1

Edison - The Way It Was
1980
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2

Trail map
Date not available
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada
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3

Settlers destined for the Edison area had some choices in travelling to the Edison area. The trail system seems to have existed as two main branches, one to Fort Assiniboine which had been semi permanent and used intermittently since the 1820s, and the Athabasca Landing Trail which served to move trade goods to the north after 1879.

The two trails north of Edmonton provided access to the Edison area. The Athabasca Landing trail was more suitable for larger loads, the bush trail was a shorter route from Morinville.

4

Joe Beauchamp in his cutter
1905
Near Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada
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5

The first homesteaders were in the southern region of Edison. The people locating here were French Canadian and mostly arrived via Morinville. Joseph Beauchamp, the Legarès, Euclid and H. Houle had filed for their quarter sections in 1902, and were followed the following year by Z. Bertrand and A. & Euclid Legeurrier families in 1903.

6

First homestead shack
1905
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada
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7

Johnny and Leo Zaczkowski's first homestead shack, actually a shelter built over a hole in the ground. No date, likely the early 1900s.

8

Legassie sawmill
1905
South of Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada

9

Lumbering in progress in mill on Ben Gagné place across from Peter Stelmack farm
1905
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada
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10

Timber and sawmill operations were just ahead of settlement, and in the case of Edison these were located in the more heavily treed areas a few kilometers south (Legeurrier¹s mill) and to the northeast in the lower land several kilometres away. J. Zaczkowski had earlier filed on land two kilometers south east of Jack Edgson's quarter.

11

Lumbering at Gagné place
1905
Edison, Westlock, Alberta, Canada

12

Zaczkowski lumber mill
1915
Northeast of Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada
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13

Zaczkowski lumber mill near Halach to the northeast of Edison settlement. No date, possibly about 1915, note railway tracks.

14

Zaczkowski lumber mill
1910
Near Edison settlement, Alberta, Canada