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.

Have 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.

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?

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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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Are you smarter than an Elementary Student?

From 2007-2011 country comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosted a game show, Are you smarter than a fifth grader? It was a quiz show with questions taken from the grade 5 curriculum in the USA to test contestants on their knowledge. It is a show that required some skill, critical thinking and problem solving.

I remember back in 1990 my science teacher had a similar challenge for us. To bring in unique objects and then see, if the other students could figure out what it was. I brought in a blue wax cylinder. It was an old phonograph recording. No one could guess, but the process of discernment, crafting predictions, using observation were important skills learned. Countess continues this journey with schools today by sharing artifacts so their students can try to figure out what it is by using scientific and archaeological methods of questioning, observation, and deduction.

Now is the time for you to take on the challenge, below are some images of artifacts, if you dare answer in the comments what you think they are and why?

Marquis & Countess de Bassano

Money can get your name on lots of things. Looking around villages, towns and cities in the late 20th and early 21st century one can notice how many companies have sponsored things. Just look to the local hockey rink and chances are there is a company sponsorship deal. Townships of CP Rail were no different on the Royal Line.

Bassano was named after one of their biggest shareholders from Italy, the Marquis de Bassano whose name was used for the town of Bassano, and his wife, the Countess had the small hamlet of Countess named after her.

bassano station1 — Loading the Bassano station July 2012

The thoughts of where the names come from emerges as we contemplate the history of railways in the area. In the early 2000’s Bassano moved for a time from the “Best in the west by a Dam site” to the Train engine logo. Which was puzzling when it was unable to refurbish their old CP Rail station, Countess was not selected to become its new home, that was Beiseker, AB in 2012. The 104 year old station had already received 1/2 million dollars in renovations on its way to become a tourist destination and museum.

bassano station2 — Heading from Bassano to Beiseker

Unfortunately in 2015 fire would reduce the historic building to ash. For an example of historic CP Rail Station a trip to Empress, AB will be beneficial.

Countess still holds to celebrating our railroad heritage as part of the Royal Line with our on-site CP Rail Caboose. It was an amazing thing to go through the rail yards and explore the old engines and cars in the early 2000’s with Wayne Ragan to find this attraction:

The historic Royal Line: Bassano, Duchess, Countess, Rosemary, Patricia, Gem, and Empress:

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Salute to community heroes: Fire Departments

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Our award winning 1923 Hanh Pumper Truck has made it around the province. It has been in parades aiding kids with dreams, brought smiles at weddings, and other festive events. Pictured as well, is other antique fire fighting equipment. It has also been used for parades and events in Springbank, and Duchess, AB by their departments.

But then there was that day, that the Bassano Fire Department came to help out Countess:

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Thank you for all you do! Not just those in Fire Departments, but all first responders, you are our communities super heroes!

Our Carriages, wagons and sleighs oh my

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No matter the season, we have wheels for getting around and celebrating community that was, is and will continue to be!

Can you name some of the types of vehicles pictured?

Coal

Many folks know about the rich history of farming, ranching and oil & gas in our province. One of the resources that can be forgotten is coal. It was a major economic drive in Southern Alberta until oil & gas took off. What some may not realize is that the Royal Line had their own tie to the coal industry.

From 1920-22 Duchess, AB had a coal mine. The Duchess Coal Company worked a shallow mine for coal for the two years.

Knowing that CP Rail targeted work contracts and immigration from Wales, due to their knowledge of mining and working through rock to build the rail line. It is a preponderance how many would settle and work for the early coal companies. A family aside for this writer, my Great-Granddad came to Montreal, QC for a short stint to work with CP Rail just for this reason.

coal train — Coal train from the Mac’s Store in Blairmore, AB proudly displayed in Countess, AB

Being Neighbourly

Our community museum and gathering space also believes in sharing our history and artifacts with our neighbours. Bassano, the town named after the wealthy investor from Italy in CP Rail is just 5 minutes away (Countess was named after his wife, the Countess de Bassano). When they had a museum, we loaned out some great artifacts that we hope inspired present and future generations to keep searching out their stories.

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We also work with schools to bring in artifacts to aid their students in problem solving, hypothesis, and critical thinking in discovery of what it could be.

The 100 yearish challenge

It has been a challenge on social media, the take your first profile picture and today’s or the #10yearchallenge. Well, we at the Countess Chronicle wanted to be in on the fun with our writings of parades, so here is our 100 year challenge.

The stage coach line originated in Gleichen for mail delivery, and then grew into a passenger line in the area. Today our stage coach appears in local parades, and has been known to give folks rides around such great places as Rosemary, Alberta and in Countess.

Felix Warren was the driver of the stage coach back in the day, and in 1919 brought it to the Calgary Stampede Parade. Today our stage coach driver is Ms. Sherry for our parades, and this past summer she brought it into Brooks, AB.

Now the question of our 100 year challenge is, who drives it best?

Playhouse Community Tour 2014

As promised at the 2013 celebration the playhouse once again hit the road for the parade season in 2014. This time to make wishes come true for kids in support of Children’s Wish. The communities new what to expect as part of our travelling playhouse with the 1923 Hahn Pumper Truck and Stage Coach. Donations were taken in the playhouse piggy bank on wheels, and folks could also enter to win a playhouse end of the summer at the celebration at Countess Country Museum.

Great fun was had (some images here) and other fun: