At Alderson, a former village along the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline, northwest of Medicine Hat, time and freight roll on – but the past remains. To echo the thoughts included within the preface to Empire of Dust (see below), it should be a historic site. There are stories to be told there. Split personality. X” marks […]
The story of Forgotten Alberta
On March 14, I was privileged to join a diverse lineup of presenters at Medicine Hat’s Esplanade Heritage and Cultural Centre for the second Pecha Kucha Night of 2014. It was an interesting and informative night for all involved, and I’d like to thank Pecha Kucha organizers for inviting me to present. For those who […]
Prairie Post: Special marker makes note of prairie cemetery near Lomond
Check out the article by Rose Sanchez, appearing in the October 18 edition of the Prairie Post, on the efforts to preserve Taylor Cemetery, a few clicks west of Bow City. It can be viewed online at the Post website here.
Taylor Cemetery: “Consecrated, set apart, and dedicated forever.”
[Not a valid template] On October 1, 2013, I was honoured to be part of a dedication ceremony at Taylor Cemetery, located about five miles west of Bow City (which I have written about here and here). A ceremony was performed by Rev. Gordon Cranch of Vulcan; alongside a plinth and bronze plaque that had been installed […]
Who are the forgotten dead of Vulcan County?
During the decade after 1916, settlers fled the drought-ridden plains of southeastern Alberta en masse. As David C. Jones outlines in his book, We’ll all be buried down here- The Prairie Drybelt Disaster of 1917-1926, homesteaders often alighted with few possessions, many carrying only “the shirts on their backs”. In some instances settlers were forced […]