Monday, October 2, 2017

Rowleywood Nights: Pizza and Historic Buildings


I had no idea what to expect when I decided to invite a bunch of people to meet me at Rowley, AB for monthly pizza night. This night happens on the last Saturday of every month and is how the locals raise money to maintain and preserve the historic buildings of Rowley.

I had been there last year, but on a non-pizza day, and I was alone to explore the town. This Saturday the town of 8-10 people swelled to around 300 (a guess only). Pizza orders start at 5 and since they can only bake 18 pizzas at a time, it can take awhile. No one seemed to mind. Sam's Saloon, compete with sawdust floor and free popcorn, was packed and the band (Hell City Express) and company were great. In the meantime, I happened to run into a local who had the keys to some of the old buildings so we got to see in the old store, train station and one room school house.

The pizza order line up starts early
I will focus on a bit different view of Rowley than my first visit. With so many people camping in town this time, it would have been impossible to get good shots of any of the buildings anyway. I like photos without people. The photos from my previous trip can be seen here.

Right beside Sam's Saloon is the Rowley Trading Post. It is/was the general store and ice cream shop. In the back was a room set up with old wooden theater seats but it wasn't ever a theater.

Post Office boxes!



After that, it was onto the train station that was built in 1922. After being informed that the place was haunted, the phone in the train station rang! No one answered it. It rang again a few minutes later so I ran and picked it up. It sounded like an old man on the other end and he wanted to order pizza. I told him that he had reached the train station and he hung up. It rang again later. I wonder if he ever got through to the right number and got his pizza.

Signals 

Signal controls. Also, Gordon never did become Premier. 

Vintage wallpaper from the living quarters

POWER!!!
Last stop was the old school. It was first White Rose School built in 1911. It was moved to the nearby district of Hillsgreen when that school burned down in 1946. It became a community centre for a short time and then was moved to Rowley.



I was worried my son might be bored but there is a park there and there were so many kids to play with, he even found a kid he knows from our town! He also had books to read. We got our pizza around 8pm and it was delicious. It was good to see Chris and Connie from www.bigdoer.com, BW from http://everybodyhastobesomewhere.blogspot.ca/ and Tim & Kim. Also enjoyed meeting BW's nephew who was the life of the party.

Same photo as last time, fall version!


Hope everyone had a good weekend and maybe some pizza.

16 comments:

  1. Looks like a great time for a great cause!

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    1. It's a lot of fun Steve! If you're ever in Alberta on the last Saturday of a month....

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  2. Great write-up Jenn! We had a super time and we're already looking forward to the next time we can do it. Was nice seeing you again and Chris and Connie and meeting Dale for the first time! Touring the old station and schoolhouse was a lot of fun.

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    1. Thanks Tim, was good to see you! Still hoping someday to see in the old hospital!!

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  3. It's fun to see old campaign poster from many years back

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    1. There was old posters everywhere! The most interesting ones were in the saloon, the ceiling may have been being held together by posters lol.

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  4. Need to do this again sometime.

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  5. Sounds like a splendid time was had by all. Kudos to the locals for preserving some history...maintaining old buildings is hard work, time consuming and expensive.

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    1. It was great! Very busy place, I am glad we had a table by the door so I could go outside easily!

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  6. What a great event! Love this post!

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    1. Thanks Marie, I think it's great that they have this event to keep the town from reaching 'ghost town' status.

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  7. Sounds like a fun time! Glad you were able to turn it into a bloggin' buddies meetup too!

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    1. Thanks Debra, it is a place I could go again and again. This time it was nice to have some friends there too!

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  8. A great time and so nice to hook up with everyone. Hard to say what the highlight was - so many things to see and do - sure loved that working rotary phone though. I'm weird that way. Connie and I are in if we do it again.

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    1. LOL! I liked the phone too, I think the old guy on other end was confused though when I told him he'd called the train station.

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