Manitoba Electrical Museum & Education Centre

Here is the post that some of you have been waiting for! The two winners of our All That Glows Scavenger Hunt prize packs are...

Drum Roll: 🥁 ✨

Halle and Arasu!

Congratulations! 🎉 🎉

That’s a wrap to this year's All That Glows! We would like to thank all the people that had visited us during the event.

Just a reminder that we will be drawing names for the two prize packs tomorrow! Good luck to those who entered!

Photo of The Day is of Cliff Stedman’s First Crew taken in front of the Balmoral Hotel in Virden, MB in 1929. These men built a line from Virden to Pipestone and Reston (South of Virden). Virden, MB was one of the early communities connected to the electrical grid in 1921. Pipestone and Reston were connected to the grid in 1929 at the same as Boissevain, Cartwright, and Killarney.

Top Row: Jack English, Kiter, Arcor (?), Tod Derec, Goodwin, Trembath (?), Grant
Back Row: Bob Stewman, Andy Mathison (?) , ?, Scott, Blair Mcleod, Peter, Cooney

🌟 Heads up! 🌟

Tomorrow is the FINAL DAY to experience our "All That Glows: Gnome for the Holidays" exhibit that showcases holiday lighting and decorations throughout the eras in North America! Don't miss your last chance to step into a winter wonderland while learning about holiday lighting.

The last of our volunteer winter stories:
“In the 1970s, the Data Entry department used to rent a motel room across Harrow St. for their Christmas party. People would be sitting on beds while eating pizza and celebrating the holiday season.”

This happened! Imagine nowadays having your Christmas party in a single motel room with two beds as couches for 20 -25 people. This volunteer had a good laugh as she recalled the memories of these Christmas parties.

Photo of the Day is during the early construction of Slave Falls Generating Station, Winter unknown date.

In view, is possibly the railway that connects Winnipeg to the new site where Slave Falls Generating Station would stand. In The Winnipeg Evening Tribune dated November 10, 1927, it was said that $10, 000 (approximately $176,222 in today’s monetary value) was approved to be spent on connecting the pre-existing Winnipeg to Pointe du Bois railway line to Slave Falls.

It was said that “All the angels we see out [in downtown] were made at the shop in Weston by Winnipeg Hydro men who lost their license in the 1970s/1980s.”

Yes, you read that right. Back in the day, when a Winnipeg Hydro worker who needed to drive, but lost their license due to “various reasons” would be “banished” to the Weston shop. They would then be there to help create holiday decorations for the city until they could drive again. Nowadays, it isn’t exactly this lenient.

This Winnipeg tradition of lighting up our downtown started around 1929, to keep the spirit of Christmas despite the beginning of the great depression. According to an article in the Evening Tribune dated December 9, 1929, “Winnipeg has just earned the title of the “Electrical City”, nowhere is electricity so inexpensive and so widely used as in our homes. There is no reason why Winnipeg should take second place to any other city of its size, so far as Christmas illumination is concerned.”

Remember to visit our All That Glows exhibit of holiday lighting from now until January 6th!

Just a reminder that the Electrical Museum will be closed today so that museum staff and volunteers can enjoy some shut-eye and catch some Z’s after celebrating the holiday season. We will be back with our regular hours of 1pm -4pm tomorrow Wednesday, December 27.

Happy Holidays! ☃️ ❄️ 🎅

Last week the staff and volunteers got together for a holiday volunteer luncheon. We can’t thank them enough with the work they do here to keep the museum alive.

In this photo is a staff and a board member drawing a ticket from a hat for one of four door prizes.

We got last-minute gift ideas – 1920s edition! 🎁 ❄️

Today's Photo of the Day shows a page from the Electric Light and Power magazine dated December 1924. It showcases the “universal” gift suggestions which include a heating pad, electric heater, oven toaster, and a milk warmer. The Universal brand was under the Landers, Frary & Clark housewares company based in New Britain, Connecticut. The company was founded in 1842 and lasted until 1965 when most of the company was taken over by J.B. Williams Company of New York and the electrical appliance operations were purchased by General Electric.

🎄✨From the Manitoba Electrical Museum, we all wish everyone a Happy Holiday filled with happiness, laughter, and a warm winter. May your days be merry and bright! 🌟🔔

We will be open tomorrow on Saturday from 1 pm-4 pm. We will then take a small break and will be back on Wednesday, December 27th.

Volunteer Winter Stories:

“When I was working at Manitoba Hydro, the Christmas party was traditionally held at the Pembina Hotel. I remember it was always jam-packed and Bob generously bought drinks for people.”

The Pembina Hotel also known as ‘The Pemby’ to some locals, was located at 1011 Pembina Highway, very close to the old Manitoba Hydro headquarters on Taylor Avenue. The building was built in 1953 and was demolished just last year with plans for a 12-storey mixed-use development in its place.

As the museum prepares a holiday volunteer luncheon, we reflect on all the hard work our volunteers have done to help with setting up All That Glows. Did you know that out of all the trees we set up, the 1950s tree is one of the most time-consuming? Unlike the Christmas trees today, each branch you see needs to be hooked into the trunk of the tree. Every branch has a corresponding colour that needs to be attached in the correct place so that it has that triangular shape to it. Afterward, lights would need to be strung, and finally, the decorations placed accordingly. The result is stunning and nostalgic! What holiday decoration are you most proud of setting up this year?

Photo of the Day showcases officials and dignitaries visiting Great Falls Generating Station to observe the early stages of its construction in 1922. This is possibly a visit that happened on October 13, 1922. According to a Winnipeg Evening Tribune article, it was said that 300 visitors came that day to see the ongoing process of the plant. Some visitors included Mayor Cater of Brandon, MB, Reeve Barton of St. Vital, and Reeve Smith of St. James. That day was a high of 18.3C with a low of 1.1C.

Correction:

Volunteer Winter Stories:
“Winnipeg Hydro needed to give a safety clearance to Manitoba Hydro when they set up the tree near the old Manitoba Hydro headquarters at Taylor Ave.”

Image the Manitoba Hydro getting a crash course on safety! Of course, due diligence is key to making sure no one gets hurt. Though Manitoba Hydro headquarters and the tree isn’t there anymore, the museum is right next door with all the decorations of the ages to see!

Mark it in your calendars! 🗓️ 📱 The Manitoba Electrical Museum’s All That Glows event presents Family Fun on Saturday, December 16th!

Enjoy some hot cocoa, participate in our All That Glows version of Who Wants to Be a “Legendaire”, and learn how holiday lighting has changed over the decades. Visit our website for more details.

Photo of the Day transports us back in time to a winter wonderland in what looks like Brandon, Manitoba, circa the early 20th century. In the photo, we can see the streets covered in snow, people walking about, and the town adorned with enchanting holiday decorations.

Volunteer Winter Stories:
"In the 1930s to the 1950s, Winnipeg Hydro would patrol the power lines using sleds pulled by horses or a dog team."

If you came to our All That Glows last year, you probably remember seeing a red sled. Well, did you know that exact red sled was used to patrol the powerlines?

Remember to stop by our All That Glows event to see all the spectacular holiday décor of the decades.

Photo of the Day is captivated by the view looking northeast at Intake Bridge, the dewatered Forebay, and the bustling construction plant at the west end of the initial Powerhouse at Pointe du Bois Generating station. This was progress in the making in the early 20th century, not to mention a turning point in the first municipal-owned power plant in Manitoba.

In an article from The Voice dated December 4, 1908, this idea was initiated by J.W. Cockburn. Former Winnipeg City Alderman (Councilor) Cockburn wanted to protect the interest of citizens by “giving them rights to their street” and “the city paying the interest on their capital expenditures” to corporations. Thus, he personally bought the Pointe Du Bois site and handed it over to the city willingly for free.

Winter Stories from our volunteers:

“Back in the day, we used to coat all the Christmas lights, with petroleum Jelly to prevent them from rusting when we installed them in the city.”

Of course, we know now that this may not be the safest option, so please don't try this at home.

The featured "Photo of the Day" dates back over a century, capturing a man engaged in underground construction work for the Winnipeg City Light and Power Department in an unknown location in Winnipeg. Limited information is available about this historical photograph; however, it showcases the development of electricity in Winnipeg during that era.

Today's winter story from our volunteers:

“When I worked at Winnipeg Hydro, we set up trees that we cut in Lac Du Bonnet and decorated them on the boulevards on Portage and Main in preparation for the holiday season".

Don’t mind the mess! 🙈 Here is a sneak peek at what our dedicated volunteers were up to last week. Our All That Glows event can’t exist without our volunteers giving us a hand transporting and setting up all the trees and decorations.

Here is our volunteer Gil working on the flocked tree that sheds every time you touch it. Definitely one of the trickery trees to set up!

📸 Photo of the Day: Unit #1506 at Work!

Check out today's stunning snapshot featuring Unit #1506, equipment used by the Manitoba Power Commission. A true powerhouse with impressive capabilities, this beast of a machine is equipped with optional oversized tires for increased clearance, a steel deck, and a ground rod drilling derrick. This drill is used to put anchors in to secure hydro poles that may be on a corner of a street. The poles need extra support to keep them straight in areas that do not have room for guided wires.

SIX more days until All That Glows officially starts!

To celebrate, our All That Glows Wednesday Wisdom this year involves memories of our volunteers during the holiday season while working for Manitoba Hydro or Winnipeg Hydro.

The first memory: Did you know that traditionally for the Santa Claus Parade, it is always a hydro employee who plays Santa?

🌟 Coming Soon: November 21st - All That Glows! ✨

The date is fast approaching, and we're thrilled to announce that our annual All That Glows event is just around the corner! But here's the twist – we're letting the picture do the talking. Can you guess our enchanting theme this year? 🍄🎅

Stay tuned for more updates and surprises as we count down to the most popular event of the year. See you on November 21st for All That Glows - Gnome Edition! 🎁✨

Today's Photo Of The Day takes us on a journey back in time to the end of World War II, when the Winnipeg Electric Company Head Office was beautifully decorated to celebrate the long-awaited victory. Let's honor and remember those who sacrificed so much for our country.

Lest we forget. 🌺

The Manitoba Electrical Museum will be closed tomorrow on Saturday, November 11th, in observance of Remembrance Day. We encourage everyone to take this day to remember and honor those who have served and continue to serve our country.

Lest we forget.