The Spruce Grove Museum
The Spruce Grove Museum is designated by the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Heritage Society to collect, maintain, store and display items that relate to the history of Spruce Grove and the surrounding district. The purpose of the collection is to show the history and development of Spruce Grove through items that reflect the local way of life. Artifacts are displayed in the Museum, Machinery Row, Red Barn and the Grain Elevator.
New donations that are related to our agricultural history are always welcome. Due to limited space however, all donations will be reviewed by a committee of volunteers before being accepted and displayed. The Museum is open daily from May through September and by appointment during the winter months
Below are photos of some of the artifacts on display. Be sure to look in the Museum and in Machinery Row as well as in the grain elevator.
All questions related to the collection can be directed to volunteers and staff, or to museum@sprucegroveagsociety.com or by calling the office at (780) 960-4600. There are several interesting volunteer roles available through the museum. Join us as we share our rich agricultural history with the community by clicking on the” join us” button on the main page of our web site.
Emerson Kicker
Seed Cleaner
This machine separates wheat seeds from weed seeds, in particular wild oats, using a series of screens with different sized openings. Wild oat seeds are longer than wheat seeds and cannot pass through the sieves. They are kicked out instead, giving the machine its name.
The farmer added his harvested seeds to the top of the machine, then turned the hand wheel. Some machines had an electrically driven hand wheel. This action caused the machine to shake the seeds through a series of sieves. We have four Emerson Kickers in our collection, all different, all faded red with large white lettering. Look for them.
The Wood Burning Stove
Roasting Pan, Sad Iron, Enamel Cooking Pot
Many Canadian homes had this type of stove after about 1915 when the railroad came through Canada and manufacturers were able to ship across the country. This McClary Royal Crown Stove was built in London, Ontario.
The stove was fueled by wood, often cut and dried on the family property, then split for cooking. It provided heat for the home and held warmed water for washing or dishes. During colder weather the first person up in the morning had to start the stove to warm the kitchen.
On the right side of the stove is a reservoir for water that was brought in by pail from a (hopefully) nearby well. Sometimes melted snow was used to provide water for washing. Water was heated as the stove was used.
Cooking was done on top of the top of the stove or in the oven (the center with the temperature gauge). Imagine having to bake while gauging how much wood was needed to keep the oven at a consistent temperature.
On the left side is the fire box, where wood was placed, and underneath is a tray to collect ashes. The ash compartment needed to be emptied daily.
Sock Stretchers
Most pioneer families wore woolen socks made by one of the females in the family. These strange looking wooden articles are sock stretchers. After washing, wool will shrink if not stretched into position, so socks were pulled onto these, shaped and hung outside on the line to dry. We also have some glove stretchers in our collection.
The Steel Wheeled Wagon
Until trucks and cars became affordable in western Canada most families had a wagon pulled by a horse for transportation. We have three wagons on the Grounds, each with their own special use.
Most Family Wagons, like the one in Machinery Row were used for all kinds of tasks, winter and summer, like taking the kids to school, going to church on Sunday, visiting neighbors, or for hauling grain to the elevator and groceries or tools back home. The box of this wagon can be removed from the wheels and placed on a sleigh for winter use. This wagon has been kept under cover by the family who donated it, and it is still in great shape.
We also own a Grain Wagon, displayed in Machinery Row. This grain wagon was used to haul grain to our Elevator by the Jesperson family. It has been stored outside so you will see it has deteriorated.
The photograph is of a Freight Wagon, beautifully restored by the volunteers of the Ag Society. It was found abandoned and was brought here to show how grain was dumped into the floor bin of the Alberta Wheat Pool Elevator. It was primarily used for hauling goods from one place to another. The wagon drivers were called Teamsters. This wagon may have travelled up the Athabasca Trail to Athabasca Landing where goods were loaded onto river barges bound for the north.