As the bus neared the Heritage Park
I was struck by the sight of a fleet of yellow buses there. My driver (I was
the sole occupant of the bus ) told me that it was the patroller’s day .7000 School
Safety Patrollers who keep others safe , were to be thanked in an
appreciation ceremony powered by the Alberta Motor Association and The Calgary
Police Force .My heart lifted as I am fond of moving in a crowd of happy
yelling laughing humans particularly at the tourists sites especially when I am
on my own ,as the excitement is catchy.
Suddenly I felt at home . I made my way to the ticket
counter and since it was already
afternoon I thought I’d forgo the ticket for the rides . I was pleasantly
surprised when the young lady at the ticket
counter stamped me for the rides .The usherer the lady at the ticket counter
and other staff there seemed to be out of the book of‘Little Women ’the
Megs..the Jos …the Beths… the Amys…seemed to be all over the place giving a
feminine delicate dramatic touch to the scene ‘How the West Was Once’
They went about their office with flouncing skirts and full sleeved
blouses. I discovered the entire staff
there were suitably dressed in historic
costumes looking dignified in their attire. Patiently with happy interested
expressions answering the queries of the
visitors .
The park is located in 127 acres of land on the banks of
Glenmore Reservoir along Calgary ’s
South Western edge .
The Park is divided into 4 distinct areas reflecting
different time periods in Western Canada ’s
history.
1.The Hudson Bay Company’s Fur trading fort-1864 .
2.Pre
Railway Settlement
Village 1880
3.The Railway
Prairie Town 1910.
4. Newly opened Heritage
Town Square depicting 1930’s and 1950’s.
At the entrance is the Gasoline Alley Museum
.It is any vintage car lovers delight.
It houses one of the best collections of restored antique vehicles ,also gas
pumps .Here the kids can take a road test and can get their own drivers
liscence!The children were crowded round the place .I made a beeline to the
steam train that circles the
village on one mile of track. For
the ticket I flashed my stamp to the conductor looking smart in his uniform ,
dutifully ushered me into the coach .I took my seat near the window ,I settled
down comfortably excited to see the entire historical village in locomotion!
The guard blew the whistle and we were cautioned to sit firmly and thus started
the noisy train. It stopped at the stipulated stations Midanpore Station where
I boarded the train, Shepard Station and Laggan Station where some passengers alighted and some boarded the
train. I sat on and watched the fun! the excitement of my co passengers . While
circling the village I saw the shimmering expanse of the reservoir with the
picture perfect Paddlewheeler.The windmill .Saw the horses in their stable ,
the wigwam, marked on my map as Aboriginal Encampment..Also saw the Shont’s
Grain Elevator ..a true prairie icon of 1909 their size and numbers signified a
districts productivity and influence. We crossed the Burnside Ranch House ,a
ranch house was the centre of Western hospitality ,offering a lifestyle of
simple comforts devoid of pretense.
Had I not been short of time I would have taken another ride
.Deboarded the train , happily waved to no one in particular and stood in the
queue for boarding the S.S.MOYIE Paddle wheeler .At the Boat Dock the paddle wheeler was untied by a lady.
I was told that it is
a steamship which was included in the
Canadian Pacific Railway transportation network . The paddle wheeler is environment friendly .The hydraulic motor
uses a water soluble glycol fluid. It was double Decker full of children racing
up and down the wooden staircase. I cautioned a few for the fear that they
might fall off. I finally stood at the bow on the deck where
I witnessed a hilarious scene . A boy coaxed a friend of his to strike the
famous Rose pose from the Titanic and as he spread his hands he tickled him and
both went down on the floor rocking with laughter believe me it was so infectious.
I saw a lot of greenery I consulted my guide leaflet and found it was 1860’s
fur trading area . There was a lively bustle of people around that place. For 200 years Western Canada ’s economy was based on bartering furs for
factory goods. I knew I could not see it for want of time and energy both. It
was a bright sunny day and it seemed there were a billion stars in the
reservoir, each little wavelet reflecting the sun. The sunshine wind and
laughter all lifted my heart. Downstairs
there was a parlor like room with old black and white photographs .
I decided against a ride on the Ferris wheel since there was
a long wait with a lot of eager kids .
Off I went to experience the Village of 1910. It was so absorbing that
time just flew! I walked down and saw a few homes to the folks of the bygone
era . Mostly they were double storied .On the ground floor there were kitchen,
dinning area, bathroom ,parlor ,upstairs were the bedrooms with a children’s
room which was done up with dolls houses and some had a dolls tea party laid
out it was so cute! One room was a seamstress room where beautifully home
stitched dresses were out on display on the hangers .The houses were neat clean,
aesthetically decorated .Most of them had framed pictures In every house was a ‘Little Woman ‘ they looked so authentic that one got a feel of
actually meeting the lady of the house of the
bygone era!
I saw a never ending stream of kids going in and coming out
from this particular building when I got close I found out it was the Vulcan
Ice Cream Parlour.where they made ice cream the old fashioned way .
I went into the post office and telephone exchange office,
Saw how the old fashioned switch board operates. Here stamps, post office ,pens and gifts were for
sale.
I entered theFletts
Blacksmith shop , there were numerous horse shoes stacked .I asked the
duo there were so many horseshoes for Luck one smiled and said yes. And then he
got busy with his envil,hammer and fire the three of the important tools of any
blacksmith. He told me that there were woman blacksmiths too .Because most
businesses were family run, therefore
everyone in the family helped with the workload..Whether they ran a farm,
printing press or a blacksmith’s forge ..
There was a board
saying no one allowed below 16 years of
age .Curious I walked in .There were 5,6 snooker tables in the room . The
attendant there explained that they were the original tables from the bygone era
,just a precautionary measure against anyone ruining them. .It was the Baron’s
Snooker Parlour 1910. Imagine the shopname on the entrance I missed and an
innocuous looking cardboard placard caught my eye!
Next I entered the The Standard Newspaper Office that houses
a fully operational printing press. As I entered the gentleman there explained
the working, its importance ,told me about the importance of weekly newspapers
while strengthening the bonds of community ,linked the small western towns to
the world. Then he went on to print a newspaper , which I took as a souvenir
for 25cents .
I went to the Alberta Bakery and sampled their famed butter tarts, based on the 1900 recipe !At the Nightingale Colony House at around 3 p.m there was a crowd to watch
Butter Making the old fashioned way.
The rectory had a small library ,a parlour.
The church was next door a young lady was standing and sweeping it with a broom .She posed for a picture also she told me that
religion was a cornerstone of pioneer life and most settlers were happy to
contribute money or labour to build their first church…St.Martin’s Church.
Lovely music was emanating from the Canmore Opera
House.1898.I did not go inside.
Wing Chong Laundry was a well organized one . Pretty
interesting.!
Also visited the Cottage Hospital with Doctor and nurses
there.
In the Weedon
School met the school
master who taught all subjects .
At the police station the officer modeled his uniform his gun baton and all for my video.. I found
it so cute! He showed me the lock up too.
At about 4 p.m I sat on a bench to make a call to my brother
to continue our onward journey to Edmonton …the
capital of Alberta .
Good humouredly and full of concern a couple
greeted me saying it sure is a hard day with managing the young students
.They mistook me for a teacher . I gave a friendly nod !
On my way out went into the synagogue of the 1916.
At around 5 p.m.closing time the students were rounded up
sort of marched in lines along with the teachers to their respective buses. I
waited at the Heritage Town square where my brother was waiting .We went into the gifts
and shopping centre picked up some curios .After filming a few videos we were on our way
to the capital …I had so much to share …he caught on the excitement and
declared that next time he visits Calgary he would experience the historical
village himself!
I
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