Ghost town, adventure, Canadian, travel
2020 & 2021 have been rough for so many people. We had decided that we weren’t going to let covid get the best of us.
For those that don’t know us we are not huge people people. Lol can’t help but have the image of one of the decepacon (transformers) flicking a person away.
It has been relatively easy to do things we like to do and be away from people.
Have you ever seen a dirt road and wondered where it leads?? Have you ever been brave enough to take it? Say “What the heck let’s see where it goes”
We have been on many dirt roads. Our rule of thumb is as long as it hasn’t rained recently and as long as the suv can manage it let’s see where it goes.
Now before anyone freaks out these are all public roads!!!
You never know what you will find down these dirt roads.
What adventure awaits you!!
Well I got two days in a row off work so we decided to hit the road. Off to Saskatchewan it is.
Tim did a bunch of fast research the day before we left (Good thing he is a pro at this) and he found some schools and churches in the south we hadn’t seen on previous trips to Saskatchewan.
We decided to bring the 3 dogs as they seem to love to explore with us.
Got off work around 3:15pm and we were on the road by 3:40pm. Our goal was to make it into Saskatchewan and hopefully to see one school before it got dark.
Since gas prices are steadily climbing hotels are out (have to save money some how). We took the suv instead of the van since it will be the cheapest to fill, threw a mattress in the back and we are good to go.
When we do a short (couple of days) road trip we pack it especially since our days are getting shorter.
Over the last two years these small town museums have faced many challenges. Between not being allowed to open, shortened seasons and the fact that most of them rely on donations or a small admission fee has many struggling.
These small town museums have so much to offer. Most of the items they have and take care of are fairly local and show the history of our local towns that may otherwise be forgotten.
Let’s get out there and support Alberta’s small town museums ❤️
From a distance you would never guess the horrible rumour that is behind this old stone house. From a distance across a farmers field it just looks like a old stone farmhouse. As we got closer we noticed something really unusual. Take a look at a couple of the following pictures and see if you notice anything off.
Did you notice it??
Some of the windows have been stoned in!!
So the horrible story that goes with this house is that when it was built a family lived here. One day the mother was upstairs making the beds and tidying up. The children were outside playing. The house was built near a train track and she heard the train coming blowing its whistle. She ran to the window just in time to see the train run into her one of her children who had wondered onto the track as they were playing. They say you could hear her scream for miles. The husband blocked off the windows that faced the tracks as a way to try and help his wife deal with the horrible event.
Some people still claim that you can hear her scream when a train passes.
Now who knows if this story is true or not but often these rumours or legends are born out of some truth.
Once you get past the story and take a minute to admire the house you have to admit the talent that went into building the old stone homesteads. They used what was handy to build which was often rocks that they gathered clearing their fields. The colour that these rocks display I find beautiful and they display such talent the builders had and they were built to last. This house was built in the early 1800’s.
Have you ever been somewhere there is no noise? Absolute silence? No crickets even? That is Fir Mountain Sk early on a Sunday morning. I actually thought it was a ghost town till I realized the post office was open so people could access their mail boxes and they had signs for Covid hanging on their door and a Canadian flag flying proudly.
This old water pump is one of the neatest I have ever seen. It is right in the centre of town. I guess that was so everyone in the community had access to water. We have visited many ghost towns and this is the first I have seen placed like this. It was smack dab in the middle of the road, in the middle of main street.
We saw a couple of houses that looked like maybe someone was living in them but it was hard to tell. Most of the town was overgrown and looked like it had been awhile since anyone had done anything.
I think this might be the oldest stop sign I have seen to date. It had quite the lean to it and most of the paint has wore off but it was still there in case any vehicles decided to drive down the gravel roads in town. If memory serves me it was the only stop sign in town.
What drew us to make the drive to Fir Mountain Sk was this amazing old school. Out of all the schools we have seen this one held on the longest as a open functioning school. The school opened in 1929 and closed its doors in 1987. It had originally been a two room school but a third was added at some point.
Some places just stick with you after you leave and this is one for me. I would love to go back some day to visit again.
We have travelled around 4 provinces so far and seen many old abandoned houses, churches and buildings.
I often wonder the stories these walls could tell. What made everyone just pack up and leave? Leave without even taking everything with them.
The hopes and dreams the families in these homes had or maybe even the heartbreak (as we all know that life back then was not a easy one)
What broke these communities so bad that they basically vanished? Fire? To expensive to rebuild Drought? Couldn’t provide for their families Grain elevators shut down? Move where the work is.
Whatever their reason the people that came before us left a lasting impression on the communities they worked so hard to start. They left us history lessons that hopefully we take the time to appreciate and take in.
Tktravels has so much more to see as we hit new and exciting adventures. As we document more of our great country and if our boarders ever open other countries. So much beauty and history to experience and explore. Join our Facebook group (Tktravels) to follow along.
A one-room country school is not just about education. It builds pride in the community.
The first one-room school was built in 1881 in Alberta. Many of the teachers of these beautiful old schools were single young adults that if they were lucky had a grade eight education. Teaching was one of the few professions that unmarried women were allowed to have.
These schools shaped, molded and educated the generation that made huge impacts on the world we live in now. our grandparents and great grandparents. These people fought in two world wars, survived the dirty 30’s, saw the first man on the moon, gave us the right to vote and improved our education system. Many of these schools are sitting dark and silent. Down a gravel road forgotten, abandoned as nature slowly reclaims it. Very and I mean very few are being saved. Some communities have stepped up and done the best they can but they lack the funds that are needed. Our provincial and federal government’s have failed to preserve our history and saving something that helped form who we are today. It is our goal to do our part to document as many of these buildings across Canada as we possibly can. So future generations have their chance to know where we come from, what helped shape us.
The following are just the tip of what we have seen. They are in no particular order. We picked these ones because they are some of the few that have a school still standing but also have a school marker.
Fertile Forest
This school is special as it sits on its original location. In 1993 it was added to the Alberta Historic Registration.
Springwater
This stone school is amazing. It is in great shape and is well looked after by the Springwater Homestead Foundation.
This one is a personal favourite. It just seems huge and is in amazing condition. It was in operation from 1913-1943 then from 1949-1960. Not sure why there was a 6 year gap where the school was closed. War?? Not enough school age children??
This one is Tim’s favourited one room school !! Love the bell tower.
1937-1944
The years above are what is on the metal sign for this school. But in doing some research this school was built in 1911 on another location and was then moved to this location in 1937 as it was a more centralized location for the students to get to.
1908-1951
1913-1933
This building has had many faces over the years. School, polling station, and even a hospital.
1903-1952
1928-1952
Had to include a couple pictures of outhouses. I can’t imagine those poor children running out to the outhouse in our cold prairie winters.
How do you relax and unwind? What is your favourite thing to do when you don’t have to be at work? Let me tell you about mine…..
First of all I am a very lucky girl who’s better half loves to do research and he is extremely good at it I must say.
I love on a day off to sleep in a bit but with our 3 dogs if I get to sleep till 8am I’m doing good.
Next is a stop to fill up the suv, coffee for Tim and a coke for me. Then it’s time to hit the open road. Tim’s favourite game is when I say “I’ve been thinking” or “I have a question”. NOT!! I do love the conversations we have well driving though.
Depending on the day we might be seeing waterfalls, grain elevators, one room schools, historic buildings or just driving till something catches our eye.
We always have tons of fun. You can’t take yourself to serious.
If I had one word of advice TAKE THE PICTURE!!! No matter how silly or dumb you feel it’s memories your memories. Make them!!!
We live in a beautiful province and most things you can drive to in a day. I love that!! Depending on the mood one day it’s the mountains the next the prairies.
I hope you enjoy your days off as much as I do. Bring that honest big happy smile to your face and get out and enjoy living.
Beauty Creek trail where this falls is located is about a 3 km return hike that has 8 very different and glacier feed falls which is why they all have the amazing green water colour. 7 of the falls are unnamed the last one is called Stanley Falls which is the biggest one on the trail. This is a fairly easy trail that is very well kept. A pet peeve though PLEASE park properly near the trail head so more vehicles can get in. 🤦♀️
“There is no better place to find yourself then sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music”. Roland R. Kemler
There is something so exhilarating about hearing the waterfall but you can’t see it yet. It’s hiding just around the bend or over the ridge and all the hiking and scrambling over the rocks, the scratches and exhaustion are forgotten. Then you see it. It can be huge towering over you pounding gallons and gallons of water or it can be small and more personal seeming. But either way each one is special and very unique.
This list is Tim’s top 20 for waterfalls in Alberta. Remember this is one persons list yours might be different. I encourage you to get out and find your top 20.
No particular order.
Let’s start with a bang. Sideways falls is breathtaking. The hike to it can be a challenge and very easy to get lost if your not careful. But very worth it. This waterfall is fed by 3 very large glaciers. The first part of the falls drops 284 feet which then goes into a 100 foot plunge. There are about 3 more tiers which range from 15 to 28 feet in height.
This one is my favourite. So far we have found a upper tier, middle (my favourite because you can go behind it) and a lower. We have hear that there is another lower one. It’s tempting us to come see it. Panther Falls is often overlooked as it in the same area as another big beautiful but less powerful falls. Panther Falls is hidden and takes a bit of work to see it. But it does let you know it’s there as you can hear it’s power from a distance.
This falls can be a very busy tourist attraction. Very beautiful though. It is a nice one to see frozen.
Nigel Falls from the base is a breathtaking view. A little hint it’s the 3rd bridge😉. This waterfall is 109 feet tall and very powerful. The overspray is incredible.
You could drive past this falls and never know it is there. It is surrounded by trees and has many levels. Be prepared to do some bushwhacking to get to it. This fall has a drop of 51 feet.
This absolutely beautiful falls is right near the highway and can be a busy tourist stop. This fall is especially beautiful during runoff. What a lot of people don’t know is there is a lower tangle Falls. Lower tangle is a ton of work and a bit of a scrabble and you will get wet but so worth it.
Last year Crescent Falls was one of the most deadly falls in Alberta. It seems like no matter how many signs you put up or areas you fence off people are determined to push the boundaries even at the expense of their lives and the lives of people with them. Crescent Falls is a series of two waterfalls.
This falls is located on Beauty Creek Trail as mentioned above. If you want a nice hike with family this one is very doable. We have done more research and realize that there is at least another 2 waterfalls beyond Stanley Falls. Putting on the big girl panties and going to accept the challenge.
This falls used to be popular in the 30s and 40s but do to changes in the highway it has been forgotten. It is a wonderful example of a cascading waterfall and it flows over a giant rock bed.
*Please remember to take out what you bring in. Also this is bear county so carry bear spray and make noise.
If you have any questions about any of these places please contact us.
Tktravels