Pon family arrived in Chauvin and took over the café, renaming it the Chauvin Cafe. The family quickly earned a reputation as hardworking business owners and became valued members of the community, building a wide circle of friends throughout the district.

The café remained a Main Street fixture when Adrian and Bertie Pierce became owners in 1944. Living above the café, everyone in the family helped out. Oldest daughter Belva, later talked of baking 30 pies at a time, while her sister Gwen served customers with a ready smile. Even the youngest twins, Evyon and Evlyn, at just 10, would run to the café during their school lunch hour to help with the dishes.

Evyon recalled many happy memories of growing up in the café - watching her mother scooping ice cream onto fresh pies, enjoying her father's doughnuts, a favourite with customers, and most of all remembering "all the lovely customers" who passed through the door each day.

The business changed hands again when the Albert Gagnon family renamed it the Star Cafe. In 1955, King and Mary Der and their family took over. Under the Ders, the Star Cafe remained one of Chauvin's most beloved gathering places.

The twice-daily coffee breaks continued, teenagers gathered with friends after school, and younger children dreamed over the candy counter. Saturdays - the busiest day of the week in town - saw the café bustling from morning until midnight. Farmers and families came to town for supplies, banking, shopping, and visiting before taking in a show at the Tivoli Theatre or attending a dance at the hall.

The district's strong social fabric was woven through these weekly gatherings. As evening approached, young people headed to the latest western, war picture, or comedy at the theatre. Women and younger children filled the booths of the Star Cafe, while men occupied the stools, gathered around tables, or stood chatting with neighbours. Crop yields, livestock prices, weather forecasts, and district news were exchanged. Some went to enjoy a game of pool, while others wandered over to the hotel for a visit. Conversations flowed in stores, on street corners, and around café tables long into the evening.

Then, when the movie let out or the orchestra had packed away their instruments, the streets came alive once more. Many dropped by the cafe to have a ham sandwich or slice of pie before heading home. Finally, the cars and pickups filled with sleepy children and contented parents rolled away into the darkness toward farms and homes scattered across the district.

By the mid-1960s, Irene McMann took over the restaurant, renaming it Irene's. The café continued to thrive under her ownership and remained a popular destination for local residents. In the late 1960s Mabel and Lawrence Shultz took over for a few years until a new venture beckoned them and Irene returned.

Eventually, when Irene moved her business across the street to a new location, the old café building took in other tenants or stood vacant for a time before being demolished, bringing an end to one chapter of Chauvin's Main Street history.

Although the cafe building is gone, the memories remain. For many, this café was where neighbours met, friendships grew, news was exchanged, and the story of Chauvin was shared - one conversation at a time.

# # # #

Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family, keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

09/18/2026

The holiday season is just around the corner, and we're excited to announce our Christmas Plant Fundraiser!

Choose from a beautiful selection of festive holiday favourites, including: Poinsettias, Christmas Wreaths, Evergreen Shrubs, Seasonal Planters and Holiday Greenery.

Whether you're decorating your home, brightening your office, or searching for the perfect Christmas gift, these beautiful plants will add warmth and holiday cheer to any space.

Best of all, every purchase helps support the ongoing restoration and development of the Chauvin and District Museum.

By purchasing a Christmas plant, you're not only celebrating the season - you're helping preserve the stories, artifacts, and history of our community for future generations.

Last day to order: November 18, 2026.

Ordering Details
Order online through Growing Smiles: https://chauvindistrictmuseumboard.growingsmilesfundraising.com/
Or contact Valerie Gramlich (780-753-0939) or Christine Smith (780-808-4072) for assistance.|

Orders will be available for pickup at the Chauvin Christmas Market on December 5, 2026.

Thank you for helping our museum grow - one plant at a time!

09/16/2026

On a September Monday, 104 years ago, the roads leading into Chauvin were filled with wagons, riders, and excited schoolchildren heading to what the Chauvin Chronicle described as a “red letter day” in local education - the annual Chauvin and District School Fair.

Students from across the district gathered to exhibit the results of a year's work in gardening, grain growing, livestock raising, cooking, sewing, art, and academics. In all, more than 60 exhibit categories were judged, ranging from potatoes and carrots to penmanship, plasticine modelling, bread baking, and prize livestock. The fair showcased the practical skills that were considered essential for rural life on the prairie.

The participating district schools hosted by Chauvin public and high school included Edinglassie, Airlie, Butzeville, Killarney, St. Aubin, Roros, Prosperity and New Ribstone. Children travelled from throughout the district to compete, compare exhibits, and enjoy a full day of activities.

One of the highlights was the afternoon parade. Edinglassie led the procession with a group of mounted riders, followed by decorated floats representing the various schools. Butzeville impressed spectators with a bright display in blue, red and white while Airlie, St. Aubin, Killarney, and Chauvin all proudly showcased their school spirit. The Chronicle noted that the children marched with “lusty school yells,” each determined to outdo the others.

The exhibits themselves reflected the realities of prairie life. Judges praised the quality of the vegetables, grains, livestock, baking, and sewing on display. The newspaper observed that the fair helped develop “those practical things inseparable from rural life,” including stock raising, grain growing, flower culture, cooking, and the control of pests and weeds.

There was room for creativity as well, with numerous categories for artwork - from landscapes and still lifes to birds in colour, flowers, figures, and even sculptures crafted from plasticine.

The day concluded with a lively sports program featuring foot races, broad jumps, wheelbarrow,, sack, relay, and three-legged races. Winners came from schools throughout the district, demonstrating that friendly rivalry extended well beyond the exhibit hall.

Behind the scenes, many local residents volunteered their time to organize the event. Committees looked after exhibits, refreshments, sports, cooking, sewing, art, and judging, making the fair a true community effort.

Reading the names of hundreds of participating children today reminds us that these school fairs were about much more than ribbons and prizes. They brought together families from across the district, celebrated the achievements of young people, and strengthened the bonds between rural communities.

For one September day in 1922, Chauvin became the centre of a remarkable display of learning, hard work, and community pride - a tradition that left an enduring mark on local history.

# # # #
Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

09/09/2026

This week 101 years ago, Chauvin and district were mourning the death of Leonard (Len) D’Albertanson Sr., one of the community’s early builders. Today, his greatest legacy is not found in public monuments, but in the pages of The Chauvin Chronicle, whose reporting preserves an extraordinary historical record of Chauvin’s people, events, and history.

Born in Westminster, England, in 1879, Leonard and his wife, Ada, came to Canada in 1906, joining thousands of newcomers drawn west by the promise of opportunity. They homesteaded near the Battle River and endured the hardships familiar to many pioneer families - long distances, limited resources, uncertain crops, and the constant challenge of building a life on the prairie.

After several years on the farm, Len returned to the trade he had learned in England: printing. In 1914, he founded The Chauvin Chronicle, the newspaper that would become one of the community’s most important institutions. Known as a progressive publisher who embraced new technology, he worked tirelessly to keep local people informed and connected. The Chronicle served not only Chauvin but a wide rural district, carrying news from surrounding communities and championing local causes.

When Len died on September 2, 1925, at just 46 years of age after a long struggle with cancer, the loss was deeply felt throughout the region. His obituary described him as a pioneer, a fearless writer, and a man respected for both his convictions and his service to the community.

Perhaps the most revealing tribute came from those who knew him best. An appreciation published in The Chauvin Chronicle observed that whether people agreed with his opinions or not, they recognized “the broad disciplined mind behind the pen” and his unwavering commitment to education, community progress, fair play, and public service.

Yet Len’s legacy extends well beyond his own accomplishments. The D’Albertanson family remained deeply involved in the life of Chauvin and the surrounding district. Ada worked alongside him in the newspaper office, helping produce the paper in the days when every page required painstaking manual typesetting. Their sons, Leonard Jr. and Raymond, carried forward the family’s commitment to community service, innovation, and enterprise.

Leonard D’Albertanson’s contribution to Chauvin went far beyond publishing a newspaper. During his years in the district, he served as a correspondent for the federal Department of Agriculture and worked to make information, reading material, and road maps available to local residents. Even when money was scarce, he helped maintain a small lending library through the Chronicle office, reflecting his belief that informed and educated citizens were essential to a strong community. His newspaper columns supported local organizations, agricultural initiatives, and community projects, earning him a reputation as someone who consistently placed the interests of the district ahead of his own.

More than a century after his passing, Leonard D’Albertanson is remembered not only as the founder of a newspaper, but as Chauvin’s most enthusiastic supporter who promoted the interests of its people, and helped shape the character of the community during its formative years.

His story - and the story of the D’Albertanson family - remains an important chapter in Chauvin’s history and a reminder of the dedication, resilience, and community spirit that helped build the community we know today.

# # # #

Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

09/02/2026

As students return to school this September, it's fascinating to look at what "back to school" meant for children growing up around Chauvin, Ribstone, and the surrounding districts a century ago.

For prairie children in the mid-1920s, the school day often began long before the first lesson. Chores had to be completed before leaving home. Cows were milked, livestock fed, wood carried, and water hauled. Only then could children begin the journey to school.

Many students walked for miles across open prairie. Others travelled by horseback, horse and buggy, or sleigh during the winter months. Esther Lasell remembered beginning school at Roros School in 1924 and making the two-mile trip with her mother by buggy in summer and by sleigh in winter. Her father had a rule that if it was colder than -40℉ (-40 ℃), she was not allowed to go to school. Later, Esther saved her money and bought an Eatonia bicycle and kept it in the teacherage during school hours.

Teachers often faced the same challenges as their pupils. At Roros School, teacher Pratt Perry travelled eight miles daily from his farm near Chauvin using a team and buggy or sleigh. His wife, also a teacher, Flora Perry, was remembered fondly for helping organize community activities and events. Miss Folkins, another early teacher, became known for encouraging music and school concerts that brought families together from across the district. Weeks of preparation went into those songs, recitations, and plays.

At Battle Valley School, teacher Gretchen (Richardson) Wright recalled that the school year of 1924 actually began in July and broke for holidays in January because winter roads were frequently blocked by snow. She remembered that most students walked to school, while the Swanson children rode together on a pony. Looking back, she noted that after completing farm chores and walking miles, children found it easy to sit quietly through lessons.

One-room schools brought together children of many ages and abilities. In a single classroom, beginners learned their alphabet while older students prepared for Departmental Examinations. The teacher taught every grade, often with little more than a blackboard, textbooks, and determination.

The schoolhouse itself reflected the ingenuity of prairie communities. At Roros School, a barn was added in 1922 to shelter the horses that brought children to class. A furnace was installed in 1923, making winter attendance much easier. Students arriving by horse and buggy were sometimes paid a few cents to bring water to the school in cream cans because attempts to dig a reliable well had failed.

Yet school was not all work. School also created lifelong friendships. Children such as William Nysetvold and many others who attended the district schools shared experiences that connected families across the prairie. In communities where neighbours might live several miles apart, school was often the centre of social life as well as education.

The return to school each year represented more than the start of lessons. It reflected a community's commitment to its future. Parents donated land, served as trustees, supplied fuel, hauled water, maintained buildings, and raised funds to keep schools operating. Teachers became community leaders, organizers, and often lifelong friends of the families they served.

The one-room schools of the Chauvin district helped transform scattered homesteads into thriving communities. Through harsh winters, muddy roads, and economic hardship, prairie families ensured their children received an education.

As students head back to school in 2026, their journey may be shorter and more comfortable, but they follow a path first opened by the determination, sacrifice, and optimism of our district's pioneer families.

# # # #

Join the effort to celebrate Chauvin’s rich history by sharing, liking, and reposting with your friends, neighbours, and family.

While you search through attics and basements for family keepsakes, think of your local museum. These treasures from your past could be donated or lent, allowing future generations to uncover the fascinating stories they carry.

Chauvin Museum

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