Bluebird Motel Claresholm

Today, it’s a look at the Bluebird Motel Claresholm Alberta, charming old school accommodations in the motor court style and with tons of character. It’s a mom and pop kind of place, decidedly retro and delightful in every way. Up on the sign: “Old Fashioned Hospitality Since 1947” and a guest comments: (it’s) “Paradise on the prairies!” Think of it like going home, but minus all the family drama and shame. You know what we’re talking about – those drunken brawls, Cousin Eddie’s little problem we don’t talk about and other Gerry Springer dysfunctions? Oops, had a childhood flashback there.

A good friend did a fun multimedia piece on the motel and once done here, we’ll send you over to DanOCan to know more. It’s time well wasted and we’re appreciative of their hard work. We sure know some interesting and creative people.

When the Bluebird opened for business, they had three cabins of two units each. The materials for these came from salvaged outbuildings on the property and which was previously home to a dairy operation. The old barn seen dates back to that earlier period as does a house (not photographed) in behind. Located along the highway through Claresholm, the motel stands near the north edge of town and is hard to miss.

Originally called Bluebird Bungalows, at some point in the 1950s(?) the sign out front changed to read Bluebird Cabins. In old phone books, interestingly, it shows as the Bluebird Motel in every entry found and that’s even back then. However advertised, the name comes from birds that frequented the property.

Two more cabins, also of two units each, were soon added and the lumber came from a salvaged building at a car dealership the owners of the Bluebird had an interest in. There’s quite a fascinating legacy here in these rooms with the people behind it both creative and frugal. That’s admirable and reflects the make-do attitude of small town folks.

In the early 1960s, a new office was constructed in the space between two of the original cabins and a new house for the owners built out back. Not long after, the gaps between the other cabins were filled with the addition of new rooms between them and results in the long structure seen fronting the property today.

In 1967, five more cabins (and again, two units per) were moved in from the recently closed Grand-O-Vue Motel in Calgary. This brought the total to twenty three units, although sometimes in ads (old ones and present day, they only mention twenty two). Not sure the reason.

This came to be the last major change here and while the sign out by the road appears to be of more modern vintage, the business differs little compared to half a century ago. Old post cards prove it and one might just be fodder for a Then & Now post in the future (finger’s crossed). We shot one but have not gotten to it yet (busy are we, but here it is: Bluebird Motel Then & Now). The place photographs real nice and especially when the sun’s low in the sky. Those deep reds and oranges reflect nicely!

The old man had an extended multi-month stay at the Bluebird, in the early 1980s, when working on the Claresholm Arena being built at the time. It’s a good bet in his wake came a trail of bounced cheques and money owed in the community. Sure, the empties left behind might have covered some of the bills, and damage, but still. Wonder if he squared up with the Bluebird or skipped out? No…let’s not open that can of worms.

Nobody we chatted with knew the build date of the barn out back, but clearly it’s ancient. Of log construction, it would not surprise us if it’s as old as the town itself (Claresholm dates from the early 1900s) or even from before.

Recall, this building goes back to the dairy operation spoken of earlier and adds so much to the overall character of the business. At some point in more recent times (1970s-1980s?), and with the pouring of a concrete skirt to help stabilize the structure, two grave stones were added on one side.

Wait…what?!

Yes, grave stones…how strange and creepy. There’s no one buried here (relief) and the story we got from the front desk suggests they were placed as a curiosity. You know, something mysterious to spark interesting conversation – it worked! And maybe a few conspiracy theories or some such things.

First, it begs the question: how does one acquire something usually only found at cemeteries? Grave robbing or nefarious activities seem unlikely unless there’s some deep dark secrets here. But there’s no mention of secret cults in town, so rule that out. Anyway, we were told one came via a trade and another found beside the road one day. And now one question becomes many.

We did some digging (grave – digging – get it?) and neither name, Louise Christine (1891-1938) nor Margaret Urquhart (1824-1871) appear in any records. And we searched worldwide and went deep. Sometimes older data just isn’t there, so that’s not entirely unusual, but still it has us wondering. These can’t be real stones, right?

If the intent was to get people talking, however, it’s mission accomplished and we just devoted several paragraphs to the subject.

Motor Court style: Typically comprised of cabins (single or multi-unit) that you can drive right up too and most popular in the car-centric world of the 1930s-1960s period.

Claresholm sits about a hundred and twenty five kilometres south of Calgary and has a population approaching thirty-eight hundred. It’s a charming little community and we’ve explored it a few times now. We look forward to returning too, and oh, they have this nice vintage water tower…Water Towers: Claresholm Alberta. How awesome it that?!

That link we promised and it comes highly recommended: DanOCan: A Brief History of the Bluebird Motel

Know more: (new windows): Bluebird Motel Claresholm and learn about the community: Town of Claresholm Alberta.

There’s more new content being posted every week, so don’t go away!

They’re saying…

“The background information is just amazing (and) I love being able to “travel” with them as they share their fascinating sites.” Jo Tennant.

Hotels and motels…
Historic Hotels Crowsnest Pass – The Cos, The Greenhill and more!
Retro Motels: Medicine Hat Alberta – One word and it’s: neon!
Ymir, Friday Nights – Open mike night and the best time ever!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen in this post or any other, by all means contact us!

Date: October, 2020.
Location: Claresholm, AB.
Article references and thanks: The Bluebird Motel, DanOCan.com, HRHS pamphlet – Early History of the Bluebird Motel and finally, Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society.

At the Bluebird Motel, Claresholm Alberta.

It’s been here since the 1940s – theme rooms!

An old school Motor Court style of place.

Out back, this barn is from an earlier dairy operation.

What…a grave stone?

There’s two in fact, but rest assured no one’s buried here.

Cabins on the right were moved here from Calgary.

Read the post to know a little history.

At the first light of day.

We’d love to come back.