1

Working in the Oilfields

"Although the south end of the field is a hive of activity, there is not work for all who have swarmed into the Valley fields. The influx of transients is unjustified by available work. Sleeping under the oil flares, eating when and where they can, these workers have poured in. Homesteaders from north of Edmonton, farm boys from southern and central Alberta, and men from city relief ranks patrol the 20 miles of industrial activity, hoping to be "on the spot" in case sudden need should arise. Although some have been fortunate to pick up work, the majority do not fare so well. Some are exhausting their resources in the effort to be taken on, and may eventually have to return from whence they came.

'Some of these work seekers are good capable fellows,' remarked one man at the scene. 'Though inexperienced, they seem willing and alert. But a good many have been loafing too long. They don't know which day is Tuesday, and they're only here because they aren't somewhere else'."

- High River Times, March 1937

2

Men assembled around a well head, pouring water into a barrel
1915
Southwestern Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 981.024.036
Lane Studio

3

What was it like to work in the oil industry?
Filmed in 2008
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

4

Duquette and crew
Circa 1940s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

5

Wooden derrick - bow wheel, calf wheel, and band wheel in position
Circa 1920s
Longview, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 007.004.005

6

Wooden derrick - extra bracing is needed because of the high winds
Circa 1920s
Longview, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 007.004.001

7

Lining of board wheel (wood)
Circa 1920s
Longview, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 007.004.003

8

Unloading a sand drill
Circa 1920
Southwestern Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 007.004.004

9

Men on a rig in the Turner Valley oilfields
Circa 1938
Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 989.002.257

10

A crew of oil workers
Circa 1940s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

11

A crew constructing a 40 inch tall oil storage tank
Circa 1938
Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 989.002.250

12

Oil workers inside a derrick house
Circa 1940s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood