Craig: What's in a Name?

While taking a road never before traveled, I spotted a church spire off in the distance. I found the closest road and headed towards it. Down that road I happened to pass a community hall. As you, my smart readers probably know, many old community halls were once one room schoolhouses. This one was no exception.

I had found former Craig School SD#1793. Named after the Craig Post Office, established in 1905 and closed in 1912. Which begs the question, how did Craig Post Office get its name? Well the story goes that at the meeting where making a post office application was discussed, local homesteader Mert Craig was late and could be seen through the window riding up on horseback. The name Craig was suggested and agreed upon. Seems like a right place at the right time situation. Isn't that kinda how Mrs. Doubtfire got her name?

The first school was opened in 1909. In 1947 a new school was built and the old one moved away to be used as a teacherage. In 1958 the school became the Craig Community Club. The Community Creed as written by Inga Miller is as follows, 'God help us to be good neighbours, always ready to lend a hand, whenever a friend might need us, let us do whatever we can. Teach us to understand each other, overcome misunderstandings that appear, because it takes all kinds to make a world, and God help us, we're all here. So let us learn a little and serve a little and at the same time have a little fun, so we can go home from our meetings feeling a job has been well done.'  Well said Inga, words to abide by still.

Spotted near the Community Hall.

As for the church spire I spied in the distance...it was a church I had seen before but had come from the other direction. It has been added onto since it was originally built. I didn't realize that at the time. Here is an old and a more recent photo for comparison.

Craig Lutheran. Built in 1941, image from Grub-Axe to Grain

Google image of the church now.

Since I had seen this church before, I didn't take another photo. Then, as luck would have it, I couldn't find my photo of it. An internet photo will have to do until I am over that way again.

As always, if anyone has anymore info on the Craig District of Alberta, I would love to hear from you.

References: Grub-Axe to Grain; Pioneering With a Piece of Chalk