Bienfait- Museum
Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada
Originally located on Block 101- on North side of the Estevan Branch, CPR Line.
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The Pictures below were taken June 1999 by one of the original digital cameras, so quality could be better.
Bienfait Coalfield Historical Mining Museum, Past to Present,
It is a must see for Coal Mining memorabilia in this area.
On a Sad Note, Since this Picture was taken, Ralph Walliser and Leonard Gadd, are both deceased.
I know Mrs. Rose Walliser and her son Lorne Walliser worked there for a few more years, after Ralph passed away.
Before the turn of the decade, the museum closed.
Mar 2012- I have now heard it is open only by appointment only, you have to contact the Town Hall for a tour.
The Town of Bienfait owns the Museum.
The Museum opened Jan 6, 1986
Inside is a working model of 9-W-NO-611 Dragline, built by Chuck Doerr
Per the CPR Archives Bienfait CPR Station, was a variant of their Standard no. 10 Station. It was built in 1907.
MUSEUM WAS THE CPR STATION
Before this station was built, a box car was used by the first agent, William McQuay.
William McQuay
b- Oct 1, 1881 in ON,
d- Oct 21, 1961 in Chilliwack, BC
son of Thomas McQuay and Sarah Alvira Carpenter.
wife- Maud Lee Jones, nee ?, age 35 in US (she was married to a Daniel Jones before this)
1906- shown boarding with Albert Rogers in Bienfait, single, but living probably next door to the Jones family.
1911 an Implement Dealer in Tuxford Village, near Moose Jaw SK.
1916- shown as a Clerk in Telegraph Office in Weyburn, age 34
1921- in Weyburn as a Shed Foreman with the railroad.
1945 still in Weyburn
1957 in Regina- retired
A CPR Caboose
In front of the caboose is an old coal hauler used in the 1960's and 70's
Outside the fence, June 2017, an old Rural School building has been added.
Museum was moved from the North side of town. It was located across from Young St, North of Railway Ave.
Built in 1907
PAUL MATOFF WAS SHOT AND KILLED THRU THE WINDOW JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE PICNIC TABLE
HE WORKED FOR THE BRONFMAN BOOZORIUM IN BIENFAIT DURING THE RUM RUNNING DAYS
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BIENFAIT MINERS BASEBALL TEAM 1924
CNR STATION IN BIENFAIT
UNKNOWN PEOPLE
WHILE I WAS AT THE MUSEUM SOMEONE FROM BC HAD SENT THIS PHOTO ALBUM TO THE MUSEUM
IF YOU RECOGNIZE THESE FOLKS WE CAN PUT A NAME TO THE ALBUM AT LEAST
The exact location in the old CPR Station, now Museum, where Paul Matoff was murdered.
These 2 Plaques were given to my Aunt Winnie Gent, nee Oliver.
She married Jim Gent, and they both lived in Bienfait, across from the Old White School, before moving to the Stony Plain AB. area.
She gave generously to the Bienfait Museum, while she was alive, and after her death, these were returned for display here.
She deserved the recognition!
It is due to these donations, the Museum is as great as it is for s mall town.
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BLACKSMITH SHOP DISPLAY
1895-1905 COALFIELDS SASKATCHEWAN PICTURE DISPLAY IN THE BIENFAIT MUSEUM
OLD SCALE, HAND CRANK MEAT SLICER AND CREAM SEPARATOR
ON DISPLAY AT THE BIENFAIT MUSEUM
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BIENFAIT MUSEUM HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT DISPLAY
THE SCALES IN THE UPPER RIGHT, WOULD HAVE WEIGHED ME PROBABLY
MUSEUM PHONE DISPLAY
PHONE ON THE LEFT IS A HEAVY METAL UNDERGROUND MINE PHONE
WE HAD ONE SIMILAR TO THE 2ND FROM THE RIGHT PHONE, AT OUR FARM SOUTH OF BIENFAIT, BUT OURS HAD A SHELF UNDER THE SPEAKER HORN
SOURIS COAL MINING COMPANY TIPPLE
PICTURE OF A PICTURE IN THE BIENFAIT MUSEUM
QUALITY POOR SORRY
SOURIS COAL MINING COMPANY ENGINE 1
THESE PICTURES DON'T DO JUSTICE TO THE GREAT DISPLAYS, SO CHECK OUT THE MUSEUM FOR YOURSELF
A SMALL DONATION WILL GET YOU IN, BUT BE GENEROUS!
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THE FOLLOWING PICTURES WERE SENT TO ME BY BONNIE (NEE THOMPSON) AND LORNE FRANK
ELECTRICAL METERS AND APPARATUS
OLD POT BELLIED STOVE AND OLD FIRE EXTINQUISHERS
MUSEUM'S TYPES OF LIGNITE COAL DISPLAY
L/R- LUMP (12“ X 8”)
COBBLE (8“ X 4”)
MINE RUN (12“ X 0”)
EGG (4“ X 2”)
4“ MINUS (4” X 0“)
BOOKER (2” X 1“)
STOKER ( 2” X 1“)
2” MINUS (2“ X 0”)
PEA (1“ X 1/2”)
1“ MINUS (1” X 0“)
BUG DUST (1/2” X 0“)
HEAT-GLOW BRIQUETTES
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