Karen Wahlund - manager of the Stettler Town and Country Museum When I moved to Alberta in 1975, I straightaway became a mountain kinda guy—quite natural considering the Rockies are only a couple of hours west of Red Deer. To this day, every weekend camping trip, overnight getaway and multi-day road trip has taken me in that direction. I’d never really considered exploring the flat lands to the east. Despite that, there has always been something about the prairies that appealed to me. Maybe it’s the sense of freedom that I associate with the wide-open expanse or possibly my inquisitive nature. Whenever I do travel across the prairies and I see a silo or farm building off in the distance, I wonder what brought the folks that built them to that place. How did they end up living and thriving in what some would say is the middle of no-where?
A recent trip to Stettler, AB., (about a one-hour drive east of Red Deer), to watch my grandson play baseball got me thinking that I should venture out that way more often. I did, in-fact, work for the Stettler Independent newspaper for about 6 months back in the early 90’s as a staff photographer/reporter, so that seemed like a good place to start. And I do enjoy visiting museums in small rural communities where you can learn about the history of the area, and in some cases, discover that you are part of that history. So, I ventured out on a solo overnighter to start exploring.
The Stettler Town and Country Museum
The Stettler Town and Country Museum bills itself as the fifth largest pioneer village in Alberta. It is laid out as an outdoor walking tour featuring many original historical buildings inside of which the history of Stettler is presented through countless documents and artifacts specific to the area. Relics in the four old schoolhouses, the Lakeview church and the 1910 farmhouse provide visitors insight into everyday life in rural Alberta in the early twentieth century. The smell inside the harness shop is as pungent as it would have been in 1910. I could imagine myself listening for the whistle of the steam train as it approached the station or watching the operator as she sat in her hard-backed wooden chair plugging wires into the switchboard and maybe even eavesdropping in on her neighbor’s phone calls. I’ve probably said it before, but I think I was born one-hundred years too late. I don’t believe for a minute that life was easy then, at least by today’s standards with our technology and conveniences. But it was simpler.
Although tiny and somewhat primitive looking, the craftsmanship that went into building the log home at the Estonian Settlement exhibit is quite amazing. The story enlightens visitors about the first immigrants from Estonia who fled oppression to find freedom, land and prosperity in Alberta.
The history of the Stettler Independent newspaper is housed in a building that contains documents detailing the origins of the paper as well as artifacts like the old linotype type setting machine. Back in the day, linotype was considered state of the art and significantly streamlined the tedious process of printing newspapers and magazines.
I mentioned that sometimes one might discover that he’s part of the history when touring these exhibits of days-gone-by. I noted that I did work for the Stettler Independent newspaper in the early 90’s. While touring the building that housed sports memorabilia, I noticed a newspaper clipping reporting the story of two high school boys heading off to play in a badminton tournament in Edmonton. I spotted the author of the story as the newspaper’s editor during the time that I worked there. Although the photograph did not have a credit attached, I immediately recognized it as one of my own. Pretty cool, I thought.
www.stettlermuseum.com
A recent trip to Stettler, AB., (about a one-hour drive east of Red Deer), to watch my grandson play baseball got me thinking that I should venture out that way more often. I did, in-fact, work for the Stettler Independent newspaper for about 6 months back in the early 90’s as a staff photographer/reporter, so that seemed like a good place to start. And I do enjoy visiting museums in small rural communities where you can learn about the history of the area, and in some cases, discover that you are part of that history. So, I ventured out on a solo overnighter to start exploring.
The Stettler Town and Country Museum
The Stettler Town and Country Museum bills itself as the fifth largest pioneer village in Alberta. It is laid out as an outdoor walking tour featuring many original historical buildings inside of which the history of Stettler is presented through countless documents and artifacts specific to the area. Relics in the four old schoolhouses, the Lakeview church and the 1910 farmhouse provide visitors insight into everyday life in rural Alberta in the early twentieth century. The smell inside the harness shop is as pungent as it would have been in 1910. I could imagine myself listening for the whistle of the steam train as it approached the station or watching the operator as she sat in her hard-backed wooden chair plugging wires into the switchboard and maybe even eavesdropping in on her neighbor’s phone calls. I’ve probably said it before, but I think I was born one-hundred years too late. I don’t believe for a minute that life was easy then, at least by today’s standards with our technology and conveniences. But it was simpler.
Although tiny and somewhat primitive looking, the craftsmanship that went into building the log home at the Estonian Settlement exhibit is quite amazing. The story enlightens visitors about the first immigrants from Estonia who fled oppression to find freedom, land and prosperity in Alberta.
The history of the Stettler Independent newspaper is housed in a building that contains documents detailing the origins of the paper as well as artifacts like the old linotype type setting machine. Back in the day, linotype was considered state of the art and significantly streamlined the tedious process of printing newspapers and magazines.
I mentioned that sometimes one might discover that he’s part of the history when touring these exhibits of days-gone-by. I noted that I did work for the Stettler Independent newspaper in the early 90’s. While touring the building that housed sports memorabilia, I noticed a newspaper clipping reporting the story of two high school boys heading off to play in a badminton tournament in Edmonton. I spotted the author of the story as the newspaper’s editor during the time that I worked there. Although the photograph did not have a credit attached, I immediately recognized it as one of my own. Pretty cool, I thought.
www.stettlermuseum.com
Young volunteers, Brooklyn Chapman, Raina Wilson and Tynan Whiteside spruce up displays on the streets of Big Valley. Big Valley
Big Valley is a small community (population about 350), located 35 kilometers south of Stettler (about 100 km south east of Red Deer, AB). In 1920, the population of Big Valley was more than twice what it is today due to coal mining in the area and the stock yards needed to support the numerous cattle ranches around Big Valley. Because Big Valley was such an economic region, it also became a major hub for the railroad including maintenance and repair facilities. Big Valley was also a place I enjoyed visiting while working for the Independent newspaper.
Just prior to commencing employment with the Independent, the Stettler arena burned down forcing hockey teams to find another venue. That was Big Valley and I travelled there frequently to photograph the games. One cold, stormy rainy night, I showed up in Big Valley well before game time and decided to snoop around looking for something to shoot. I came across an old church on a hill just on the outskirts of town and decided it would be a good subject. It was a spooky scene--the cross on top of the steeple glowed eerily in the dark as the rain poured down. I’ll admit that I was a bit jumpy when I got out of my vehicle and started walking up to the church. I set my camera on a tripod, opened up the lens and started doing random off camera flashing around the church. My activities attracted some attention because people started yelling from the bottom of the hill, wondering what was going on. They told me afterwards that it was an eerie and scary sight to behold. The Saint Edmunds church was built in 1911 and although currently in need of repair is still in use. Oh ya, I did get a great shot of the church with its steeple glowing brightly in the dark and my editor did publish it. That was back in the days of film and I will have to go looking for the negative someday.
If you read about rodeo photographer, Ken Marcinkoski in the Everyone has a Story section of hiddengemcanada, I mentioned there that my initial encounter with Ken was while shooting my first rodeo in 1994 in Big Valley, on assignment for the Independent. I’ve photographed many rodeos since, but I did learn a lot about being around the action just from watching Ken that day.
After leaving the Independent all those years ago, I hadn’t been back to Big Valley but thought about visiting that community many times. I finally made it back.
Okay, back to museums and attractions. Big Valley itself is a walking tour with attractions all around the core of the village.
There are three museums, a privately-owned museum called the Creation Science Museum and two museums operated by the Big Valley Historical Society, the McAlister Motors Museum and the Vintage Tool Museum. On the day I arrived in Big Valley, the doors to the creation museum and the vintage tool museum were locked. The McAlister Museum (it’s housed in an old automotive garage) was, however, open so I did get a chance to wonder through.
The McAlister Motors museum is quite small but houses many local artifacts as well as some restored vehicles and old tools. It was a quick walk through but interesting none-the-less and is an essential stop in the complete tour of the village.
I would have been interested in visiting the creation museum to see what evidence they presented that opposed biological evolution. I’m sure that it wouldn’t change my personal thoughts on the subject, but I’ll not debate that here.
Other points of interest in Big Valley are the railway station, which houses a museum and the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame and is also the final destination of the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion that departs from Stettler (a whole story for the site in itself), the working grain elevator, the roadhouse (the ruins of the locomotive servicing shops), the oil well pumper display, St. Edmunds Church (I already talked about that) the Big Valley jailhouse and the Jimmy Jock Boardwalk, which is where I had lunch and met the Boardwalk Bistro owners, Tom and Tanya Plante.
For a small village, Big Valley has a lot to offer. Whether you’re out for a day trip or need over night accommodation, Big Valley is one place not to be overlooked.
www.villageofbigvalley.ca
Big Valley is a small community (population about 350), located 35 kilometers south of Stettler (about 100 km south east of Red Deer, AB). In 1920, the population of Big Valley was more than twice what it is today due to coal mining in the area and the stock yards needed to support the numerous cattle ranches around Big Valley. Because Big Valley was such an economic region, it also became a major hub for the railroad including maintenance and repair facilities. Big Valley was also a place I enjoyed visiting while working for the Independent newspaper.
Just prior to commencing employment with the Independent, the Stettler arena burned down forcing hockey teams to find another venue. That was Big Valley and I travelled there frequently to photograph the games. One cold, stormy rainy night, I showed up in Big Valley well before game time and decided to snoop around looking for something to shoot. I came across an old church on a hill just on the outskirts of town and decided it would be a good subject. It was a spooky scene--the cross on top of the steeple glowed eerily in the dark as the rain poured down. I’ll admit that I was a bit jumpy when I got out of my vehicle and started walking up to the church. I set my camera on a tripod, opened up the lens and started doing random off camera flashing around the church. My activities attracted some attention because people started yelling from the bottom of the hill, wondering what was going on. They told me afterwards that it was an eerie and scary sight to behold. The Saint Edmunds church was built in 1911 and although currently in need of repair is still in use. Oh ya, I did get a great shot of the church with its steeple glowing brightly in the dark and my editor did publish it. That was back in the days of film and I will have to go looking for the negative someday.
If you read about rodeo photographer, Ken Marcinkoski in the Everyone has a Story section of hiddengemcanada, I mentioned there that my initial encounter with Ken was while shooting my first rodeo in 1994 in Big Valley, on assignment for the Independent. I’ve photographed many rodeos since, but I did learn a lot about being around the action just from watching Ken that day.
After leaving the Independent all those years ago, I hadn’t been back to Big Valley but thought about visiting that community many times. I finally made it back.
Okay, back to museums and attractions. Big Valley itself is a walking tour with attractions all around the core of the village.
There are three museums, a privately-owned museum called the Creation Science Museum and two museums operated by the Big Valley Historical Society, the McAlister Motors Museum and the Vintage Tool Museum. On the day I arrived in Big Valley, the doors to the creation museum and the vintage tool museum were locked. The McAlister Museum (it’s housed in an old automotive garage) was, however, open so I did get a chance to wonder through.
The McAlister Motors museum is quite small but houses many local artifacts as well as some restored vehicles and old tools. It was a quick walk through but interesting none-the-less and is an essential stop in the complete tour of the village.
I would have been interested in visiting the creation museum to see what evidence they presented that opposed biological evolution. I’m sure that it wouldn’t change my personal thoughts on the subject, but I’ll not debate that here.
Other points of interest in Big Valley are the railway station, which houses a museum and the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame and is also the final destination of the Alberta Prairie Railway Excursion that departs from Stettler (a whole story for the site in itself), the working grain elevator, the roadhouse (the ruins of the locomotive servicing shops), the oil well pumper display, St. Edmunds Church (I already talked about that) the Big Valley jailhouse and the Jimmy Jock Boardwalk, which is where I had lunch and met the Boardwalk Bistro owners, Tom and Tanya Plante.
For a small village, Big Valley has a lot to offer. Whether you’re out for a day trip or need over night accommodation, Big Valley is one place not to be overlooked.
www.villageofbigvalley.ca
Bert, our driver from the Reynolds Museum to Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. The Reynolds Museum
A couple of weeks following my solo tour to Stettler and Big Valley, my grandson, Phoenix and I ventured out on another overnight expedition to the east country. Our objectives for that trip, the Pow Wow at the Samson Cree Nation and the Reynolds museum in Wetaskiwin. I will write about the Pow Wow in a separate blog.
I had visited the Reynolds museum many years ago and considered it to be worthy of a return trip. The museum houses and extensive collection of vintage vehicles, farm equipment and other artifacts that reveal the advancement of technology over many years. The museum also houses its own restoration facility capable of refurbishing everything from the smallest farm implement to vintage vehicles to the largest tractor.
Some will not be old enough to remember, but the mock up of a drive-in theater brought back fond memories for me. When I was young, I recall doing all-nighters at drive-in with my family, when they would show three or four movies in a row. On those nights, I probably fell asleep in the back seat before the second movie ended. When I was old enough to go with my friends, we would load as many in the trunk of whose ever car we took that night and hopefully not get searched at the pay booth. I only recall maybe one time that we got busted. I would love to see the return of the drive-in theater.
The museum is also host to many events, from vintage motorcycle events to the harvest festival. Areas of the museum can be rented for events such as weddings and conferences.
Another major attraction is Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, located in its own building and on the same property as the museum. This facility holds an impressive exhibit of vintage planes, some so delicate looking that it’s hard to imagine them in flight. The histories of aviation pioneers and the stories of more modern aviators including those Canadians that have travelled to space provide some interesting reading for visitors.
For details on these two great attractions, go to the following websites. In short, the Reynolds Museum and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame should be included in your travel Alberta itinerary.
www.reynoldsmuseum.ca
www.cahf.ca
A couple of weeks following my solo tour to Stettler and Big Valley, my grandson, Phoenix and I ventured out on another overnight expedition to the east country. Our objectives for that trip, the Pow Wow at the Samson Cree Nation and the Reynolds museum in Wetaskiwin. I will write about the Pow Wow in a separate blog.
I had visited the Reynolds museum many years ago and considered it to be worthy of a return trip. The museum houses and extensive collection of vintage vehicles, farm equipment and other artifacts that reveal the advancement of technology over many years. The museum also houses its own restoration facility capable of refurbishing everything from the smallest farm implement to vintage vehicles to the largest tractor.
Some will not be old enough to remember, but the mock up of a drive-in theater brought back fond memories for me. When I was young, I recall doing all-nighters at drive-in with my family, when they would show three or four movies in a row. On those nights, I probably fell asleep in the back seat before the second movie ended. When I was old enough to go with my friends, we would load as many in the trunk of whose ever car we took that night and hopefully not get searched at the pay booth. I only recall maybe one time that we got busted. I would love to see the return of the drive-in theater.
The museum is also host to many events, from vintage motorcycle events to the harvest festival. Areas of the museum can be rented for events such as weddings and conferences.
Another major attraction is Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, located in its own building and on the same property as the museum. This facility holds an impressive exhibit of vintage planes, some so delicate looking that it’s hard to imagine them in flight. The histories of aviation pioneers and the stories of more modern aviators including those Canadians that have travelled to space provide some interesting reading for visitors.
For details on these two great attractions, go to the following websites. In short, the Reynolds Museum and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame should be included in your travel Alberta itinerary.
www.reynoldsmuseum.ca
www.cahf.ca
