Bill Paul started a foundry in Camrose when he was eighteen but had to close shop to join the navy during WWII. He came to Grande Prairie in 1945 and took over the smithy and woodworking shop owned by R.J. Barley in order to establish the heavy steel fabrication and welding repair business, G.P. Ironworks on 99 Ave. It was the Peace country's only foundry for years and tackled many needs including designing and building brush pilers and create portable welding units. He had married Clarice Thelma Walkemeyer in 1941 and together they raised their family, Bill Jr., Patricia, and Susan in Grande Prairie. Clarice was also active in a business, managing their ice cream shop called "Milky Way" during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Her shop was across from the Hudson Bay Co. ( their family lived upstairs at the time) and she remembers making coffee all night for the men who were fighting the fire when the store burned. In 1951, Bill's younger brother, Glen, joined the business. Bill semi-retired in 1973 and then opened the business Picture Perfect in the Evans building on 100 Ave. in 1985. One of his major accomplishments was the renovation of total interior of the building. Bill passed away July 29, 1991 in Grande Prairie and in 2009, Clarice moved to Wild Rose Manor.
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South Peace Regional Archives
Title of fonds based on contents.
Accession number: 2009.067
The fonds consists of 21 photographs and 13 negatives of G.P. Iron Works building, caterpillar brushing equipment, downtown Grande Prairie with Clarice and children, Bill and Pat, the Hudson Bay store fire, and Picture Perfect renovations. Also included are 3 newspaper articles referencing the history of the G.P. Iron Works and a menu cover from Clarice Paul's Ice Cream Shop, "Milky Way".
No accruals are expected.
There are no restrictions on access.
A finding aid is available at http://southpeacearchives.org/bill-and-clarice-paul/
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The original building of R. J. Barley being converted into a two storey shop building to house Grande Prairie Iron Works.
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One photograph shows the original building of R. J. Barley being converted into a two storey shop building to house Grande Prairie Iron Works and three show the building during the 1950s-1960s. The fifth shows a 1950s truck and a portion of 99 Ave. looking west from their business.
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A 1950s truck and a portion of 99 Ave. looking west from the Grande Prairie Iron Works Ltd. business.
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Three Grande Prairie Iron Works workers show off their brush piler in a snowy field.
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Grande Prairie Iron Works truck with a portable welder on the back being towed by a caterpillar into an oil well site north of Sturgeon Lake Mission. It was the first well that was a major producer in the Peace country.
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Photographs of the fire that destroyed the Hudson Bay Department Store on the corner of 100St. and 100 Ave. in Grande Prairie.
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Clarice Paul operated an ice cream store called "Milky Way" on main street in the 1950s.
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Renovations on the Evans buliding included Tim Heimdal's mural of the trumpeter swans on the brick facing next to the Gaiety Theatre.
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