Brief Stop in Andrew Alberta

We had ten minutes to kill in little Andrew Alberta, before a tight schedule had us back on the road. There’s certainly more to see in the community than the time allowed us, but you take what you can get. I’m sure we’ll be back to take a more immersive tour (as this rate we’ll have to live to 150 to do them all) and so in the meantime, just enjoy. Here we’re exploring three of the more noteworthy buildings in town, a much photographed gas station, a fine Eastern Orthodox church and Andrew’s last prairie sentinel.

There’s also the super-sized duck for a bit of fun. They have a thing for giant roadside attractions in this part of the province – wait till you see the world’s biggest Kielbasa coil in nearby Mundare. It truly looks like a coiler of a different kind, but that makes you want to see it all the more, yeah? Anyway, Mr Mallard is seen to be following proper Covid protocols and is masked up. This was shot during a break between lockdowns in 2020, incidentally.

First up, it’s Nick’s Service, a popular one with abandoned-stuff photographers, and for good reason. Just look on Facebook or Instagram and see that it’s hard to take a bad shot of the building. True old school in every way, you filled up your tank right there on the street (not uncommon back when).

The pumps are Gilbarco 900 series and date from the 1940s-1950s era. When last used can only be guessed at but that they dispense in gallons suggests it was the 1970s. Canada went metric that decade and so if later these would be in litres. They also advertise the use of leaded fuel, which fell out of favour long ago. How ever you portion it out, it’s been a while, yet they look almost like they could be powered up and start dispensing again.

It’s suggested the building is from the 1930-1940 period, although that could not be verified (anyone?). It certainly displays architectural elements of that era, so in that regard fits. It was last Nick’s, but in the past also operated at the Andrew Service Shop (and no doubt others). The trail went cold real quick on this one. In any case, it’s been a service station for a long time and in addition to offering fuel, they did repairs and sold parts. So they were just like every other small town business of this type.

This really deserves a closer look, even if it’s been photographed to death.

Saints Peter and Paul dates back to the late 1930s (although not consecrated – or made official – until the early 1950s) and is one of many “onion dome” Russo-Greek/Ukrainian Orthodox churches in the region. It’s aligned east-west and built in a crucifix form (so from above, shaped like a cross), as was typical for the style. The onion domes are said to symbolize a burning candle.

This is a five dome church (one is hidden in back in our photos), which is said to signify Christ and the Four Evangelists (John, Luke, Mark and Matthew). Churches with three domes (symbolizing the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit), or those with a single dome (symbolizing Christ) are also very common in the area. In the old country (we’re speaking of Eastern Europe, Russia and the Ukraine) you might see churches with a greater number (9, 13 or even 25 – and each means something), but around here five was usually max.

Andrew’s last grain elevator dates from the late 1920s and was built for the Alberta Wheat Pool. It was one of many such buildings once found down here by the tracks. The two annexes, one per side were later additions, one being built new in the 1980s and another salvaged from another grain elevator in nearby town and brought over about that same time. You can see it has an Alberta Pacific Grain Company lineage, a firm that last existed in the 1960s.

The elevator closed around 2000 and the railway line pulled up not long after. Where as all the other elevators here were torn down, this one was saved by a local museum group. I’m sure they have plans once funding can be found (not an easy thing). The building appears in good shape and is a fine representation of how it used to be done. Chances are it’s complete inside.

This was just a leg stretching stop on a multi-day road trip taking in an area northeast of Edmonton and while we had some specific targets this outing, this was just a random diversion. You can’t take in everything, but still we try and stop if the schedule allows it.

Andrew dates back over a hundred years and is home to about four hundred people today.

Know more about the little town (new window): Andrew Alberta History.

Stay tuned for more new content coming soon.

They’re saying…

”Great photos and research of abandoned buildings and sites” Micheal Laschowski.

More small towns…
Hello Blackie.
A Few Minutes in Hoosier.
Ymir, Friday Nights.

If you feel like chatting or want more information on what you see here feel free to contact us!

Date of Adventure: September, 2020.
Location(s): Andrew, AB.
Article references and thanks: Orthodoxcanada.ca, hermis.alberta.ca (Alberta Register of Historic Places), plus old phone books @ Calgary Public Library and the Medicine Hat and District Genealogical Society.

A duck can never can be too safe.

At Nick’s Service.

It’s popular with photographers & for good reason.

Saints Peter and Paul dates from the 1930s.

It’s one of many Orthodox churches in the district.

Andrew’s last grain elevator.