PENHOLD -- It was just over a year ago when Stewart Ford was in the early stages of shaping a "little story" on his life for his family to mark his upcoming 80th birthday.
"I had probably about 2,000 words done and all of a sudden it occurred to me, 'Ford, your life is business, so you better write the business story,'" he said.
"So I started all over again with the business story."
With the committed help of his daughter Maria Ford, the project's editor, and wife Eileen, a retired school teacher who provided meticulous proofreading assistance, the revamped project was completed last month.
Ford's original "little story" had morphed spectacularly into a beautifully designed 284-page, 60,000-word hardcover book, entitled Stewart Brothers: An Alberta Family Business History. It was officially unveiled on March 31 at a book launch at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery.
His literary project not only takes readers on a remarkable journey that began with a simple pioneer dream, it also offers a unique Central Alberta insight into the development of the province, the lumber and building supply industry in the province, and Ford's own life, one that continues in his 81st year as one of Penhold's most beloved philanthropists.
And the author's 60,000 words is just half of the story. Ford added more than 250 images, each telling their own tales as well.
"I wanted to have lots of photographs because they still very much tell a story about how life was and what you were doing, particularly when it is in construction and parts of the business when it changes over the years," said Ford. "So we came up with the idea of having pictures with a story, and carrying the story, and at the end of it having the ones that were more illustrating of the story."
Ford's book centres around his family business that began in 1902 after his grandfather Tom Stewart and his great-uncle Norman Stewart, secured a $600 loan to start a machine agency. Their new venture in Penhold became Stewart Brothers.
Norman was the face of the business, while Tom kept the "back end going," the machinery and all the repairs, said Ford.
"It was a very good partnership. One fellow enjoyed the front end and wanted to be there, and the other fellow more reticent but very capable. He was actually ambidextrous. That is handy when you're a mechanic, and he kept the back end going," he added.
The business grew and evolved to become a million-dollar venture, and was later renamed Stewart Supplies (Penhold) Ltd. Transitioning through three generations of family members for more than 100 years, the Penhold-based company served central Albertans with top-of-the-line farm machinery, along with lumber and building supplies.
Ford worked for the company for 51 years and was the last family member to run the business. He retired from the company's retail building supply service on May 30, 2003.
Since his retirement Ford has committed himself to an extraordinary list of loving legacy works for his family and community, well before he moved on his long-standing plan to put his life and family history into words and photos. These include the restoration of the historic Penhold curtain, the creation of the Penhold cenotaph, $500,000 scholarship donations for students at Penhold Crossing Secondary School, and sponsorship of the Chain of Office to salute the town's civic leadership.
"There are two things I wanted to make sure I had done," said Ford of his most recent project.
"The book was the one that would seal everything off, using the archival materials that would come into the book and would be in libraries and in private hands of course to tell the story," he said, adding he still has archival work on the family business to tidy up. "When that is done I will pretty well have everything tidied up."
Perhaps, but it could be difficult for many to seriously believe Stewart Ford will now just quietly fade away. The remarkable history and character of his family, both in business and for the community, strongly suggests something quite different.
"Norman and Tom were not born into business, They became businessmen out of need, opportunity and hard work. It is a testament to them and their families that they lived with such humanity," Ford wrote in his book.
"I always felt that they were men as men ought to be," he added, before ending his story of the Stewart Brothers with a quote from his personal hero, Sir Winston Churchill. "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
Stewart Ford's book is available for a cost of $40 at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery. It is also available at Penhold Building Supplies and the Penhold Museum. One is being held for the Innisfail and District Historical Village. All proceeds will go to the Ford Family Scholarship at Penhold Crossing Secondary School.
For more details call Ford at 403-886-4905.
