Schedule

Last Updated: July 12, 2012

FRIDAY August 10th

Event Brochure

Theatre Event Poster

10:00 am and 11:00 am Augustana Campus (4901-46 Ave, Meet at Old Main)

• Augustana Campus Tours – coffee/refreshments. Just over 101 years ago, the July rain could not dampen the spirits of Camrosians as they celebrated laying the Scandinavian College corner-stone. The structure was built in the summer and fall, and was ready for the College's second academic year in October of 1912. Although this building is affectionately known as Old Main, its title on the historical mark is Founders' Hall. Founders' Hall was once the school's only building, housing students, classroom, offices, and dining hall. 100 years later, this majestic building remains an icon of educational excellence and a hub of campus activity, welcoming prospective students, current students and alumni into admissions, faculty and Alumni Association offices

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Camrose Centennial Museum (53rd St & 46 Ave)

• Historic displays - featuring the Signe Spokkeli story, first school teacher to be engaged by the Village of Sparling (later to become Camrose), long time resident of Camrose from 1895 till her passing. Signe Spokkeli is one of our 2012 Founders Days honorees.
  

  ***Have one-room school stories been passed to you from your parent or grandparent? We want them! Please bring your story and scanned photographs to add to our community narrative history project.

• Historical displays – tour our blacksmith shop, reminiscent of the early pioneer era. Join us in honoring A.J. Ofrim, one of Camrose’s earliest blacksmith businessmen, and one of our 2012 Founders Days honorees.

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Camrose Railway Station Museum & Park (4407 – 47 Ave)

• Historic Buildings & Gardens Tours – meander through the magnificent Station gardens, patterned with historical significance and recently featured in Gardens West Magazine (January/February 2012 Prairie edition).

12:00 pm Promenade – Main Street - Meet at Candler Art Gallery (5002 – 50 Street)

• Stroll Downtown in old fashioned costume. Don your finest Klondike dress and slide on those button up shoes; join us for a stroll down memory lane (and Main Street), then over to the Founders Days Opening Ceremony. New aspect to this successful event – Local radio celebrity judges will present best heritage costume award! There will be a prize for men's best and women's category. Judging will take place at Founders Square just prior to the 1:00 pm Ceremony and best historical costumes will be announced at the 2:00 Bailey Theatre Reception.
  Promenade led by Fay Carlson.

1:00 - 2:00pm Ceremony at Founders Square (4925 – 51st Street)
Honoring this year’s Founders, Miss Signe Spokkeli and A.J. Ofrim (The Bailey Theater will be used as an alternate location should the weather be poor). Event Brochure

• Host David Roth will MC the ceremonies, acknowledging the 2012 Founders and introducing family members in attendance. Learn about significant events and people who helped shape our community.

2:00 – 3:00 pm Bailey Theatre (5041 – 50 Street)

• Reception & Open House
  Meet & Greet Founders (characters) and family members. Everyone Welcome! Take this wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and old. Refreshments will be served featuring delectable Norwegian fare provided by the Lefse House.
• City of Camrose Historical Inventory Open House – Committee members will bring you up to date on this exciting project regarding preservation of structures in Camrose. Please come learn more about various historical architectural fads and fashions.

2:00 – 4:00 pm Bailey Theatre (5041 – 50 Street)

• Tours of the Historical Bailey Theatre – See why the newly renovated Bailey Theatre is the pride of City Centre Camrose, the Arts community and all Camrosians. The theatre was built in 1910 by Camille David. In 1912 David sold the theatre to Stan Bailey who kept the David Theatre name until June of 1920. It was at this time that Bailey built the front 40-feet of the theatre, essentially the lobby area, and added the 120-seat balcony. It was designed as brick Edwardian commercial storefront with a large arched opening at the entrance. The theatre was a very active venue in its early years with touring shows, films, amateur theatre, political rallies and even boxing matches.

2:00 – 5:00 pm Taste in Historical Downtown Camrose (new event)

• Purchase a variety of delicious small cuisine samples from our 12 participating downtown restaurants while learning the colorful history of our colorful downtown center. Good food is always a favored part of any event, so expect some great tastes. Every eatery has their specialties; this is your opportunity to explore our historical downtown while taste-testing delectable samples from our unique downtown restaurants. Cost per samples range from $1 - $3. Maps are available at participating restaurants, the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre and local tourist destinations and on our Event Brochure.

3:00 pm Historical Walk (starting at the Campus Rose Inn 4602-49 Street)

• Tour of Old Sparling Historical District with hosts Glenda Rott and Fay Carlson. View homes dating back to the early 1900’s. Our feature home this year is the The Campus Rose Inn Bed & Breakfast, 4602-49 Street.
  This 1912 farmhouse has been lovingly preserved in time. Be swept away by its beauty, charm, grace, serenity and comfort. Tour the interior of the century old home with present owner Mary Thomas. This relaxing part of our tour will include refreshments.
  The tour will proceed from there.

7:00pm Graveyard Tour lead by John Person (Meet at entrance 43rd Ave & 53rd St.)

• John creates an informative tour, providing fascinating facts about our local cemetery and burial grounds in general. He will point out the resting place of some our more illustrious citizens, including our 2012 honored Founders.

8:30pm Ghost Walk lead by Janine Carroll (meet at the Brick parking lot 51st Ave just south of 52 street, group with be transported by bus to several ghostly locations)

• Do you hear voices in the wind? Glimpsed a shadow of something that disappears before your eyes? There are many stories about ghosts and spirits within our Camrose community. Join storyteller Janine Carroll as she recounts some of the stories as they were told to her. /li>

SATURDAY August 11th

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Firebox Family Festival at the Camrose Railway Station Museum & Park (4407-47 Ave)

• Everyone enjoys riding the train! Mirror Lake Express Train Rides all day at the Railway Station (weather dependant)
• Children’s Festival Time! Enjoy the thrilling day at the Camrose Railway Station as volunteers create an unforgettable experience for you and children or grandchildren.
• Camrose Olympics – challenge yourself (and others) to try some old fashioned games
• Craft table – enjoy some moments in the shade while creating some fun and fabulous spin art.
• Tap out a message on the telegraph machine and hear about how the telegraph worked from members of the Edmonton Telegraph Society
• Welcome the Leduc West Antique Club to Camrose and along with them some intriguing archival displays
• Visit our renowned Trackside White Elephant Gift Shop with extra tables set up in the Sparling Centre
• Take self-guided tours of the gardens and site. Watch the G-Scale Train in the Garden Railway. Let your children see Percy and Thomas as they run around the track as well as other Trains of the early era.
• Original glitter-art Tattoos $5 each

1:00 pm Children’s entertainment MR RAYZ: MUSIC FOR KIDZ

• Lunch at the Station Tea Room – Whistle Dogs! Plus HOMEMADE PIE – served all day!
  The Mirror Lake Express Train has been the pride of the Camrose Chamber of Commerce since 2007. Once called Jeppa’s Train, it was lovingly created by Jeppa Danielson and wife, a project taking over 14000 hours to complete! The train is comprised of 7 cars, seats 24 people and stretches 93 feet in length. Connecting it even closer to pioneer Camrose – the first 4 cars contain original, restored seats from the Bailey Theatre. Weather permitting; the train will be at the Camrose Railway Station with complimentary rides all day long.

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Camrose Centennial Museum (53rd St & 46 Ave)

• Visit the original 1907 Likeness one-room-schoolhouse where Miss Penny Nickel, school mistress, will take you on a journey of turn of the century education. Attending school during the early years of our community was ‘a tad’ different than today. Learn about the unique challenges and rewards facing teachers and students as our community struggled to create excellent local educational opportunities.
• Historic displays – featuring the Signe Spokkeli story, first school teacher to be engaged by the Village of Sparling (later to become Camrose), longtime resident of Camrose from 1895 until her passing in 1988 at the age of 102 years old; and one of our 2012 Founders Days honorees.
  

  ***Have one-room school stories been passed to you from your parent or grandparent? We want them! Please bring your story and scanned photographs to add to our community narrative history project.

• Historical displays – tour our blacksmith shop, reminiscent of the early pioneer era. Join us in honoring A.J. Ofrim, one of Camrose’s earliest blacksmith businessmen, and one of our 2012 Founders Days honorees.

11:00 am – 5:00 pm - UNDER THE BIG TOP! At the Centennial Museum (53rd St & 46 Ave)

• Artisans and Crafters – displays, demonstrations and hands on learning!
• Genealogy display– meet members of the local genealogy club who have contributed enormous amounts of information about families and the local area including the researching of our celebrated Founders. Learn more about the craft of genealogy and view their latest completed project, Birth, Marriage & Death Extracts from the Camrose Canadian 1908-1929; and edition #2 1930 – 1940.
• Craft Centre demonstrations and sale
  • Pottery
  • Weaving
  • Woodworking/Carving
  • Spinning
• Quilt show – demonstrations and workshop. The ladies of the Battle River Quilting Guild love to share their craft and enthusiasm. If you have ever wanted to learn more about quilting or just enjoy seeing the craftsmanship, this event is a must!
• Horticultural show – see some of the magnificent flowers, vegetables and fruits grown locally.
• Learn to Knit - Caitlin and friends will show you the basics and help you to get started. View some finished projects that you too can master.
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Morley Riske and his Swing Band

  UNDER THE BIG TOP! At the Centennial Museum
  Let them serenade you one more time! The band had such a great audience response at the 2011 Founders Days Festival, they decided they could not retire completely, so they come together for another year and will entertain with the sounds of classical big band.

2:00 pm Nature meets History Exploration Tour by the Battle River Watershed Alliance

• Join the BRWA as we discover the past, current and future reality of Stony Creek and Mirror Lake. Designed for everyone 1-100, stops will include investigations into the natural world, including a look at the creatures living in the lake!
• Meet Nathalie and friends just outside the Bill Fowler Centre, adjacent to Mirror Lake Park, for this fascinating look at our local urban water system

7:00 pm – “Hello Dollies” Dessert Theatre at the Bailey Theatre

• This excellent theatre production is brought together by the Boomtown Trail, Camrose Railway Station and the Camrose Founders Days Committee.
• Delicious, decadent desserts await you, catered by the Lefse House.
• Tickets are $20 each, available at the Railway Station, Chamber of Commerce Visitors Centre, Bailey Theatre and Kela Graphics.

Event Brochure

Theatre Event Poster

Performing characters:

• Myrtle Zimmerman Played by Glenys Smith, from Camrose
  The story of Myrtle Zimmerman, longtime Kelsey, Alberta resident will be told by looking back on the pages of time. Developed from her own handwritten diaries, this performance will allow the audience an intimate connection to the pioneer experience. This presentation will leave you spellbound as you live memories along with Myrtle.
• Miss Alice Rogers Played by Nora Smith, from Delburne
  Alice Rogers recounts her experiences as a telephone agent for the Alberta Government Telephones in Delburne, AB beginning in 1908. This Boomtown Trail living history character blurs the distinction between past and present through immersing the audience in another time.
• Lily Pitthouse Played by Mary Ann Lippiatt, from New Sarepta
  Lily is also a Boomtown Trail character. Allow this master storyteller to spellbound you with her account of pioneer life. Lily Pitthouse is the daughter of George Pitthouse, the founder of Hay Lakes. Lily is leaving the family farm to move onto her own farm and reminisces about her father’s life and experiences.

SUNDAY August 12th

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Camrose Centennial Museum (53rd St & 46 Ave)

• Historical displays

10:30 am – 11:30 am Community Church Service

• We welcome recently retired “Reverend Ray” to the historic St. Dunstan Church. This quaint little church was moved to the Centennial Museum grounds from the Bittern Lake area. Built of logs in 1908, it was financed by an English maiden lady, who invested 500 dollars. Originally called Holy Angels and All Saints. We welcome members to the community to join us in this wonderful piece of history for an interdenominational service.
• Bringing the antique organ to life will be Orlene Wigglesworth, accomplished local musician

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 'Diamond in the Rough' Fashion Show & Tea Party Camrose Centennial Museum(53rd St & 46 Ave)

• We welcome you to join us on the 12th of August for tea and a fashion show at the Camrose and District Centennial museum. We will be showing off our fine selection of hats, as well as vintage clothing and shoes modeled by local young ladies. You won’t be disappointed by this afternoon of tea and memories of the past.