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  • The Story of Bezanson's Gazebo

    November 4, 2020 in Ag Society News

    “Bezanson is not a sub-division.  It is a townsite.  It is beautifully situated at about one hundred and twenty feet above the river of which it commands a magnificent view…..we intend to carry out the wide streets for streetcars every four blocks in the business section.” From “Looking Ahead in the Peace River County by A.M. Bezanson.

    The Old Bezanson Townsite (Historical Preservation Society) Committee is a sub-committee of the Bezanson Agricultural Society. Their mandate is to preserve and promote the Heritage of the provincially registered Historic site (the Old Bezanson Townsite) on behalf of the Bezanson Agricultural Society, in partnership with the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 and preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Bezanson Community.

    To showcase Bezanson’s rich history, a variety of fundraising endeavours have contributed to the creation of a gazebo that originally was intended to overlook the riverbank where the 3 rivers (Smoky, Simonette, Wapiti) converge at the OBT and where the beauty of the original townsite of Bezanson could be enjoyed by all.

    This year the dream has come to fruition.  Jeremy with ForgeFire Metalworks designed and built this gazebo along with volunteers who helped maneuver this structure into place with their crane (Mammoet) and Doug Small for getting the groundwork ready for the installation and Blake Lange for the use of his gravel truck.

    This beautiful masterpiece will be enjoyed by all who visit this gazebo and the history of Bezanson will begin to emerge in the spring so that all who visit the gazebo can also read the history of Bezanson and appreciate the dream and vision that A.M. Bezanson had for this community.  Mr. Bezanson’s dream for the original townsite died when the railway was rerouted to Grande Prairie but not through the Bezanson townsite.  People and businesses moved away to where the railway was being built. 

    A.M. Bezanson was so disappointed with the loss of this vision that he enlisted in World War 1 and fought overseas.  Upon his return, he relocated his family to Pouce Coupe in 1931. 

    The Old Bezanson Townsite Committee has experienced a disappointment with the original vision to install this historical gazebo at OBT.  Unfortunately, with circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the County of Grande Prairie had to make some difficult decisions to limit the hours that OBT is open to the public.  This historical gazebo has been installed in the hamlet of Bezanson on the Bezanson Ag grounds and while the river isn’t in view, there is still beauty around the gazebo and numerous opportunities to share the rich history of Bezanson and ensure that the history of Bezanson is not forgotten nor those who helped build this community to the vibrancy it is today.  While the dream has been changed somewhat, it didn’t die.  Please enjoy this gazebo next spring when it is open to the public and be reminded of the significance that a dream and vision brings to the creation of community.

  • Job Opportunity: Recreational Program Coordinator

    November 2, 2020 in Ag Society News

    Overview: Bezanson Ag Society is hiring a part-time Recreational Program Coordinator to plan and facilitate weekly recreational opportunities for seniors, people with disabilities and parents/grandparents with non-school age children looking for an outlet of fun, recreation, and socialization.

    Read More

  • Post Offices from the Past

    October 25, 2020 in Ag Society News

    Featuring: Bezanson

    By Wanda Zenner

    Bezanson is a hamlet in Northern Alberta within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1. It was named after A.M. Bezanson, a entrepreneur and promoter from Nova Scotia. Bezanson is located approximately 30 kms east of Grande Prairie on Highway 43 and west of the Smoky River.

    Cecil Evans – Unofficial Postmaster 1914-1915
    The Grande Prairie Herald reported on May 26, 1914 that Cecil Evans was the FIRST Postmaster of the Bezanson Post Office that was opened at the Bezanson Townsite (NW 17-71-2-W6). His step-father, Sidney Webb had the contract as the mail courier. In July 1915, Cecil enlisted with the CEF. Private Cecil Evans was “Killed In Action” in France on September 15, 1916. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial.

    W.A. Leonard – Postmaster 1915-1916
    W.A. Leonard was appointed Postmaster in December 1915 after Cecil Evans had enlisted. He operated the Post Office out of his store. Mr. Leonard resigned in June 1916. R.S.

    McDonald – Postmaster 1917-1918
    In January 1917, R.S. McDonald filled the position of Postmaster and operated the Post Office out of his store until June 1918.

    Edith Morrison – Postmaster 1919-1921
    Ken Morrison arrived in the area with his family in July 1918 and purchased a store at the Townsite from P.V. Croken. The store had been originally owned by Peterson & McDonald. Ken had his sister-inlaw, Minnie Bryenton, manage the store and his wife, Edith, was subsequently appointed as Postmaster in January 1919 – a position she kept until May 1921.

    Francis Weighill – Postmaster – 1922-1923
    Francis Weighill was appointed as Postmaster from May 1922 to January 1923 and operated the Post Office out of the vacated A.M. Bezanson house as the Morrison Store was in the process of being dismantled by the Weighill Brothers. Francis was the last Postmaster at the Bezanson Townsite.


    Samuel Hunter – Postmaster 1924 – 1926
    Bezanson was without a Postmaster for over a year until Sam Hunter was appointed to the position in April 1924 and operated the Post Office out of his home on NW 2-72-3-W6 until August 1926.

    Note the white Post Office sign in top right corner.

    Pat & Lucie Rooney – Postmasters 1926-1946
    Once Pat Rooney moved to the main road that provided service from Sturgeon Lake to Grande Prairie in 1926 and expressed an interest in opening a post office in his store, he was appointed Postmaster for the new enlarged area that saw the combination of Smoky River and Bezanson into one Postal District. Pat was appointed in December 1926 – a position he kept until 1931 at which time his wife, Lucie was appointed Postmaster. Lucie remained in that capacity until November 1946 when they sold their business. The Rooney’s moved to Grande Prairie and eventually retired in Kelowna. Lucie passed away in 1951, Pat in 1962. Both were buried at the Kelowna Cemetery.

    Continued on page 2 >>>

    Bezanson Post Office Locations

    The Bezanson Post Office has operated at the current location on NE 10-72-3-W6 ever since the Rooney’s built their store in 1926. The area would eventually become the Hamlet of Bezanson. Pat and Lucie Rooney renovated and added on to their store several times and subsequently sold the business to the Co-Op Society in 1946. Harold Ford, who purchased the store in 1954, operated it until he built a new store in 1957. The store has changed hands several times over the years; however, the Post Office has always remained in the store building.

    Harold Ford dismantling the store in 1957 in preparation for construction of a new store that would house the Post Office.
    Harold Ford’s new store built in 1957 which also housed the Post Office

    Bezanson Townsite

    References
    Smoky to Grande Prairie History Book
    Morrison/Leslie Family History Book
    Various Newspaper articles
    Library and Archives Canada Postal Database
    South Peace Regional Archives
    1916 Canada Census