The Lacombe and District Historical Society is looking for help in solving a mystery that is over 100 years old. In the September 30, 1914 edition of the Western Globe an advertisement announces that it will be giving away a ‘a real live white baby’.  The ‘Western Globe’ was later called the ‘Lacombe Globe’ in 1935.

“Many hours have been spent by our team over the years to research the topic and it has been an interesting fact brought up on tours by our Historical Interpreters for the past eight to ten years,” said Executive Director and Curator for the Lacombe and District Historical Society Melissa Blunden.

She says this was not the first ‘live baby raffle,’ and that many have been held throughout North America but still little is known about where the babies ended up or if the advertisement was simply a joke.  

“As it seems to have been widely practiced, this might indicate it was satire, or a joke of some sort. Were these actual human babies or perhaps livestock used as a marketing and advertising tool for the theaters? We do know that adoptions were sometimes found in the classified sections of newspapers, and the rules on welfare for children was vastly different. Is it too much of an exaggeration to think past generations would raffle a human baby?” explained Blunden.

Now, the historical society has turned to social media for more information.  If you have any information about raffled babies you are encouraged to share them with Lacombe and District Historical Society at archives@lacombemuseum.com. For a look at other 'raffle baby advertisements,' you can view the post on their Facebook page.