Category: Exploring History

Hidden among the precipitous peaks of the Silvery Slocan in the rugged East Kootenays of British Columbia, way up Carpenter Creek, there’s a most amazing ghost town. Shoehorned into a narrow, confined valley, and sometimes obscured by dense undergrowth, it’s photogenic place with the name of Cody. Down a winding...

This post has been retired for an updated version, which can be found here: RCAF/CFS Alsask Radar Dome. Still, we’ll keep some of the photos not transferred to the new piece up for your enjoyment and comments will be retained as well. They’re saying… “Love your pictures, comments, and articles....

The location is Nelson British Colombia, “Queen City of the Kootenays”, a community laid back and friendly in a scenic mountain setting. The time is early fall 2018 – yes we’re well behind in posting. And the reason we’re here? Glad you asked….just passing through on our way to one...

Without a doubt it ranks as one of Calgary’s most unique dwellings. I know the first time we drove past it prompted a triple take from both of us. “Did you see that?”…as we spun around completely in sync. Found in the exclusive Calgary community of Upper Mount Royal there...

Welcome to day two of things seen and places visited from the 2018 edition Alberta Ghost Town Convention (called the Mini-GTC, it’s anything but). It’s been going on a half dozen years now and has been attended by Team BIGDoer from the beginning, along with a wonderful group of friends,...

Here it’s a most interesting take on what’s a most remarkable place. We’re in Fort Steele Heritage Town, out in the East Kootenays of British Columbia, a popular “living history*” museum operating since the 1960s. We’ve been given an assignment to document the park for a photo-tour type article, but...

Deep in the precipitous mountains of the West Kootenays of British Columbia, there’s a most historic place. Built on mining riches it was a boom town like no other, once home to some ten thousand folks that today has a population which can be counted on a hand or two....

To some it’s known, variously, as the Castle, Tower or Turret House, account its distinctive style of architecture. To others it’s the Robertson or Koopman House, after some folks who once called it home. But most famously it’s known far and wide as the Superman House due to its appearance...

One weekend every July for the last few years, a group of close friends gets together and explores the countryside in search of historic and abandoned places. It’s always an epic adventure, taking in abandoned farms, charming villages, near ghost towns and vintage vehicles long put out to pasture. But...

It’s of the era and has a style and vibe that would make a Brady (famously from that quirky ’70s TV show) proud. There’s thick shag carpeting, mirrors and pillars, pastel shades and rich wood panelling. There’s avocado coloured appliances, rock and brick work, marble, brass and all things satin,...

It was only matter of time. Everyone knew it. When is something bad going to happen at the old Enoch Sales House? Will they find a corpse inside? Will it get torched? Given the level of neglect shown it by its owners, Calgary Municipal Land Corp a city department, something...

One evening in Coleman Alberta, in the wondrous Crowsnest Pass. With no goals or plans in mind we simply wander the historic downtown taking in this and that, passing trains and old buildings from the boom days when coal mining drove the local economy. It’s about getting out, working those...

Amazingly one can find the remains of long abandoned railway lines deep inside the city of Calgary. And here’s a most interesting section. There’s the old roadbed, grassed over and a dumping ground for things unwanted and most fascinating to the railway archaeologist, telegraph poles, cross-bucks and all still standing...

We’ve visited the Payroll Property a number of times before. The mine here never amounted to much, even if one shipment of ore was sent out to the smelter long ago. They were testing the waters for its development potential and came up short. It was a “prospect” mine…finger’s crossed...

It just might hold title as Calgary’s oldest gas/service station still in operation and original in form. Here, tucked away in a corner of Calgary’s Lakeview Community, set back from all the hustle and bustle of the big city and perhaps a bit lost in time, is Lakeview Husky. It’s...

It’s a marvel of engineering, a multi-kilometre long concrete structure a century old. Towering over the lone prairie it once brought life giving water to this parched region of Alberta, but today is unused. It was replaced – everything and everybody has that fate eventually – but stands as a...

Another instalment in what’s become a most enjoyable series revisited each and every year. In these we wander Calgary’s downtown core in search of single detached dwellings to document, so houses, or places that were once houses and maybe repurposed but retain that “home sweet home” vibe. These are real...

It’s a pittance really, a short one hundred and twenty seconds, a mere two minutes*. It’s what’s asked of you and I to give, come 11am November 11th, that you stop, and there in total silence and contemplation, you take that moment, no, embrace the moment, in honour of those...

Deep in the mountains of the East Kootenays of British Columbia, up the Wildhorse River, there’s a special place, a town that used to be. This is Fisherville, dating from the 1860s and on this world for but a mere moment in time. It came and went quickly. And here...

All that’s left is a concrete shell, remains connecting back to a huge lumber mill that once operated on this property long ago. We’re looking at the Powerhouse Building put in by the Crowsnest Pass Lumber Company here in Wardner British Columbia, about a century ago. Considered too expensive to...