Monthly Archive: March 2013

Mitford AB graves

In search of Mitford Alberta part 1

Mitford Alberta, founded in the mid 1880s and dead by the turn of the twentieth century. Somewhat of a sad tale, it’s a story of hopes and dreams dashed. In spite of the fact it’s within sight of a large population, few have ever heard of this forgotten little town....

CPR bridge Mitford

Cochrane River Path

The town of Cochrane is just west of Calgary and like its larger neighbour is located along the Bow River. Once a quaint little village, it seems to be losing that magic as it experiences explosive growth. Where there was once charm and serenity, there is now a sprawling bedroom...

Inglewood barn

Old barn, big city

I doubt there are many cities that can lay claim to having an old livery stable barn within such close proximity to downtown. Surprise, Calgary does and just east of city centre and within sight of its many towering skyscrapers, we see a throwback to day’s past when the main...

Carmangay Alberta fire bell

Carmangay Alberta

Carmangay celebrated it’s 100th birthday in 2010 and while it’s a sleepy little place now, a century ago it was a booming community full of hope and promise. The future was brighter than ever and anything was possible. Standing on main street you can close your eyes and imagine those...

St Louis Hotel bar

Superman 3 then and now – bar scenes

I doubt if the the St Louis Hotel was ever considered one Calgary’s finer establishments, but one thing it does have is character, truck loads of it, and this made it a perfect backdrop for some scenes in the 1983 movie Superman 3. In this part of the story the...

Public school High River

Superman 3 then and now – Smallville

In the 1983 movie Superman 3, High River Alberta doubles as Clark Kent’s hometown of Smallville Kansas. In our study we shoot at various places in town where we try to duplicate some of the scenes from the film – and we do an passable job of it too (IMHO)....

High River AB train station

Silver Streak movie then and now – paper burning scene

This is the second scene from the 1976 movie Silver Streak that used the High River Alberta train station as a backdrop. In an earlier report, we see the speeding train fly past the station, which was marked Rockdale IL. In this view, which is clearly meant to be a...

High River train station

Silver Streak movie then and now – Rockdale IL station

While the story takes place in the US, many scenes from the movie Silver Streak were actually filmed in and around Southern Alberta. In the first picture from this then and now series, the train speeds past a depot which is marked for Rockdale Illinois. In truth we are some...

Chassis by Ford

The Big Green Motorhome

In 2012 we found that Big Pink Trailer and in keeping with that theme 2013 brings us The Big Green Motorhome. With its dated lines and paint job, it’s the ultimate retro-mobile, a vintage house on wheels that would make the Brady’s squeal with delight. Like a Pug it’s so...

Bert Pyke crane

Pyke railway crane

While driving through Blackie Alberta something on the rail line caught our attention. It was as a small rail crane with its two attendant railways cars and having some time to burn we stopped to take a good look at this interesting machine. It’s sitting on an old siding and...

Rocky Knoll Volcano Ridge

Volcano Ridge (almost)

At the time this report was written, March 2013, the last hike of the season was long behind us. To keep this category active and more so to remind us that spring hiking is just around the corner we pull some reports from the archives. Like this one, which takes...

Mack B series

A treasure trove of old trucks

We hit the jackpot in Vulcan Alberta, a literal treasure trove of old trucks, and during our walk around town we found numerous old and interesting examples. Everything from a Mack B series and a Cruise Liner; five, count them, five old GMC and Chevrolet farm trucks, a Willy’s Jeep...

Champion AB church

Champion Alberta

Some days we simply pick a random small town and we walk around it, taking it what ever it has to offer. This day has us south of Calgary in the quaint village of Champion Alberta. It’s a picturesque and charming little place with a typical assortment of old and...

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