Now, Saturday, June 10, 2000
The following is extracted from a story on the Surrey Museum …
"There aren't really that many objects that really look Surrey specific."
"This is actually designed by the Eatons in Guildford in the 1970s."
Speaking of treasures, the exhibit also features Canadian cowboy yodeling icon Alberta Slim.
"He is one of Surrey's cultural treasures, for sure, "Panko said. "You can't get much more Canadian that that.
"He is known as the yodeling cowboy."
Some of Slim's tunes include I'm lonesome for Mommy tonight; When you play your last card; and the Red River Waltz.
Also known as Eric C. Edwards, Alberta Slim has lived in Whalley since the 1950s and at age 90 is still writing and recording music. In his hey day, he recorded 12 albums with RCA, and recorded with the CBC Happy Gang Orchestra.
Here in Surrey he owned the Bar X Ranch motel, on King George Highway when the strip was still made of gravel. He and his wife Pearl also had a travelling circus, which included an elephant and his trusty horse, Kitten.
"He raised that horse in his basement in Surrey, in his house," Panko noted. "Kitten was famous for fortune telling."
Much of Slim's stuff is on display.
At the museum's exhibit, you'll also find mannequins - one of them goes by the name Zeke - dressed in western clothing.
There's also a display case devoted to Kate Graham Cooke, a famous trick rider and roper out of Nebraska. You'll see her side-saddle there, wonderfully preserved considering it was made in the 1890s.
There's also some cowboy kitsch to see, such as plastic toy guns from years gone by.
The Surrey Museum is located at 6022-176th St. in Cloverdale. Phone 502-6456.