Read local historian Christopher White's thesis, ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’. Baby Graves Christopher White, author of the paper ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’ presented a talk and tour of the site in October 2012, July 2013 and September 2020. Christopher’s thesis uses archaeological survey and historic documentary sources to reconstruct past mortality patterns and understand mortuary practices from the early 20th century Edson Cemetery in Edson, Alberta. Results show that the cemetery existed foremost as a place to enshrine the individual identity of the deceased, with pragmatic concerns about public health and municipal development guiding the establishment, management and eventual abandonment of the site. Mortality patterns show a high number of infant and young childhood fatalities compared to their representation in the living population. Deceased infants received the same level of memorialization as adults, reflecting both a domestic and public identity. Adult mortality patterns follow known occupational risks while a spike in adult deaths in late 1918 coincides with the spread of the “Spanish Flu” epidemic. These findings highlight the importance of historic context and the value of documentary evidence for analyzing past mortuary behaviours. Click here to download The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery. Tour images of the Glenwood Cemetery Photos by Christopher White Back to Reports

Explore all that there is to do and see in Edson and area with this glossy, magazine-style Visitor Guide created in-house!

Learn the history behind the monuments of RCMP Centennial Park, including our very own Eddie the Squirrel! Eddie the Squirrel There have been various stories regarding the adoption of Edson’s beloved mascot, Eddie the Squirrel over the years, however, according to an Edson Leader story from September 1973, the wives of Edson Town Council members were the genesis of this community’s furry representative. The ladies congregated over coffee one evening while their husbands were at a council meeting to brainstorm ways to promote Edson at an upcoming Alberta Urban Municipalities convention in Jasper. As it happens, Mrs. Millie Crawford (wife of Mayor Dr. Jim Crawford) had been purchasing little pottery squirrels that Art and Frances Ciciarelli made from Edson clay for quite a while to use as gifts. It was decided that if Jasper could claim a bear for their mascot, Edson could claim a squirrel. (We have heard the story that, to foster the friendly rivalry between Edson and Hinton, Mrs. Crawford said, “How about a squirrel because they think we’re all nuts anyway!” She was kidding, but everyone thought it was funny so they kept it. This was mentioned to Galloway staff by a relative, however it has not been verified.) The Ciciarelli’s, with the help of the aforementioned ladies, councillors, their children and anyone else that could be roped into helping, created 400 painted and glazed squirrels for the AUM delegates. Among other promotional items, they also created badges with squirrels on them and wrote the town name on 100 pounds of peanuts for Edson Councillors to hand out wherever they went. From the Edson Leader: Now while Edson’s Town Council members are involved with the serious business of Alberta’s urban problems, their wives will be busy as hostesses making darn sure that everyone who attends the convention will KNOW WHERE EDSON IS LOCATED the next time they are asked. In 1980, a cement Eddie the Squirrel, designed by Trygve Seland, was installed and proudly welcomed travelers to the visitor centre in front of the Edson Chamber of Commerce office in RCMP Centennial Park for about 30 years. In 2009, Eddie Sr. was given a well-earned retirement. In 2011, in conjunction with the reopening of the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre, Eddie Jr. (designed by Skookum Creative Works) was unveiled in the center of the park, complete with a cast bronze spruce cone and a stylized airbrush paint job. The inspiration for Eddie the Squirrel is a great story of a community coming together to promote the Town of Edson in a light-hearted, entertaining fashion. In any incarnation, Eddie has always been a draw for travelers and locals, with thousands of people stopping in to pose with our large red squirrel. Check out more pics of Eddie the Squirrel and upload your own! Yellowhead Ram The western slopes of the Rocky Mountains have been home to bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadenais) for thousands of years, and the Cadomin area has produced the biggest in the world. This monument is a tribute to the wildlife of this area and is dedicated to the organizations and individuals whose responsible stewardship has ensured and will continue to ensure the survival and growth of all our wilderness resources. In memory of Vicky Low. Lockheed T-33 Silver Star Per Ardua Ad Astra Through Diversity To The Stars CT - 133 Silver Star Dedicated as a memorial to the historical years of the Royal Canadian Air Force 1924-1968 it's members and affiliates Dedicated Victoria Day, 19, May, 1986, in Edson, Alberta By the Officers and Cadets 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets and Sponsors Edson Lions Club Re-dedication of the CT133097 September 8, 2018 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets

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

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

The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by the Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by The Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund . 1/10 CANOE is an acronym for Culture and Arts Network Of Edson and as the name implies, it is a group of individuals, companies and organizations whose mandate is to contribute to the arts community in the West Yellowhead town of Edson and the surrounding area. The Resilience Project consists of several component parts, including a series of five murals designed and created on local buildings to beautify these buildings and bring a sense of pride and togetherness. Switzer's Drugs Artist - Brie Adkins The Heart of Edson Gallery & Studio artists - Andrew Visser & Pat Jakubiec Royal Canadian Legion -Joe Wynne Branch 51 artist - Madison Sharman Timberjack Home Hardware Building Centre artists - the community and Madison Sharman Henry Family Vision Care artist - Berg Felsing Concurrently, the committee approached a number of area residents who were identified as having unique stories - but all exemplify the theme of resilience. Those residents formed the nucleus of the remaining components which included a series of portraits created by area photographers documenting the character and/or lives of the subjects. These images were used to create a gallery exhibition of fine art prints to be displayed at different venues and kept as an archive of the project. As well, a series of video interviews created by a local filmmaker and recorded for community archival purposes formed the basis of a documentary - Resilience - A Small Town Definition. From those interviews, a series of short accounts of the subjects was written and combined with the portraits to create a book - Resilience - A Collaboration. Five hundred copies of the book were printed and made available to the public free of charge and the documentary and the book are available below in both official languages. (The documentary contains French subtitles). Please note that Resilience - A Collaboration and Resilience - A Small Town Definition deal with content and themes that some may find distressing. 1/15 Resilience a collaboration A poignant written exploration of 15 individuals in the greater community who tell their stories with grace, humour and wit. Resilience - A Small Town Definition A full-length documentary highlighting the amazing stories of our 15 subjects, and their resilience and strength through adversity. Résilience une collaboration Une exploration écrite poignante de 15 personnes de la grande communauté qui racontent leurs histoires avec grâce, humour et esprit. Résilience - Définition d'une petite ville Un long métrage documentaire mettant en lumière les histoires de nos 15 sujets, leur résilience et leur force face à l'adversité. 1/99 The entire project is then wrapped up with a celebration gala at which the book, prints and documentary were unveiled and presented. Special thanks go out once again to the subjects of this book for their patience and time, to CANOE committee members, the Edson Photography Club and contributing photographers, the mural artists and businesses, the Galloway Station Museum staff, the Town of Edson, The Heart of Edson Gallery, SRVENT Freelance, our translators, and the Government of Canada. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund and in-kind donations from the Town of Edson and the Edson & District Historical Society. The Resilience Project material is subject to copyright. Use of the above material in full or in part is subject to the approval of both The Edson & District Historical Society and The Culture and Arts Network of Edson.

On Display History Galloway Station The beginnings of the Town of Edson are intertwined with the history of the railway in the region. The Galloway Station exhibit explores the area's rich railway history and is the origin of the museum's name. Wildlife Our Natural World Discover the diverse wildlife of Alberta! The province boasts 587 species of wildlife, including 10 species of amphibians, 93 mammals, 411 birds, 8 reptiles and 65 fish. History Trapper's Cabin Trapping is an industry that is firmly rooted in Alberta’s history. Indigenous populations used the fur and hides for thousands of years and Europeans trapping in Western Canada date back to the mid 1600s. The Trapper’s Cabin gives an in-depth, hands-on look at the challenging life of a trapper in Alberta. History Rosevear Ferry The Rosevear Ferry was an integral part of the community and transportation system in the area. This display to commemorate the history and importance of the Rosevear Ferry was built by volunteers Kevin Hollaway (operator from 1980 to 2015) and Steve Parker (operator/contractor from 2008 to 2015). History Erith Tie Camp There were many lumber camps in the Edson area in the early 1900s, supplying the railways with much needed ties. The Erith Tie Camp on the Erith and Embarrass Rivers is used to explore lives in the area's early lumber camps. History Alberta Coal Branch An important part of Alberta's coal industry, the Alberta Coal Branch is a chain of almost abandoned mining towns along the eastern slopes of the central Canadian Rocky Mountains. It was once home to thousands of people, and remains a rich part of the region’s history. Artifact Peerless Printing Press The Peerless Printing Press was built in 1873 and came to Edson in 1928. Many early newspapers were printed on the Peerless, including the Edson-Jasper Signal. Thanks to dedicated volunteer Howard Bouldry, the press is a working artifact! History Main Street Also known as 50th Street, downtown Edson was one of the first streets in the town and held some of its more prominent buildings. In this exhibit you can find the Canadian National Railway Station, Edson Hotel, Switzer’s Drugs, the Barbershop and the Idyl Hour Theatre. History Wop May Explore the story of how Wilfrid May and Detective James Campbell landed on Main Street Edson in 1919 as part of the first aerial police chase in Canadian history! Temporary Display Through Their Eyes Our latest exhibit explores Edson’s early days through a rich collection of archival photographs. This exhibit brings to life the parades and picnics, businesses and ballgames — and even the long-forgotten story of Wolf Creek.

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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

Experience the charm of historic Edson through our online jigsaw puzzles featuring authentic photographs from the town's past. Use the mouse wheel or the arrow buttons on your keyboard to rotate the puzzle pieces. Touch screen: Tap on the piece and then tap on the appeared left or right rotation icon. Have fun! Back to Games

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!