|
Lethbridge is going back to the 1950s this week, in recognition of Historic Lethbridge Festival running until May 8.
There will be a variety of ’50s-themed events, the majority of them at no charge, happening all over the city from a sock hop at the Galt Museum to films such as “Vertigo” and “Singin’ In The Rain,” and everything in between. There will be activities all over the city, including the Lethbridge Public Library, the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, the Galt Museum, the Centre Village Mall and Elizabeth McKillop Park Pergola in Legacy Ridge.
“I think that I find it most special that we have all of the community groups coming together. I think it’s wonderful,” said Leslie Hall, the museum’s community program co-ordinator.
She is excited about learning about the impact the ’50s had on Lethbridge and southern Alberta.
“There are so many stories from the ’50s which make up our history in this area. So this week is an opportunity to recognize them,” she continued.
“There are a variety of community groups coming together to collaborate.”
Every year, Historic Lethbridge Week revisits a decade of the 20th century, chronologically. Last year’s celebrations explored the 1940s.
Several angles of the 1950s will be explored.
There is a display of ’50s art at the Helen Christou Gallery, next to the library at the University of Lethbridge.
David Smith and Allison Spencer, undergraduate students and museum studies interns, selected not only a display of old cameras, but photographs of downtown buildings and landmarks from the ’50s as well as prints from the University of Lethbridge and Galt Museum collections.
“They chose major buildings like the Galt and Bowman so you can see what they looked like back then,” said Josephine Mills, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery director curator.
The exhibit is titled “The 1950s: Works from U of L Art Collection & Galt Museum & Archives.”
“I think it gives a really nice sense of the decade,” Mills said of the exhibition.
“And the cameras are there because photography underwent a big boom back in the ’50s.”
In keeping with the arts, the 1952 musical comedy “Singing’ in the Rain” screens May 4 from 7-9 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library Crossings branch. “Vertigo,” which is hailed as one of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest achievements, will be shown May 6 from 7-9 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library main branch.
On May 5, there will be a special presentation on the travel diary of Rev. Charles McKillop. McKillop was the first permanent Presbyterian minister in Lethbridge and was the “fighting parson.” Speaker Austin Fennell is the first researcher to be granted permission to examine McKillop’s 1886 “Through Train” diary. His presentation is from 7-8 p.m. at the Galt Museum.
Another important part of the Historic Lethbridge Festival will be the dedication of seven historic markers. They will be unveiled May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre (719 4 Ave. S., opened in 1950), one of the historic buildings to be immortalized in bronze. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. The other buildings are the Hick-Sehl Hardware building (618 3 Ave. S., built in 1912); St. Patrick’s Rectory and Church/St. Aloysius Convent/former deJourdan’s Studio (105 8 St. S. built in 1888); The Bank of Montreal/The Gate (522 3 Ave. S. built in 1906, renovated in 1954); the Whitney Block (411 3 Ave. S., built in 1907); The Hudson Bay/Bay Super Service, Trianon ballroom (102 5 St. S., built in 1907) and the McFarland Block, the Hub of Lethbridge (517 4 Ave. S., built in 1928).
The Hick-Sehl Hardware building and Bell’s Welding building (317 4 St. S.) are also receiving Municipal Heritage Designation plaques from the City of Lethbridge.
“A lot of people who are new here and even a lot of older people who live here don’t know the history behind these buildings,” explained Carly Stewart, co-chairman of the Lethbridge Historical Society plaques and monuments committee.
Things are expected to get a bit hairy May 7 with the B2B Wool Challenge at Centre Village Mall from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. This exciting event has back-to-back teams competing to shear a sheep, spin the wool and knit a sweater in the fastest time possible. A silent auction runs in conjunction with all proceeds going to the Breast Health Program at the Chinook Regional Hospital.
The knitting fun continues May 8 with the Gathering of the Fleece at Centre Village Mall from 1-4 p.m. Knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving fans will gather for this hands-on session in a group setting. Bring your own project, supplies and any questions to this unique, creative workshop.
On May 7, Pastor George Takashima presents “Five after ’45” at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden from 11 a.m. to noon. Many Japanese Canadians who were moved into internment camps during the Second World War lost all their possessions. Takashima will discuss five areas of concern for these displayed families following the war.
Over on the north side of the city, there will be a Legacy Ridge commemorative plaque ceremony in the Elizabeth McKillop Park pergola in Legacy Ridge on May 7 at 1 p.m.
The Galt Museum hosts a 1950s sock hop & “Grease Sing-Along” May 7 from 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. The evening at the Galt includes a diner-style dinner, “Grease Sing-Along” screening, sock hop and dance lesson. Other entertainment includes hula hoop, bubble blowing and best costume contests throughout the evening. This is one of the few events of the week that requires tickets. Tickets are available at the Galt Museum store for $40 per person, two people for $75, and $200 for a table of six. Admission for the movie and dance only is $20 a person.
There will be several opportunities to explore one’s own personal family history as well, as the Lethbridge Family History Centre, 1912 10 Ave. S., will be offering workshops May 4 and 5. The first is on how to gather and evaluate your ancestors’ genealogical data, happening May 4 from 7-8 p.m. The second is May 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. on how to find ancestors from historical records.
Check out www.historiclethbridge.org for the complete schedule and more details. |
