2 sites are free of charge to tour, and the 3rd site tour is a fundraiser for the Bonnie Doon history book project. Full details below:
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Please join us on Sunday, April 23rd from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. to explore some of Bonnie Doon’s incredible history with volunteer guided tours of three historic building sites: Molstad Residence, Bonnie Doon Baptist Church and La Salle Onésime Dorval located on the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta.
Molstad Residence
9633 95 Avenue NW
Built in 1912 during the last days of the pre-World War One economic boom for Edmonton realtor Edward H. Molstad and wife Addie, this large, Four Square home was considered "ultra-modern" in its day. During the 1930's, apartments were added and tenants even lived in the two carriage houses.
In 1944, Cora Hortie married Edward and Addie's son, Howard. Cora was well-known in Edmonton for her community work, including the Kiwanis Music Festival, Valley Zoo, and the Arthritis Society. When Edward died in 1953, Addie Molstad continued to live in the house until 1982.
Your tour of the main floor will showcase the grand front entrance, hardwood floors, oak panelling, sculptured ceilings and brass chandeliers. The tour will also include exterior details (which can be photographed) during a tour of the grounds, which originally covered five acres of land.
Tickets for the Molstad Residence tour are $10 and available at Bonnie Doon Hall at 1pm on Sunday April 23. Two children under 16 years of age may accompany an adult without additional tickets.
All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Memories of Bonnie Doon Book Project. The book will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bonnie Doon Community League in 2018.
Bonnie Doon Baptist Church
8505 90 Street NW
Ed McTavish will be your host at this "small community church with a very rich heritage". The church originally began in the fall 1913 with a Sunday School in Rutherford School and the first church building was completed on March 17, 1914. A new church building was dedicated on December 11, 1949. Over the past 103 years Bonnie Doon Baptist Church has been the church home to many families. Everyone is welcome to visit.
The Bonnie Doon Baptist Church tour is open to the public without charge.
La Salle Onésime Dorval
Campus St. Jean
University of Alberta
8406 rue Marie-Anne Gaboury (91st Street)
La Salle Onesime Dorval is the new name for La Salle Historique at Campus Saint-Jean. It was recently renamed to honour the first teacher who worked with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in western Canada. She was born in Quebec in 1845 and came to the Red River settlement in 1877. Between 1881 and 1883 she arrived at St. Albert and St. Anne, but she lived most of her life in the Battleford area. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate opened the Juniorate in 1911 at the present site in Bonnie Doon. The Juniorate was a secondary residential school for young men who were considering becoming Missionairies with the Oblates. The Juniorate became the foundation for what is now Campus St. Jean.
Former Dean Frank McMahon and Archvist Urbain Yamb will be your hosts to guide you through La Salle Onesime Dorval, a beautiful room which contains many religious symbols, photographs and books. The tour is also an opportunity to learn more about the early history of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
la Salle Onésime Dorval tour is open to the public without charge.
Special Feature
Some lucky participants will be driven around the Bonnie Doon neighbourhood in a spacious, gleaming black 1950 Hudson Pacemaker, driven by former resident John McEwen.
For more information please contact Margaret at [email protected].