Rotary History-Ft Edmonton Park - Continued

 

The committee brought about the incorporation of the Fort Edmonton Historical Foundation which came into being December 18, 1969.

Its objectives are to promote the development of the park and restore the fort, "historically correct in so far as possible," to assist in preserving and restoring other buildings, artifacts, records which reflect and record the historical heritage of the Edmonton area and to establish a fund for these purposes. The 50 charter members were prominent citizens from the Edmonton area and included those Rotarians who had promoted the creation of the Foundation. In the first 10 Years' existence the Foundation has had several presidents from Rotary In addition to Mr. Wolfe are Ray Ludford of the West Edmonton Club and Walter Howard.

Every year the Foundation elects an Honourary Chief Factor from among those who have made a notable contribution to the park. From the Downtown Club have been Messrs. Dickson, Wolfe and Ward and from the South Edmonton Club Jack Edworthy.

Throughout the early '70s, Merrill Wolfe has a major role in seeing that the Rotary pledge was met and in raising funds from provincial and federal governments and from business and individuals and in seeing the work went forward. The fort was completed and the official opening took place on May 17, 1974.

The Foundation decided to erect a memorial "in recognition and remembrance of those who inspired and motivated the reconstruction of Fort Edmonton." The letter from the Foundation states that the memorial is to be a bronze relief by John Weaver, an internationally known sculptor, mounted on logs...and standing in front of the main entrance to the fort, adjacent to the North Saskatchewan River. The figures will depict the story of the early fur trade. The letter then has a paragraph mentioning the three Rotarians names above and also G. Heath MacDonald, an Edmonton architect.
 
This is the paragraph:
 
"Of the many contributions Merrill Wolfe made to our city, none is more significant than Fort Edmonton and as such the central plaque will be dedicated to him.  It will be flanked by plaques commerating Sam A. Dickson, G.Heath MacDonald, Henry Ward, and the other founding members of the Fort Edmonton Historical Foundation and the civic dignitaries involved in the preliminary planning of the Fort."