14

Oxen were important to settlers in many parts of Alberta. Here three oxen are hitched for breaking.
1910
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada


15

Alex Marshall
1910
Unknown
TEXT ATTACHMENT


16

Changes in Communication
Long distance telephone line reached Jack Edgson¹s place in 1908 and it then connected to the Hazel Bluff and Rossington lines to the west.
Land connections between Edison and the outside world were improving. Scheduled stage transportation, cartage and mail were provided by one "Jamieson" in 1908. In 1909 this was bought out by Alex Marshall.

17

Oxen pulling logs
1910
Near Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada


18

Wood sawing bee at Dios Smith's farm
1910
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


19

Government
Shortly after the installation of the first provincial government in 1905, some of the community obligations were taken over by local government. A "Government" road was being built to the east of Edison ­ near MacLachlan and Forbes land. This summer was so wet that road that the road did not progress well and people went to the Landing Trail again to the east.
An improvement district to tend to local government matters followed the volunteer and cooperative efforts of the community. The first elections to the council of the Local Improvement District 1907 were in 1906, and the first chair was Herbert Greenfield. From then on, roads were improved and kept up regularly.
Community members pulled together for important projects. Firewood and lumber for construction were cooperatively prepared.

20

The Beatt and Westgate families
1910
Near Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada


21

The Methodist Church
1910
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


22

The Community Church
Donald MacGregor was the Presbyterian minister holding services at the Stopping place and at the Beaton's to the northeast in 1904. It was a short assignment, he left later that year to complete his training at Knox College in Montreal. However, he also left the legacy of the first cemetery established in the northeast of the district at Dungannon. Stuart Beatt followed as the next minister from Knox college in the spring of 1905. While he started with services at the Stopping place, he later held church services in the new schoolhouse.
The Methodist minister Rev. Robert Telfer arrived in 1906. He was of Scottish origin and established other Methodist congregations in the south and west districts in the area. A Methodist church was built because the school closed to public use, and the new church opened in 1909. The first wedding in the church was the Wood and Pollard wedding.
A Catholic Church was built on Protestant Hill, and it stood here until 1921 when it burned to the ground. The congregation shared a priest with Clyde and Pickardville.
Although there was an Anglican minister, there appears no such church was built.

23

Grandma Westgate
1910
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada


24

Mother of Fred and Rudolph, Grandma Westgate. Observe the fur coat and robes in the cutter. Grandma doesn't plan to be cold. She likely has a gootwarmer ready for the journey to be brought out at the last minute. Well with pulley in background.

25

The men who worked at the McCrimmon Camp, building the railroad into Clyde from Edmonton.
1911
Likely near Clyde, Alberta, Canada


26

The construction crew builds the railway grade
1911
Likely near Clyde, Alberta, Canada


27

Railway camp cook tent at dinner time
1911
Likely near Clyde, Alberta, Canada