3 metres textual records, photographs and audio visual recordings
History / Biography
Bernard Vance Bedore was born at Crow Lake, Ontario, in 1923 and grew up in the Ottawa Valley. He served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and worked in the tourism field in Ontario for 23 years. As a writer, he created the mythical character Joe Mufferaw, in honour of Joseph Montferrand (1802-1864), one of Canada's most famous lumberjacks and atheletes. He is also the author of Big Pine published in 1963 and other tales such as Yonder Lies the Valley. He was also involved in trying to establish a theme park called "Timbertown" in the 1970's and worked with the committee to build the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior. Bernie Bedore passed away in Arnprior in 2008.
Bernard V. Bedore received his Certificate in Sanitary Inspection (Canada), CSI(C) number 687 in 1950 in Arnprior, Ontario. He was the first Editor of the new association's publication and L.B. Killoran was the Assistant Editor. They were Sanitary Inspectors with the “Arnprior Ontario Health Department”. The first issue in Feb. 1955 was titled “Newsletter”. The second issue in June was titled “News Letter” and the 4th issue in December 55 was “The Newsletter”, (3rd is missing). After some discussion amongst the members of the association and official approval, their 6th issue in June 1956 was titled “The Canadian Sanitarian”. The name was subsequently changed in 1971 to the Environmental Health Review to keep up with the times. Bernie and Lawrence were the Editors from February 1955 to March 1957 during which time they produced 7 or 8 issues.
Acquisition Source
Bernie Bedore donated this collection of photographs, textual and audio-visual records in 2001.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the following:
Box I 8.1
Letters Patent, Bylaws & Minutes of the Diamond Park Mineral Water Co.of Arnprior Ltd. also known as Sanitaris Ltd. 1898 - 1931
Fitzroy Township Minute and Bylaw book 1850 - 1914
Fitzroy Township Minute Book 1893 - 1910
Fitzroy Township Bylaws Book 1893 - 1907
Photo Album (Kimberley family) containing late 19th century - early 20th century portraits
Unidentified family photo album (found in Central Hotel in 1930’s) containing albumen and tin type portraits
15 twentieth century photographs (including portrait of Mary Margaret Coghlan who married Tom Hanson of Sandy Hook and various photographs of logging)
Upper Ottawa Improvement Co. Ltd. 1946 Charter, general acts and list of shareholders dated 1946
Presbyterian Record, October 1901
Death announcement for Elizabeth Lindsay, Feb 13, 1903
1882 Advertisement for Carter’s Little Liver Pills etc.
Box I 8.2
Audio Visual material (3/4” video cassettes, audio tapes, LP’s etc.)
Item level descriptions not available
Box I 7.1
(File level description)
1. B. V. Bedore - personal (contains newspaper coverage, biography and photos)
2. Correspondence
3. Tall Tales of Upper Ottawa (file 1 of 2)
4. Tall Tales of Upper Ottawa (file 2 of 2)
5. Yonder Lies the Valley Act I draft
6. Yonder Lies the Valley Act II draft
7. Yonder Lies the Valley Act III draft
8. Yonder Lies the Valley early version
9. Yonder Lies the Valley final version
10. Yonder Lies the Valley - notes
11. Story of Joseph Montferrand
12. Tall Tales of Mufferaw Joe (file 1 of 2)
13. Tall Tales of Mufferaw Joe (file 2 of 2)
14. Joe Mufferaw Copyright (Stompin Tom and Joan Finnegan)
15. Joe Mufferaw - clippings and photographs
Box I 7.2
1. Preliminary Notes on Tourism Development in Renfrew County - 1972
2. Historical Notes and Photographs of Ottawa Vally Destinations
3. Special Events in Ontario (Draft) - undated
4. Ottawa and Madawaska Valley Regional Tourist Council - 1972
5. Opportunity Square Proposal (Arnprior) - 1972
6. Arnprior Sports Plex - 1975
7. Environmental Health Review
8. Mufferawland Travel Complex (Arnprior) - 1971 1 of 2
9. Mufferawland Travel Complex (Arnprior) - 1971 2 of 2
10. Big Pine Country Association - Minutes and Constitution 1979
11. Big Pine Country Committee - Minutes (1973 - 1976) and Financial Reports (1973)
12. Big Pine Country Committee - Correspondence 1972-1976
13. Big Pine Country Committee - Development Proposals & Reports 1973-1974
14. Big Pine Country Committee - News Clippings
15. Big Pine Country - Notes by B. Bedore
16. Timbertown Incorporation - 1979
17. Timbertown Board of Directors - 1972 - 1982
18. Timbertown Proposals - 1973-1978
19. Timbertown Financial Records - 1982-1985
20. Timbertown Shares and Shareholders - 1981-1985
21. Timbertown Correspondence - 1980-1986
22. Timbertown Reports - 1979, 1981-1983
23. Timbertown Promotional Material
24. Sale of Timbertown to Logos Land 1985
25. Timbertown Minutes - 1986
Box I7.2
Publications:
Yonder Lies The Valley
45 rpm recording (1) Along the Opeongo (2) Fiery Kate and Dickory Dan
Tall Tales of Mufferaw Joe in Booty bag
Tall Tales of Joe Mufferaw with illustrations by Yuksel Hassan (Two copies)
Mythical Mufferaw with illustrations by Allen Lutes
The Mufferaw Catfish
Scotty the Pike
The Broad Valley of the Ottawa
The Broad Valley of the Ottawa (Renfrew Welcome to Editors from the USA)
The Big Pine (two copies)
Come Smile with Me - Ottawa Valley Yarns written by Bernie Bedore and Wanda Lynn Butler
Appleseed Quarterly Fall 1997
The Outdoorsmen Magazine 1964-65
The Outdoorsmen Magazine 1964
Wonder Things
The Environmental Health Review
Shelf I 7.2 (top of boxes I 7.1 7 I 7.2)
Lions Hotel Register 1895
Central Hotel Register 1935 - 1942
Shelf I 7.3
"Chambers' Edinburgh Journal" 1842 - 1843
Unidentified Printer’s Account Book 1899 - 1914
Related Material
See also Robert A. Stewart fonds 1999-0113 for material related to Big Pine Country Association.
Library & Archives Canada has copies of 4 photographs received from Bernie Bedore in 1959. Please refer to PA-004630 to PA-004633.