“Great people and great articles! I am honored to know both Chris & Connie and to also have collaborated on photo trips or helped with research. Top Notch!” Jason Paul Sailer.
I sure love when I am not busy at work and can read your articles! My did worked in Heritage Hall when I was a kid (mid 80’s). I used to love going there.
Awesome! To be honest I never even knew of the hall, a fine old building by the way, until not long before I wrote that piece. That it’s sort of hidden within the SAIT complex, I guess, is my excuse there. Would love to see the inside sometime.
Amazing! In reading your blog, which I only found today, it’s clear that you (two?) really enjoy all the things you do. Nanton has some old buildings I am sure you’d enjoy exploring.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
April 13th 2024, the Beer Parlour Project visited the Viking Hotel, Viking Alberta and it too was an awesome time. There's Rob Pohl with his curious view camera and in the other photo Chris is seen interviewing local character Doug.
The Viking dates back to the 1930s and replaced a hotel on this same lot, which had earlier burned down.
Incidentally April 13th is also Chris and my 28th anniversary. Chris said he forgot this when scheduling this but that's fine and it doesn't matter where we celebrate but that we celebrate.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2024. Posted by Connie.
April 12th 2024, the Beer Parlour Project visited the Warspite Hotel, Warspite Alberta and it was a great success. They put up our sticker and look for it if you ever drop by. This will be another chapter in what will be a multi-year adventure documenting small town hotels all over the west. We chat with owners, patrons, old timers, local characters and we learn about the building too.
It's believed this one is 100 years old in 2024 and we'll confirm details during the research phase done later.
When we're done we'll have a huge collection of digital and film photos, plus voice recorded interviews for an art exhibit and a book is likely.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2024. Posted by Connie.
This little stone house was built in the 1910s and while it's not exactly clear when last occupied, research suggests it was empty only a couple decades later. This is a dry area of the Alberta and most settlers moved out by the '30s. Trees in back were planted by the folks that lived here and there's no others around as far as the eye can see. In fact, there's nothing but natural prairie in every direction. When the word "remote" comes up, this is the place they're speaking of.
Look to the comments for more info and to see a stone smokehouse also on the property 👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
Javascript is required for this site to function. Please enable it in your browser settings and refresh this page.
Please log-in to continue... This allows unrestricted access to every post @BIGDoer.com, popups are eliminated, commenting is on and the "contact us" page is enabled.
Your social site may send you a routine notice of login.
Or signup, here: Subscriber Register ___ BIGDoer.com: Serving up POP HISTORY & other McFun!…(Mmmm, yummy bite-sized pieces.) One million plus words & tens of thousands of photos!
I sure love when I am not busy at work and can read your articles!
My did worked in Heritage Hall when I was a kid (mid 80’s). I used to love going there.
Awesome! To be honest I never even knew of the hall, a fine old building by the way, until not long before I wrote that piece. That it’s sort of hidden within the SAIT complex, I guess, is my excuse there. Would love to see the inside sometime.
Amazing! In reading your blog, which I only found today, it’s clear that you (two?) really enjoy all the things you do. Nanton has some old buildings I am sure you’d enjoy exploring.
Yes, we do enjoy sharing our adventures. Even if only one person read the blog, we’d still be happy. We have plans to explore Nanton more.
Very cool! You lined up the first show very well!
Thanks, we had fun doing it!
I love how you came up with the idea to do this!
It just hit us one day and I am glad it did. We have so much fun doing them.
I hope you don’t mind but I shared your wonderful pictures on Reddit (/r/architecture). I gave you credit.
No problem, thanks!