The history of those who built and maintained the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society has been recorded.
The launch of the book, Celebrating MRAS Life Members & Presidents. was held in conjunction with the unveiling of the Legacy Wall on Aug. 13 at the Millarville Racetrack.
“It was more work than I ever, ever would have imagined,” said Lorretta Stabler, president of the Millarville Historical Society. “I am a retired school teacher, this was like doing report cards.
“It was very detailed. To hear about all of the people and the contributions... It was unbelievable.”
She said the book was a tribute to “all the people who do the labour behind the scenes that people who come to the events don’t know who they are.
“People who log in the hours like you wouldn’t believe. They do it because of the love for this particular venue and the agricultural influence here.”
Stabler got some help with the book.
She was assisted by Millarville historians Norma Dawson and Cathie Scatterty in assembling the stories from the approximately 150 individuals or families in the book -- from Elaine Allen to Bill and Marjorie Winthrop, alphabetically.
Stabler, Dawson and Scatterty, along with her husband Jim Scatterty, have been included in the book thanks to their efforts over the past several years.
Stabler found many of the families’ stories fascinating.
“The early story about the guys and the race horses and how they did the bedding...,” Stabler said. “What surprised me over the years was how many families are second and third generation and continuing to help.”
Stabler has and will continue to help.
“It’s the feeling of community,” she said. “Everybody comes and does whatever they have to do. If something needs to be changed, it’s let’s try this, let’s try that.
“It’s just an incredible community spirit. For the 40 years I have been involved with this (MRAS) it just keeps going on and on, it is very spectacular.”
The Millarville Historical Society isn’t done yet.
“I would like everyone to become part of our organization,” Stabler told the approximately 100 people at the unveiling and book launch. “In the future, we want to build a museum where we can display artifacts, stories and photos of this incredible area.”
Anyone interested in purchasing Celebrating MRAS Life Members & Presidents can contact the society’s office at 403-931-3411.
The individuals and families in Celebrating MRAS Life Members & Presidents are: Allen, Elaine; Bates, Neil & Diane; Bergevin, Rob; Birch, Byron & Barb; Biswanger, Harold; Boulton, Brian & Jo; Bull, George & Grace; Bull, Gerald & Sandra; Bull, Linda; Burritt, Joe & Dalle; Burrows, Janette; Campbell, Gordon; Campbell, John & Elizabeth; Cannon, David; Castell, Barb; Chalmers, Robert & Doreen; Chalmers, Wilma; Clarke, Mack; Cowan, Martha; Cross, Don & Shan; Cross, Ron & Aileen; Cutress, Evonne; Dakers, John & Jill; Dawson, Norma; De Pauli, Anna; Debnam, Bruce; Debnam, Loraine; Delver, Larry; Eckstrand, Stan & Betty; Erickson, Lloyd; Evans, David & Donna; Evans, Elwyn; Field, Robert; Fisher, Peter & Pat; Fisher, Randy; Fleischman, Jessie; Ford, Henry; Foster, Brent; Foster, Chub & Nita; Foster, Ken & Judy; Geiger, Brenda; Glaister, David & Lucille; Glasrud, Ray; Godwin, Barb; Griffith, Jim; Grose, Jim & Faye; Hebson, Tom; Helfrick, Fred; Hervey, Jack & Betty; Hoy, Nelson & Ruth; Hunter, James; Jackson, Bill; Jackson, Bob; Jackson, Dorothy; Jackson, John & Ida; Jackson, Murray & Iona; Jones, Stan & Edna; Kelly, Duane; Kendall, Donna; Kieran, Johny; Kieran, Sam (E.J.); King, Charlie & Daisy; King, Jack; Knoepfli, Enid; Laskin, Nancy; latter, Grace; Laycraft, Arlie & Veryl; Laycraft, Ron & Pearl; Lee, Bill & Ethel; Mackay, Allen; Mackay, Barney & Anne; Mackay, Jennie; Mackay, Tom; Mackie, Doug; Maclin, Hugh & Dessa; Macklin, Jack & Beverly; Maclin, Alec; Macmillan, Ken; Madsen, Oswald & Effie; Mangan, James; Marthaller, Doreen; Mayrhofer, Ron; McBee, Wallace; McBride, Rod; McCreary, Jim; McKay, Myrna; McKevitt, Dot & Jim; McPherson, Malcolm; Miller, Barb; Milner, Lois; Moench, Don & Karen; Monaghan, Bill; Mulder, Rudy & Sally; Nelson, Betty & Leonard; Nelson, Charles; Nicholson, Bob (Robert); Onciul, Ralph; Opheim, Chuck & Pat; Park, George & Eunice; Parker, Marjorie; Parker, Winston & Phyllis; Patterson, Arthur & Theresa; Patterson, Dave & Felicity; Patterson, Bill & Elllen; Patterson Bruns, Louise; Pekse, Ted & Stella; Phillips, Tom; Powell, Bill and Judi; Prestie, Vic & Ev; Preston, Joe & Helen; Ramsey, John; Richardson, John & Margaret; Rishaug, Fred & Avis; Rishaug, Paul; Rishaug, Rick; Roenisch, Norma; Ross, Jim & Gilliam; Sandeman, Alberta; Scatterty, Jim & Cathie; Schaal, Garry & Linda; Schaal, John & Sophie; Schaal, Walter & Lil; Sills, Malcolm & Suzanne; Sinclair, Stuart & Ruby; Sirois, Ken & Pat; Smith, Ernie & Irene; Smith, Ken; Stabler, Lorretta; Standish, Jean; Standish, Lloyd & Ann; Steen, Jack; Stewart, (A.M.); Stewart, Don; Stewart, (W.W.); Straker, Zach; Stroman, Fred; Teskey, David; Teskey, Joyce; Thompson, Rodger; Thomson, Don; Tosh, Allen & Joan; Waddell, Alvin & Karen; Watkins, Suzon; Webb, Robert & Patty; Winthrop, Bill Jr.; Winthrop, Bob & Faye; Winthrop, Ed & Harriet; Winthrop, Lance; Winthrop, Bill & Marjorie
