Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & City of Wetaskiwin Archives

An outcome of 18th century agricultural innovation, the barrel churn, such as the one pictured here, was used extensively by farmers in the process of butter-making. A crank attached to the side of the barrel would have turned a paddle device within the churn or the barrel itself to separate fat from buttermilk, eventually resulting in the final product: butter. Manufactured by David Maxwell and Sons, this wooden barrel churn was used on the J.E. Blanch homestead. Mr. Blanch, like many others before him, immigrated to the Wetaskiwin area after hearing several enthusiastic reports of the Canadian West, paying a total of ten dollars to lay claim to his land. Homesteading was proven to be an incredibly challenging feat, but the J.E. Blanch homestead eventually found some success by way of hard work and frugal practice. As agriculture continues to be an important part of our community, the Heritage Museum invites you to join us on the 18th of February to partake in any one of our Family AGtivity Day activities, such as toy making, dough rolling, and roping! We hope to see you there!