'A gem amongst the collection': Storied First World War jacket found in Lethbridge theatre
A jacket from the First World War belonging to a soldier with a storied link to Lethbridge, Alta. is now part of the Galt Museum's permanent collection after being discovered among costumes at the Yates Theatre.
Back in 2017, the Playgoers of Lethbridge invited Kevin MacLean, the collection technician at the Galt Museum and Archives, to look through old costumes tucked away at the theatre, which was undergoing renovations.
Representatives from the Playgoers thought they may have some outfits with cultural value — and they were right.
After carefully inspecting more than 100 pieces of clothing, collections assistant Kirstan Schamuhn identified a jacket with significant value.
It belonged to Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford — the first Battery Commander of the 39th Battery, which was raised out of Lethbridge in 1915.
"The uniform helps tell the story of A. B. Stafford's life and military career. It's a valuable addition to the Galt's collection," said Glenn Miler, local historian and retired warrant.
"All of the artillery from World War One came from Lethbridge, but when you look at the Galt resources of archives and artifacts, it's hard to prove. There's lots of artifacts and stories still out there that remain to be discovered."
The military jacket from the First World War is now part of the Galt Museum and Archives' permanent collection.
This jacket once belonging to Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford was found at the Yates Theatre.
Stafford fought in the battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, and was later critically injured by a German shell in June of the same year.
According to museum representatives, these types of First World War items are incredibly hard to find, making this jacket a massive piece of the region's history.
"This would definitely be a gem amongst the collection now," said MacLean.
"Most of those gems, you would think would have come in 50 years ago, but to have something come in, in 2021 that's this important, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."
The Playgoers of Lethbridge has been around for nearly 100 years, making it one of the oldest operating amateur theatre groups in Canada.
No one knows just how long the jacket was tucked away.
"People will give us things that they feel have some significance and they don't want to take it to the thrift shop, they don't want to throw it away, and they're hoping it can be used again," said Playgoers president Elaine Jagielski.
"To realize that this actually is part of the Stafford name, the Stafford family, which of course has significance in Lethbridge, was amazing."
The Staffords were among the first families to settle in Lethbridge in the late 1800s.
Alexander Stafford was one of 13 children of William and Jane Stafford, who moved to the southern Alberta region in 1883.
Today, you don't have to look far to see the Stafford name around the city.
Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford's name etched on the tag of the jacket.
Adding this rare, significant tunic to the museum's collection is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to sharing the city's rich history and keeping its stories alive.
"Our mission as an institution is to engage in the human history of southwestern Alberta, together, preserving and sharing collections and stories," said Darrin Martens, executive director and CEO of the Galt Museum and Archives.
Stafford died in 1917, and his permanent resting place is in France.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.