聽| J.McQuarrie photo
Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Whether it was as a railroader, going to bat for someone or entertaining people with stories about his experiences, Harry Home was a local legend.
Home died on March 30 this year and tribute to his life has been set up at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives, which reopened on June 13.
And the display has already had a few visitors, said Rob Hubick, museum manager.
"He was well loved and well known," he said.
Home was born in Edmonton in 1933, to parents Jack and Winnie (Bickle) Home.
He worked for CN from 1949 to 1998, moving to Jasper in 1953 when he went to work in CN shops as a fire builder. In 1959 Home was promoted to locomotive engineer.
| Supplied photo
Home married Edna Kearns on Nov. 4, 1967 and a year later, they built their home on Aspen Crescent where they raised their children, Cameron, Tony and Lisa.
Working on the railroad was a big part of Home's life. One of many notable contributions he's known for is spearheading the preservation, operation and maintenance of the CNR Steam Locomotive 6060, which he called, 'Bullet-Nose Betty'.
"His love for the 6060 train was well known," Hubick said.
Karen Byers, archives clerk, added, "His love was that train and making sure it ran."
In 2002, to honour Home's contribution to railroading, CN officially changed the name of its 'Jasper West' signal to 'Home'.
Home had a musical side too.聽 He played trombone in Jasper Park Band and sang tenor in the Jasper Glee Club. As well, he was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Jasper Masonic Lodge, and a big supporter of the museum.
Home was also known for being a guy who would stick up for people.
"He wrote letters of support for anybody he thought needed help," Byers said, "especially for railroaders and their families.
鈥淪omebody who didn't get their pension, he'd write letters. People thought they could go to Harry for many, many reasons."
Byers shared a copy of a letter that Home wrote on Sept. 1, 1975 that exemplifies the support he gave to folks. It's about an area of concern Home talked about with Constance Peterson, about "some of the senior citizens of this area".
Home was upset that longtime residents who had moved away or passed away had not been mentioned in the local newspaper, the Booster.
"I feel it is indeed regrettable that people like this, who have made their many contributions to our community, should fade away without some form of community recognition,鈥� he wrote.
And Jasper will not let Home and his community contributions fade away. His tribute exhibit will be displayed at Jasper Museum over the coming weeks.
