Fred McGuinness is popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years. Many of McGuinness’ Morningside essays were autobiographical in nature. He often reported about life on Christmas Tree Farm, a section of land where he and his wife, Christine, built their dream home in the late 1970s. The couple planted a Christmas tree farm on the property and Christine maintained an extensive kitchen garden, while Fred tended honey bees. Life on the farm made its way into radiobroadcasts, Neighborly News columns, and the book "Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays" (Winnipeg: Great Plains Publishing, 1999).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an overview of the house on the McGuinness property, Christmas Tree Farm, Section 17.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Aerial view shows that neighbouring blocks have yet to be constructed.
Photograph shows eight men on a frozen lake or river. Four men are harnessed to a toboggan loaded with logs. Four men walk alongside the toboggan with guide ropes.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: Gettin in provisions
Photograph shows the Brandon Wheat Market along Pacific Avenue on November 30, 1885. Farmers can be seen driving wagon teams loaded with bags of grain in line on Pacific Avenue from 10 Street to at least 7th Street. On the north side of Pacific Avenue the CPR Land Office and grain elevators are pictured. On the south side of Pacific Avenue, the general merchant/hardware store Bower, Blackburn, Mundell & Porter is situated on the corner of Pacific Avenue and 10th Street. A 10th Street sign is affixed to the merchants' store. On the east side of the general store, Edie House, the Grand View Hotel, and a Farmers' boarding and lodging house can be seen. Most of the buildings appear to be woodframed except for the Grand View, which is constructed of brick. Sidewalks appear to be in place on the south side of Pacific and snow dusts the streets. A baby swathed in winter clothing sits in a pram/baby carriage in front of the general store.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Novemeber 30th, 1885, Brandon Wheat Market
Image submitted to Fred McGuinness by T. Horobin of Brandon
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a man, perhaps an engineer standing next to a Brandon Municipal Railway car covered in snow. A Brandon Municipal Railway token/tag is affixed to the image.
Postcard is a studio portait of two women dressed for winter. The woman on the left is standing and is wearing a long winter coat, a while fur stole muffler. The woman on the right is seated in a wicker chair. She is wearing a three-quarter length winter coat with a black fur collar and trim and muffler.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Harry Finnegan Nov. 16 1910, Zella Russel..., Nov. 27 19...
Photograph shows a group of 38 loggers outside their camp. The men are wearing long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and coveralls. One man is holding a cat on his lap, another appears to be holding a rifle.
Photograph shows a couple of members of the antelope hunting party standing inside the hunting cabin. The men are wearing down vests, heavy pea jackets and Hudson Bay coats.
Notes
Photograph is part of series of photographs (20-2009.13 to 20-2009.124) of an antelope hunting trip that likely occurred in Alberta.
