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."
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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)
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).
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.
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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.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
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Hi – I hope is message gets to you. I have several photographs – 8″ x 10″ black and white, of the Bow City Alberta coal mine, and some of the machinery used in that era. The photos are from the 40s -50’s. I will share them with you. You can contact me at xxxxxxxxx@xxx.ca.
Dianne
Hi Dianne, got your email and will message you. Very interested. You’ll hear from me soon.
Hi;
Nice web page. My grandfather was a miner in Blairmore till 1919.
I’d like to one day go there and search out the mine (if I can find it).
The photos you have on your web page are beautiful. Thank you for
sharing and all the time you put into everything.
Josie
If you need help tracking something down, we’d be happy to help. We know the Crowsnest area well, in particular when it comes to mines.
Hello:
Thank you for your response. All that I know about my grandfather (Pietro Mancini aka Peter) is what I was told about. His son told me that he could hear his father’s boots on the pavers when he neared the house and they would hide, since he was so very abusive. The house was still up in the 1960’s and was yellow block or concrete. I just assumed my grandfather was
close enough to the coal mine to walk home. His son told me in the 1990’s that they would go swimming nearby in the “Old Man River” and they’d wear gunny-sacks. He said that they could see the mountains from their home and he told me they called them the “Three Sisters”. In 1918 my uncle’s mother died in childbirth. His father (my grandfather) went to Italy and re-married and upon returning to Blairmore the police were looking for him, since he had abandoned all his children and they were sent to orphanages (Calgary or Edmonton ?). He was a mason also (I have some of his paper work). He and my grandmother fled by night over the U.S.A. boarder and got to Detroit, MI where my mother was born in 1921.
I’ve just always been curious and have planned one day to go to Blairmore.
From your photos, Alberta looks just so beautiful. Thank you again for your response. I hope to visit one day and see the coal mines.
He died in Detroit in 1944 (born in 1877 in Italy) of stomach cancer, which I think is prevalent with coal miner.
Thank you for your time.
Josie
Can’t understand why some people are abusive. The Oldman River is not in the immediate area and is too far north. However, I’ve heard a couple old timers refer to the Crowsnest River, which does pass through Blairmore, mistakenly by that name. Hmmmmm, an eye-brow raiser. There is a Seven Sisters Mountain in the area. One can find a Three Sisters much further north near a community called Canmore. Interestingly, it was a coal town too. Yes, coal mining and lung problems went hand in hand. Many died from the black stuff. I’ll send you an email to see if you want me to look into this further.
Thank you for your reply and time.
Josie
Email sent. Have a great day.
Hi I understand that you rewire rotary phones? Is this correct?
Anyway I want to buy an old phone and I was wondering if I send it to you can you fix it.
Also how much does it cost to fix it?
Thank you for your time!
Chelsea
Yes, old phones are my specialty. I’ll email you about this.
Hi, Chris and Connie,
I know Harry Sanders, a historian in Calgary, he works for Chinook Historic Society and other organizations, you can contact him or Chinook Historian Society or go to his website or Chinook Historic Society website, maybe you can get some information useful to you.
University of Calgary has an archeology or similiar bachelor major, its graduates often find jobs in some organization related to history/archeology.
I read a lot of articles in your website, it is really nice of you. I believe all hiking/outdoor persons must be good guys.
I come from China, I have been doing a lot of hikings and travels both in China, Canada and other countries.
Good luck
Ming
Thanks for posting Ming! I can use this info.