Todd Beltz is an avid collector of memorabilia from Virden’s past. He stores his treasures in the office and reception area of Virden Auto Body, a business he took over from his father Garry in 2004.
“I look for anything old and Virden related, like old pictures of the town,” he says, dusting off a photo album that sits in the lobby of the body shop.
Beltz points out some of the vintage postcards it contains, the oldest circa 1904. Most depict the marvelous architecture of Virden in its youth. A few images show early oil derricks.
The most interesting ones contain personal messages on the back to loved ones far away like this one to Miss Maude Haist of Ontario in 1908.
“Dear Cousin, just received your letter, glad to hear you are well as it leaves us the same. I am collecting postcards also. Give our love to all, from Aunt Alice and Uncle Ed”
Beltz’s favorite piece, though, is a 1951 black and white aerial photo of Virden he acquired by placing an ad in the paper. Often, folks will just drop by the Auto Body and give him old photos, post cards or yearbooks from Virden schools.
Sometimes, he shells out for pieces he can’t resist like the chrome table top jukebox with the song names still inscribed on the labels inside, a Kijiji find.
His dad, Garry, seems tickled with his son’s interest in the past. Now retired, he too likes to reminisce about simpler times.
“I think his collection is great,” he smiles. “Takes me back to the early days of the shop.”
The archive is still a work in progress. Young Beltz has an ongoing search notification on eBay and other online stores that lets him know whenever a Virden, Manitoba item has been put up for sale.
If it’s a postcard or image he doesn’t already have, he swoops in and grabs it.
So it’s a fair guess the Virden Auto Body collection will continue to grow and occupy a place of pride in the shop’s front lobby.
