The Bell Farm Visitors’ Register
Libby (Bell) MacAulay, granddaughter of Major William (Billy) Bell
presents the original Bell Farm Visitors’ Register to
Frank Korvemaker, Chairman of the Bell Barn Society of Indian Head
August 19, 2008, at Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba
The Visitors’ Register was created in 1884 for Major W.R. Bell, resident manager of the
Qu’Appelle Valley Farming Company, commonly referred to as the Bell Farm. The book was
manufactured in Winnipeg by Robert D. Richardson - Stationer, Fine Printer and Blank Book
Maker. It was designed to be impressive, and to record the large variety of guests and visitors to
the Farm. The 9 x 13 inch Register is 2 inches thick, and accommodated approximately 625
pages. Regrettably only 11 pages of signatures were ever recorded. However, this covered all
but the first two years that Major Bell lived at and operated the Bell Farm (1882-1895). It is
likely that the heavy flow of visitors during 1882 and 1883 inspired Major Bell to commission
this Register, which was first used in August 1884.
A review of the names indicates that a wide variety of people were asked to sign the Register,
from local residents to politicians, religious leaders and aristocracy from other countries.
Various people influential in the history of Saskatchewan and Canada visited the Bell Farm
though not all signed the Visitors’ Register. One wonders why some signed, and others did not.
Those who are known to have visited, but whose names are conspicuously absent are Prime
Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and military commander of the North-West Field Force in 1885
– General Frederick Middleton. Members of the aristocracy tend to sign with a single word.
Among the over 300 people who did sign the book are the following well-known guests:
Page 1
- Bishop Adelbert Anson, Anglican Diocese of Assiniboia (1884 to 1892). The Diocese was
subsequently renamed “Qu’Appelle”. His name is the first entry in the Register
Page 3
– Angus McKay – founding director of the Dominion Experimental Farm at Indian Head (the
Experimental Farm was carved out of the original Bell Farm when the latter fell on hard
economic times.
– Hector Langevin – federal Minister of Public Works (1879-91)
– Rev. L. Lebret – Oblate missionary in western Canada
– Rev. J. Hugonnard – Roman Catholic missionary and founding administrator of the Indian
Residential School at Lebret
– Sir John Lister Kaye – established a number of large ranches in southern Saskatchewan and SE
Alberta
Page 5
– Archibald McDonald – a prominent Chief Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, stationed at
Fort Qu’Appelle
Page 6
– Melgund – Lord Melgund was the Chief of Staff for Major-General Frederick D. Middleton
during the North West Conflict of 1885
Page 7
– Lansdowne – The Marquis of Lansdowne was the Governor General of Canada from 1883 to
1888. He toured the North-West Territories shortly after the Conflict of 1885 was suppressed.
– W. Burton Deane – North West Mounted Police member from 1883 to 1914
– Thomas White – federal Minister of the Interior in 1885
Page 8
– Richard S. Lake – Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 1915-1921
Page 9
– M. Bowell – likely Mackenzie Bowell, Prime Minister of Canada from 1894 to 1896.
Page 11
– M.J. Elwood – the last entry in the Register. Mr. Elwood was the brother of Major Bell’s wife.
He came to the Farm in December 1895, shortly after his sister passed away, in order to escort
her body back to Ontario for burial.
Photographs of the Visitors’ Register appear on the following pages
Many names are difficult to decipher, and efforts to verify who signed the book are ongoing.
Ultimately, these names provide not only an interesting listing of who visited the Bell Farm,
but also where other sources of historical information such as diaries and photographs
relating to the Bell Farm may be secured.
Front Cover
Inside Front Cover
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11