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
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Beer Parlour Fridays: before Pilsner in Saskatchewan, there was Bohemian or simply Boh. For decades, it was the most popular beer in the province. Incidentally, both Pil and Boh were for decades products of Sick's Brewery. This Boh cap was found in the basement of an old hotel in SW Saskatchewan during a visit by the Beer Parlour Project. It celebrates the beer winning a prestigious best in world award in the late 1960s.
Beer Parlour Fridays: here's a standard issue cast-metal round-top Beer Parlour table. These were supplied through the liquor control board (who heavily regulated the business) and therefore could be found at most drinking establishments. They date back to the 1940s-1960s period and surprisingly, we still see them out there in the wild all the time. Often they were covered in terrycloth to help sop up spilled beer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Tompkin's SK Hotel/Lucky Loon Saloon, previously Woody's. It was just a drive by visit and not a stop on the recent Beer Parlour Project tour of SW Saskatchewan. Had it been open we would have checked it out, however. Celebrating old school watering holes at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood Alberta, built in the late 1950s to replace one that earlier burned down. Visited in October 2024 by Chris and Rob. Watch for this hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
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).
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!