Our blog outlines a few quick steps to get your submission ready for a decorative plaque – https://edmontonhighlands.ca/heritage-plaques/
You have lots of time to do the research before the deadline to get your plaque this summer. The next submission deadline will be late October.
It’s a simple 3-step process. Look up Henderson’s directory, retrieve the land title, and submit your findings to the Plaques Coordinator. If you have any hiccups along the way, we’re here to help. You can send us an email or message us via our blog or Facebook with any questions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about the history of your home while applying for a decorative plaque to celebrate your home’s unique history.
Share with us in the comment section below some of your stories or what you have learned so far about your home. Some have connected with the children or even grandchildren of the original owners of their home!
There’s ample time to gather your information and make the May 31 deadline!
We look forward to reading your stories and receiving your plaque applications!
Highlands Historical Society 
I have a huge binder with all the details of the decorative plaques program in my home. It was passed on to me by Carol Snyder because we talked about the possibility of listing the plaques as an Appendix in her most recent book. The purpose of publishing a list was to assist anyone undertaking the Highlands historical tours in identifying them those historical buildings.I did some work on checking out the plaques to see if what was posted on the plaque was the same as the record. There were some discrepancies, but when Carol’s plan for an Appendix to her book did not materialize, we abandoned the project. So I would really like to know what to do with this binder. Please advise me.Judith Hibberd587-523-2233
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Hi Judith,
We would be happy to take the binder from you for any possible use or reference! We will give you a call.
Talk soon!
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I have a plaque on my house. I bought the house. I do not know the story.
I wonder how to find out about my house?
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Hi Brenda:
Thank you so much for your question. There are many ways to learn more about the history of your house during your research. For starters, if you go back to look in the Henderson Directory dating before the year your house was built, searching by name of the owner, you may find the address of his or her former residence. This gives you some insight into the movement of this individual. For instance, I discovered that the first owner of my home formerly owned another house in the Highlands. This house was a larger home than mine.
On looking in the Yellow Pages at the archives, I was able to follow my home address with this same owner into the 1970’s indicating how long he would have lived at this residence.
Then, on researching the name of the owner and his wife, on a google search, I was able to find an obituary and a marriage announcement giving context as to what stage of life they were at on purchasing my home.
Putting all of this information together, I deducted that their former home was larger because they would have raised their children in this home and my home later became their home through to retirement.
On finding the obituary, I was able to quickly learn their descendants and find more information about them including contact information through Facebook and the yellow pages.
Furthermore, on doing research on their profession and place of work, it also puts into context the geography and sometimes how close one’s home would be to their place of work. For instance, The owner of my home was the head buyer for Swifts Packers. On doing research about Swifts Packers at the archives, and on finding old aerial maps of the neighbourhood, I realized that this owner likely lived in the Highlands because it was close to his place of work.
It is also interesting when tracing back this same owner in the Henderson Directory prior to the year of purchase of your home, because you can also trace any career progression. For instance, when the original owner of my home lived in his previous residence prior to moving into my home, he was still working at Swifts Packers but in a different role, lending to a promotion or a certain progression in his career.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or would like some help!
Enessa
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