Dateline Torrington Alberta and it’s early in 2022. Someone, and we can’t shake the feeling that it’s a person with far too much time on their hands (wink, wink) has built a mini-Stonehenge out of random blocks of concrete. Why? Wait, the big question is why not? It’s one of those curious things people do when bored and from this comes a silly little road-side attraction.
It made us stop and look.
We’re right next to the old railway line here and suspect these blocks may have come from on the town’s track-side grain elevators demolished in the 1990s. Interestingly, we were witness to one coming down (here: A prairie sentinel falls – Torrington Alberta) and isn’t that a cool connection?
Short Subjects: Reports that are short and sweet in nature. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and things of that sort. You’ll be in and out in no time.
The Greenhill was the third stop for the Beer Parlour Project and overall we were a bit disappointed with our photos, so we came back a year later. It went far better then. Rob's old style view camera always attracts attention and if you'd like to see what that fellow is looking at, go down to the comments. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
We were in town gathering material for our aborted book (remember that fiasco?), and stopped by. The hotel was closed due to Covid, but we still wanted a look. We understand it's since reopened and if we're in the area again we'll chat with them. It's a nice old building from the late 1920s and looks in decent shape. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
It's that little place along the highway to Fernie and the second venue visited by the project. There's not a level surface or square corner in the whole building and therein lies its character. Love it!
Sadly Len passed on after out visit. His dry wit was legendary in the area and we learned it first hand after mistakenly calling it the Elk Valley Hotel (an unpardonable sin apparently). Got an earful. The business is now closed and its future when we last checked, uncertain. So glad we had the chance and it's a gem of a place. If it ever reopens, we'll be there. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
From the Crossley Slides (unrestored), a nice 1954 view of the Kootenay National Park Gates in Radium BC. "The Mountains Shall Bring Peace to the People" - amen! You know we'll be making a Then & Now from this one when were in that area next.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Aneroid SK 83 years apart! ONE building from the old photo remains today. Photo in the comments + more below 👇
Then & Now: Standing on the same spot and shooting the same angle.
The original photo is thanks to he Everett Baker Collection at the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society. Everett captured thousand of images in the province (see: https://everettbakerslides.smugmug.com/) and even lived in Aneroid for a time.
The people in front of the Aneroid Hotel (right) are listed as Vic Card and Tom March. This building burned down in 1953. The yellow building on the left (our photo) on closer examination does appear in Everett's image. It's the last one from the old photo. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
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