Legendary photographer Harry Palmer sent us an image showing “downtown” Alsask Saskatchewan in 1985 to use in one of our trademark then and now series. Thirty years after he captured his wonderful photo, we venture back to the exact spot where he stood to record how the scene looks today. Some of what was is long gone and some is still there. Change is guaranteed, but is rarely a constant.
Alsask is located close to the ALberta/SASKatchewan border, from where it gets its name (it’s just on the SK side). Founded just over a century ago, it’s a tiny village today, home to just over a hundred people. Downtown is comprised of several former businesses flanking a wide boulevard, all of them closed with some being used as residences.
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Of the three buildings seen in the old photo, two are no longer around. The grain elevator with the “Pool” lettering was from 1912, constructed just after the town was established, and when seen belonged to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (in the past other grain firms owned it). By 1985 it was not in use having been closed a couple years prior. When it was torn down is not known, but a couple local residents we spoke with seemed to think sometime before 1990. The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, like the elevator, is no more. Is ceased to be as a firm in the 2000s.
There used to be other grain elevators in Alsask, the last coming down in the 1990s. These would have been just off camera to the left or right.
A Canadian National Railway line (former Canadian Northern), built around 1910, did and still does pass through town. The track today is pretty quiet and not used much. It travels between Saskatoon and Oyen Alberta, the latter not terribly far from Alsask. In the past it used to run all the way to Calgary. Commodities carried include grain (of course) and oil.
The corner of the old train station can be seen in the “then” photo. We spoke with some people in town, casually, who happened to be in their yards and within ear shot of us, and most seem to think it was gone by 1990. In 1985 it was likely used by the railway for storage space or some other utilitarian function.
The Alsask Hotel, front and centre, was open in the 1980s but by today is shuttered. We have not found when it was built and no one we spoke with seemed to know for certain, We can safely assume it dates back to the early days of the towns history however (so the 1910s or 1920s). If you can help fill in the blanks on this or anything else mentioned in this article, fire off an email to us.
From what we can find the hotel closed about a decade ago. You’ll notice in the old photo it was a Greyhound Bus Lines stop. I recall in the late 1980s riding to Saskatoon from Calgary with the restaurant here being used for the dinner stop.
Nearly all the “then” photos used in these posts are supplied to us by our readers. If you have a vintage photo (scanned, prints or slides), yours or in the public domain, at least 25-30 years old or more, showing a street scene such as this, send it to us and we’ll go to the place shown to record how things are today. Drop us a line if you’re interested.
The old photo is copyright Harry Palmer and is used with permission. He’s supplied us other photos for use in these then and nows posts. A legend, he’s been photographing people, places and things for decades. We’re honoured to include his work here.
Our “now” shots are composed in camera, freehand, using a special grid system we’ve developed over the years. Of course, this quick and dirty method means our results won’t be prefect, but we often get close most of the time. You’ll notice the hotel in the now photo seems to fall away at steeper angle than that in the then photo. This is for the most part an optical illusion, which so far I have not found an explanation for. When the two photos are overlaid, they match up much better. Check out the second image to see that for yourself
This same day we did a second then and now in Alsask, which will be posted here soon. That subject will be the old school house in town, a wonderful brick structure that’s no longer used. Also explored this trip was the decommissioned Alsask Canadian Forces military installation that includes a Cold War era radar dome tower, we were given special permission to explore, once used to scan for approaching enemy (meaning Russian) aircraft or missiles. It was an early warning system, that in the end was never really of much use.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: June, 2015. Location: Alsask. SK. Article sources: Statistics Canada, Casual conversations with local residents. Our photographs were shot from public property.
Very Cool.. myself and my very young family lived on the Airforce Base in Alsask. We left in 1985 and headed to Penhold, I remember this hotel .. very close to the little grocery store and post office?
Was shocked to see how deserted Alsask was when we drove into it in Aug.,2014. First time I was there was in June 8,1974. I was on the Greyhound to Saskatoon and we stopped there for lunch and to exchange drivers. Went down to the CN station and chatted with the operator who was on duty. I did get a photo of that station and elevators in the distance. Much more going on there in those days.
I took a bus trip from Calgary to Saskatoon in the 1980s and Alsask, the Hotel, was the meal stop then. So cool. I recall there was a grocery store and perhaps other open businesses too. Now, it’s all quiet.
Hi, Thanks for the effort you put into this website. Keeping history alive! My grandpa’s brother John Secher (1902 Denmark – 1985 Edmonton) lived in Alsask from around 1950-1980. He may have lived in the hotel or had a room in someone’s home. I wonder if there was ever a museum or town library or anything that may mention my great uncle?
So pleased to hear you liked the piece. It was a fun one for us. There’s no one really left in Alsask that I could think could help. We do have the Alsask History Book in our archives. If you’d like us to search it to see if your uncle makes mention, a small donation or gift to our group will get the ball rolling. Contact us if interested.
I attended high school in Alsask and graduated in 1944. Joined the Canadian Army and have not lived there since then. The Alsask Hotel, formerly the Royal Hotel, opened in 1911 and the building was still there, but abandoned, when I passed that way last year. Jack Stead
I was posted (as a Cpl) at CFS Alsask from Jan 1983 till the Summer of 1985. I had already spent 4 1/2 yrs in the Infantry (3 PPCLI), & this was my first Posting as a Military Policeman (MP). Needless to say, the CAF should never have Posted brand new MPs to Radar Stations. I had one week (5 days) of a day shift, & then I worked (alone, with no mentoring) on night shifts (4 nights on, & 4 nights off) for 2 1/2 yrs. I experienced a lot of what life is about there, but basically I was on my own, with incompetent bosses, who only cared about hunting, fishing, finishing their respective careers out, & not wanting any controversies (as all my bosses did was bulls**t & not doing anything – besides helping themselves). Even when I saved a Soldier’s life in Alsask, & was recommended for the St. John’s Lifesaving medal by a Med-A, my boss (at the time) would not staff the paperwork up (in his words, he said he had better things to do, such as hunting & fishing, & could care less about me). The Harper Gov’t talked about sovereignty (but never acted on it, except for the yearly photo Ops), & I would argue bringing back a ‘form’ of the Mid-Canada Line/Dew Line/Pine Tree Radar lines (in maybe different forms of (such as) training Bases, etc., & an Artic (‘Training’) Base(s) could really have (could) helped restore (at least a bit) the sovereignty and economies of the Northern parts of our great Country. As Mr. Putin put it, you need boots on the ground to say that which you claim is yours (can you say Ukraine?)? All-in-all, I enjoyed (to a degree) my Posting to CFS Alsask, & it saddens me to see the PMQ Patch totally gone. I remember watching fellow Soldiers planting hedgerows, building decks, & small fences to make their PMQ (a double wide trailer really) into somewhat of a unique home for themselves. I remember visiting friends & sitting on these decks, drinking ice-tea, & now it is all gone (as if it never really was). I miss people I knew, such as Jessica Haberstock & Don, & I miss the hometown feeling. It truly was a unique & nice place.Cheers.
Comment of the day! Bloody interesting. A slice of base life, if I’ve ever heard one. Presumably, you’ve seen these posts, where we toured the base and the radar installation across the highway…
Mr. Fredrick William Perks (Bill) was the train station master in Alsask Through the 40’s and 50’s. He passed away last week July 5/15 he was 88. I recall running to the station to watch the train as the engine took on water and to wave at the crew in the caboose as they departed, they sometimes threw candy.
I stayed in a suite they had on the upper floor in 2004 – talk about feeling like you were on the set of ‘The Shining’! So sorry to hear it is closed now…
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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Very Cool.. myself and my very young family lived on the Airforce Base in Alsask. We left in 1985 and headed to Penhold, I remember this hotel .. very close to the little grocery store and post office?
Such cool memories! The store and PO are long gone too.
Nice! Irene Lacelle
Thank you!
Was shocked to see how deserted Alsask was when we drove into it in Aug.,2014. First time I was there was in June 8,1974. I was on the Greyhound to Saskatoon and we stopped there for lunch and to exchange drivers. Went down to the CN station and chatted with the operator who was on duty. I did get a photo of that station and elevators in the distance. Much more going on there in those days.
I took a bus trip from Calgary to Saskatoon in the 1980s and Alsask, the Hotel, was the meal stop then. So cool. I recall there was a grocery store and perhaps other open businesses too. Now, it’s all quiet.
Hi,
Thanks for the effort you put into this website. Keeping history alive!
My grandpa’s brother John Secher (1902 Denmark – 1985 Edmonton) lived in Alsask from around 1950-1980. He may have lived in the hotel or had a room in someone’s home. I wonder if there was ever a museum or town library or anything that may mention my great uncle?
So pleased to hear you liked the piece. It was a fun one for us. There’s no one really left in Alsask that I could think could help. We do have the Alsask History Book in our archives. If you’d like us to search it to see if your uncle makes mention, a small donation or gift to our group will get the ball rolling. Contact us if interested.
I attended high school in Alsask and graduated in 1944. Joined the Canadian Army and have not lived there since then. The Alsask Hotel, formerly the Royal Hotel, opened in 1911 and the building was still there, but abandoned, when I passed that way last year.
Jack Stead
Thanks for commenting. I understand the hotel is due to be demolished at some time. Sad to see these places die.
I was posted (as a Cpl) at CFS Alsask from Jan 1983 till the Summer of 1985. I had already spent 4 1/2 yrs in the Infantry (3 PPCLI), & this was my first Posting as a Military Policeman (MP). Needless to say, the CAF should never have Posted brand new MPs to Radar Stations. I had one week (5 days) of a day shift, & then I worked (alone, with no mentoring) on night shifts (4 nights on, & 4 nights off) for 2 1/2 yrs. I experienced a lot of what life is about there, but basically I was on my own, with incompetent bosses, who only cared about hunting, fishing, finishing their respective careers out, & not wanting any controversies (as all my bosses did was bulls**t & not doing anything – besides helping themselves). Even when I saved a Soldier’s life in Alsask, & was recommended for the St. John’s Lifesaving medal by a Med-A, my boss (at the time) would not staff the paperwork up (in his words, he said he had better things to do, such as hunting & fishing, & could care less about me).
The Harper Gov’t talked about sovereignty (but never acted on it, except for the yearly photo Ops), & I would argue bringing back a ‘form’ of the Mid-Canada Line/Dew Line/Pine Tree Radar lines (in maybe different forms of (such as) training Bases, etc., & an Artic (‘Training’) Base(s) could really have (could) helped restore (at least a bit) the sovereignty and economies of the Northern parts of our great Country. As Mr. Putin put it, you need boots on the ground to say that which you claim is yours (can you say Ukraine?)?
All-in-all, I enjoyed (to a degree) my Posting to CFS Alsask, & it saddens me to see the PMQ Patch totally gone. I remember watching fellow Soldiers planting hedgerows, building decks, & small fences to make their PMQ (a double wide trailer really) into somewhat of a unique home for themselves. I remember visiting friends & sitting on these decks, drinking ice-tea, & now it is all gone (as if it never really was). I miss people I knew, such as Jessica Haberstock & Don, & I miss the hometown feeling. It truly was a unique & nice place.Cheers.
Comment of the day! Bloody interesting. A slice of base life, if I’ve ever heard one. Presumably, you’ve seen these posts, where we toured the base and the radar installation across the highway…
https://www.bigdoer.com/23415/exploring-history/canadian-forces-station-alsask/
https://www.bigdoer.com/23583/exploring-history/cfs-alsask-dome/
Mr. Fredrick William Perks (Bill) was the train station master in Alsask Through the 40’s and 50’s. He passed away last week July 5/15 he was 88. I recall running to the station to watch the train as the engine took on water and to wave at the crew in the caboose as they departed, they sometimes threw candy.
It’s just so hard to image passenger trains stopping in town. It wasn’t that long ago, but seems so far removed from today. Thanks for sharing.
I stayed in a suite they had on the upper floor in 2004 – talk about feeling like you were on the set of ‘The Shining’! So sorry to hear it is closed now…
The Shining? That’s not good!
Nice shots and lining up! Is Alsask still populated?
Yes, but not many live there compared to its heyday.
(via Facebook)
Train station and elevator. Cool.
Isn’t it!