Comeau, Bob

The fonds consists of material created through Merrett’s work in compiling local histories of Edmonton. These include research and writings on the Edmonton City Market, the horticultural scene in Edmonton and the Cross Cancer Institute.

The majority of the records deal with research for a book on the Edmonton City Market (A History of the Edmonton City Market, 1900-200: Urban Values and Urban Culture) and political activism relating to a two-year fight to retain a City Market in the downtown. Research undertaken on Edmonton’s gardening history and publications based upon that research is also present. These records include transcripts of interviews conducted by Merrett with vendors and others associated with the Edmonton City Market, and a record of a two-year political process during which the Edmonton City Market building on 97th Street was closed and replaced by an outdoor market on 104th Street. The interviews, most of which are rendered in the voices of the interviewees, cover a variety of subjects relating to life in Edmonton from the 1930s through the 1960s and 1970s. The record of the 2002-2004 period in the City Market’s history includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, a photocopy of a petition presented to City Council, and meeting minutes. There are also photographs of some of the interviewees.

The records of the horticultural scene in Edmonton include Merrett's research on Edmonton's gardening history and articles written by Merrett for the Edmonton Horticultural Society's (EHS) newsletter, The Gardener's Gate. There is also a copy of Merrett's published work on gardening in Edmonton - Why We Grow Here: Essays on Edmonton's Gardening History.

The fonds also includes two publications from Merrett’s work with the Cross Cancer Institute. These items represent the commissioning of Merrett to write a history of the medical centre, as well as a history of the volunteer program there over the first 50 years of its existence.

The fonds consists of records relating to the Urban Reform Group of Edmonton (URGE), including production of a 1978 historical calendar, Board minutes, reports and correspondence. It also contains records relating to the Society for the Protection of Architectural Resources in Edmonton (SPARE) and personal correspondence.
The photographs consist mostly of buildings and street scenes in Edmonton and Toronto, ca. 1980, taken as part of research into heritage buildings for SPARE. They include the Ross Brothers and Brighton Block in Edmonton, and the St. Lawrence Market and Gooderham Building (flatiron) in Toronto (EA-560). One photograph is a portrait of Elly De Jongh used for an Edmonton Historical Board award in 1984.
The artwork consists of an ink drawing of Primrose House, 1979, as part of research on heritage buildings for SPARE (EAA-113).

The file consists of volume 1 of the scrapbook 'The First Fifty Years: A Pictorial Review of the origin of the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua and the contributions made by the pioneers, both for the Church and in the Community'.
The scrapbook was compiled by Mary Wankel Dornan and Mae Bedard Green, and includes reminiscences on early Edmonton as well as family and community histories covering predominantly 1890-1955.
The scrapbook includes photographs EB-40-1 to EB-40-56.

The writings in this volume cover the following subjects or topics:

• Fort Edmonton
• John Walter and his ferry
• Laurent Garneau and his family
• Convent of the Sisters Faithful Companion of Jesus, Edmonton, NWT
• Strathcona 1891-1910 (hand drawn map with named streets)
• St. Anthony of Padua Church and School
• The Archdiocese of Edmonton 1902-1938
• Archbishop McGuigan, Bishop Grandin, Father Albert Lacombe, Archbishop Emile Legal, and Archbishop Henry J. O'Leary
• St. Anthony School
• Games We Played In 1910
• Students at St. Anthony's School: Annie Allen, Grace Bard, Harry Bard, Mabel Bard, Velma Bartley, Mae Bedard, Wallace Bijou, Mike Blischok, Cath. Carrigan, Dan Carrigan, Gene Carrigan, Harry Dechene, Zoe Defond, Alice Duggan, Bill Fraser, Norman Fraser, Theresa Fraser, Lester Ferring, Aime Goyer, Albert Goyer, Aileen Hobson, Marjorie Husband, Margaret Joyce, Anne Keizer, Marie Keizer, Annie Kulak, Aime Labonte, Edward LaFleche, Joe LaFleche, Louis LaFleche, Algena Lamy, Helen Loughlin, Joseph Malone, Margaret Malone, Della McDonough, James McDonough, Helen McGuiness, Marjorie McKeena, Alice McLean, Alf McLean, Frank McLean, Alice McManus, Clifford McManus,Ellen McManus, Patrick Meehan, Nick Metzger, Kathleen Moher, Bill Monaghan, Alpha Morency, Katie Nearny, John Norrington, Irene Piche, Catherine Pollard, Harold Pollard, Rosie Pollard, Agnes Rafferty, James Rafferty, Arthur Ring, Dimple Ring, Irene Roth, Katie Schariski, Mike Schariski, Annie Schmidt, Arthur Seward, Lawrence Sullivan, Thomas Sullivan, James Tierny, Tommy Walsh, Charlie Wankel, Mamie Wankel
• Teachers at St. Anthony's School: Miss Bedard, Miss Helen Marquis, Miss Shannon, Mill Tellier, Sister Patrick
• The John Berchman's Society (altar boys): Dan Carrigan, Tom Carrigan, Willie Fraser, Aime Goyer, Albert Goyer, Aime Labonte, Joe Malone, Alf McLean, John McLean, James TiernyTommy Walsh, Charlie Wankel
• City of Edmonton Stern Wheeler
• The Strathcona Tannery and the Bedard Family (Fermin Bedard, William H. Bedard, Sam Bedard, Augusta Bedard, Edna Bedard, Elva Bedard, Florence Bedard, Frances Bedard, Mae Bedard, Harry Bedard, Lou Peverell, Mabel Shannon, Lizzie Swaboda)
• Henry Collins (Muchias)
• The Mayall family (Mr. Mayall, Cecilia Robson Mayall, Dolly Mayall, Eva Mayall, Robert Mayall)
• The Pollard Brothers (includes the Pollard Brickyard)
• The John A. Pollard Family
• John (Red) Pollard
• Williams (Mr & Mrs Henry Williams, Charles Williams)
• Flood of the North Saskatchewan River - June 27, 1915
• Spare the Rod 1900-1910 (Mother Bernadette, Miss Crough)
• Keeping Diaries (John Fraser, Fermin Bedard)
• Connelly Family (Jack Connelly, Father Paul Connelly, Mrs. Tom McLean, Mrs. D. McCarthy)
• Here and There (FCJ Sisters, Dan Connelly, John Pollard, Pat McManus, prices in 1890, pennies, Mr. Duggan, Mr. McManus, Ross' Hardware, Wankel and Barr Hardware, Afternoon Tea and Calling Cards)
• John Joseph Duggan, Margaret McDonald Duggan
• Third Street Separate High School (Principal Mother Margaret Mary, Miss Laura Moret, Elva Bedard, Bernard McEleney)
• First Street Cars on Whyte Avenue
• McIntyre Memorial Fountain (drinking fountain at 83 Avenue and Main Street)
• Nancy O'Brien, Madam Fontaine
• St. Rene's Church
• Lemarchand Mansion
• Two-Room School in Gallagher Flats 1913
• The Bard Family and House (Delmar Bard, Mary O'Keefe Bard, Harry Bard, Grace Bard, Bard Lake, Ella Kearny Bard, Harry Bard, Tommy Walsk, Charlie Wankel, Peg Carrigan, Jo Carrigan, Mable Bard, Bert Bard, Cath. Carrigan)
• The Carrigan Family and House (Ed Carrigan, Kate Carrigan, Gunnar Hoyem, Gudrun Hoyem. Laurette Carrigan, Tom Carrigan)
• Bill Price Receives Gene Carrigan Trophy
• The T.P. Malone Family (Thomas Peter Malone, Sara McMillan Malone, John Malone, Charles Fisher, Pat Burns, Margaret Mary Malone, Joseph Malone, Anna Malone, Paul Malone, Malone Store, Malone Block, Right Reverend Joseph McMillan Malone, Dr. Ross Vant, Auguste Maure)