Chris, my ex father in law was a grain buyer for AWP and told me there was another elevator on top on the hill with a pipe coming down to the elevator in the valley that was used to send grain down from the one up top to be loaded in the box cars and shipped. Any history on that?
Thanks for commenting. Hmmm, interesting, but I’m afraid we’ve never heard of this. We have access to AWP records (not online) and could look if you like.
Hi! My grandmother’s first husband died in Wayne in 1917. I cannot find any information on his death or how he died. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I believe that he was a miner. His wife and family lived in Drumheller, Alberta, but I believe he died in Wayne. His name was Alexander Lopaschuk (Alex, Alesandr) Lopeschuk)
Looked up the fellow and he’s interned in Drumheller and 1918 is the date listed of his passing. As to what he did for a living and how he perished – the records probably exist – they’re most likely out there, somewhere – it’s just finding them. Historic research can be difficult and most definitely time consuming. Suggest you start calling around locally and see if you get any bites. Hope this has been of some help.
From a scenic standpoint, it’d be bloody ideal. Amazing valley. Would be costly to run with all those bridges though. Lots of maintenance there. If CN couldn’t make a go of it. Just saying…
The movie was Running Brave with Robbie Benson. Yeh the set was incredible. Unfortunately I did not have the finances at the time to preserve it. Fred Dayman- former Rosedeer hotel owner.
Wow, mines – grain elevators. I never knew! Like everybody else I only knew of the saloon. It’s amazing there is so much history in that narrow valley. You lined up those shots well!
Even the fellow who took the originals liked what we did, I’m happy about that. At one time, Wayne was wall to wall mines and housing. Plus those grain elevators. Who’d have thunk?
Wow, Wayne is so green already! Remarkable, considering it was still snowing only about 3 weeks ago. I know what you mean about the gumbo being slick there. I ruined many a pair of clean pants when I was a kid climbing around those Drumheller hills. I plan to visit in early June so it’s nice to see the valley will be green when I arrive. Did you ever see the building props they built in the town for that movie? I think it was for Silver Streak, but I’m not sure anymore as it was made in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Fred Dayman of the Last Chance Saloon had to tear them down as they were built too flimsy to last through the winter winds there. Too bad. They gave the town a real old wild west look that complemented the Rose Deer Hotel wonderfully.
Cool stuff. Silver Streak was from 1976, and while some shots were done in the valley, they shot along the CPR tracks. Could it be another movie? In any case, I’d have killed to see the set you spoke of.
They were taken last Saturday. It had been pouring rain for days and the scramble up from the valley bottom was a challenge (that slick Drumheller muck).
Would you believe I took a photograph of Wayne on a hill overlooking the town in April of 1983? Great minds think alike, eh? I believe I took my photo from a different position, as there is a residential section in the near foreground. The hotel is in the background. The homes look like they were once miner’s homes. The big fire of 1980 made the CBC National News, so that inspired me to visit Wayne. I’ll have to send you a copy.
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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Chris, my ex father in law was a grain buyer for AWP and told me there was another elevator on top on the hill with a pipe coming down to the elevator in the valley that was used to send grain down from the one up top to be loaded in the box cars and shipped.
Any history on that?
Thanks for commenting. Hmmm, interesting, but I’m afraid we’ve never heard of this. We have access to AWP records (not online) and could look if you like.
Hi! My grandmother’s first husband died in Wayne in 1917. I cannot find any information on his death or how he died. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I believe that he was a miner. His wife and family lived in Drumheller, Alberta, but I believe he died in Wayne. His name was Alexander Lopaschuk (Alex, Alesandr) Lopeschuk)
Looked up the fellow and he’s interned in Drumheller and 1918 is the date listed of his passing. As to what he did for a living and how he perished – the records probably exist – they’re most likely out there, somewhere – it’s just finding them. Historic research can be difficult and most definitely time consuming. Suggest you start calling around locally and see if you get any bites. Hope this has been of some help.
(via Facebook)
Very enjoyable read. Thank you.
Thanks for taking time to look it over. Appreciate the comment!
Fantastic series and Mike Wilkie’s images look as fresh today, as they were in the 70s. The vibrancy is delicious.
Agreed. I’ll say it again, Wilkie’s shots here are some of my favourites ever.
That Drumheller line was very scenic. It should have been a tourist railway after CNR decided it was surplus!
From a scenic standpoint, it’d be bloody ideal. Amazing valley. Would be costly to run with all those bridges though. Lots of maintenance there. If CN couldn’t make a go of it. Just saying…
The track was removed in the summer of 2014. For pictures go to http://www.pbase.com/gnrmiller
Yes, I saw that happen. This article was from the year prior, so at the time the tracks were still in place. Thanks for commenting!
Very awesome Shots. Too Bad that CN took out all of the rails because they could had move other trains in that area.
It seemed like they didn’t use the line to its fullest. I best if they had run more trains, it could have paid its way. Thanks for commenting!
These are a great pics!
Thank you, we had a blast shooting them. These sorts of then and now subjects are some of our favourites.
What I find interesting is how much the river has changed.
Agreed, it’s changed courses in places.
Was my swimming pool when I was a kid, favorite spot for us all was below the second last bridge
Here’s hoping Jason see this.
In response to Will K’s comment…
The movie was Running Brave with Robbie Benson. Yeh the set was incredible. Unfortunately I did not have the finances at the time to preserve it.
Fred Dayman- former Rosedeer hotel owner.
Thanks for posting Fred. I’ll see if I can track down the movie!
Wow, mines – grain elevators. I never knew! Like everybody else I only knew of the saloon. It’s amazing there is so much history in that narrow valley. You lined up those shots well!
Even the fellow who took the originals liked what we did, I’m happy about that. At one time, Wayne was wall to wall mines and housing. Plus those grain elevators. Who’d have thunk?
Great job on the photos Chris!!!
Wow, Wayne is so green already! Remarkable, considering it was still snowing only about 3 weeks ago. I know what you mean about the gumbo being slick there. I ruined many a pair of clean pants when I was a kid climbing around those Drumheller hills. I plan to visit in early June so it’s nice to see the valley will be green when I arrive. Did you ever see the building props they built in the town for that movie? I think it was for Silver Streak, but I’m not sure anymore as it was made in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Fred Dayman of the Last Chance Saloon had to tear them down as they were built too flimsy to last through the winter winds there. Too bad. They gave the town a real old wild west look that complemented the Rose Deer Hotel wonderfully.
Cool stuff. Silver Streak was from 1976, and while some shots were done in the valley, they shot along the CPR tracks. Could it be another movie? In any case, I’d have killed to see the set you spoke of.
Great shot Chris! I really appreciate that you went to the effort to get this. Was this taken last year?
They were taken last Saturday. It had been pouring rain for days and the scramble up from the valley bottom was a challenge (that slick Drumheller muck).
Would you believe I took a photograph of Wayne on a hill overlooking the town in April of 1983? Great minds think alike, eh? I believe I took my photo from a different position, as there is a residential section in the near foreground. The hotel is in the background. The homes look like they were once miner’s homes. The big fire of 1980 made the CBC National News, so that inspired me to visit Wayne. I’ll have to send you a copy.
I’d LOVE to see that photo! Thanks for the others you sent BTW.
Very, very cool – I really like these types of before and after photos.