Long Time No Blog & Barns!

Hello! Is anyone still out there?

It's been just over a year since I last posted. Wow, time flies. A lot has changed in my life, and that’s partly why I've been absent, but, let’s be for real, I was never the most consistent blogger to begin with.

Here are a few potential reasons for my hiatus:

1. New role at work? More responsibilities and less "me" time.
2. Life changes? I went through the end of a long-term relationship, sold my house, and moved.
3. A bit of laziness? Perhaps.

Even with everything going on, I’ve still managed to take a few photos and enjoy those quiet backroads where it’s just me, the open scenery, and only the occasional interruption from those ridiculous wind turbines (not a fan haha).

To ease back into things, let’s start with a few barns I’ve come across over the last month. The first one is my 'favourite', it’s sadly collapsed since my last visit, but as someone who tends to anthropomorphize things, I can’t help but see the big smile on its face, even in defeat.

This is fine, everything is fine.

Can you see the turbines?

Golden Oldie.

So to recap, this blog is pro anthropomorphization, and against wind turbines. 

I hope you are all doing well, and thank you for reading this far. 

A Country Church

While out on the 'Great One Day Road Trip Expedition of September 2019', this was one of the churches along the way, near Innisfree. There is no shortage of churches in rural Alberta, some in use or occasional use, and some sadly on the verge of collapse. This one seems to be in the occasional use category. I couldn't find anything on this church in my usual search spots.

The badly faded sign states that this is a Seventh Day Adventist Church now. It likely wasn't always. However on the inside, along with Seventh Day Adventist bibles, there was a sign in Cyrillic (I think). Perhaps this church is used by a couple different congregations. I am not sure when someone was inside last but judging by some nice cobwebs all over my face, it might have been awhile. The grounds outside, however, were mowed and tidy.

Little cemetery in the corner.

I adore these light fixtures.

If you happen to know anything about this church, I'd love to hear it!

Beautiful Abandonment

I was too busy looking to the right and missed this beautiful old house on the left....luckily the driver of the expedition saw it and turned around.

What struck me most about this old home. besides the wood shaker siding, was how straight and true it still appears to be.

Chailey Corner

I FINALLY got out for some exploring in an area I have been wanting to return to, this time with a map of stops. Very organized for me...very. I met up with a fellow blogger and friends, for a full day of nothing but back roads and beef jerky, my go to travel snack. Note to self: Back Roads and Beef Jerky as an alternate blog title.

I don't even know where to start with all the amazing places that I photographed. So I will start with Chailey. I don't think Chailey ever developed into a town but there was definitely a pioneer community. Now, the Chailey district consists of a school and a church surrounded by farmland. Both the church and the school are Municipal Historic Resources as well as being listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. 

There was also a post office there from 1907-1956, located in the homes of various local residents. In fact Chailey got it's name from the hometown of the first Postmaster, C.H. Brown, who came from Chailey in Sussex, England. 

Chailey School SD#2140 1910-1953

The school was completed in August of 1910 and ready to open it's door to grades 1-8. In 1922, it was expanded to it's current size. 2 years after the school closed it was acquired by the community for use as a hall. It is still used on occasion. 

St. Alban's Anglican Church 1908-1978
This area was settled by mainly British settlers and the received a 50 pound endowment from the Colonial and Continental Society of England. St. Alban's and other churches who also received this endowment are referred to as '50 Pounders'. This is something I'd like to learn more about later.

The church sits across the road from the school, surrounded by trees and a well kept lawn with a small cemetery in the back. The church itself is small and was built to seat only 36 people. It was not open unfortunately and I was not able to see the interior. I think it is still used for special occasions.

Enjoy the images of Chailey!

A new door and there is no teacherage now, otherwise it looks mostly the same!
I wonder if it was always blue? Top photo courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

Play Ball?

A new sign for an old church.

So cute!

References: https://hermis.alberta.ca/

Alberta Railway Museum & Dinosaurs!

Hello! I am back! I haven't really been away, I just haven't posted in awhile.

The summer of exploring new places in Alberta is off to a good start! I had a friend recommend a couple places north of Edmonton to check out, places the kiddo would like. I hadn't planned on doing both until I realized how close they were to each other.

We started our day of fun (after coffee) at Jurassic Forest, which is (you guessed it) a dinosaur themed park. There are 2 different pathways through the forest, and it really feels like you are walking through a forest or jungle. It felt extra jungle-y that day with the humidity and heat and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes, dinos, DNA....some future civilization will find remains of great plastic robot dinos and a mosquito preserved somehow with our blood. Sounds kinda familiar, yet totally plausible.

As you walk, you will see signs identifying different plants and animals. But what about the dinosaurs? I am glad you asked.....as you pass by sensors along the pathways, animatronic dinosaurs move and roar and make other dino noises. My son enjoyed it. There was also mini golf, play area and the obligatory cafe and gift shop.

After a quick stop in Gibbons for lunch and to see their museum, which was closed, we headed to the Alberta Railway Museum.

Gibbons Museum

Retro Coke sign

A friend called the museum a hidden gem and I agree. Even if you aren't into trains, it was fun exploring the train cars and exhibits and even a ride on a speeder (or jigger as I have heard it called also). You can't help but appreciate the collection here!

The museum also has an old water tower, I have seen 3 of these hexagonal towers now and still find them fascinating. Coincidentally, this one happened to be from Gibbons, where we had just come from.

Gibbons Water Tank 

Opal Station

Locomotive 9000

Bunk Car 69695

Combine 7379

I have put links under some of the photos if you want more info. The Alberta Railway Museum website has info on each piece in their collection, I barely skimmed the surface with my few photos (was having too much fun). I didn't even take a photo of the train station, which was from St. Albert.

 I think we explored every train we could and I think one we shouldn't have been in. A ladder to a door is an invitation to a kid and a kids mom.

Speeeeeeder!

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

Kopernick

Heavenly Rays of Light

I saw photos of this beautiful church in September and found out that I would be passing right by it a few days later. How serendipitous, how fortuitous! Everything was falling into place with very little effort on my part.

Not too far off a main highway, those unmistakable 'onion' shaped domes come into view over the trees. Hard to miss whether you're looking or not, however I don't think this road gets much random traffic. We poked around and took pictures here for about an hour without seeing another vehicle pass by. We even rang the bell but that didn't bring anyone either. Not sure who I thought might show up anyway...

The sign in front states this is Ascension of Jesus Christ Ukrainian Catholic Church, Kopernick Parish. It is also called Kopernik (Nowy Sokal) Ascension Parish. The first church on this site was built in 1904, and was tiny at only 18'x30'. It was sold in 1914 and a new, larger church was constructed the same year. Unfortunately that church burned down in 1951. The current, and much larger and taller church was built between 1953-1960.

On one side of the church is the cemetery. On the other side, the Parish Hall that was built in 1933. The church has been closed for regular services since 2009 but it still looked after. It appears that a yearly grave blessing Liturgy takes place. The Parish Hall is no longer in use.

This monument is a cross from the 2nd church that burned down

Bell Tower

H at the Parish Hall

Dramatic sky this way!

Blue skies this way!

I was hoping to see inside but not all churches are open. Luckily, I connected with a lady named Kim Tanasichuk who shared her photos of the inside of the church, her photos of the amazing interior are below:

I truly feel lucky to see these places that have deep roots in the history of our province. I love taking photos and being able to learn a bit of history along the way is priceless. Thank you for reading this blog!

Check out my friends at BigDoer who visited here first and wrote a wonderful article about it. 

My photos taken Sept 15th, 2017

Interior photos courtesy of Kim Tanasichuk