Since 1978, the old log house has been part of the Stettler Town and County Museum, donated by its owner to house and display artifacts and history about the area’s Estonian settlers – and now, the nearly century-old house is at risk of demolition.
Deane Kerbes was one of the people to receive a letter advising him that the house was in disrepair and becoming a safety hazard, and that unless volunteers undertook the work of repairing the floor, roof and other damaged areas in the house, the museum would have to demolish the house, built by Estonian settler George Tamberg in the 1920s.
With a strong Estonian presence in Linda Hall and northwest of Big Valley in a community known as Kalev, losing the house would be a blow for descendants of the settlers who made central Alberta their home, Kerbes said. Already, he and some of the other area residents of Estonian descent have helped people trace their family roots using information located at the Museum.
The house was donated by its then-owner, Earl Bergman, to the museum and moved to the 10 acre site in 1978, according to Kerbes. In the past 36 years, however, time and weather has worn away at the building, and the floor has fallen into serious disrepair. Part of the roof needs repair, as do the walls in the interior.
The artifacts and articles once stored in the house have been moved to an adjacent building for safekeeping.
“All of the different heritages of central Alberta are vanishing,” Kerbes said. “I know it, but the younger generation won’t know anything if we don’t preserve it.”
When he received his letter, he felt motivated to do something to save the historic building, which is nearing 100 years old, and he and his friend, Ron Hennel, began the process of raising money to see to the repairs.
“We hope to get repairs started in September,” he said. The volunteers are currently waiting for a contractor to be hired and assess the value of the repairs needed, though they expect them to be expensive considering the safety issues that need to be addressed.
Hennel and Kerbes, both of Estonian descent, have been active in preserving Estonian heritage in the area throughout the years, and that dedication has resulted in an outpouring of support for the efforts to save Estonian House.
“(The response) has been very good, not just from here but all over Alberta, Canada and even the United States,” Kerbes said. “It’s also not just Estonian heritage groups, but other heritages as well, like Ukrainians. Both the private sector and individuals have helped tremendously.”
Anyone who wishes to make a donation toward the project can do so by phoning or going to the museum.
Estonians migrated to Canada at the turn of the 20th century for several reasons; the country, which was on Russia’s borders, had been a place of conflict for some time, with the empire-minded Russian presence pushing on its borders, causing conflict and wars. There was political upheaval and many of the people in Estonia were unable to own the land for which they cared, keeping them impoverished.
“Here, they were free, they could own land and they could raise their kids in peace,” Kerbes said. “A lot of the settlers came with absolutely nothing.”
As part of the restoration project, it is the intention of the restoration group to erect a plaque with the names of contributors who’ve donated to the project, but Kerbes especially wished to thank two corporate sponsors who really stepped up with significant donations – the Ramada Hotel and the Stettler Alberta Treasury Branch.
Once the repairs are done, the artifacts – including some items which were brought by settlers from Estonia to Alberta – will be returned to the Estonian House and will be available for those interested in the area’s history, or are researching their own personal past.