What a great post! Before moving here in 1985, we would drive from Hinton to visit Grandma in Calgary. There was always great celebration when we came over the rise and saw the Husky Tower! It was the tallest structure by far. How things change.
That is a great picture. It almost has an optical illusion quality to it when you look at the Bow Valley Square Tower in the dead centre. How tall it looks and then to see it dwarfed in the second photo.
God I remember riding the Elbow Drive trolley! Turned around just past 82ave (heritage drive now)! I can hear those electric motors even now! Such power! Um, that was in 1960! I I Used to go down to the old Tivoli theater on Saturdays from Fairview! Can you hear the distinct thunk of the “I wanna get off bell”?
Remember those days well… lived in the city, and love it… thanks for sharing these, wow ! what a difference and look at the Calgary tower in ’74 compared to 2014… my aunt and uncle lived on Belair Drive, just up and around the corner from where these photos were taken… lots of GREAT memories…. love how you lined these up…
Great photos as always Chris. I remember the Calgary Tower been so high when it was first built , Seems to have shrunk with age;) The Trolley looks great,if you google calgary transit system bus 455 you will fine some other photos of it.
The Legion Hall and Monarch Garage, Loverna Saskatchewan, early 1990s (not 1970s as shown) and the same view in 2017. There's not much going on in Loverna these days, but long ago it was a very active and vibrant community. This was shot between takes while working on the Telus Documentary "Forgotten Prairie" by Rueben Tschetter.
Check the comments for more information. Original image thanks to and copyright Philip Brown.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Posted by Connie.
It's no secret Team BIGDoer is Boler obsessed but we're actually not owners, funny as it sounds. We can only dream and you know if we could, we would. The only thing holding us back from buying one, like the nice example seen here, is the cash to actually make the purchase and a proper vehicle to haul it around. Other than that, we're good to go!
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2021. Posted by Connie.
When exploring old farm properties, we always check out any nearby low lying areas or coulees. In case they hold any treasures. Jackpot! This is usually where farmers dumped retired old cars and equipment no longer needed. Out of sight, out of mind.
This car's a little more special than usual and is an uncommon post-WW2 Nash. A 600 we believe, but we're not the greatest at this. Scroll down to the comments to see a closer look and a comparison shot of a restored example.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2014. Posted by Connie.
While on the subject of old Hotels and the Beer Parlour Project, here's Len, proprietor of the Elk River Inn (aka the Hoz) in Hosmer BC back in 2022. It's one of the first places visited by our group and sadly, we just found out the fellow passed away a few months back. This image was shot on film with an old-fashioned view camera.
During the interview Chris mistakenly called it the Elk Valley Inn and got an earful from Len. He was such a character and with an infectious dry wit! With his passing the business closed and we're not sure what the future holds in store. Look for a bonus photo of him in the comments.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
The Beer Parlour Project will be on the road this coming weekend and up by Edmonton. Team BIGDoer and photographer Rob Pohl, with his big view camera, are visiting the Warspite Hotel, Warspite Alberta the evening of April 12th and the Viking Hotel in Viking Alberta on the 13th.
We'll get to know some history, interview local characters and old timers, down a few chicken wings and with our cameras capture a little slice of Canadiana. These businesses are a throwback to another time and we're chronicling as many as we can while they're still here. It's 12 down with maybe a 100 to go.
If you're in the area, drop by and chat! Watch for the Beer Parlour Project Website coming soon.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photos: 2023 (Coleman Grand Union Coleman AB & traditional Beer Parlour glasses). Posted by Connie.
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I wonder if it could be my grandpa driving that trolley… he did that route! Very cool photo… thanks!
You are most welcome – interesting to think if it’s him. You never know!
That’s so neat!!! Even the route number is still the same on the busses. Great photos. Love our city.
Yes, the same route! Loved that part in particular. Calgary is a great place.
What a great post! Before moving here in 1985, we would drive from Hinton to visit Grandma in Calgary. There was always great celebration when we came over the rise and saw the Husky Tower! It was the tallest structure by far. How things change.
The tower was the first thing everyone saw on getting close to Calgary back then. Now it’s lost in the clutter.
That is a great picture. It almost has an optical illusion quality to it when you look at the Bow Valley Square Tower in the dead centre. How tall it looks and then to see it dwarfed in the second photo.
All the old buildings have appeared to shrink. Told you, wash them in cold water!
Great shot! Well done in getting the right composition.
It’s close, but we’ve done much better. Search our many then and nows.
OMG, I actually remember the trolley buses.
You’re dating yourself!
Rode that route, and probably that trolley, every day to work in those years. Great pic!
Heard from many who used to take the same route. So cool!
God I remember riding the Elbow Drive trolley! Turned around just past 82ave (heritage drive now)! I can hear those electric motors even now! Such power! Um, that was in 1960! I I Used to go down to the old Tivoli theater on Saturdays from Fairview! Can you hear the distinct thunk of the “I wanna get off bell”?
By the time I could go to the Tivoli it had morphed into that adult theatre it was at the end. Saturday matinees were whole different thing!
What a fascinating comparison. I keep going back to it.
Be sure to check out others on the website too. Lots of bus then and nows, and others of many varied themes. Search away!
Share this picture with yur grandkids and show them how the buses used to be.
And make sure to tell them, yur is spelled your. Sorry, the more I write the more grammar and spelling police I get. Haha. Thanks for commenting!
How times have changed before our eyes without us really noticing!
I know. Sometimes it takes a then and now series like this to remind us how much the city has changed.
This is one of the coolest Calgary anything I have seen in a while. Thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome. And please, come back often!
I don’t remember much of 74 seeing as I was going through my “being born” phase, but it sure looks good.
Love it! Thanks for commenting.
Nice job on the pics. lots of memories there …..I used to live on this bus line not far from that bridge.
Thanks, glad you like our work. Since this post appeared on the news the number of comments coming in has exploded.
Remember those days well… lived in the city, and love it… thanks for sharing these, wow ! what a difference and look at the Calgary tower in ’74 compared to 2014… my aunt and uncle lived on Belair Drive, just up and around the corner from where these photos were taken… lots of GREAT memories…. love how you lined these up…
They lined up pretty good. Not our best, but it is from a few years ago when we were not as good as we are today.
Love Chris’s work. This is like porn to me!!
Bus porn! Thanks, this means a lot. More than you’ll ever know.
Nice pics! Love it, sure miss CGY, thanks for the nostalgia!
Thanks, happy we could help in a way.
Just can’t beat the landscape when there is a trolley in the scene..
Amen! Trolleys were darn interesting.
Great photos as always Chris.
I remember the Calgary Tower been so high when it was first built ,
Seems to have shrunk with age;)
The Trolley looks great,if you google calgary transit system bus 455 you will fine some other photos of it.
I agree, back then the tower looked so much taller.
I used to ride the bus past this spot! From 1969-71 I went to Western Canada High and rode the 3 in. Thanks for the memories.
Awesome, we love it when our posts bring back memories like that!
Well, it has been FORTY years, cowpoke.
Of course, it’d be weird if the skyline did not change. What I meant to get across is that downtown Calgary is quite young for the most part.
AGAIN!!!!!! I ENVY YOU Chris Doering!!! LOL!
We sometimes don’t realize just how fun our lives are…