Presenting another random photo from the BIGDoer.com collection and so far they’ve been good ones, so we’re again breathing a sigh of relief here. One day, there’s going to be something embarrassing posted. Still the image seen is in every way unremarkable, even if the subject is interesting enough. We’re looking at a former lumber yard, and for a time also an International Harvester dealer/repair shop, found in a small prairie town. Wait…Ye Ole Ice Cream Shoppe?
The building seems to date back to the 1920s (possibly), with the last firm to use it operating from about the mid-1940s to the early 1970s. Or something close to that timeline. You can still see bits of the old lettering, faded as it is…WF Townsend…Service…Repairs…and we can’t make out the rest. That looks like an IHC logo up top. Above the happy smiley face…ice cream? It must be a joke, right, a variation on the “free candy” thing that’s sometimes scrawled on plain white panel vans? How curious.
Locating a seasonal business in a town with a handful of people, that few visitors pass through, in an old and dilapidated farm shop does not sound like a well thought out marketing plan. Agree? Still, a double scoop of mint-chocolate in a waffle cone would have hit the spot about then. We waited around, just in case, but they never opened. We’ve been snubbed…okay…they’ve lost our future business!
From the same card dump… Random Olds Alberta – Wandering downtown and the other side of the tracks.
Short Subjects: Reports that are brief and sweet in nature. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and things of that sort and you’ll be in and out in no time.
Thank you for sharing this! I was There a few weeks ago on The Way To Castor, Nice Little Community, Great Picture of The Old Building ,The old Ice cream Shop
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
🎄 🎄 🎄
CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
So neat!
Thanks for stopping by!
Creepy!
Only slightly…
We just visited this town for the first time last summer. A hidden gem.
We’d never been before.
Nice photo! We were there in December. Great town for winter photography.
There was some other interesting stuff too, so yes, you are right about that.
…I remember going there with my Dad to get machinery parts. He bought a baler from Bill Townsend. Late 50’s early 60’s.
How cool!
Yes indeed. That is the IH logo.
The happy face on the door is only *slightly* creepy. Really gives off “It” vibes.
Do you want a balloon too? Ahhhhhh!
Thank you for sharing this! I was There a few weeks ago on The Way To Castor, Nice Little Community, Great Picture of The Old Building ,The old Ice cream Shop
You’re welcome!