Linclon, or is that Ƨeventh?

We’re not sure what’s more interesting. Could it be that Linclon Avenue/Ƨeventh Avenue Northwest, in Calgary, has a century (plus) old identity crisis? Or perhaps it’s due to the poor spelling skills of certain cement workers from long ago? Their words, incidentally, should read Lincoln and Seventh respectively, had someone been paying better attention.

Back to the question at hand – it’s hard to say, but that the errors are across the street from each other and reflect both naming conventions, together, makes it extra special. We’re giddy about the whole thing. Bonus points: the same company was behind it all back then!

What a fun bit of history, a street with two names, vintage markers showing both and each with a humorous mistake memorialized.

The location is Crescent Heights, a neighbourhood founded around 1910 and just across the Bow River from downtown. The street we’re discussing dates back to that time, but by 1913 had quickly been renamed.

McKibben Contractors, shown as McK-Bros on the older marker, laid down both sidewalks and clearly you didn’t have to be good at anything other than cement placing to be in their employ. Spelling was clearly low on the list of qualifications. Still, I bet someone got chewed out for these and perhaps the only reason they were not replaced was economics. They didn’t throw money around back then like they do today, so the mistake was accepted all the same I guess, given the circumstances.

Today these stamps have become a wonderful curiosity and that the two errors are in such close proximity strikes us as particularly chuckle-worthy. We’re the world’s worst orthographists* (even with the help of a spell checker), so we can relate, understand and are completely sympathetic.

The sidewalk on the Linclon side will be replaced soon, but the stamp will remain and incorporated into the new pour. This hundred and ten year old slip-up will be kept. The city’s been retaining sidewalk stamps in old neighbourhoods, when possible, which shows someone down there cares a bit about history. How odd as it seems the city rarely does and often seems, at best indifferent or even contemptuous for things from the past. Note the painted instructions on either side and while messy (again, we can relate!) it’s made clear that it should be left behind.

This post duplicates one we did 2015, but with updates and new photos.

And we’re done, but please drop by again for more new content and be sure to say hi!

*Orthography: “The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage.” (TheFreeDictionary.com)

They’re saying…

”I was recently doing some research on grain elevators and found write-ups about many of them on the BIGDoer website. The information was very helpful. Thank you Chris and Connie for all that you do!” Christine Kalauz Hanlon.

This city interesting…
Calgary Stampede 2020: Cancelled! – After almost a century!
Calgary’s Best Walks #20 (sorta) – Put those feet in motion.
Calgary then and now – Miles for Millions – A scene from the 1960s, revisited.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: contact us!

Date of Adventure: March, 2022.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references and thanks: The City of Calgary and The Calgary Sidewalk Stamp Facebook Page.

In 1910 it was Linclon.

By 1913 that changed to Ƨeventh.