Hay Lakes, AB was one of the new to me places. It wasn't on my list of places to go that day but the friends we were meeting suggested we meet there to see a couple of the local sights, as they are very familiar with the area.
First we stopped at the old Creamery. It was built in 1923 by Edmonton City Dairy, in 1924 it was taken over by Burns and Company. They constructed additions to the creamery to include a cheese making plant and an egg grading station. The Creamery was then sold in 1944 to the Northern Alberta Dairy Pool. It closed for good in 1969 and was sold the following year.
I love this building. I understand that the current owner uses it but it's too bad it likely will never be restored to it's former condition. It think it should be a designated historic building.
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| c. 1929 Alberta Provincial Archives |
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| c.1940 Alberta Provincial Archives |
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| c.2018 Jenn |
Here are a couple of interesting buildings on Main Street:
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| Former garage or implement dealer? |
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| An old store front |
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| Google Image |
In conclusion, I am glad we took the time to explore Hay Lakes and always stop and explore something new.
Have you found something cool or unexpected while out for a drive?
Nothing says "small one-horse prairie town" like those old false-front stores!
ReplyDeleteTrue! I love finding them! I found one sitting in the middle of a field this summer. Nothing nearby but cows.
DeleteHay Lakes, a forgotten town it seems. I love seeing the photos and reading the history but somehow it makes me a little sad that things just got left behind like that! The buildings are so nice.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm out for a drive and I see a smile on someone's sour face, that surprises me lol! Seriously though, there isn't much to explore around here because it's all private property and folks are serious about not letting anyone in.
Hi Rain, I was surprise to read there are a few hundred people in town.
DeleteI think the problem around here is that with some of these abandoned farms being remote, it's impossible to keep people out unfortunately, some people don't respect the no trespassing rules.
I can remember back in the late '70s and early '80s when Hay Lakes was still quite a bustling little village. It's mostly a bedroom community now for larger centres like Camrose, Nisku, and even Edmonton. Great research you did on the creamery Jenn, and maybe next time, we can visit Telegraph Park. I'm glad we had the opportunity that day to show you around the area.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim, that trip has provided endless things to write about and research!
DeleteI love the buildings you find and the places you explore Jenn. Not much exploring going on here until spring!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie! I will keep exploring as long as the weather permits! Are you getting a ton of snow out east?
DeleteIt seems that time has passed this place by. Terrific shots!
ReplyDeleteHi William, it seems to be a quite place but it close enough to some bigger centres that it will probably just keep on keeping on! ;-)
DeleteHay Lakes must have been a happening place in its day! I especially like the creamery building and the barn. Only recently I learned that arched roofs such as the one on this barn are called rainbow roofs...sounds exotic and magical all at the same time. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Michael! I haven't heard that term before but I like it! I always referred to them as gothic arch barns...my personal fave type over the hip roof. LOL yes I have favourite barn type.
DeleteHay Lakes used to have a rockin' little hotel!
DeleteWas it the local watering hole? I didn't see anything like that there.
DeleteIt burned down several years ago, Jenn. It was located in the empty lot right across from the gas station, where we met up with you that day.
DeleteThe bar was also a small hotel as well as a small cafe! Hay lakes is my hometown and I love the little piece you guys put together! My grandparents used to own the bar and my grandfather was the one who put the big red H on top! Much of my family still lives there! I had no idea that the run down, old building next to my sister's house used to be a creamery! It's neat!
DeleteThe old barn would make a beautiful home for someone with vision.
ReplyDeleteHi Gorges...I agree! Would have a lot of character that's for sure.
DeleteI love that old creamery building and the barns. It's a shame that the creamery is not designated as a historical building. It could serve as a museum or something that schools would take a class to on a field trip. A great way to illustrate how life was back in the day.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos Jenn and great reportage.
That's what we're trying to do with the old creamery in Donalda.
DeleteI don't think the old barn has much hope left
ReplyDeleteHi Adam, likely the best that can be hoped for now is that the wood will be salvaged.
DeleteGreat pictures of the old buildings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Danielle! They fascinate me.
DeleteSo many lovely old buildings, Hay Lakes was probably a pretty little town at some point. Was surprised to hear there are still some people living here it has a kind of deserted look about it. Fascinating to visit and try and imagine how it once was. Great job on documenting your visit Jenn.
ReplyDeleteThanks PDP, I was surprised when I saw how many people live there. I guess I didn't go down too many of the residential streets. Main Street has the cool stuff!
DeleteAnother interesting report! Thanks Jenn.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank! If only exploring all these places was a paid job!
DeleteInteresting blog
ReplyDeletethanks
the Ol'Buzzard
Thanks Ol'Buzzard! I enjoy finding these off the beaten path places.
DeleteAmazing find for me. Feeling nostalgic I decided to look at an area I enjoyed in my three years living in Edmonton. I was a nanny in my last job in Leduc yet my social life extended to working in the hotel in Hay Lakes in the mid to late 70's. I became close to the Sheridans that owned it at the time, they were Irish yet came from the UK. The hotel was very lively Fridays and Saturdays, followed by the cafe being busy on a Saturday morning. I have wonderful memories of those that drank there regularly from New Sarepta and in the village itself and parties after closing time. I expected to read a huge growth in population and possibly not so sleepy. Thanks for this blog, ifs lovely.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found this post and it was able to bring back some memories!
Deleteit is so sad that we dont have a musaum her.
ReplyDeleteThis is my home town. Grew up here in the 2000s. Curling, outdoor hockey rink, and school sports were the only things in town for older kids. This was on the edge of cell phone and social media territory, so we often had to make fun out of nothing, but dang, we had some great times. Most kids there during my time were respectful to all of the abandoned buildings. Once we turned legal drinking age, we started legally going to the bar, but it burnt down a few months later.
ReplyDeleteMy dad still lives out there, so when we head out there it's nice to reminisce, but is becoming an example of how small town Alberta is slowly disappearing.
Great memories to have! It is sad to see these towns slowly disappearing and losing history.
DeleteThe creamery still stands but probably nearing the end, the barn has been demolished, you are correct the one building was an old implement dealers, now someone's private garage, Alf Arnston was an insurance broker, I think he had a safe stolen and dragged down main street behind a pickup in the 70's, my Uncle tore down a lot of old heritage buildings on main Street and used the materials to build other structures on his farm
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments, always great to hear from someone who has info that I wouldn't normally hear!
DeleteHello Jenn, today the "Old Creamery" is being tore down. Its structurally unsafe.
ReplyDeleteAlways a sad moment when we lose a piece of history, the Old Creamery has served its time well. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for the owners to make, but safety was the final factor.
Hi, thanks for letting me know. You said it exactly, sad to lose a piece of history but sounds like it had to be done.
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