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.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
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.