The Bell Farm Series contains photos, maps and textual records about the 57,000 acre Qu’Appelle Valley Farming Corporation (called “The Bell Farm”), of which Major William Robert Bell of Brockville, Ontario, was the founder in 1882 and the farm’s general manager. Financial difficulties associated with crop failures as well as the 1885 Northwest Resistance at Batoche (led by Louis Riel Jr.) arose at the farm. During the Resistance, Major Bell and most of his workers and horses were in the service of the Canadian militia and little or no crop was planted or harvested. In 1886, much of the farm’s land and assets were sold and the corporation was re-financed, resulting in a smaller company registered as “The Bell Farm Company.” This company also failed financially by 1889 and was liquidated.
Major Bell retained a personal holding of 12,000 acres, which he farmed from 1889 to 1895, supported by investors. Further misfortunes, primarily, the destruction by fire of his flour mill and the sudden death of his wife caused Major Bell to leave Indian Head in 1895. His land and assets were sold by auction.
The archival materials include photos of the farm buildings, including the large stone house and the round barn which, in 2020, continues to be a museum dedicated to telling the story of Major Bell’s huge farming company. Other photos and textual records tell the stories of the people and the operations of the farm.