Woo Sam’s

There’s not much in Buffalo Alberta – never was. Today, there’s a few houses, one or two appearing empty. There’s a thoroughly modern community hall, but mostly the town is made up of vacant lots. And there’s the abandoned rail line just over there. As for businesses there’s one, the post office. There, on the main drag, the only street in town in fact, it stands in service to the local populous who live on farms and ranches in the area. It’s open a couple days per week.

The old building in which its housed is being renovated. And here’s where it gets interestingly. Peeling back the layers, old siding and such, exposes signage from long ago, crisp and bright as though painted just yesterday. We’re standing in front of Woo Sam’s, general merchandise, restaurant and rooming house. Pics, get pics, for it’s all due to disappear again when a new covering is applied. It may have happened already. Anyone?

Woo Sam’s: renovations expose something incredible from the past. Researched, Written and Photographed by Chris Doering and Connie Biggart.(BIGDoer/Synd)

Here’s what we know of Woo Sam taken from an early 1970s history book. Originally from China, he wandered the west for many years, bouncing from here to there, sometimes returning to his home country for a time, prior to putting down roots in Buffalo around 1923. Here he opened his business first in a smaller building then later, circa 1928, the one we’re looking at today. The 1920s were a boom period on the plains and business was good.

Scroll down for photos and to comment.

The 1930s, that God-Awful Depression, would later test the resolve of any business person, including Woo Sam. Credit was given freely knowing very well many accounts would never being collected upon. A bit of neighbour helping neighbour. Many merchants extended themselves this way.

Fast forward and with the war on, the economy stabilized. This was a good time for Woo Sam’s store. An ad in the local school yearbook, circa 1940 reads: “Woo Sam, the biggest little store. Prompt service for everyone. Groceries, hardware, dry goods, gas & oil and rooms for rent. Here’s where your dollar goes farther.” No mention is made of the restaurant end of things, interestingly.

Woo Sam was later joined by some of his children and grandchildren, brought over from China and in the 1950s, so some three or so decades after they last saw each other, his wife. Long time no see! As a family they ran Woo Sam’s into the 1960s, when due to declining health, a son took over all responsibilities. The mother had passed earlier in that same decade. Late 1960s or thereabout the business was sold off. We have no data on when it closed completely and later became a post office only. Probably the 1970s for the former, would be a fair bet.

An old gas pump still stands out front, fuel being sold in gallons – Canada adopted the metric system in the late 1970s although the old “Imperial” form of measurement is still used stubbornly for many applications in rural Alberta to this very day. Especially by old timers. Aged farmers often give us directions, distances being mentioned in miles as though it was in every day use by everyone. Anyway, this helps corroborate that circa-1970s closing of the store of which we had a hunch.

Was Woo Sam’s also a restaurant and rooming house to the end? It’s not said. Did they keep the name? No idea. At some point some siding was put in place covering up the old sign, and protecting it and it survives in wonderful condition as a result!

Interestingly, there used to be a second grocery store in Buffalo just a couple lots down from Woo Sam’s. Old pictures show it also operated a gas station. Lots of competition in that small town! In the 1940s, the Buffalo High School used to be right next door. A marker reminds us of that.

Woo Sam is spoken of fondly in that old history book. Seems he was friend to all, a kind and benevolent person, a helping hand always extended and who said no to no one. Much beloved, a poem, written by Violet Stone, pays homage and describes his life, legacy and the impact he had on the people of Buffalo and area. Here’s his entire story, in verse, far better and with more true emotion than we could ever describe. Made our job real easy…here it is…

From the opposite side of the world came he,
  to make his home here with you and me.
He was young and ambitious and full of grit,
  had a cleaver philosophy spiced with wit.
His advice is worth taking we are told,
  the modern Confucius from a world of old.

He left his family, friends and came,
  in ’23 to find wealth and fame.
He started up with the tiny shack,
  which has become a storehouse out back
He later built his present store,
  with cafe and rooms on the second floor

He was followed later by son Wah Chou,
  who attended our school for a year or so.
Then came Scotty and Bill Wemp too,
  the McCulloughs moved in then Bill and Boo.
Each a few years with Sam did spend,
  bringing lonely days to a welcome end.

Son Kai arrived to take his turn,
  to keep Sam company as well as to learn.
He passed all his grades with marks so high,
  and then it was time to say goodbye.
He attended Varsities far and near,
  to become a first class engineer.

If Kai’s life was dull it woke with a bang,
  with the arrival of nephews, Wing and Sang.
These happy faced fellows were full of life,
  and they filled Woo Sam’s days with both joy and strife.
To share in all this, and as well to keep house,
  Woo Sam was joined by his aging spouse.

And so Sam enjoyed for too short a while,
  family life in the true Canadian style.
The boys fit in Buffalo like a hand-in-a-glove,
  and hunting and school sports became their first love.
As in our community all took their parts,
  we found they held likewise a place in our hearts.

Like Sam before them, who was father to all,
  with free catering service after hockey or ball.
His doors never closed either Sunday or night,
  Buffalo without him would never seem right.
We would miss all the extras and
  as to him and Mrs Chin we would say our goodbyes.

But all good things must come to an end,
  each of the Woos his own way did wend.
With the passing of wife and mother so dear,
  and each boy well launched with a brand new career.
Woo Sam may decide to join with his clan,
  become a real city slicker on the easy-pay plan.

Now Woo Sam has given his finest and best,
  in depression and wartime in our woolly west.
We could laugh at the rations and poverty too,
  for we knew that our merchant would see us right through.
I can see by your faces you’ve all stories to tell,
  so let’s wish Sam our blessings and best wishes as well.”

It’s not stated when the poem was written but appears in that history book referenced. The text suggests Woo Sam was alive when it was written. The mention of him being a “city slicker” seems to hint he moved to the big city in his later years or maybe planned to. Certain verses open up a window into to his soul. He was a giver of solid advice, and further, perhaps a bit of a funny guy. All the while his love for the town he called home, and those who lived there, is clear and without question.

The McCulloughs and other names mentioned in the third verse also lived with Sam Woo. Or rather he with them. Mrs Chin could I guess be described as a family friend from China that came over with Woo Sam’s wife. The name of Woo Sam’s wife doesn’t seem to make mention anywhere, neither this poem or the rest of the history book.

It not clear when Woo Sam passed. Cemetery records in Western Canada turn up nothing solid. Perhaps he was sent back to the old country which was not uncommon.

As suggested in the prose above, and in other tidbits found by your hard working author, it’s seems Woo was his family name and Sam his given, or rather an adopted anglicized one (we suspect), although we’ve found no data confirming either. Why then is it backwards on the sign? No idea? Or maybe we’re completely off with this hunch.

Buffalo Alberta was founded when the rail line came through in the 1910s. Never was a big place and currently is that close to obtaining full-on ghost town status. Still, the post office is open. And maybe it will be for a while?

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If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: September, 2017.
Location: Buffalo, AB.
Article references: Book: Seventy Five Years Along The Red Deer River.
You can view the Woo Sam building from public roads.

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Woo Sam's Buffalo Alberta

Buffalo Alberta, renovations expose old signage.

Woo Sam Buffalo AB

In times past it was Woo Sam’s.

Woo Sam Restaurant Buffalo AB

Now it’s the post office, the only business in town.

66 responses

  1. Leona Calhoun(Stone) says:

    My mom violet Stone wrote the poem. I grew up in Buffalo and remember woo Sam’s ability to add up a list of groceries on his abacuss in seconds. Mom and told us that Woo Sam knew the war was coming and stocked up before, never went with out a thing because of that. Great member of the community.

  2. Allan Brooker says:

    Great shots, well done. Like so many things “out there” – you have to make the effort to get there and be there to capture these things. This is special. I was at Buffalo school the last day it was open. It was to be removed and placed elsewhere. But to see what was under the “new” false front to find Woo Sam!! This is wonderful. I got the school and the beautiful grain elevators. I would love to see and shoot this. Good work guys. AB.

  3. Eric & Mary says:

    Was a magical place when visiting Gramma and Grampa.

  4. Roy Bennett says:

    Very nice!

  5. Brian says:

    What a very cool story, sad in some ways that times are a changing and these old communities are disappearing. It really would be wonderful to find the surviving family members to see what there thoughts were on this time in there lives.

    • Yes, they’re going fast. Have spoken with one of of Sam Woo’s descendants and this person seemed a bit annoyed with the article. They didn’t make it clear exactly what the problem was, and have yet to respond to follow up messages. I thought the piece spoke of the fellow in a positive light. Odd.

  6. Crystal Pilker says:

    I remember it well. We lived west of Buffalo for a while in the 60s.

  7. Bernie Steenbergen says:

    Used to shop there when we first moved to the farm. Then it closed, 1976 or thereabouts.

  8. Margaret Gallais says:

    I was there also years ago and that was just before Art and Marion’s wedding.It is sad to see so many little towns shrinking to next to nothing.The town of Pathlow where I was brought up is the same way .I have lots of good memories of that place.

  9. Janelle Gallais Awe says:

    This is where my Mom grew up. I remember going here with my Grandma. It was a big event for the day, getting the mail.

  10. Michael Williams says:

    Cool stuff.

  11. Ashley Mortensen says:

    I love driving by here.

  12. Teresa Duffin Sahli says:

    Interesting read! I love the history!

  13. Jo-Ann says:

    Very cool. Thank you for sharing. As for his name being written backwards, we have international students from China. William signs his name like Sam (last name/first name). He said it is the correct way to put it. Just Thought I would share.
    Jo-Ann.

    • Jo-Ann, so very nice to hear from you. And thanks for taking time to read that article. And adding to the story. Ahh, it’s making sense now. I thought it was perhaps something culturally related, and what you said seems to back that up. Appreciate it!

  14. Joyce Bergdahl says:

    A wonderful story of a neighbouring town. I grew up in the small farming community of Iddesleigh, a ‘few miles west’ of Buffalo. Woo Chee Hong owned a similar general merchant store in Jenner. Awesome write-up and photos.

  15. Al Rogers says:

    I certainly remember Woo Sam’s. My Dad and I used to stay there and eat there when we went picking berries or hunting in the fall. Always looked forward to visiting with Sam. Buffalo is south of Cereal about 40 miles which was just a nice run for our old Model “T”.

  16. Kathy Fyfe says:

    Chris and Connie always have such interesting articles…

  17. David Forbes says:

    How soon will it get covered up?

  18. Harvey Allen Sprowl says:

    Nice Shots Chris!

  19. Dale Stewart says:

    Great article. Read it a couple of times.

  20. Myna Wendt says:

    Stone Family (ed: a FB shout-our) – did u see your Mom’s “Violet Stone’s” poem is quoted in this write up?

  21. Bernard Nemeth says:

    Before there was a Tim shop in every town.

  22. George Stringam says:

    I was about 10 years old (about 1963) when I traveled through Buffalo with my dad. He was a veterinarian and sometimes did some contract work for the dept. of agriculture. Dad was up there vaccinating cows for Bangs (brucillosis) and we stopped in Buffalo for a soda pop break. It’s hard to remember a place when you’ve only been there once, and that was 54 years ago. I guess if you say it fast enough it doesn’t seem that long ago…

    • So cool! We’ve heard from a lot of people who remember dropping by Woo Sam’s. I get the whole it doesn’t seem long ago thing. I look back on my life and recall events that seem to have happened only yesterday, but then realize it was decades ago! Thanks for commenting!

  23. Zeetta Gray says:

    So cool thank you!

  24. Cody Glydon says:

    Fascinating read. Well done!

  25. Dan Overes says:

    Really glad someone got out there to capture it before it gets covered up again.

  26. Margaret Hummel says:

    Thank you so much for sharing..an incredible story.

  27. Jenn says:

    I saw a photo of this recently and immediately fell in love. I would NEVER cover it up again lol. I am so glad you guys got to see it.

    • I’m so happy we got to see it too! It was dumb luck too – we were rushing back from a gig in SK and decided to take a detour to see if the sign was still exposed. And it was! Lucky us.

  28. Jason Sailer says:

    Awesome! May need to take a drive out there. 😉

    • I asked around to see if the signage is still exposed but have got no answers. It may get covered up when work is complete, which I have no idea if it’s happened yet or not.

      • Raelynn Howe says:

        Hi there. The current owner saved the old boards with the writing. The Reno is complete now but the boards are safe and sound?

      • Raelynn Howe says:

        The Reno is complete but the owner has kept the original boards in safe place! 😉

        • Thumbs up! It was so cool to see them. The siding sure kept them pristine condition! Must have been something to see them, in all their glory, on peeling away the layers.

      • Peaches says:

        The old siding is now covered up with the new, but there are some thoughts/plans on putting the sign/name part back on the front of the building.
        Also, the post office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and has the odd knickknack for sale, as well as chocolate bars and pop.
        PS: Buffalo is a gem of a community! Just the best. I am fortunate to be a resident. 🙂

        Thank-you for this article.

        • You are most welcome – we really enjoyed doing up this piece. Glad the boards were saved. They’re an historic treasure. Any time we’ve been in Buffalo has been on days the post office is closed. Doh! Always wanted to see the inside.

          • DeLoss Christensen says:

            Just read your report on the Woo Sam store in Buffalo, Alberta. I began driving from Brooks to Buffalo to hunt deer in 1961. I was 14. For the next 5 years, I stopped to buy gas and groceries for our deer hunt. I have great memories of the family that owned and operated the store. It was amazing to visit the store in that it seemed to have everything in a Sears Catalog inside. The owners were older then, always gracious and so friendly. Your article brings back wonderful memories of my youth. Thank you so very much.

          • Awesome memories that help tie the past and present together! Thank you for sharing.

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