Straight and Narrow: a way of living that is honest and morally proper (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Morally proper…like being nice and all? Really? They’re not looking at us when they say that. These signs are not actually real and were put up for a bit of fun here in Mendham Saskatchewan.
Presenting more interesting things seen while visiting little prairie towns and there-in lies the attraction for us. Being a bit quirky helps cushion the blow of a challenging life and it’s often reflected in these places we visit. That we love. You have to keep a sense of humour or wither away.
The stop sign is an oldie and dates from the mid-1950s or before. Things move at a slower pace here in rural SK, in regards to infrastructure and the mindset is if it works, why change it. The sign has degraded to such a point that perhaps the local government might have to splurge for a new one soon. If the stop sign budget has been replenished since installing this one.
The antler tree is just a short hop away (on Narrow Street) and collecting all of those must have taken a lifetime. Antlers make up other things in this yard, but we liked this shot best. How utterly over the top.
Small towns have us in such a hold that we make it a point to wander about, on foot, as many as we can. We meet lots of cool locals that way, learn much and have a grand time photographing what ever comes our way. That’s how we roll, so look for us in your town.
Short Subjects: Reports a few paragraphs in length and brief in nature. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and things of that sort. You’ll be in and out in no time.
Speaking of films shot in & around the Crowsnest Pass - Journey of Natty Gann 1985 & the Dwyer Farm in 2016.
Exploring film history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- A Disney production (not a bad movie either), many scenes were shot in the area. - It's the story of Natty, on cross-country trek to find her father & it's set in the bleak days of the depression of the 1930s. - Many locals were extras in the film - if you were one, chime in down in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. - The lighter areas of the house show where boards were removed by barnwood salvagers. _______
Rockyford Alberta more than 100 years apart (1910s, probably later in that decade & 2024).
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- Rockyford was founded in the early 1910s & sprung to life with the coming of the railway. - Many of the buildings seen in the old photo burned down over the years. - The former bank & the one marked "pool" beside it, in the original photo (both right), are two buildings seen in both images. - The present day Rockyford Hotel (right, our image) was built after the Then photo was taken. - Rockyford's train station would have been just behind our shooting position in the old days. The tracks are gone now. - Then photo credit: University of Calgary - it's dated 1911 there but research suggest it's from a bit later. _______
Consort Alberta on a cool & crisp morning in late 1997 or early 1998. Shot by Chris while returning from oilfield hotshot run & after a couple hour nap next to the buildings. A quick photo & he was back on the road.
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- These elevators, dating back to the 1950s & before, were gone a few years later. - The railway line was on its last legs at this point & service was very spotty. Sometimes months would pass without seeing one. - Both the grain elevator firms & the railway (Central Western - ex CPR) knew the writing was on the wall.
There's not much going on in Hilda Alberta (2016). We're at Hilda Motors on Main Street & looking down at the town's last grain elevator. Check the comments for a closer photo of it.
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- This incarnation of Hilda dates to the mid-1920s. - Like many prairie towns it sprung to life with the coming of the railway & the grain elevator in back is from this time too. - The railway pulled out decades ago & the tracks are gone. - Hilda Motors operated from the early 1950s to about 1990, functioning, variously, as a farm equipment dealership, car sales outlet & service station. Today, it’s used by a private individual for storage & that's the fate of many old buildings in these small towns.
It's -20C & we're dreaming of Freakin' (or Peakin') at the Beacon. We've seen ads where both are used. The Beacon in the inset photo is seen in the early-1960s, but we know it from the early 1980s. It was a notorious place then, but the beer was cheap & for underage seekers of cold libations like us, they never carded. It was common knowledge among teenagers - The Beacon & the Westgate. As long as you bought a round (even if paid nervously with loose change & with no tip), they didn't care.
- The Beacon dates to the late 1950s & was home to the famous Calypso Lounge. - In the late 1970s, a more youth oriented bar came on the scene (Franky & Johnny's). - This meant a change of attitude to something more brash & edgy. - During these times they hosted loud bands & even strippers. - Trouble soon followed & many nights, it was the wild west. Cops knew it well. - Fights, stabbings & general mayhem was often on the menu. - In the mid-1980s it became the North Centre Inn & was demolished a decade later. - Since 1996 the property has been home to to Central Landmark Mall. - Our image was captured during a cold, cold, cold-day walk in the neighbourhood (2016) - sometimes I think we're crazy.
Photo credit: unattributed - appears to be an old postcard. _______
Wild Horse Hank with Exorcist star Linda Blair (1979) - shot in & around the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta. A TV production, it follows her adventures as she works to save a herd of feral horses.
They're due to be made into dog food, unless she can get them to a federal reserve where they’ll be protected. It's a perilous multi-day journey crossing mountains & deserts, all the while being pursued by poachers. The very last step is to get them across the section of road seen here, along a now closed section of Crowsnest Highway.
It's a minor scene, but we still love searching out these locations & doing comparisons. Important or not, it's a thrill.
We know a lot of locals worked as extras on the picture & we'd love to hear from you. _______
- shot in & around the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta. A TV production, it follows her adventures as she works to save a herd of feral horses. 
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