Edson & District Historical Society

History of the Historical Society

The Edson & District Historical Society (EDHS) was founded in 1975 to preserve and protect the artifacts and history of Edson and area, and the Board continued planning, hosting events, fundraising and working to manage the Galloway Station Museum in trust for the Edson and area residents for the next 30 years.

In September 2011, the EDHS watched its vision evolve when the Museum was to be expanded to more than twice its original size. The efforts of the Edson 100 Year Committee and its Legacy Fund combined with federal infrastructure and provincial grant money, generous donations from local businesses and individuals, and of course, the hard work of the original EDHS Board made this possible.

Historical Society Memberships

Membership to belong to the Edson and District Historical Society is $10/year and can be purchased at the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre.
There are at least two general membership meetings a year – the EDHS Board is elected from our general membership. New members are always welcome!

The Edson & District Historical Society Board

The Edson and District Historical Society is a registered charity run by a board comprised of volunteers and an appointed member from both the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County.

The goal of the Board is to incite curiosity of local history, foster partnerships, create an educational and welcoming hub for the public and celebrate and promote the greater community.

The Edson & District Historical Society’s Mission Statement –

To promote Edson and area and the understanding of regional history by:

Operating the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre
Operating the Edson and Area Archives
Developing, preserving and exhibiting a well maintained collection in trust for the community
Taking a leadership role in research and education
Engaging and providing access for all audiences

President
Douglas Woodhouse
dougewoodhouse@gmail.com

Secretary/Treasurer
Val Dearden

Vice President
Jeff Dowling

Board Members

Ed Moore (Town of Edson)
Penny Lowe (Yellowhead County)
Sonja Boyce
Fran Armstrong
Colleen Wanchulak
Clayton Dearden
Colin Truman
Renay Woelfing

The Edson and District Historical Society’s Values –

1. Preservation & Exhibition

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to preserving and displaying its collection in an innovative, engaging and comprehensive manner while relaying the compelling history of Edson and area to local residents and visitors.

2. Sustainability and Advancement

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to financial responsibility, continuous improvement of staff and board development while maintaining excellent customer service.

3. Public Engagement

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to respecting and responding to the needs of the community, connecting and creating excitement with all ages and remaining open-minded to new ideas.

4. Research and Development

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to ongoing, quality research of its collection and regional history, enabling the creation of a comprehensive story of the Edson and area and to sharing that knowledge through exhibits, publications and educational programming.

5. Promotion

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to the promotion of the Edson and surrounding area services, businesses and attractions through the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre and is dedicated to ensuring that staff is knowledgeable in both the history and amenities of the area.

6. Rental facilities

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to providing individuals, community groups and businesses quality services and rental spaces to both create revenue and to promote the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre.

7. Edson and Area Archives

The Edson and District Historical Society is committed to acquiring, preserving and making accessible records which reflect the political, social, and economic life of Edson and the surrounding area.