Prayers for the Line

I apologize for being late to posting as the roll of Covid-19 continues to impact the communities that make up the Royal Line. Our own household has just emerged from some physical and mental health impacts during this time of c-tine (a term I have coined for our current existence).

We have nothing to add, but simply, our family is praying for all the families impacted by the cases and outbreaks in Duchess, Rosemary, Brooks, and Bassano schools and outlying areas. For those impacted by needing to isolate, or having mild to severe cases, we do pray for speedy recoveries, and healthy households that rebound for our community.

For our kids, we remind you of the simple acts of neighbourliness that can be done – wear a mask in public, stay 6 feet (2 metres) a part, wash your hands, and if you are sick (regardless of illness) stay home until symptoms clear. As with all points of history when we need to overcome adversity, we are stronger together.

Amen.

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Bassano Hotel-1911

Submitted by friend of the Museum, Rae Latimer:

In keeping with the topic of hotels, I am pleased to share the following story from the front page of the Bassano News publication of October 12, 1911.

October 12, 1911

Hunter Hotel Opened Today

The Finest Hotel Between Calgary and Medicine Hat

(BN) With accommodation for almost one hundred guests, with attractive and up-to-date fittings throughout, hot and cold water and all modern conveniences, the Hunter Hotel, the best between Calgary and the Hat, opens its doors today with a dance and banquet to which everyone is heartily welcomed.

It is a hotel of which Bassano may be proud and upon which Mr. T. H. Hunter, the proprietor, may be warmly congratulated. No expense has been spared to ensure the comfort of each guest and to procure the best hygienic features, and it is bound to be a paying venture from the start. The rooms fittings by the Bassano Trading Company are elaborate and cozy.

A gasoline pump provides the upper rooms constantly with water and a huge boiler in the basement provides the warm water. Every one of the 48 upper rooms are wired for electric light and are fitted for natural gas. Meanwhile, the illumination will be acetylene gas. Particular attention has been devoted to the large kitchen over which Charlie Schwab, whose cooking is well known and relished in Bassano, will reign. Inspection of this is urged. It is spacious, airy, cool, and possesses one of the most modern cooking ranges known. Adjoining it is a cool storeroom which when provided with a refrigerator will be proof against germs. The dining room is attractive in the extreme, the tables are only made for four so that there will be no crowding and are laid diagonally to one another. A plate rail runs the length of the dining room lined with expensive and attractive looking china.

The house throughout is finished with oak which gives the interior a pleasing harmonious appearance.

The sample rooms are quite a feature of the house, and the drummer will find ample and proper accommodation for his wares. A huge cool cellar running the length of the house will be cut up for storerooms.

Each floor has its own sumptuously furnished parlor leading out on to spacious balconies.

From the rotunda to the roof the same standard of completeness and comfort is maintained, even to the conveniently placed iron fire escapes.

As soon as possible it is promised that the whole hotel will be brick veneered. It is easily the largest building in town and will be a much sought after resort immediately its doors are opened.

Royal Line Gone with the Wind

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Living in the County of Newell and on the Royal Line, one thing you get used to is the wind. What you do not expect upon returning from a day-cation is that you have entered the MGM wonderful Wizard of Oz and be Aunty Em’s farm. This is what the reality of Wayne and Sherry’s return from Maple Creek, SK to Countess Country Museum.

The Prairie History start-up was blown away by the wind. Any Albertan can share that this summer has been a cycle of heat-severe thunderstorms- tornado warnings…to windstorms. On July 27, 2019 the weather had the heat of 30 degrees, and thunderstorm warnings rolled through Southern Alberta. But a picture is worth a thousand words:

 

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Carriage & Stage Coach post wind

At this point we are unsure of the damage as we attempt to get the carriage and stage coach free, but there is damage.

For more information or to help, please contact Wayne (403-701-0775) or Sherry (403-701-0778) as we rebuild and renew the history of the Royal Line, with all the bumps, hiccups, and challenges of the prairie pioneers along the way.

Please Share the story….

 

 

 

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Blown across the fence to next farm

Happy Canada Day

The 152nd Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day) was a blast. The Chronicle family was on the road of the Royal Line down to the Village of Rosemary for the annual festivities. This year saw the fun of the bubble people on water, pickle ball, air brush tattoos, food trucks, the 30th Rosemary School Reunion, Gem MB Youth fundraising, bungee seat, Beach Volley Ball Tournament, Mobile Escape Room (sorry need to catch our breath)…. oh and it kicked off with a pancake breakfast, a Parade (10 a.m.)-where you will note first responders from Patricia, Duchess and Rosemary— with many vintage and fancy cars in the Show & Shine along main street that followed, oh and a pop-up market of vendors.

Whew! Poppa and Grandma met us from Countess for a picnic in the midst of the fun. This evening there will be fireworks at dusk if you are in the area!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words…so I leave you with a photo montage of a great day!

Canada Day

A week away from what once was known as “Dominion Day”. It was the celebration of the creation of the Dominion of Canada, by The British North America Act, July 1, 1867. In 1879 the day became and official holiday. On Oct. 27, 1982 it was renamed to the now familiar Canada Day.

This Canada Day, come down the Royal Line and celebrate with the neighbours in Rosemary:

Parade is 10 a.m. not 10:30 a.m.

Celebrating 80 years

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. A time of journeying in the wilderness, diving deeper to discover who you truly are in community. In Countess, AB we have always had a strong sense of community, helping out our neighbour, and learning as we go.

This October 2019 to March 2020 will mark the 80th Anniversary of the Countess Bible School. Bible School’s were designed to equip church members, itinerant pastors/teachers/preachers on their faith and spiritual development. It is unique that such a thing existed, and we intend to honour this idea with a 21st Century upgrade.

Soul Ripples

Is the journey inward of discovery on the way to healing. It is a story that spans generations of a family in exploring how mental health, and personal choices to heal have shaped each generation. It is about how one experiences the world, in that experience learns to understand that which we call soul. It is not a journey of being understood for the writer, rather, it is a journey to understand himself and his family and what it all means. It is a winding road through Canada, Alberta, involves Super Heroes, the CIA, outreach, church ministry, and answering the question, who is my neighbour? And how do I love them, as I love myself. Can I love myself.

More to come on release date, for this special learning opportunity of memoir for all those seeking to understand, and perhaps, love themselves just a little bit better and more.

Spring Ahead Before Bed

Image result for daylight savings timeYup, the great wish did not happen, the ridiculousness of time change twice a year did not evaporate as the Government promised. We are still trapped in the weird cycle. Many myths circulate as to why this exists. In World War II England was on a double daily light savings time in a placebo attempt to pacify citizens during the Blitzkrieg. In Canada we use ideas around light for bringing crops in (yet one prairie province, Saskatchewan does not move time. Hmmm…).

So why?

The first recorded instance of time change in from Port Arthur, Ontario in 1908. Many others would catch on before the end of World War I in 1918. By the 1960’s those that participated in Canada would try to synchronize the change with other province and the United States of America. It became more fully formalized with Alberta moving to the exact timing the USA uses in 2006.

It is proven that the changing time does play havoc on the human system, yet we still participate in March and November moving our clocks. Does it truly give more daylight later in the day? Or make the mornings darker? Does it help with the Agriculture sector? In the towns and cities shouldn’t we just get street lights that work properly?

It is up to you where you fall on the debate, keep or boot (let us know in the comments). For the church goers as we spring ahead at 2 a.m. Sunday, a bit of Sunday funnies for you:

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Calling all Entrepreneurs

Become part of modern Countess history!

Yes, you read that right. As we move forward with revitalizing the hub of community building we are seeking aid from neighbours, and neighbours we have yet to have who have a passion for invention.

train2Have you ever wondered what a caboose transformed into a candy shoppe would be like? It may be an opportunity for leasing and refurbishment for your venture.

Or perhaps a souvenir shoppe or model train and hobby store? A shack of curiosities? or antiques?

 

Just imagine them in authentic cabin spacing.

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Or perhaps you have a kitchen passion, and would love to do event catering and need a space to operate your business, and host events? Yes there is cabin space for that. And events?

We have had weddings, birthday parties, Kids Christmas and New Years’ fun, family reunions and fund raisers to name but a few…oh and rumours baseball teams come around still as well…many opportunities to have excellent packages for all types of fixin’s with a great location.

Speaking of location? Want to try and build and operate your own motel up to 8 units? We have space for that as well. Within easy distance to such attractions as the Rosemary Canada Day Celebrations, Bassano Rodeo, Brooks Rodeo, Dinosaur Provincial Park, historic grain elevators just outside of Gem, and Duchess Days, to name but a few…

If you are interested, or have some of your own ideas contact

Wayne or Sherry at countesstory@yahoo.ca or 403-701-0775.

 

Healing the Land

If you had been driving by Countess about 14-15 years ago I am sure you would be wondering why the giant piles of dirt. It was part of healing the land, and reclaiming it from leaked gas storage tanks from the historic garage at Countess:

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It takes months of the soil aerating before it is usable again. This was part of the process done, to make Countess a community hub once more. Our antique pumps may no longer be there, but the old garage has been given a face lift:

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