Leaving Hanna, Greg and I traveled north towards Scapa, tracing the route of the now-abandoned Hanna-Warden C.N.R. line. We paused at Dowling Lake to reflect, checked out Alberta’s newest (closed) provincial park, and looked for traces of the nearby Dowling townsite . Continuing northward, our arrival at Scapa was heralded with enthusiasm by several curious canines. We went with the flow, withstanding waves of ankle-biters and leg-mounters, all for a closer look into the crumbling heart of a once prosperous pioneer community.
Continue reading #FABTrip15: “Hanna to Scapa” or “Going with the Flow” →
At the start of Day 2, we left behind the unfinished business to snoop around Hanna, before heading north to parts unknown. In our tour we came across a business that was definitely finished, and some contemporary finishes to some classic brick work in the heart of Hanna, which provided fodder for Greg’s scathing social commentary. Continue reading #FABTrip15: We see more of Hanna on Day Two →
As the darkness slowly crept in from the west, Greg and I continued trucking eastward towards Hanna, our final destination on day one. By this time the weather had turned cool, and clouds begin congealing over Delia, providing a spectacular sunset for weary travellers navigating fair weather roads. Hanna greeted us with (an) unfinished business, hearty helpings of pub fare, and a midnight downpour to wash it all down.
Continue reading #FABTrip15: The sun sets on Day One →
(Hover over image to activate slideshow options – Slides courtesy of Glen Lundeen / prairie-towns.com)
The launch of Prairie-towns.com signals yet another online endeavour to preserve the history and heritage of Western Canadian communities.
Contained within the collection are over 2700 photos, many postcard images, from 400+ communities throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Amongst the total is are several pioneer-era postcards from southeast Alberta communities such as Alderson, Chinook, Orion and Suffield (see above) that have withered considerably, or disappeared altogether since the images were captured.
Continue reading Historic images of western Canadian towns can be found at Prairie-towns.com →
Chronicling the pioneer-era people and places of the southern Alberta drybelt. 2014 Alberta Heritage Resources Foundation Heritage Awareness Award recipient.
