North Battleford
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WDM North Battleford’s 60th Anniversary: A look back at the opening celebrations
60 years ago, on May 25, 1963, the WDM North Battleford opened in its present location on 60 acres of land at the junction of highways 5 and 40 (now highways 16 and 40) on the southern edge of the city. Newspaper accounts estimate that over 1,000 people attended the grand opening celebrations.
The opening of the new Museum location had been planned to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the city, which had been incorporated as such in 1913. Museum officials thought it would be fitting to open a new museum while celebrating the city’s milestone.
A banquet at the Beaver Hotel at noon launched the opening celebrations. At the banquet, 12 visiting guests were presented with certificates of honourary citizenship. This was followed by a parade which travelled one mile from the CNR station to the Museum, led by the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band. The parade featured antique cars, covered wagons and buggies. Some businesses along the parade route had their employees dress in period costume or decorated their stores to look like old trading posts.
Upon arriving at the Museum, the opening ceremonies officially began. The official event featured several speakers, including North Battleford Mayor Roy Dean and Saskatchewan Minister of Natural Resources Eiling Kramer. Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture I. C. Nollet cut the ribbon to officially open the museum. Joe Phelps, one of the founders of the WDM, was honoured at the opening with a plaque, which was unveiled by his wife, Eva. Joe Phelps himself was unable to attend the opening.
The building for the WDM North Battleford was not constructed in 1963. Instead of building something from scratch, a surplus RCAF hangar from the Second World War was moved piece by piece from Mossbank to North Battleford. There, it was reassembled to create the museum building. The foundation for the building was carefully built to support the weight of the large and heavy artifacts that would be resting on it.
60 years after opening, the WDM North Battleford is still a local landmark. The Heritage Village has expanded considerably since 1963 and now features over 30 buildings, including 15 buildings that are artifacts themselves.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the exhibits at the WDM North Battleford.
Scroll through the photos below to see more of the WDM North Battleford under construction and its opening.
Reconstructing the hangar from Mossbank for the new WDM North Battleford.
Reconstructing the hangar from Mossbank for the new WDM North Battleford.
People watching the parade travelling through North Battleford on its way to the official opening of the Museum.
Speakers in front of the new WDM North Battleford at the opening celebration.
Dignitaries posing in the newly opened WDM North Battleford.
The completed WDM North Battleford.
The WDM North Battleford Heritage Village under construction, c. 1963.
The WDM North Battleford Heritage Village c. 1963.
The WDM North Battleford Heritage Village, c. 1963.
The WDM North Battleford museum building and Heritage Village, c. 1963.
The WDM North Battleford museum building and Heritage Village, c. 1963.
The WDM North Battleford museum building and Heritage Village, c. 1963.
Plan for the eventual expansion of the WDM North Battleford Heritage Village, c. 1965.
