Serving up POP HISTORY & other McFun!…
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Kenopsia: "the eerie atmosphere of a place that's usually bustling with people but now vacant or abandoned."
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Rob Pohl & Arturo Pianzola:
1 Day: Denman & Hornby Islands (BC)
Wilfrid Lambo:
Crossley Slides: A Corner in Erlton
Rob Pohl & Arturo Pianzola:
Ioco Port Moody BC (Ghost Town)
Anonymous:
Historic Fort Macleod After Hours
Anonymous:
Ghosts of the Crowsnest Subdivision
Franco Media:
Moose Jaw SK Train Station (~90 Yrs Apart)
Anonymous:
Kart World or Kart Gardens? (2014)
Ross Hamilton:
Prairie Sentinels: Cadillac Sask
Anonymous:
Dominion Bridge Calgary (Ramsay) ca1960-2014
John Kinnear:
World of F.E.A.R Figure-8 (Abandoned)
Dale:
Forgotten Coal Town Cemetery
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Royston Wrecks (Vancouver Island BC)
Dale:
Shandro Historic Village (Closed)
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Bridge Hunting: Highway 13 Scotsguard
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Grain Elevators of Consort Alberta
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Commander Mine 1935-1956
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Fort Macleod is home to many old motor court style motels & we have a thing for them too. The Sunset first makes mention around 1960, as the Sunset Motel & Trailer Park on Macleod Trail (now Crowsnest Highway). There are still some occupied trailers behind the place, but we’re not sure if they still connected with the motel.
Take a tour of historic Fort Macleod (includes motels): https://www.BIGDoer.com/59497/exploring-history/historic-fort-macleod-after-hours/ Thanks to our sponsor Anonymous.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #fortmacleod #oldmotel #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
We were in contact with the previous owners of the Queens regarding the Beer Parlour Project & they seemed open to the idea. But soon after they shut down. Historic Stevens Building in back.
Take a tour of historic downtown Fort Macleod: https://www.BIGDoer.com/59497/exploring-history/historic-fort-macleod-after-hours/ Thanks to our sponsor Anonymous.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #fortmacleod #queenshotel #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
The sun star was just pure dumb luck. That it lined up with two windows is amazing & this only happened because the building was being gutted & was empty on that floor.
Take a tour of historic downtown: https://www.BIGDoer.com/59497/exploring-history/historic-fort-macleod-after-hours/ Thanks to our sponsor Anonymous.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #fortmacleod #americanhotel #historichotel #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
The silver elevator dates to 1925 (a century old this year!) & it's intact mechanically. It's the last wood Ogilvie Flour Mills elevator in the province & is owned by the Ogilvie Wooden Grain Elevator Society who saved it from being demolished. Check them out & donate if you can.
The structure was farmer owned before & used up until the early 2010s. It was also owned by the Alberta Wheat Pool at one time. Refer to a link below to learn more about this scene.
The elevator further back is fairly modern (1960s).
More: https://www.BIGDoer.com/46882/then-and-now/wrentham-alberta-25-years-apart/
Photo credit: Allan Brooker.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #ogilvieflour #grainelevator #wrenthamalberta #thenandnow #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
This was captured during a roadtrip in support of the book Lost Alberta: Forgotten & Abandoned History. The manuscript was completed but sadly it never went to print (it still turns up in the publisher's book searches). No bother & we still had a grand time making it. Going on adventures together & making memories is what we love & everything else is not that important.
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #mallardduck #andrewalberta #worldsbiggest #roadsideattractions #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
They've hosted film & live events here since 1912 & the building has been beautifully restored. It's run by the Empress Theatre Society & we should all give them a round of applause for their dedication. Bravo!
The Empress is one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in the province & a showpiece in historic downtown Fort Macleod. Even thought we visit the town often, we've never been inside & we think that needs to change.
From this post: https://www.BIGDoer.com/59497/exploring-history/historic-fort-macleod-after-hours/ Today's sponsor is Anonymous - thanks!
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Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
Thanks, Chris.
#historylover #historynerd #historyphotographed #fortmacleod #empresstheatre #chrisandconnie #offthebeatenpath #bigdoer
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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.