I had the pleasure of getting to know Barb Greshner in the early 1990s, when as a member of Ponoka Town Council we worked together with an energetic group of volunteers from town and districts to oversee and promote an exciting Main Street project. The purpose of the community effort was to identify landmarks and sights of our long and colorful history, and to put together the plans and funding to enhance and restore them back to their original identity for all of our present and future generations to share and enjoy.
Photographs and historical information was kindly provided by the Fort Ostell Museum, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and the Glenbow Archives. I will never forget the overwhelming enthusiasm and co-operation of committee members Doug Nelson, Dave Spink, Merle McMillan, Earl Roberts, Bob Taylor, Barb Greshner, co-ordinator Frazer Shaw, Town Council, and all those citizens, clubs, and businesses who quickly got involved in this unique community historical concept. Over just a few years the project achieved the revitalization and recognition of many of the great landmarks and events of our long and colorful heritage, including Siding 14, the Railway Depot, the C.P.R. dam, grain elevators, Royal and Leland Hotels, Imperial and Commerce Banks Thomson’s Grocery, Lux and Stephens and Maple Leaf Garages, Capital Theatre, Allan’s Furniture, Jack’s Men’s Wear, Brody’s, Ponoka Radio Electric, the Algar Building, Ponoka Meat Market, Robert’s Implements, Ponoka Herald, Rest Room, Ponoka Cold Storage, Medical Arts Building, Bird Drug Company, Green’s Gents Furnishers, Thirsk 5 cents to $1.00, Club Cafe, Bill’s Billiard Hall, Sweet Block, Cash Foods, Ranks Drugs, Treasury Branch, old Town Hall and County Office, Field’s Motors, Fort Ostell, Baptist Church, Bowker Funeral Home, Dairy Pool, old General Hospital, Provincial Mental Hospital, Red Brick School, VJV Auction, Ponoka Stampede, the make-over back to the original Chipman Avenue, and on and on.
Museum Board salutes Barb Greshner
During their regular meeting last week the Ponoka and District Museum Board honoured Mrs. Barb Greshner for her many years of dedication and volunteer efforts to the Fort Ostell Museum and her community.
Barb Greshner has spent most of her very active life in and around Ponoka, and after completing her schooling she enrolled as a student nurse in the R.N./Psychiatric nursing program at the Provincial Mental Hospital and graduated in 1958. The same year she would marry George Greshner, the congenial co-owner of Ponoka Sheet Metal, and together they raised their family of four (Cam-Michael-Tim-and Julie), worked very hard, and became very much involved in the community. Barb Greshner’s 34 year career as a care-giver, teacher, and mentor spanned several decades, beginning on the busy wards at the P.M.H., followed by service in the Community Health program, then back to the front of the class at the Alberta Hospital School of Nursing. Along the way she was proudly able to achieve her Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Adult Education.
Following her retirement from Nursing in 1992, Barb Greshner enjoyed quality time with her family and grandchild, but longed to stay busy, and would become a dedicated volunteer in many facets of the community. In 2003 she accepted the Manager role at the Fort Ostell Museum, looking forward to carrying on her passion for the preservation and promotion of the proud and colorful history of the Town and County of Ponoka. Working closely with the Board and staff Barb encouraged many renovations to the present museum building in the Lion’s Centennial Park, as well as securing countless new artifacts, historical displays, an annual summer student employment program, and many special events for the year round pleasure of everyone, from the youngest school class to our founding seniors. A milestone of her 10 year leadership tenure at the Fort Ostell Museum would be the lobbying of M.L.A. Halvor Jonson to secure the return of the cherished 100 year old Provincial Mental Hospital museum collection spearheaded by Mike Rainone Sr. to its present and permanent home at our museum.
As an ongoing advocate of our community history and a proud Ponokan Barb Greshner was also thrilled to serve as the co-chair with Myra Raugust on the 2004 Ponoka Centennial Committee, as well as assisting with the promotion and celebration of the gala 100th Anniversary of the Alberta Hospital (Centennial Centre) in 2011. Personally, I am so thankful that Barb, Sandy Alsopp, and museum staff have always encouraged and assisted me with all the material and preparation of the Reflections and Remember When section each week in your Ponoka News.
Present Museum Manager Sandy Allsopp has worked at the Fort Ostell for the past 10 years, during which she was delighted to have learned a great deal from Barb, as well as quickly realizing that her enthusiasm and dedication is a joy and a rush to share each and every day. Thanks to the strong annual support of the Town of Ponoka and County of Ponoka the Fort Ostell Museum, which was established in 1967, has grown steadily. The current Board of Directors includes: Craig Robinson, Wendla Crowhurst, Marilyn Hoffman, Sharon Chapman, Jerry Siemens, Linda Hansen, Terri Underhill, and Sandy Allsopp.
Even though she may have retired, there is absolutely no doubt that Barb Greshner will avidly continue to be a welcome visitor to her favourite Fort Ostell Museum, where she will continue to pursue new projects and strive to encourage others to preserve, promote, and appreciate the long, proud, and colorful history and pioneers of our great community. Thanks for the memories.