1

At the turn of the 20th century the Breton area was covered with timber. It was in this tree filled region that Dave Ricker started a logging operation. The headquarters for the operation was located on the land now owned by the Flesher family.

2

By 1910 the logging operation was in full swing. In the winter months, logs were hauled to the creek banks, put in decks and left there. In spring those logs were floated down several local creeks to John Walter's sawmill in Edmonton.

3

Dave Ricker's Camp 1912
1912
Keystone, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
City of Edmonton Archives

4

Richard (Dick) W. Funnell, in 1907 filed for a homestead on the NE 22- 48- 4-W5. A Richard Funnell is listed in the 1900 US census for Clinton, Iowa. This is most likely the same man who came to the Breton region and is listed on the 1911 Canadian census. Mr. Funnell indicates that he became a naturalized citizen of Canada in 1909. A Breton areal school district would later be named for him.

5

The schooling of their children was very important to the settlers but so was getting help working on the homestead. The school term often went from early spring through to fall. This was a very different school year than what we currently have today but this was because often the winter months were too cold for students to attend.

6

School Attendance Record
circa:1940's
Breton, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Breton Museum

7

The first teacher in the district was Victor Nordlund. Mr. Nordlund started in 1913 and taught there for one or two terms.

8

In 1915 heavy spring rains in the Breton area caused severe spring flooding. Most of the logs were washed away and the logging company soon went bankrupt.

9

Loggers - Ernest Lacombe, John McMillian, Albert (shorty)
July 1922
Unknown
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Breton Museum

10

Douglas C. Breton, a resident of the near by Telfordville area, was elected as MLA for the Leduc constituency in the UFA (United Farmers of Alberta) Government of Alberta in June 1926.

11

Douglas C. Breton
1926
Breton, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Village of Breton

12

Mr. Breton had lobbied for many years before being elected for the extension of the railroad through the area west of Leduc. The railroad would be a better way to get the timber in the region to market. Mr. Breton saw this would bring greater economic stability to the region.

13

Ross -Beard Lumber Co. - Linn Truck delivering lumber to Antross
circa 1930's
Breton, Alberta, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Breton Museum

14

In December of 1926 the Minister of Railways the Honourable V.W. Smith announced the extension of the railroad north from Hoadley.