This page has been moved…
Want to “invite” us to document your historic building or machinery?
Know of something you think we should see?
Want to work on a project, together?
Please go here…
Serving up POP HISTORY & other McFun!…
(Mmmm, yummy bite-sized pieces.)
Kenopsia: "the eerie atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but now vacant or abandoned."
We couldn't run this website without your help!
Or
Recent sponsors...
Dale:
Shandro Historic Village (Closed)
Margaret Nemeth:
Bridge Hunting: Highway 13 Scotsguard
Anonymous:
Grain Elevators of Consort Alberta
John William Kinnear:
Commander Mine 1935-1956
Cindy Miller Reade:
Prairie Sentinels: Coderre Saskatchewan
Margaret Nemeth:
Eastern (Deutsch-Canadier) Block (2014)
Jason Sailer:
Fairbanks Morse H16-66 (CPR #7009)
Margaret Nemeth:
Robsart Saskatchewan 61 Years Apart
Rob Pohl & Arturo Pianzola:
Comox Fisherman’s Wharf Comox BC
Anonymous:
Notre Dame de Savoie Church (From 2014)
Margaret Nemeth:
A Corner in North Glenmore ~50 Years Apart
Anonymous:
Highland Golf Course – Fore No More
Richard Graydon:
Bay Island One Room School (1919-1950)
Gregory Fraser:
Farmer Jones Carz – Closed 2012
Richard Graydon:
Prairie Sentinels of Oberlin Alberta
- Boler! (109)
- Exploring History (286)
- Hikes And Summits (146)
- Old Things (61)
- Other Fun (121)
- Short Subjects (167)
- Then And Now (108)
- Uncategorized (3)
(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...
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L88EKX9JAEW72
https://buymeacoffee.com/offthebeatenpathbigdoer
Thanks to everyone who will and who has done so already. We'll give you a shout-out.
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).
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...
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L88EKX9JAEW72
https://buymeacoffee.com/offthebeatenpathbigdoer
Thanks to everyone who will and who has done so already. We'll give you a shout-out.
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).
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.
The Laing House dates to the 1910s and at the time of this photo had been empty for about half a century. More: https://www.bigdoer.com/60689/exploring-history/the-lonely-laing-house-1910s/
Thanks to Dale for sponsoring that website article.
_______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
The Laing House dates to the 1910s and at the time of this photo had been empty for about half a century. More: https://www.bigdoer.com/60689/exploring-history/the-lonely-laing-house-1910s/
Thanks to Dale for sponsoring that website article.
_______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
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.
_______
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.
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.
_______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
Comments are currently turned off
- Chris Doering on Reach Us!
- Patrick Keck on Reach Us!
- Chris Doering on Few Words: The Cutest Little Farm House
- Eric May on Few Words: The Cutest Little Farm House
- Chris Doering on Old Slocan Highway by the Lake
- Chris Doering on Bow River Loop: Inglewood – Carburn Park
- Jason Sailer on Bow River Loop: Inglewood – Carburn Park
- Jason Sailer on A Few Minutes in Stavely Alberta
- Jason Sailer on Old Slocan Highway by the Lake
- Jason Sailer on Forced Perspective The Calgary Tower
- Chris Doering on Few Words: A Catalogue Home?
- Chris Doering on Prairie Sentinels: Fort MacLeod Alberta
Have you checked out the large CNR trestle bridge near Fabyan? I was very surprised to not see a report on it from your site.
No not yet. Know of it and certainly if I’m in the area will visit it. So many things to see and document, so little me!
Have you ever checked out Bankhead Mining in Banff National Park?
Yes, but an awfully long time ago (link below). I think the time is right to revisit the subject.
https://www.bigdoer.com/5538/exploring-history/bankhead-alberta-ghost-town/