Bowden Pioneer Museum in BOWDEN Alberta, Canada

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The Women of Aspenland

The particular lives and work of these women in this place says something about all of us. Each life portrays something of our common aspiration and challenges. Each life reflects some of the diverse tradition shaping our community's identity.

Maggie Wilhelmina (Campbell) Anderson: was born March 16, 1891 in Paisley, Bruce County, Ontario. Her parents moved to Holland, Manitoba in 1892. In April of 1910 after a visit with her sister Maude (Mrs. Virgil Taylor) the family moved to Bowden to live for a year while her father was Manager of the A.P. Elevator. She was educated as a teacher and worked until she married Oscar Waldemar Anderson on November 20, 1912 in Holland, Manitoba. A Pioneer woman, she farmed with her husband until 1960 when he passed away and nine years alone after this. In March of 1913 they moved to Sibbald, AB. where they lived for 12 years, raising six children there ( four daughters Eileen, Luella, Alberta and Edna and two sons Harold and Ted). In October 1924, they returned to the family farm in Bowden. Two more children were raised there ( Marjorie and Jimmy). She was involved in a variety of community organizations including the Ladies Aid of the United Church and the Friendship Centre. She was the first person to reach 100 years of age in the Bowden area. She was known as a ‘wealth of local knowledge'. She died on January 11, 1992 two months short of 101 years.

Helen Dorothy (Saunders) Berggren: was born on May 5, 1911 in Bowden, Alberta delivered by Dr. Shore at home across the street from his house. In 1912 the family moved to Edmonton for 2 years returning to Bowden in 1914 and rented the Wayne Rutledge farm on the east side of the #2 highway. On November 14, 1935, in a double ceremony Helen married Jack Berggren and her brother, Fred married Eileen (Anderson). Jack & Helen had three children ( Patricia, Douglas and Jack). Jack and Carl Berggren continued Alberta Nurseries which was started by their father on the farm (SW 1/4-13)and moved to present location in 1928. Helen was involved in the Rebecca Lodge, Anglican Church, Home & School as well as co-founder of the Bowden Library (started in 1955, was in many a leaky spot before the Centennial 1967, brought a new dry building).

Susan Priscilla (Lees) Buxton: was born December 2, 1901 in Derbyshire, England. She married George Buxton on August 4, 1920 at 1pm Youlgrave Primitive Methodist Church England. On April 1, 1926 they immigrated to Canada under a Soldier's Settlement. They had four children (Elsie, Ken, Mary, Sheila Church). Susan loved to cook, she fed servicemen during the War, cooked for weddings funerals and dances. She was a charter member of the Bowden Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and involved in the Rebecca Lodge, United Church Ladies Aid, Library and the Friendship Centre. In her 91st year she passed away January 9, 1991.

Miss Ella M. Church: was born in June 18,? 1895 and moved to Bowden in 1932 to teach at Bowden School. She was both a teacher and a musician, volunteering as organist for the United Church for over 35 yrs. She was also a member of the Bowden Friendship Centre. In addition, she cared for her ailing mother for many years. Celebrated her 90th Birthday with friends and family June, 1985. Passing in 1990 at 95.

Edna Mary (Campbell)Currie: was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia on November 6, 1908. In 1920, she moved to Penticton British Columbia, and in 1937 on Robbie Burns Day (January) was married to Arthur Currie, an electrician who ran Currie's Electrical Sales & Service in Bowden for 30 years retiring in 1975. Together with their girls Flora (7)and Jean(5), they came to Bowden in 1944. Mary was involved in numerous community organizations including founding member of the Bowden Historical Society; St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Bowden Cemetery Board (42 yrs.), the Friendship Club, Order of Eastern Star, Rebecca Lodge and many others. Mary preferred to walk or bike everywhere she went as she lived across from the school the students called her ‘the road runner'. She is also known as a generous donor to various local ‘causes' and a frequent visitor and comfort to the sick and elderly. Passing in 19 at the age of yrs.

Winnifred ‘Wynn'(Davis) Henderson: was born April 18, 1912, in West Vancouver. At the age of two she moved to Saskatchewan and lived there until she was eighteen. Following her nine year of employment as a teacher, she attended the United Church Training School in Toronto for 2 years and worked a Diaconal Minister for fourteen years after completing the program. She was the first female lay minister in Bowden. Wynn was married to John Henderson in 1961 and they lived in Cayley and Westlock returning to Bowden in 1966. In Bowden, she was involved in a variety of community organizations including founding member of the Bowden Historical Society and co-founder with Elsie Nelson of the Friendship Centre. She was also Choir Director of the United Church Choir in Bowden for many years.

Elisabeth ‘Elsie' (Sutherland) Nelson: was born in the rural area of Arbutus near Rocky Mountain House on March 11, 1924. Following the completion of grades 1-12, she was a teacher at the Arbutus rural school. Later she was employed in the new Weather Station at Rocky for five years, often training new staff. Elsie married Fred Nelson in 1949. They had two children, Wanda (Mrs. Ken Pederson) and Wayne. She was very involved in community organization, often being the ‘founding member' of the Bowden Historical Society, Bowden Planning Commission, Recreational Board, Friendship Club with Wynn Henderson, and the Centennial Library Board. Elsie has received numerous awards for this contribution. She was also involved in the tourist industry in Bowden. In addition, she has traveled extensively and is a renowned public speaker, occasionally combining the two. Elsie was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Museums October 19, 1999.

Margaret (Peggy) Emily Jerrold: was born in Camordom, Wales on August 8, 1895. She attended a private girls school in Wales. Following this she moved to Canada in 1912. In Canada, she was trained as a nurse and was employed at the Medicine Hat Hospital until her marriage to Doug Jerrold. She become involved in numerous community organizations including Girl Guides, Brownies and Scouts and serving as president of Bowden's Women's Institute for 10 years. She was also a member of the Alberta Woman Suffragettes in the early part of the century.