Where’s this now? Onarch? Wait, no, it’s Onarc. Moving about a bit…ohhhh, Monarch…now we get it. Guess we should open our eyes more. Here’s a little village in Alberta, home a couple hundred folks, just a bit west of Lethbridge. At one time the highway ran right through the place, but on being bypassed, the community’s a quiet backwater now. The only sound heard, outside the occasional barking pooch, was the horn of a passing train. But soon it’s gone and the silence returns.
And over there, the tallest thing in town. We’ll it had some competition in the old days – long gone now, there used to some grain elevators over by the tracks. So this is Monarch’s water tower. It’s said to have been brought in here from the town of Taber (east of Lethbridge) in around 1984. From what we can find it stood in that earlier community at least since the 1940s. Got to wonder what one of these costs used?
One peaceful night, the stars are out and there we are standing in the dark snapping photos of the thing, much to the amusement of an old couple watching us from their yard. It looked as though they thought us crazy. That’s badge we wear often…so we smiled and waved and they ran inside.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found. Or sometimes we just ramble on about Lord knows what.
If you need any more information on what we talked about here, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: Oct, 2018. Location: Monarch, AB.
Getting out my cheque book! We could put it in our back yard and I’m certain the neighbours wouldn’t mind. Since “Onarc/Onarch” we’ve been thinking more about old water towers. Might have to find some more to shoot.
My great aunt and uncle Gerritt and Macy Koole lived right near that water tower in Monarch for years. Their home was a blue bungalow almost right on the highway as you passed by the town. Thanks Chris & Connie for sharing.
It’s still there. Only the small country grain elevator, used to load grain on railcars, has been replaced by huge “inland terminals” at select places. The farmer need only drive a short distance to sell his grain in the old days. Not so much anymore.
That tower was originally from Taber, and was one of two that served the town, on the north and south sides. Both were originally bright red. The south side tower was dismantled and scrapped. The north side tower was moved to Monarch via Highway 36, the “Turin road”, Highway 25 and Highway 23 in 1984. I watched it go past our farm on the Turin road.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
That water tower came down recently.
We’re back! Oh, thanks for the update. Glad we captured it when we did.
Love the ‘Onarch’ photo! I checked Kijiji…there is a water tower near Oyen for sale for $55K….in case you wanted one!
Getting out my cheque book! We could put it in our back yard and I’m certain the neighbours wouldn’t mind. Since “Onarc/Onarch” we’ve been thinking more about old water towers. Might have to find some more to shoot.
My great aunt and uncle Gerritt and Macy Koole lived right near that water tower in Monarch for years. Their home was a blue bungalow almost right on the highway as you passed by the town. Thanks Chris & Connie for sharing.
Another person connected to the place. We’ve heard from so many. Glad you liked it Adele! They were quick and easy shots, but turned out nice.
Great mood lighting!
Thanks for liking it.
Spent a year there replacing the sewer lines and man….I could tell you stories!
I don’t want to know…yes I do!
You’re getting pretty good at this night photography thing.
Thanks Mike. So love in town or in city night photography. It’s challenging and the results satisfying.
What has happened to the grain business? Not from Canada so just asking.
It’s still there. Only the small country grain elevator, used to load grain on railcars, has been replaced by huge “inland terminals” at select places. The farmer need only drive a short distance to sell his grain in the old days. Not so much anymore.
I remember that tank!!! Omg, it’s been a long time!!!
The memories come flooding back…
first rate photography!
Thank you John! We try hard and sometimes it even pays off.
That tower was originally from Taber, and was one of two that served the town, on the north and south sides. Both were originally bright red. The south side tower was dismantled and scrapped. The north side tower was moved to Monarch via Highway 36, the “Turin road”, Highway 25 and Highway 23 in 1984. I watched it go past our farm on the Turin road.
Thanks Gord. That’s interesting. What a job to move it!
Not many water towers left standing in Alberta.
So true and some I understand are threatened, so photograph them now before they’re gone.