The Story of Sexsmith's History

History of Sexsmith and Its Origins

The name "Sexsmith" has captured the curiosity of many since the town's establishment in 1916. Originally, the townsite was named "Bennville" after early settler J.B. "Benny" Foster, who homesteaded the area in 1911. However, when it was discovered that there was already a town named Bennville, the name was changed to Sexsmith. This new name honored David Sexsmith, a trapper and trader who first arrived in the area in 1898. He established a stopping point just north of the present town in 1912 and later set up a store and post office at the current site in 1916, the same year the railroad arrived.

In the following years, Sexsmith experienced rapid growth as businesses such as Bird’s Grocery, MacEwan Hardware, and the Weicker Hotel thrived, which led to an increase in population. In 1929, with a population of 250, Sexsmith was officially incorporated as a village. A notable figure in the community at the time was Johanna Haakstad, the renowned midwife who earned the title "Nightingale of the North" and ran the local maternity home.

Sexsmith's fertile black soil and easily-cleared prairie land made it one of the first districts in the Peace River Country to be fully settled. As a result, grain companies began building elevators in the area, starting in 1917. By 1949, Sexsmith had earned the title of the "Grain Capital of the British Empire" for shipping more grain than any other port in the empire. In June 2003, the museum society issued special license plates to commemorate this period of glory, and erected history plaques on seventeen historic buildings in Sexsmith.

In 1976, the Northern Alberta Rapeseed Plant began production, employing 80 people and attracting farmers from across Northern Alberta. Sexsmith officially became a town in 1979, with a population of 1,046. Today, the population has grown to 1,578.

The region remains one of the largest grain-producing areas in the world, with fertile soil and a community dedicated to providing excellent education, cultural programs, recreational activities, and religious services, making Sexsmith a great place to live and raise a family.

The desire to preserve the town’s history led to the publication of Wagon Trails Grown Over in 1980, a book documenting the area's past. From this effort, the Sexsmith to the Smoky Historical Society was formed, later renamed the Sexsmith & District Museum Society. One of the Society's first projects was the restoration of the Nels Johnson Blacksmith Shop, which began in 1984 and was completed in 1989. The shop now houses many artifacts, some of which are demonstrated by the local "Smithy" by special arrangement.

In 1990, the Museum Society moved the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR) Station back to its original location and began restoring it. As part of the Chautauqua Day celebrations, community work bees were organized to rebuild the platform and a section of the railway spur, replicating historical methods. On June 20, 1995, CN Rail donated a caboose to the Society, which was placed next to the station. This donation was also part of the Chautauqua Day celebrations, with dignitaries arriving in the caboose.

In June 1996, the Museum Society moved a log barn (donated by Mona Norman) into Sexsmith and placed it next to the blacksmith shop, where a livery barn once stood. Later that year, in the fall of 1996, the Society moved a log house (donated by the Paszkowski family) into town, and it is currently being restored. In 2002, the Society acquired the title to the Frontier Lumber Company building, which is now undergoing inventory and restoration.

The Museum Society was also instrumental in the Downtown Revitalization Project, which culminated in the restoration of the town’s storefronts. Other privately owned buildings in the town have also been designated as historical landmarks. A committee is currently being formed to create guidelines for any future downtown development that reflects the 1920s and 1930s architectural styles. The Museum Society continues to seek out buildings and tractors to restore and display in the town’s historical downtown area.