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VOL 30Number Two August 2017 The Canadian Northern Society and The Canora Chronicle Newsletter Acknowledgements celebrate 30 years this year! Thank you to The Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation for the generous and kind cash donation—along with fellow members James E. Lanigan, Donald Wilson, and Dr. Rae Fleming. ALONG THESE LINES: WARDEN STATION PROJECT Your Canadian Northern Society has been fulfilling its mandate in researching To honour our commitment of and interpreting the history of the Canadian Northern Railway by installation of ‘Capturing history and Building Community’ interpretive signage, website development, and the construction of a “train order we will be showcasing each of our sites station” for Warden, Alberta. with a special up-close look at the sites Located 55.9 miles south of the Battle as they are today. See the enclosed River, and 5 miles south of Stettler— insert and enjoy a look at our Big Warden was the historic junction Valley Station and Roundhouse point of the Canadian Northern’s Bat- Interpretive Park site. tle River Subdivision with its Brazeau extension that ran 170 miles west to the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. The Board of Directors wishes our There the railway served a coal mine past Managing Director, Doug Roper, developed by Martin Nordegg, whom all the best as he moves to a new community closer to his family. Mackenzie and Mann had commer- Thank you for all your time and cial dealings with during the early efforts with our Society! days. Originally there was a standard fourth class station constructed at We welcome Norm Prestage as the Warden—which was destroyed by fire new Society Managing Director. in 1919, and replaced with a third Norm has been a long-time volunteer class station which eventually was and spent his career working in expanded to accommodate the additional passengers who would stop there the grain business. Norm brings a during layovers of the old Hanna–Mirror mixed train. Regretfully this structure wealth of knowledge and abilities to was sold and dismantled in 1983. the position and we look forward to To educate visitors and passengers aboard Alberta Prairie Railway’s excursions working together to Capture History trains on Warden’s railway history, and time table and train order operations— and Build Community! we started a volunteer project this past spring in Camrose to construct this portable station which is beginning to nicely take shape. It includes actual UPCOMING EVENTS features from the original Warden station—in particular station name signs, August 19, 2017 window frames, and the train order signal wall machine levers. We had hoped Camrose Heritage Station to install this depot prior to July 1, however have fallen a bit behind with volunteer 150 Garden Party (10 am to 4 pm) resources. However we are indebted to Jeremiah Overland, Donnie Lowen, and August 27, 2017 the late Bruce Smith who all have worked on this project. In addition we thank Meeting Creek Station Park Don Gillespie of Alberta Prairie Railway, the East Central Alberta Heritage Society, Prairie Fun Days (10 am to 4 pm) and Richard Graydon and Ernie Beskowiney for their continued assistance. Thank you to Dominion Railway Services Ltd. for the donation of the railway Help us to increase our chair for the station. This will complement an original station desk which was followers and “Like” us on donated at Camrose and has been incorporated. Facebook! We will be looking for an agent for Warden next summer! www.canadiannorthern.ca ~ 1 A Letter from Mr. Don Trotten to the Canadian Northern Society, IG ALLEY APPENINGS B V H July 21, 2017. The successful Rails and Tales event was held from June 28 to July 5 with the visiting steam loco 1392 from the Alberta Rail- I wanted to write to thank the Canadian Northern way Museum. Steam and oil-fired traction equipment displays Society for its significant donation of $1500, and donation and many others. The station was headquarters for most of the in-kind of the use of the Big Valley Station for display events and had many visitors from around the world as well as purposes, to Rails and Tales, 2017. many photographers who came out. Thanks to all of the volun- teers that helped make Rails and Tales an event to remember. As you are aware, Rails and Tales 2017 was planned as Wayne and Phyllis continue to do a great job of keeping the a unique event in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday station and grounds in great shape and looking good. Alberta focusing on the history of rail transport, and in support Prairie’s trips continue to bring in people from all over, and we of the east central area of Alberta. For the first time in get very positive comments on our station. 31 years, Western Canada has brought together two operating steam locomotives for a “steam-expo.” Our ~ Rich Graydon, Big Valley Station event was completely run by volunteers with a passion for steam, and the cost of all events free to the public was covered solely through sponsorships and donations. Your donation was critical to the success of Rails and Tales 2017, covering the million tiny (or not so tiny) but important costs associated with mounting an event of this size. The in-kind contribution from the Canadian Northern Society of the use of the Big Valley Station allowed us to show historic films of rail events, and to pro- vide a cool and contemplative location for our guests. For your support in this area, we thank you very much! Sincerely, Don Totten, Chairperson Photo©S.I. Smith Rails and Tales 2017 Committee ©Lorrie Tiegs Photography ©Lorrie Tiegs Photo©S.I. Smith SAVING A HISTORICAL ARTIFACT The Saskatchewan Railway Museum recently acquired a Canadian Northern Railway agent’s office desk by way of donation. Evidently his desk was from the Canadian Northern standard third class station at Leask, Saskatchewan. This is very similar to the desk at Meeting Creek and Camrose and as illustrated in our own Charles Bohi and Leslie S. Kozma’s book on CNs Western Depots. Congratulations to the Saskatchewan Railway Museum for not only preserving this piece of Canadian Northern Railway history, but to all they do for the community of Saskatoon and beyond. 2 ~ www.canadiannorthern.ca games, thanks to Jen Laskoski and Katie they did to make Hobo Day so successful, AMROSE EWS C N Gagnon. A special thank you to Carol and for all they do in the Station Gardens, First, I’d like to introduce myself. My Roy for the wonderful backdrop painting Tea Room and Archives every day! We name is Norman Prestage, and as of June for the photo area. To Barb McDonald, would also like to welcome our third 8, I’ve taken on Doug Roper’s position the Hobo display in the lobby was great! summer student, who just recently joined of Managing Director at the Camrose Thanks so much. And a special thanks to us. Welcome, Hanna Snider! Heritage Railway Station and Park. Doug the Camrose Public Library for sending Just a quick reminder of what’s coming left to be closer to family in Grande the Book Bike and staff with books and up in the next month. Isle of Sodor Day, Prairie. I have a background in the grain crafts for the children. And did you see all a celebration of all things Thomas, will business, but retired a year and a half the little painted faces? Thanks to Tracy be held the afternoon of August 5. The ago. I become bored very quickly, and Fontaine for the face painting booth. Canada 150 Garden Party will be held since I have volunteered at the Camrose So many thanks to the entertainers! from 10 am to 4 pm on August 19 here station and in Meeting Creek for the Firstly, to Garry Middleton for the at the Station. The final day of this past 17 years, I happily stepped into the demonstrations of how to build a “hobo season is August 24. And don’t forget position. stove”. And to Bill Walker (guitar), Devin Prairie Fun Days, celebrated at Meeting Thank you to all those who helped Rehn (banjo), Norton Metcalfe, Glenys Creek from 10 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday, make the annual Battle River Commu- Smith, and Harold Tippler (vocals), thank August 27. There will be tours, fun, food nity Foundation Barbeque so successful. you for the sing-alongs. Thanks also to and entertainment. A special treat will be Dorothy Lysons, Sharon Ofrim, Elizabeth thespians Ed Kusalik, Peter Leblanc, Cowboy Poet Jeff Strandquist at 2 pm. Bagdan, Cathie Bartlett, Norm Prestage Glenys Smith, and Melissa Prost for their We will be seeking helpers for all of and “the two Carols” (Roy and Rawson) efforts to educate and entertain in story. these events, so be prepared! all pitched in to work their magic, of We’d like to say a special thank you to Until next time… course under the direction of Glenys our summer students Amielle Christo- Smith. pherson and Jennifer Laskoski for all that ~ Norm Prestage, Managing Director We received a Canada 150 grant for signage in Meeting Creek, and thanks to Bill Walker for making the frames and to Hobo Day Event Lorrie Tiegs for the design and printing work to be completed this fall. Thank you to Don Walsh of Camrose for the donation of a top hat and tail coat from the turn of the last century, and an Algerian coffee set to the gift shop. Thanks also to Dean and Lorrie Tiegs for the generous donations to the White Elephant Gift Shop this spring.