A picture from the 1934 Kinsmen's Labour Day Parade down King Street, North Battleford, Saskatchewan. (Submitted photo/City of North Battleford Historic Archives)

By Martin Martinson

Our History

NB Historic Archives offer look back to 1930s

Feb 1, 2021 | 5:45 PM

The City of North Battleford Historic Archives are offering a glimpse back in time to the 1930s later this month at the Discovery Co-op Mall.

Looking Back at the 30s will be the 13^th annual Archives Week display put on by the organization, and will be available for viewing at the mall from Feb. 11-13.

Chair of the Historic Archives volunteer committee, Bill Wells said the event is a great opportunity for families in the community to come and take a glance into the lens of what life was like in the Battlefords around nine decades ago.

“The exhibit features a look at entertainment, and specifically radio and movies, as well as sports, dress (fashion), and construction and transportation in the 30s,” he said. “Then there are also some miscellaneous things as well, we may have found interesting while doing the research.”

Uncovered newspaper archives from the period detail events held at the time, while photos highlight a visual display of just what life looked like in the everyday.

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Traditionally the displays put on by the historic archives committee have also featured a real hands-on element as well, with a number of artifacts available to touch and hold.

However due to the pandemic, this year the event will be set up in more of a ‘static’ display, where residents are invited to come and observe a taste of what life was like, as well as bring their own stories or artifacts as passed along from family or friends of prior generations.

“We’ve found that people have come to these displays with their own stories, or things that were handed down to them from their fathers or grandfathers as well,” Wells said with an audible smile. “It’s special because we usually learn at least one new thing a day when we’re at the display, about the history of this area.”

As a former history teacher himself, Wells knows full-well how important a piece the past plays to our lives as a society and community today. That is just one reason he and the rest of the volunteer committee dedicate their time to hosting events such as the one this month.

“I think the past is extremely important, because if you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know where you’re going,” Wells said. “We think it’s important just to have the material there for people to see, and we’ve also found that people really enjoy looking at this material, which has really meant everything to us.”

For more information on this month’s ‘Look back to the 30’s,’ visit the City of North Battleford Historic Archives Facebook page.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1