On the road to somewhere, we make a brief stop in the little community of Granum Alberta (founded early 1900s), with just enough time to fire off a couple snapshots. The always beckoning highway calls. So for but a few moments we wander about “downtown”, with not another soul in sight, taking in a number of old buildings found here. There’s the post office and AJ’s Diner and while open for business both, they we closed on the day of our visit. Down the block, the Town Hall, a most stately building, and beside the Senior’s Drop Inn Centre. All small prairie towns, who have on average have a rather old population base, seem to have one of these.
The sky moves – those dramatic rolling clouds. And further down Railway Avenue (interestingly, the tracks are long gone), the town’s former garage. They sold gas, did repair work and functioned as a new car dealer. On one wall a ghost sign advertising Esso fuels and on another, but you have to look hard for it cause it’s well faded, one advertising Ford Cars. Research tells us these likely date from the 1940s period. Wonder if they once had globe pumps out front?
And with this we just fell in love with the town. It didn’t take long. I can see a revisit and a much more ambitious photo essay and write up is in order here. It’s a picturesque place (odd we’ve never visited it before) and I bet has much history to share. Yup, we’ll back.
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: November, 2018. Location: Granum, AB.
Never thought I’d ever see a shot of my original “hometown” – first eight years of my life, 1927-1935. Fantastic! Can still recall first encounters there with a railroad (CPR)never knew I’d end up working for the NAR for 36 years!
My mom’s family was originally from around Granum. They settled east and slightly north of town about a dozen years before the place was incorporated. My grandfather spent a lot of time at the Drop-in Centre on main street, and is buried in the cemetery.
At one time, it was larger than Claresholm, to the north. Now it’s the smallest designated town in Alberta.
Oh! It originally wasn’t called Granum – before the railway, it was called ‘Leavings’… because it was the point from which cattle ‘left’ for the stockyards? I really don’t know.
I love these little towns. I was raised in Fort McLeod, and dad worked at the Safeway trailer plant outside of Granum back in the 1970’s. Granum has the distinction of being the smallest town in Alberta.
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Speaking of Climax, here's a downtown view in 1951 and 2024. The then photo is from the Everett Baker collection and comes thanks to the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society. A few buildings on the left, including the hotel, are seen in both photos but all others are history. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
A retro, all-metal playground in Burstall Saskatchewan. The rocking horse, aka the tooth chipper or shin buster, was perhaps the most dangerous. Chris says he still has scars from one. But on a summer's day, those slides could get as hot as a baking pan fresh from the oven and gave new meaning to the words toasted buns. If you survived this playground, you were ready to take on the world. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Date: 2024. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Along an abandoned canal built in the 1910s, in a dry region of Alberta. The saddles were to support a syphon (alt siphon, a pipe) but work stopped before this section was completed. Syphons of the era were typically of wood and allowed a canal to cross valleys and such without the need for trestlework.
Check the comments for an example of how a wood syphon looked...
Like what you see and want more? Make some NOISE. 👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Date: 2015. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Where: Tom Campbell's Hill Calgary. What: Formerly part of the zoo, but now a park. When: 1970s and 2020 - lots of change. Why: Why not? Note the stubby beer bottle in the old photo.
From the Crossley Kodachromes and it's labeled: "Curtus at Crowfoot Glacier". Here's a view along the Banff Parkway back in 1954! The old car appears to be a high end Pierce Arrow (can anyone confirm?) and it's well outfitted with two spares plus plenty of lights.
Like what you see and want more? Make some NOISE in the comments. 👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
My wife worked in that post office many years ago I believe Granum is Alberta’s smallest town!
A couple people mentioned it, and sure enough, it the smallest. Interesting. Rhys, in fact, commented on it earlier.
To bad I missed that trip. Next time!
Well visit Granum again.
There is some interesting signs/buildings in Granum. Its always great to see another photographer’s take on things 🙂
Thanks. I’ve never actually explored it before. Had little time that visit, but so want to go back.
Never thought I’d ever see a shot of my original “hometown” – first eight years of my life, 1927-1935. Fantastic! Can still recall first encounters there with a railroad (CPR)never knew I’d end up working for the NAR for 36 years!
Arthur, that’s an amazing memory!
My wife remembers going grocery shopping with her mother in Granum long long ago.
Cool connection!
I was going to take a similar photo 3 weeks ago but it was -27 then.
Yes, the cold. It won’t end!
There used to be more, back when the highway ran through. The swan song of many a small town.
Yes, once the highway goes, so goes the town.
My mom’s family was originally from around Granum. They settled east and slightly north of town about a dozen years before the place was incorporated. My grandfather spent a lot of time at the Drop-in Centre on main street, and is buried in the cemetery.
At one time, it was larger than Claresholm, to the north. Now it’s the smallest designated town in Alberta.
The smallest town? How interesting. And that you have a connection to the place. So cool.
Oh! It originally wasn’t called Granum – before the railway, it was called ‘Leavings’… because it was the point from which cattle ‘left’ for the stockyards? I really don’t know.
Thanks for adding to the story! We’re hoping one day to pay the town a revisit and do something more ambitious.
I love these little towns. I was raised in Fort McLeod, and dad worked at the Safeway trailer plant outside of Granum back in the 1970’s. Granum has the distinction of being the smallest town in Alberta.
Interesting! On both accounts.
I love it! I don’t know why I haven’t stopped there before…
I know, us too! Passed it by so many times, but never really checked it out.