Macklin’s Three Big Industries

The deeper we dig, the more we find. We’re talking about some “lost” Then & Nows shot years ago, promptly forgotten about for some odd reason*, and only recently rediscovered. There’s been a few of these published so far with more to come. In this example, we take a different approach. Since there would be no way to duplicate the angle and composition of the “then” shot (a million reasons why), instead we attempt to capture the spirit of the original. We’re not sure that it really works, but it was a fun and interesting take on this series where the goal is to connect two eras.

This little distraction takes place in Macklin Saskatchewan and for inspiration we take an old postcard showing a street scene in town. From the rail yard (shot from the top of a boxcar we think), we’re looking north towards the business district at the core. The postmark, by the way, is 1911, so it’s very early in this community’s history, Most prominently seen is the train station, a grouping of freight cars and in back, a large hotel. It’s curiously captioned, the “Three Big Industries” each of which are marked and which we seek out today.

Macklin is very near the Alberta border, central part of the province, the line a mere stone’s throw away. Founded in the 1910s, around the time the railway arrived, today it has a population of some fourteen hundred. In the old days, it was a lot more. Farming and the petroleum biz keeps people employed. That’s pretty much all that’s is out there in these rural parts.

If we believe the old image, it’s other things which drove the local economy back when. Trains were a big money maker and booze and the good times it brings, similarly so. Makes sense. But the post office connection? We’re not sure. I guess to take it literately, the $$$ in Macklin came from drunken brakemen who has a penchant for letter writing. Was it just poking fun or something more deep?

The rail line is still here, but the station long gone. The track is the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Northern Prairies Mainline that’s been in operation for over a hundred years. Looking at the crew cars and given the style of lettering on them, the old photo was captured soon after the tracks arrived. Far left, the edge of a water tower used to fill steam locomotive boilers. We don’t know when these buildings were torn down but they do show in a 1960 photograph we found, so sometimes after. But probably before the 1970s.

Our “work” shot has us close to that water tower location. Tank cars in back are on the siding of an asphalt firm. In the past, the was many grain elevators just to our right which filled many rail cars. The gloves? Seemed like a good ideas at the time.

The Macklin Hotel appears in both images and has been a beer stop for over a century. In spite of some architectural changes, that it’s the same building is clear. Hotels used to position themselves close to the tracks, because that’s where the action was. We raise a toast to this silly project, with a warm Richard’s Red…that damn near exploded on opening.

History paints a picture of the hard working, hard drinking railway worker who on getting paid was soon broke again. Work all week, blow the pay cheque at the Macklin Hotel, absolve the sins on Sunday, then it’s back to the grind. Rinse and repeat. Oh, and throw in the occasional brawl, some card play and maybe a little carousing come Saturday night.

The hotel is still in business and we figure it’s worth checking out next time we’re in town. Wednesday is wing night! This day, we had a schedule to keep.

The post office of now, is not the one seen in the old image. It’s presently housed in a fairly modern nondescript building just behind the hotel. How convenient…all three “industries” in close proximity! In spite of the world changing, out in rural areas the services provided by Canada Post are no less important today than they were a century ago. Interestingly, we’ve been to almost total ghost towns on the prairies where the postal outlet is the only open business. No other buildings seen in the then pic seemed to have survived.

And so it goes, some lame attempt to tie two points in time together. It sort of gels.

The then photo comes from our friends at Prairie-Towns.com. We know not who shot it, nor anything else for that matter. It’s all lost to time. If you have an old photo that you think would be the basis for a good Then & Now, we’re eager to hear from you. It must be your image (say from an old family collection) or alternately one really old that you know is in the public domain. We’ll search out copyrights if you’re unsure. These are best if they show some street or town scene. Landscapes are good too.

Interestingly Prairie-Towns.com had some other Macklin scenes which would be good starting point for a BIGDoer T&N, that we somehow overlooked. No prob, we’ll be back. There’s lots to explore in the area and we’re giddy to repay the town and area a revisit. Who’s up to welcoming us? Picturing us being met with pitchforks…

Because of the original shooting location we took the approach we did. It would have been impossible (or at best stupid and dangerous) to match the angle of old image. Not like we could have scaled one of those tank cars over there. We have a few more examples like this in the works where instead of duplicating a shot we find other ways to make that across-time comparison. Tell us what you think.

*A rotten brain is one explanation. That, and our chaotic mess of a filing system.

They’re saying…

”Thank you so much for your fantastic articles and photos. Alberta and BC are dear to my heart. I could spend 24/7 here with you ! I especially love the before and after articles . Keep up the great work guys !! I was born and raised in Calgary in the 50’s so this history is my passion.” Joanne Winchester Honer.

Simply for fun…
Lorne Malvo’s Motel Room – Billy Bob’s.
New Horizon Mall is Strange! – Social distancing since 2018.
Keeping the Faith – PINBALL!
Suite 16 – Dive Motel!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: September, 2017.
Location: Macklin, SK.
Article references and thanks:

Macklin’s Three Big Industries…

Postoffice!

Beer!

Work!