can you give me any information on the coleman liquor co from the past, I have a crock jug in excellent condition that I dug up in bush town while excavating the streets of bush town in 1976 and can not find any history of this, I would like to know something about it thanks Gordon dame
Sure, why not send us a photo of it and what ever other information you have and we’ll see if we can dig something up. Go to the contact page on our website.
I’ve just read your article on the Polish Hall in Coleman, and have one comment. The story that the bricks came from the old Rocky Mountain Sanatorium is likely untrue, as the San was constructed of wood, not brick. Also the San was torn down in 1928, and the Polish hall built in 1927, so…
I think it more likely that the bricks came from the old zinc smelter in Frank. It was demolished in 1923 and its bricks were cleaned by hand for future building projects in the Pass. Other buildings such as the Orpheum Theatre in Blairmore also claim to have been built from smelter bricks.
Regarding the location of the old Rocky Mountain Sanatorium site, there is an interpretive sign on the picnic shelter just west of Frank, north of the highway, that gives the details. The sulphur springs themselves are further south across the tracks behind the beaver dam where a smaller, earlier hotel (also called the Sanatorium, confusingly) once stood. There are bits of it remaining, though not much. If you like I can show you where it is, the next time you are down.
Thank you so much for your input. It’s very much appreciated.
You know when I was told the brick story I was a bit sceptical as I have seen pictures of the sanatorium and it was clearly made of wood as you say. Then someone sent me a postcard showing the building up close and there was a very large multi story chimney to be seen and perhaps a second in the back and these were definitely made of brick. So perhaps the material came from here, there was certainly enough to construct a modest sized building like the hall. Although as you say the dates don’t quite work, but they are close. I am doing some more research on this as we speak.
Yes, I am aware of the zinc plant and have seen some bricks from it. I’m temped to take one to the Polish Hall to see I can match them up in any way.
Perhaps I’ll take you up on your offer to help me find the sanatorium site. I’ve been itching to research it anyway. We weekend in the Crowsnest many times a year and our next one will be in May (I think).
Again, thanks for you help here and I will definitely question the brick story some more. Keep an eye on that report for any changes,
My grandfather was a coal miner in Coleman during the years 1925-1943 and he was an active member of the Polish hall society. Do you know where I could get a bigger version of the black and white picture? I think he may be in the group but need a clearer image before I can confirm.
Amazing! The original image is at the Glenbow Archives in downtown Calgary and use this code number when requesting it: NC-54-4347. I’d love to hear how this works out for you!
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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.
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can you give me any information on the coleman liquor co from the past, I have a crock jug in excellent condition that I dug up in bush town while excavating the streets of bush town in 1976 and can not find any history of this, I would like to know something about it
thanks
Gordon dame
Sure, why not send us a photo of it and what ever other information you have and we’ll see if we can dig something up. Go to the contact page on our website.
Hi Chris and Connie,
I’ve just read your article on the Polish Hall in Coleman, and have one comment. The story that the bricks came from the old Rocky Mountain Sanatorium is likely untrue, as the San was constructed of wood, not brick. Also the San was torn down in 1928, and the Polish hall built in 1927, so…
I think it more likely that the bricks came from the old zinc smelter in Frank. It was demolished in 1923 and its bricks were cleaned by hand for future building projects in the Pass. Other buildings such as the Orpheum Theatre in Blairmore also claim to have been built from smelter bricks.
Regarding the location of the old Rocky Mountain Sanatorium site, there is an interpretive sign on the picnic shelter just west of Frank, north of the highway, that gives the details. The sulphur springs themselves are further south across the tracks behind the beaver dam where a smaller, earlier hotel (also called the Sanatorium, confusingly) once stood. There are bits of it remaining, though not much. If you like I can show you where it is, the next time you are down.
Ian
Frank AB
Hi Ian,
Thank you so much for your input. It’s very much appreciated.
You know when I was told the brick story I was a bit sceptical as I have seen pictures of the sanatorium and it was clearly made of wood as you say. Then someone sent me a postcard showing the building up close and there was a very large multi story chimney to be seen and perhaps a second in the back and these were definitely made of brick. So perhaps the material came from here, there was certainly enough to construct a modest sized building like the hall. Although as you say the dates don’t quite work, but they are close. I am doing some more research on this as we speak.
Yes, I am aware of the zinc plant and have seen some bricks from it. I’m temped to take one to the Polish Hall to see I can match them up in any way.
Perhaps I’ll take you up on your offer to help me find the sanatorium site. I’ve been itching to research it anyway. We weekend in the Crowsnest many times a year and our next one will be in May (I think).
Again, thanks for you help here and I will definitely question the brick story some more. Keep an eye on that report for any changes,
Have a great week!
My grandfather was a coal miner in Coleman during the years 1925-1943 and he was an active member of the Polish hall society. Do you know where I could get a bigger version of the black and white picture? I think he may be in the group but need a clearer image before I can confirm.
Sally,
Amazing! The original image is at the Glenbow Archives in downtown Calgary and use this code number when requesting it: NC-54-4347. I’d love to hear how this works out for you!