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FAQ's Edson & District Historical Society What is the Edson & District Historical Society? The Edson and District Historical Society (EDHS) is a registered charity run by a board comprised of volunteers and an appointed member from both the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County. The goal of the Board is to incite curiosity of local history, foster partnerships, create an educational and welcoming hub for the public and celebrate and promote the greater community. The Edson & District Historical Society’s Mission Statement: To promote Edson and area and the understanding of regional history by: Operating the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre Operating the Edson and Area Archives Developing, preserving and exhibiting a well maintained collection in trust for the community Taking a leadership role in research and education Engaging and providing access for all audiences The Edson and District Historical Society’s Values: 1. Preservation & Exhibition The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to preserving and displaying its collection in an innovative, engaging and comprehensive manner while relaying the compelling history of Edson and area to local residents and visitors. 2. Sustainability and Advancement The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to financial responsibility, continuous improvement of staff and board development while maintaining excellent customer service. 3. Public Engagement The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to respecting and responding to the needs of the community, connecting and creating excitement with all ages and remaining open-minded to new ideas. 4. Research and Development The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to ongoing, quality research of its collection and regional history, enabling the creation of a comprehensive story of the Edson and area and to sharing that knowledge through exhibits, publications and educational programming. 5. Promotion The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to the promotion of the Edson and surrounding area services, businesses and attractions through the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre and is dedicated to ensuring that staff is knowledgeable in both the history and amenities of the area. 6. Rental facilities The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to providing individuals, community groups and businesses quality services and rental spaces to both create revenue and to promote the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre. 7. Edson and Area Archives The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to acquiring, preserving and making accessible records which reflect the political, social, and economic life of Edson and the surrounding area. History of the EDHS The Edson & District Historical Society (EDHS) was founded in 1975 to preserve and protect the artifacts and history of Edson and area, and the Board continued planning, hosting events, fundraising and working to manage the Galloway Station Museum in trust for the Edson and area residents for the next 30 years. In September 2011, the EDHS watched its vision evolve when the Museum was to be expanded to more than twice its original size. The efforts of the Edson 100 Year Committee and its Legacy Fund combined with federal infrastructure and provincial grant money, generous donations from local businesses and individuals, and of course, the hard work of the original EDHS Board made this possible. 2025 Board Members President Douglas Woodhouse dougewoodhouse@gmail.com Secretary Fran Armstrong Treasurer Val Dearden Vice President Jeff Dowling Board Members Pat Fogarty (Town of Edson) Shallen Erickson (Yellowhead County) Sonja Boyce Fran Armstrong Colleen Wanchulak Clayton Dearden Colin Truman Renay Woelfing Want to become a member? Membership to belong to the Edson and District Historical Society is $10/year and can be purchased at the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre. There are at least two general membership meetings a year – the EDHS Board is elected from our general membership. New members are always welcome!

All the information for the exhibits at the Galloway Station Museum have been researched (complete with sources), or are in the process of being researched and reports are updated when new information becomes available. The origin of our research sources vary and include history books, accredited university papers, local archives, newspapers and local experts. All sources are cited in report footnotes. If you have input regarding any of the Galloway Station Museum’s research or exhibits, please contact us at manager@gallowaystationmuseum.com . Reports Early Edson History A Brief History of Early Edson and Area The Coal Branch Coal Branch: Forever Home History of the Edson Caboose A Brief Look at 77704 The Edson to Grand Prairie Trail Gateway to the Last Best West Liveries A Brief History of Liveries Planting a Flag in the Muskeg History of Early Edson and Area Royalty in the Muskeg Life of Prince Leo Galitzine History of Policing in Edson Lawkeepers and Law Breakers Flying Into History Wop May and the First Aerial Police Chase Check out this Comic Book! Colourful Characters Interesting People from Edson and Area To Flight and Back A Tale of Friendship and the Second World War Look Behind You, Neighbor A Play Celebrating Edson's 50th Anniversary The 'Baby Graves' The Old Edson Cemetery War As We Knew It A personal look at the World Wars Edson's Unknown Soldier A Sergeant in the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade Mr. Poucher and Edson's early years British subject J Mellor Poucher lived in Edson during the early years and sent the Town of Edson a recording of his memories from that time. This video includes his memories and pictures of Edson from 1912 to late 1914. Robb: The Early Days A Video Exploring the History of Robb Civil Defence Bunkered in Edson! Not Invisible Métis Women in the Fur Trade One Crossing at a Time The Story of the Rosevear Ferry

From archives to newspapers dating back to the birth of Edson, the Galloway Station Museum is home to research facilities that are available to the public! Looking for information about past Edson and area events? Researching your family history? From archives to newspapers dating back to the birth of Edson, the Galloway Station Museum is home to research facilities that are available to the public! The Galloway Station Museum offers several research resources: Reading room Comprehensive local history library Access to genealogy and family history resources Microfiche - newspapers from 1911 Archival scanners Light box Research reports Access to Edson & Area archives and digital resources Please use the form below to pre-book access to our research facilities, and include a brief summary of your research project. Research Room Book the Research Room Date picker Time Time : Hours Minutes AM First name* Last name Email* Phone Write a message Submit

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Search for the names of the towns and areas of the Alberta Coal Branch in this history-inspired word search! Back to Games

Sarah Whitehead served as a nurse with the Royal Alexandra Nursing Corps in Manchester, England during the Great War. She tended to wounded soldiers from all over the world and many of those men signed her autograph book. View the book here! Back to Reports

The Galloway is not only a museum but also an AVIP-certified travel centre and gift shop featuring works made by local artists! Visitor Guide Learn more Travel Centre Learn more Blog Learn more Community Welcome Project Learn more

Galloway Station Museum What is the Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives? The Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives is a historical museum, archives, travel centre, gift shop, and rental space located in the heart of Edson, Alberta. We welcome locals and visitors from all over the world to celebrate our history and embrace the mud and muskeg that was our home, and offer a glimpse of the hardships of early settlers who had to battle extreme elements often on a daily basis. We tell stories of those who shaped this raw, rough land into thriving, modern communities. The Galloway Station Museum will take you back to the early days of the Coal Branch, chronicling the lives of miners from all around the world who risked life and limb to provide for their families. We help people link past to the present - touting not only geographical attractions of the area, but also historical high points that enrich the experiences, and the lives of locals and travelers. Who Are We? The Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives is proudly governed by the Edson & District Historical Society (EDHS). This dedicated group consists of nine members, including representatives from both the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County. The goal of the EDHS is t o incite curiosity of local history, foster partnerships, and create an educational welcoming hub for the public while celebrating and promoting the greater community. This includes preserving and protecting local artifacts and the history of Edson and area. This is done by overseeing operations of the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Center, as well as the area archives. They are also in trusted in developing, preserving and exhibiting a well-maintained collection in trust for the community, as well as taking a leadership role in research and education on the history of Edson and area. None of this could be done without the amazing team of staff and volunteers at the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre. Three dedicated full time staff, with the help of hardworking summer students and our incredible volunteers, give life to the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre. History of the Galloway Describe your image Describe your image 1/5 To tell the history of the Galloway Station, it is necessary to start with the history of Canadian railways. It's the early 20th century and railway fever is in the air. The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) and the Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP) are in fierce competition to make it to the west coast. In some places, the companies’ tracks ran within 50 feet of each other, and it was doubtful if both lines could survive. Due to incredible costs, mismanagement, unwillingness to compromise, the need for steel in Europe during World War I and the removal of rail track on sections of both GTP and CNoR lines, both companies were doomed to fail. Then CNoR was the first company to go bankrupt and the Canadian government jumped in and snatched up the railway. Within a couple of years, the GTP followed suit. The government then nationalized and combined the railway companies to become Canadian National. The original section of the Galloway Station Museum is a Canadian Northern Railway Type 100-47, Standard Combination Station and Section House that started its life as the Dandurand Station, which was abandoned in 1917. In 1923, it was relocated to mile 15.3, close to Marlboro, on the GTP Brule subdivision as housing for the pump man. In the 1940s, when diesel locomotives replaced steam, the station was moved to Galloway. The station was purchased for $1 by the EDHS and moved to RCMP Centennial Park in Edson 1975 where it began its incarnation as a museum. The Galloway Station Museum officially opened to the public in 1981 and has continued operation under the volunteer EDHS board management. In September 2011, the Galloway Museum was renovated and additions were made to expand the facility to more than twice its original size. It is also home to a rental space and Travel Centre. Why Galloway? The Galloway Station was named after a Grand Trunk Pacific employee, David Ernest Galloway, a one-time assistant to the president of the Grand Trunk Pacific and later assistant vice-president of Canadian National Railways. Videos Produced by Christopher White from Promethean Heritage & Culture Services. Thank you very much to our actors: Trapper – Dave Ward, Young museum visitors – Keira Gomuwka and Nathan Aslin 1989 Town of Edson promotional video

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Pavilion Rentals Looking for the perfect outdoor venue? The RCMP Centennial Park Pavilion is available to rent for your next gathering, celebration, or community event. Rental rates: Half-day rental - $25.00/hr Full day rental - $50.00/hr A refundable $25.00 key deposit is required when renting the pavilion. Before you book, please contact the Town of Edson at 780-723-4401 to check availability and to ensure there are no scheduling conflicts with other events. No alcohol, rice or confetti is permitted on the pavilion or in RCMP Centennial Park. For more information, please contact the Galloway Station Museum, Travel Centre & Archives at 780-723-5696 or email info@gallowaystationmuseum.com . Pavilion Rental Form