Not so Lakeside School

In Central Alberta, near Blackfalds, you may have driven by an awkward looking building that looks like it was added on to several times. You have just found Lakeside Hall, one of the longest running school districts in the province. 

Starting it's life in 1895, before Alberta was even a province, Lakeside School #348 was opened. It was named Lakeside due to its proximity to Lake Nichol (now Blackfalds Lake). It was situated on a 2 acre piece of land that cost $10. As with many school houses, it became the community hub, hosting events and acting as a place for friends and neighbours to gather.

By 1931, the student population had shifted and the decision was made to move the school 1 mile east, or 1.6km if you prefer. During that summer, a crew of men and a 32-horse hitch team relocated the schoolhouse. 10 years later a larger schoolhouse was built, and the old school was converted to Lakeside Hall. The 'new' school served until 1955, when it was sold and moved to become a home nearby.

Over the years, renovations to the hall included, installing a furnace, enlarging and upgrading the floor space, adding power, a kitchen, a front entrance, building of a stage and dressing rooms, and re-siding and re-shingling. 

It appears to still be in use occasionally, and is a nice reminder of the history of the area.

Lakeside School being moved in 1931 - Lacombe & District Historical Society

House of Learning

What is it about a one-room schoolhouse? I can't pinpoint the start of my fascination with them. I didn't grow up in a rural area, neither did my mother. My dad did, but by the time he was in school he was bussed to the nearby town of Taber for school. My maternal grandparents though both came from rural southern Saskatchewan and have told stories of the one room schools they attended, life on the Canadian Prairies during the Great Depression, the Dirty 30's, and WW2. 

I supposed these relics of the pioneer days of Alberta and of days gone by will always hold a certain mystery. It almost feels not entirely real thinking about then and now. 

This is a favourite school of mine to visit, it is called Shooting Lake, however it is not the original Shooting Lake School building. The original school opened in 1907, and was closed in 1938. The building was condemned in 1941 and finally in 1949 the Manthano School building was moved to this site. The school finally closed in 1953 and became a community centre in 1955. 

Undated photo of Manthano School from Botha Memories.

Do you wonder the origins of some of these names? Sometimes the origins are easy, they can be traced to a place where the pioneers originated, or a prominent local person. Interestingly, Manthano is a Greek word meaning "House of Learning". 

The more you know, the more you realize you don't know. 

St. Luke's Anglican Church - Remembrance Day 2022

Hello Friends!

Today I stopped by St. Luke's Anglican Church, a picturesque Gothic Revival style church in the heart of downtown Red Deer, Alberta. Built in stages between 1898-1906, of locally quarried sandstone, it is the oldest active church building in Red Deer. The foundation was laid in 1898, the first section was completed in 1899, the second section in 1900, and from 1905-1906 a choir vestry and the battlemented tower were added to complete the construction. The church became a Municipal Historic Resource in 2009 and a Provincial Historic Resource in 2012.

I have stopped to photograph this church before and I see it so I often that I forget to appreciate it. This year the church started a Poppy Project that saw 9000 handmade crocheted poppies draped from the church tower. It is a beautiful and touching tribute to the souls who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

c.1906 from the Glenbow Archives

c.1907 Red Deer Archives

A photo I took in 2019

November 11, 2022

Lest we forget. 

Midway Magic

Something about a midway that seems timeless and magical, especially getting a phone call from your kid that goes something like, "Mom, I puked at the midway!". All was good and he continued to enjoy the rides for several more hours. Oh to be young again. 

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed your summer as much as a 12 year old at the midway. 

Here is me trying out some short long exposures. Is that an oxymoron? 

I Want to Live in a Grocery Store

Hello! Long time no blog. Hope everyone is well.

Have you ever wanted to live in an old grocery store, school, or church? I love the thought of fixing up and living in an old historic building. I have seen several old schools and churches being used as private dwellings but I think this is my first grocery store.

On a recent trip to LA, not that LA...I'm talking about the famous (or is it infamous?) City of Lethbridge, Alberta, I was able to see a building I hadn't seen before. This city has it's fair share of history and I always enjoy my visits.

Today we visit the Berte Grocery Building. This building is located in the Village of Stafford, which was annexed into the City of Lethbridge in 1913. Stafford was a small ethnic community of mainly mine workers, located near the Galt Coal Mine #3.

John Berte set up his store at this location in 1918. John and his family lived upstairs and operated the store until 1942. A fun fact is that in 1934 John had a telephone installed, making it one of 2 in North Lethbridge at the time. 

Here is a full timeline of the store from the Alberta Register of Historic Places:

• 1918-1942 Owned and Operated by John Berte
• 1942-1948 Owned by Natale Natalini
• 1949-1979 Owned by Micheal & Mary Swidinsky who operated General Grocery and Meat until 1954
• 1954-1969 Leased to George Dong who operated George's Groceries & Meat 
• 1970-1975 C.W.Chan operated as Yien's Grocery
• 1976-1997 William (Kin Wai Lam) and his wife Yee Wah Lam Operated as William's Grocery (they purchased the property in 1979)
• 2000-2003 Tumbleweed Cafe
• 2004 purchased as a private family residence
• 2012 Designated as a Municipal Historic Resource 

I stopped here just before sunset and because of who I am as person, didn't take too many photos because I know someone lives there and didn't want to make it weird. This means I did not take photos of the sides of the building that have what's left of some ghost signs. Sorry.

Berte Grocery c1920 - from Galt Musuem & Archives

August 2022

My friends over at BigDoer did a great piece on Berte Grocery, read it HERE. 

Resources: Alberta Register of Historic Places

Dickson Store Museum - Now and Then

You all know that I love a good 'now and then' image and story.  Today's subject is the Dickson Store Museum in Dickson, Alberta. First let's get some history of Dickson! It is the oldest Danish settlement in Western Canada and was settled in 1903 by 17 Danish settlers who made their way there from Nebraska. 2 of these settlers, Carl and Laura Christiansen, opened a post office in their home in 1905  and then in 1909 built and opened the General Store and lived on the 2nd floor.  The Christiansen Family operated the store right up until 1980.  

Restoration on the store began in 1987 and officially opened as a museum in 1991. You can now visit the store as it would have looked in the 1930's, view the living quarters upstairs, and enjoy an ice cream cone in the ice cream room!

While you are in Dickson, you might as well head down the road (less than a KM) and visit the Danish Canadian Museum which is another great place to learn the history and culture of the Danish Canadians. Viking Days is one of our favourite events as well as the Haunted Forest in October. Both the Dickson Store Museum and Danish Canadian Museum are seasonal but with special events happening outside operating months.  

Dickson Store 1909 (From Dickson Store Museum Facebook)

Dickson Store c.1918 Courtesy of the Glenbow Archives

Dickson Store 1981 (From Dickson Store Museum Facebook)

Dickson Store 1992 after restoration. (From Dickson Store Museum Facebook)

Taken by me on our visit August 5th, 2021.

The Dickson area is also home to the Dickson Dam and Provincial Recreational Areas with all the outdoor amenities! So much to do in this part of Central Alberta and only a short drive from where I live!

Fall Photo Roundup

I love Fall, it's my favourite week of the year. If you know, you know. Seems like one day the trees are turning yellow and the next day they're almost bare. I will take it though, we have had a very nice autumn so far and it really is my favourite time of year. 

Also, we are celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. Technically Thanksgiving is tomorrow, October 11th, but I think a lot of people do their big dinner today. There was no getting together with family this year but instead a nice quiet dinner at home complete with all the usual turkey day fixings. Fun fact, I had to go to 5 different grocery stores before I found a turkey. I guess that is what I get for leaving that little detail until the last minute. So, Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends, may you always find a turkey at the first store you go to.   

I hope you enjoyed the images and thanks for sticking by me and my blog, which seems to have become a bi-annual publication at this point. Have a great week ahead!