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News Articles Published
Tues. May 27, 2008,
Innisfail Province, Jennifer Wilson
Plans underway for aviation museum
Plans for an aviation museum in Springbrook took a giant step
forward last week, with Red Deer County agreeing to provide land for the
project.
The Harvard Historical Aviation Society had requested two acres of land
for the museum, on a site located west and south of the county fire
hall. County council agreed to lease them up to 10 acres of land for $1
a year.
"We're very excited. We're happy to see that the county has a
commitment to preserve heritage," said Jodi Smith, president of the
aviation society.
Smith explained that the plan is to build a facility to house
artifacts and airplanes. The museum would look at the area's entire
history, but have a focus on the NATO era, she said.
"We want to have a very interactive centre," Smith added, and
involve the youth of the community.
She said they began thinking about the idea for a local museum when
the military museum in Calgary wanted some artifacts she owned. She said
she questioned why people should have to travel to Calgary to learn
about local history.
"We feel there's a strong need to preserve the history that
happened here," Smith said.
A potential museum was also mentioned in the county's Springbrook
Heritage Urban Design Plan. Part of the plan includes having the former
Harvard Park lands developed as a mixed-use town centre, which would
express the town's heritage. A 21 acre site by the fire hall was
identified for a museum, school site and recreation building.
"I really support the society and what they're doing," said
councillor David Hoar.
"I'm glad to see that someone has stepped forward to take on a
project of this size," added county mayor Earl Kinsella.
Councillor Jim Wood said that he's glad to support the preservation
of the heritage of the community.
Smith said she was not sure when construction would start on the
museum, but said the society is currently in talks with a consultant to
design the facility. She said the museum would probably be built in
phases, but they hope to have it open in the next couple of years.
"We would love to start phase one as soon as we can."
She was also unsure of the cost, saying it would depend on the
design. However, she explained there are government grants available and
the society plans to do some local fundraising as well.
Wed. May 27, 2008, Red Deer Advocate, Brenda Kossowan, photo by Randy
Fiedler
Museum idea taking flight
When Harvard grads came from Penhold
 Few decisions have contributed as mightily to Red Deer's growth as
the move to create an air force training centre.
As surely as the Nova Chemicals plant at Joffre has contributed
millions of dollars to the local economy, the creation of CFB Penhold
re-shaped the future of what had been a small, prairie city with an
agriculture-based economy.
Re-named CFB Penhold in 1966, the flight training centre originated
as a military school in 1939 as part of the British Commonwealth's
network for training pilots that would be needed for the Second World
War.
The city experienced tremendous growth as young families from
across the country were shipped to Red Deer both for training and to run
support services.
Closed for a few years after the war ended, the air base and
support networks were re-commissioned in 1951 to serve Canada's
commitment to its allies in NATO and NORAD, including construction of a
communications centre across the road from the air base and radar
station further east.
Facilities grew to include a pair of bunkers secretly built during
the early 1960's. Among them the now-famous Diefenbunker, built as a
secure area for housing provincial and local leaders in the event of a
crisis. It was sold in the mid-1990's to private investors, and then
re-purchased and destroyed in 2001.
The flight school continued to operate until 1965, when the NATO
contract ended and airport operations were handed to the City of Red
Deer.
The few buildings that remain from the base's military role,
including barracks, permanent quarters and hangars, have been either
destroyed or decommissioned and subsequently sold, including the
hangars, barracks, officers mess, recreation centre, and housing
complex.
Originally named for war hero Andrew Mynarski, the homes have been
upgraded and incorporated into what is now the hamlet of Springbrook.
What remains is the lingering desire of a small group to gather and
preserve the effects of the flight school itself.
Pieces from its storied past rest in shelves and boxes in the
basements and garages of people who had a past association with the
flight school, including former instructor Bev Hughes, airport business
owner Gary Hillman and retired Mountie Jim Thoreson.
Along with a few like-minded individuals, they have formed the
Harvard Historical Aviation Society, named for the hefty and somewhat
cantankerous craft on which so many of Canada's young pilots were
trained.
The time has come to shake the dust off of that memorabilia and
give it a home, where people can get a sample of what the school was
like and the tremendous influence it had to Central Alberta, says
society president Jodi Smith.
The group has raised more than $15,000 toward the establishment of
a permanent site. However, it has remained homeless for some months,
although the board is negotiating with Red Deer County for a piece of
land at Springbrook.
If all of their dreams come true, the museum could include both
static and interactive displays along with space that could be made
available for meetings and functions, says Smith.
High on the board's wish list is acquisition of a plane similar to
the ones used when the training centre was still active. Not far behind
is the plan to get some schools on board to help bring life to the
people and stories behind the flight school and the role it played in
local history.
"We want it to be fun," says Smith, who readily admits that she
hated studying history.
Flight simulators and other interactive displays can help get
students engaged in the stories, rather than just staring at artifacts
and attempting to absorb lists of facts, she says. But the museum needs
a home before the board can really start putting any flesh on its ideas,
says Hillman.
With luck and good management, the Harvard Historical Aviation
Society hopes to have its museum ready for a grand opening early in
2009, in time to celebrate Canada's 100th year of powered flight.
Information about the society and its plans is available at
www.penholdbase.com
The same article had been published the previous week in Central
Alberta Life/Red Deer Life
under the title 'Museum idea takes off - Volunteers raising
funds for Springbrook'
Wed. May 21, 2008, Red Deer Advocate, Paul Cowley
Museum gets nod
Springbrook air museum supporters left Red Deer County Centre
flying high on Tuesday after council agreed to a $1-a-year land lease
deal.
"We're very excited," said Jodi Smith, president of the Harvard
Historical Aviation Society. "We're very happy to see the commitment the
county has in preserving its heritage and history."
The group wants to use about two acres of county-owned land for an
aviation museum celebrating the history of the former Penhold air base.
The proposed museum will focus on the NATO years, but will feature
artifacts and information covering the base's history from the Second
World War until its closing in 1995.
Smith said a Calgary museum has expressed interest in some of the
artifacts gathered over the last few decades. But local aviation history
enthusiasts don't want Central Albertans to have to travel so far to
learn about their own region's heritage.
"We felt there was a strong need to preserve that history here."
It is expected the museum will be built in phases, likely beginning
in the next couple of years.
The society is still working on designs with a consultant and
undertaking the work to apply for government grants and to organize
local fundraising efforts.
The size of the museum and expected cost have not yet been
established. The site chosen is on a sports field that includes a
running track near the new county fire hall in Springbrook. The track
will be kept until the land is needed for development.
County staff suggested leasing up to 10 acres to give the museum
group the leeway to develop as they need. The land is worth about
$300,000.
Once the society has lined up funding and developed the site plans,
the county would sell the land for $1.
Planning studies prepared for the county on the future of
Springbrook have suggested the community could be developed around an
aviation theme.
Wed. May 21, 2008, Red Deer Express, Erin Fawcett
Aviation museum for Springbrook
Springbrook will be the new home to an aviation museum.
"Our plan is to build a facility that will house artifacts and
airplanes," said Jodi Smith, president of the Harvard Historical
Aviation Society. "Our focus is going to be on the NATO (North Atlantic
Treaty Organization) era of the base, but we'll also tell the full story
of the base from the beginning during the Second World War right until
the closure in 1985."
Smith said the goal is make the facility interactive.
"We want to have something that the youth want to come to and be
involved in," she said.
Smith said the Harvard Aviation Society is in talks with a consultant
about the design of the facility.
"Once that's up and running we'll probably have a more clear
indication as to a date when we'll be doing construction," she said.
Smith added she hopes the museum will be open in a couple of years.
No costs are known at this time.
At yesterday's meeting, County council agreed to allow the museum
to be located on a 21 acre site in Springbrook.
It's projected a school and recreation building will also be
located on the same site.
Currently, the land is being used for a running track and ball
diamond.
"We're very excited and very happy to see the commitment the County has
with regards to providing heritage and history," said Smith. "Much of it
is being lost and so much of it is already gone and we want to be here
to make sure it stops and it's preserved. "One of the reasons we started
doing this was because the museum in Calgary wanted some of the stuff I
had and we just felt people coming back, why would they travel to
Calgary to find the history of what happened here in Central Alberta? So
we feel there is a strong need to preserve the history of what happed
here."
Smith said in the future they plan to lobby the government for
funding as well as launch a public campaign in hopes of raising money
for the museum.
Webmaster note: The article states that the base closed in 1985. It
actually closed in 1995.
Tues. May 20, 2008,
www.SpringbrookWaskasoo.com/news.htm, Paul Pettypiece
County Grants Land Lease for Historical
Aviation Centre
Red Deer County Council today approved the lease of up to 10 acres
of land for $1 per year to the Harvard Historical Aviation Society for
the future home of its proposed Historical Aviation Centre.
The land, valued at $300,000, is located east of the fire hall and
southwest of the recreation complex where the running track currently
exists. The county will pick up the cost of subdivision, surveying and
legal fees.
The parcel is part of a 21.2 acre site, currently used as sports
fields, that is designated for a future school site, recreation facility
and museum in the proposed Springbrook Heritage Urban Design Plan. The
land is zoned Direct Control District giving council complete control
over the development of the property.
The Society will be given an option to purchase once a
comprehensive development plan is created and construction is ready to
begin.
Mon. Sept. 17, 2007, Red
Deer Advocate, Laura Tester
NATO pilots trained at Penhold flock to 50th
anniversary reunion
NATO pilots rekindled fond memories of being stationed at the
former CFB Penhold more than 50 years ago.
Nine pilots from Flight 5516 gathered on Saturday to reminisce
about their training in 1956 and the lasting friendships they created.
They remembered the barracks where they stayed and the old
officer's mess hall.
Some even remembered lighter moments.
"Kissing the (commanding officer's) daughter," said Leen VanGameren,
smiling.
The military pilots came from countries involved with the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) -- the international military
alliance formed in the late 1940's to defend western Europe against a
possible Soviet invasion.
Canada offered to train NATO pilots on its Penhold base during the
1950's.
Peter Eglington, formerly of England and now living in Ottawa, said
the experience was great because he got to meet pilots from different
countries.
They trained from about March to October of that year. Twenty-nine
pilots completed the training.
"When you learn to fly in formation, you build a great trust with
the other pilots," Eglington said.
The men learned to fly well using the Harvard aircraft, also used
for training during the Second World War.
Eglington said they used to call the Harvard the "yellow peril" for
its colour and the fact it didn't fly very straight.
On Saturday, a 1952 Harvard was flown in from Wetaskiwin for the
occasion.
Each pilot climbed in and had their photo taken.
"There's still a few in the Netherlands," said Van Gameren. "But
when you stand next to one and imagine you're 19 years old again, it's a
very impressive moment to remember."
Eglington said many pilots were forever changed by their experience
at CFB Penhold.
"One told me it really opened his eyes to the whole world," said
the retired economic consultant.
Eglington was the only one to leave aviation directly after
training. He elected to stay in Canada and became a Canadian citizen in
1972.
Van Gameren remained in the air force for 17 years and then joined
a government flying school in 1972. As well as training, he flew
missions for the Netherlands government and royal family.
He now acts as a consultant to the school, which was bought by KLM
airlines.
"I've been looking forward to this trip for a long time," said Van
Gameren, 71.
Eglington organized the 50th anniversary reunion. The pilots and
their spouses have met five times over the last 10 years.
"We're not sure we're going to do another one because we're all
70-plus (in age)," Eglington said.
Jodi Smith, president of the Harvard Historical Aviation Society,
also welcomed the group and said plans are underway to build a museum to
commemorate the former military base.
Sat. Sept. 1, 2007, Red Deer Advocate, Paul Cowley
Plan calls for salute to aviation history
Springbrook's aviation heritage would be
saluted on key street corners and in a showcase museum, according to a
proposed plan for the fast growing community.
The Harvard trainer on display at the Red Deer Regional Airport
would be moved and joined by other aircraft connected with Springbrook's
past as a Second World War training ground for pilots.
The planes would be placed around the community and form a
historical walking tour emphasizing the community's aviation roots and
which would be connected to a museum at the entrance to the community.
As the community grows, the existing Harvard Business Park area
would be incorporated into a new town centre and form a link with the
airport. A full-sized hockey rink and tournament-sized sports field
would be joined by other recreational facilities, and a major food store
would be part of an expanded commercial and retail centre.
These are some of the visions that emerged out of a series of
workshops and design meetings earlier this month held by Calgary-based
planning firm T-Six Urbanists. The $79,000 Springbrook Heritage Urban
Design Plan will show how the community of 1,500 could look at 5,000
people.
Urban design intern Lisa Niro said one of the key issues raised by
local business people, the community and other stakeholders was how to
ensure the airport fits in with the community as both grow.
"Right now, there's a concern that there's a lack of integration
between the residential and the airport facilities."
Access to Springbrook also remains a high priority issue. Currently
there is only one road in but the plan will propose possible entryways
along range roads 280 and 281.
The plan will also suggest preserving land to allow for a commuter
rail link between the community and Red Deer, which could possibly go
further south to Penhold.
There has also been talk of a high-speed rail link between Calgary
and Edmonton. The plan would place that route west of Springbrook.
But if the bullet train becomes a reality, a new plan will have to
be developed because a high-speed rail link would likely create a surge
of community growth and require planning for hotels, restaurants and
even convention facilities, said Niro.
Planners expect to complete their draft plan in about two months
and it will be unveiled at an open house in the late fall. Revisions
will be made and the final version will then go to Red Deer County
council for approval.
Webmaster note: Although the news article above gives an
accurate general view of the future plan, there are a few minor
inaccuracies including the fact that there are no plans to move the
existing mounted Harvard trainer from its airport location.
More on the draft
Springbrook Heritage Urban Design Plan.
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