Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site

10/14/2026

Happy Dessert Day!

We know Thanksgiving was only a few days ago, but hopefully you’re not yet sick of pumpkin pie!

Here are some of Hazel Rutherford’s recipes for pumpkin pie and filling. We don’t know if Mr. Rutherford had pumpkins in his vegetable garden, but we do know they were available.

Let us know how it turned out!

Images from Hazel Rutherford's recipe books courtesy Alberta Tourism and Sport. "Shoppers in open air market, Market Square, Edmonton, Alberta.", [ca. 1910s], (CU180145) by Byron-May Company Limited. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives, Glenbow Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving!

It wasn’t until 1931 that Thanksgiving was regularly on the second Monday of October.

Then, as now, there were sports and poultry of all kinds. If you didn’t feel like making a Thanksgiving meal yourself, you could always go out!

You’re welcome to come and visit us today. Sadly, there will be no turkey.

Images from October 10, 1931 edition of Edmonton Bulletin courtesy newspapers.com.

10/11/2026

As the seasons change, one of the tasks we do at Rutherford House is to switch out the exterior windows.

In the spring, Conservation and Construction Services exchanges the storm windows for screen windows, and in the autumn, they switch the screen windows out for the storm windows.

To make space for this work to happen, Curatorial and Collections moves the furniture away from the windows to avoid any mishaps. The many lace curtains are removed and cleaned, repaired, or replaced as needed.

Once the windows are installed, everything is returned to its place!

10/10/2026

On this day in 1941, the Edmonton Public Library introduced Canada’s first streetcar library.

Carrying approximately 2000 volumes, the streetcar library was an efficient and practical means of getting books to Edmontonians, especially for those living in neighbourhoods far from Edmonton’s two public libraries. As reported by the Christian Science Monitor, the streetcar visited “the outlying districts, such as Calder and North Edmonton, once a week, where it parked on new spur tracks out of the way of regular street-railway traffic from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. This brings the library service within reach of many families who would not be able to come into town regularly … .”

The streetcar library was well patronized, with over 17,000 books borrowed in just its first two months of operation. Demand for the streetcar library’s services were so great that a second weekly stop — and two additional staff — was quickly added. The streetcar library continued to serve Edmonton residents until its retirement in 1956.

Although introduced a few months after Rutherford’s passing, we think he would have steadfastly supported the streetcar library and its objectives of providing easier access to books for Edmontonians given his love of books, reading, and education.

“Edmonton Library Streetcar on 80 Street, north of 117 Ave, 1941-1947” January 1, 1941 courtesy Edmonton Radial Railway Society Archives. “Librarian Jack Fearon helps a young visitor inside Edmonton's streetcar library, while two other children play with a dog” July 7, 1949 from “Edmonton's Electric Railway,” by Colin Hatcher and Tom Schwarzkopf.

10/08/2026

On this day in 1906, the inaugural “Premiers’ Conference” (now called the “First Ministers' Conference”) began. In attendance was Alexander Rutherford.

Held in Ottawa, between October 8 and 13, 1906, the Premiers’ Conference was convened at the request of the premiers of Canada to discuss the inadequacy of the federal subsidy each province received annually from Ottawa. The premiers worked together to pressure Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier to increase the subsidy, and despite Laurier’s initial opposition, the premiers were successful in convincing him to increase it.

As Charles Lanctot, the secretary of the conference noted, “The greatest cordiality and unanimity prevailed. … Both Liberal and Conservative ministers unanimously agreed in the demand for the increased subsidies. … The conference broke up with the most harmonious feelings all around, and all the members expressed confidence that in addition to securing a need of justice to the various provinces it had done a splendid work in bringing the various governments into closer and more friendly relations”.

Images from the October 9, 1906 edition of the Windsor Evening Record and October 15, 1906 edition of the Montreal Gazette courtesy newspapers.com.

10/04/2026

Happy birthday, Cecil!

On this day in 1890, Cecil Rutherford was born in Kemptville, Ontario.

Just like his father Alexander, Cecil studied to become a lawyer and articled at his father’s firm alongside his future brother-in-law Stanley McCuaig. The First World War, however, interrupted Cecil’s studies and he served oversees with the Royal Garrison Artillery from January to November 1918. Cecil was admitted to the Albera Bar on 15 April 1919 and became partner at his father’s firm in 1923.

Outside his legal career, Cecil enjoyed spending time outdoors. Golf was among Cecil’s favourite sports, and he was a charter member of the Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club. He also enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, and boating, especially with his wife Helen and daughter Margaret at their cottage at Kapasiwin.

Cecil passed away at the age of 67 on October 22, 1957.

Image of Cecil Rutherford c. 1895 courtesy University of Alberta Archives 86.41.6.2.13

09/29/2026

Tomorrow, on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, people across Canada learn, recognize and reflect upon the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, the trauma experienced by many, and the hope for a healthy future. The day emphasizes the ongoing need for reconciliation and building and strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Learn the truth about the past through events, books, films and other resources, and reach out to Elders or Knowledge Keepers, now and throughout the year.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a day when people across Canada wear orange to recognize the ongoing intergenerational effects of residential schools and to acknowledge that “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt symbolizes the stripping away of culture, self-esteem and freedom from Indigenous children over generations.

Orange Shirt Day began in British Columbia in 2013 when a residential school survivor, Phyllis Webstad, shared her story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day at a residential school. Since then, Orange Shirt Day has been an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.

If you’re in Edmonton and area, you can join and honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from 1 to 2 pm at the Kihciy Maskikiy/ Aakaakmotaani reconciliation garden on the east side of the Alberta Legislature grounds.

On September 30, we honour residential school victims, survivors and their loved ones.

09/26/2026

One hundred and eighty years ago today, Paul Kane arrived at Fort Edmonton.

His visit to Fort Edmonton was captured in Wanderings of An Artist, published first in 1859. It collects his observations in diary entries from a 2-year trip across Canada from May 9, 1846 to October 13, 1848.

As a book collector with an interest in history, Alexander Rutherford had picked up a copy of the book. His personal copy now resides in the Bruce Peel Special Collections.

You can read a copy at

Folded map has title: Map to illustrate Mr. Kane's travels in the territory of the Hudson's Bay Company

09/25/2026

Alberta Culture Days is the province’s month-long celebration of arts, heritage, diversity and community spirit, hosted by community organizations. It is an opportunity for all Albertans to discover, experience and celebrate arts and culture by attending or hosting local events and activities across the province.

Last year, almost 240,000 Albertans attended Culture Days events across the province. Alberta Culture Days continues to connect people with local artists, cultural groups, heritage organizations and community celebrations."

As part of these celebrations, Rutherford House will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 26th and Sunday, Sept. 27th

Experience Alberta's largest celebration of arts, culture, heritage, diversity and community spirit through events across the province.

09/21/2026

Visitors to the gardens of Rutherford House may notice many varieties of flowers and perennials onsite -- including tulips, nasturtiums, sweet peas, poppies, peonies, asters, forget-me-not and cosmos -- but did you know there are also raspberry bushes?

Tucked away on the east face of Rutherford House, several raspberry bushes produce large quantities of raspberries each year. While we are not sure if the Rutherford family grew raspberries in this spot, we do know they were a popular fruit in Edmonton as they grow well in northern climates. In 1913, the Edmonton Journal recommended that Edmontonians make the most of Edmonton’s raspberries and even suggested a couple recipes for readers to make.

Why not try making one of these recipes for yourself?