Photo: Stettler and District History Book volunteers Stan Eichhorn and Joy Wood display a sample copy Dec. 29. Deposits will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2026. Rural Alberta Report/S.Salkeld

Update Jan. 10, 2026:

The pre-order deadline for books has been changed to Apr. 30

The deadline for donations, family tribute and businesses has been chanegd to Apr. 1

Have you ever wondered how Stettler got its name? Then a volunteer-driven history project nearing completion is certainly for you.

The Stettler and District History book is very close to completion, noted a volunteer recently. An ad hoc group began work about 9 years ago on a history project that Stettler-area was missing.

History book committee volunteer Stan Eichhorn noted in an interview Dec. 29 that some years ago he and well-known Stettler businessman, clergy and justice of the peace Jack Schultz volunteered to restore a historic sign for the local elevator museum and mused about this region’s lack of a history book. Some time later Eichhorn recalled they organized an autumn meeting to gauge interest in a Stettler history book that attracted 15 people, and the group decided to pursue the idea.

The group began asking for family stories, and while they recalled it was slow going at first, eventually the volunteers collected between 1,200 and 1,300 family stories.

But the business community was a major factor in the history book development too. Volunteers noted the history book will contain upwards of 1,000 articles about the Stettler-region business community too.

Volunteers went through the substantial submissions and made only minor if any changes, as they wanted to keep the stories as closely linked to the sources as possible. Many families also submitted photos.

The Stettler history book budget has a break-even goal, so organizers are just now canvassing for buyers to reserve their copy with a $200 deposit toward the $400 total price. Cursory examination of other nearby history book prices suggests a price around $130 per volume isn’t unusual. since the Stettler and district book will be hand-bound and hard-cover, it’s a substantial value.

The history book committee will be taking deposits up to Feb. 15, 2026 with printing scheduled for Mar. and distribution to follow into July.

Those interested in purchasing the history book set can pay their deposit through the history book’s website, stettleranddistricthistorybook.com, through e-transfer to historybookstettler@gmail.com or by cheque/money order sent to Stettler and District History Book Box 1437 Stettler, T0C 2L0. Volunteers noted that if someone wants the history book but those payment methods aren’t available to them, they should call the history book volunteers at 403-741-2361.

The history book committee gratefully accepts donations to assist with the history book project; payment methods are as above and it was noted sponsors will be recognized in the book. Donations are accepted until the end of Jan., 2026.

Book launch

The history book committee is inviting the community to celebrate the launch of the Stettler book Sat. Jan. 17 at the Stettler Public Library located in the Stettler Rec Centre right beside The Hub. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers noted there will be representatives from the Town of Stettler, County of Stettler, Stettler Regional Board of Trade and other guests for a presentation, activities and refreshments; the history book can also be pre-ordered at this event with the $200 deposit.

Back: Donna Chapman, Joy Wood, Dawn McKay, Laurie Tait,

Eileen Scheerschmidt, Sue Strandquist, Linda Wilkie,

Front: Keirsten Docherty, Ross Martin, Jack Schulze, Stan Eichhorn