Carol McNeil
Eileen Sedgwick was secretary of the Upper North Thompson Livestock Association for many years. When she started the job she received a box of information that went with the secretary’s position.
In it she found a little black journal with minutes from the meetings from 1918 to 1937. She took it out of the box, cleaned it up and put it on her book shelf.
After she stopped being secretary she and gave the journal to John Sedgwick to return to the association.
Sedgwick presented the UNTLA Journal 1918 – 1937 to our association at a meeting in 2012. I offered to look after getting it restored and asked Sherrie Carmichael to help me as she is an artsy-crafty person who is a perfectionist.
I did some research and ended up calling the curator of a museum in Kelowna for advice. She recommended the materials I needed and I ordered them from Carr McLean in Toronto, Ontario.
A year passed and Sherrie and I couldn’t find time to work on the project. However, I did have the journal scanned and laminated and put in a binder so our members could enjoy reading the history of our association in this valley.
Finally in January, 2014, Sherrie and I spent two days (11 hours in total) preserving each page between special encapsulating paper.
Along with a dedication written by Ed Shook the project was completed and put in a special binder.
The dedication reads: “These meeting minutes record the ranching history of the Upper North Thompson valley, from the formation of the Upper North Thompson Livestock Association beginning in 1918 until
1937.
“The association continues it historical role today.
“Pioneer ranchers like Moilliet, Moss, Graffunder and many others shared leadership.
“The UNTLA dedicates this compilation to the current members of our association and to honor our former member, friend and family member W.H.(Bill) Sedgwick – 1945 – 1990.”
The UNTLA Journal 1918 – 1937 will be housed in the Clearwater Library for everyone to read this piece of local history.
