Love to own a piece of history? An oddity? A discussion starter? Amateur historian? A bit of fun? A collector? Or simply like to explore and discover things that are unique?
Support the Countess Country Museum’s Royal Line Sale (the Royal Line, was the name of the interconnected Hamlets in the area by rail, that Countess was historically a part of). Pics from last week and previous garage sales, plus these newly opened up from the vault before.
C’mon by the museum, or text Wayne for purchase: 403-701-0775
Royal Line Garage sale continues Sunday Sept. 1 and Monday Sept. 2, 10 to 5 p.m. daily
Hear ye hear ye come on down the Royal Line to Countess Country Museum we are 8.5 km on 550 from Trans Canada. Looking forward to seeing everyone out to discover new treasures and history
Royal Line Garage sale continues Sunday Sept. 1 and Monday Sept. 2, 10 t 4 p.m. daily
Hear ye hear ye come on down the Royal Line to Countess Country Museum we are 8.5 km on 550 from Trans Canada. Looking forward to seeing everyone out to discover new treasures and history
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.
In the Fall of 2005, a few years after my parents had purchased the historic hamlet of Countess, I began seeking out more information around the history. A touch point at then was CPR to gain more information, and some was furnished by the corporate Historian, which follows:
The CPR Caboose getting ready to be moved home to Countess, AB
Before the Great Depression, immigrants and settlers flooded the
Prairies. CPR developed immigration and colonization programs, including
irrigating large portions of southern Alberta, setting up experimental
farms, and building ready-made farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan that
settlers could move right into and start cultivating. CPR also expanded
its hotel and resort chain and its fleet of Pacific Ocean ships. CPR
acquired a fleet of Atlantic Ocean steamships and ferries on both
coasts. CPR doubled its track mileage and double-tracked most of its
western main line. CPR was also locked in deadly competition on the
Prairies with Canada’s two other transcontinental railways – the
Canadian Northern and the Grand Trunk Pacific – railways that eventually
went bankrupt and were rolled into the huge Canadian National Railways
supported by the public purse until the early 1990s.
CPR embarked on its major mainline double-tracking program on the
Prairies between 1911 and 1914. This is where Countess and its
importance comes into play.
Most double-tracking took place as track twinning, except through
Countess. CPR opted for a “kinder, gentler” route with better grades
west of Swift Current, Sask. The second mainline single track that
served as a double track in western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta
took a bit of a circle route. It branched off the original mainline
just west of Swift Current at Java, Sask., ran up to Westerham, Sask.,
skirting the Red Deer River into Alberta, at Empress, and back down to
the original mainline just east of Bassano, through Countess. CPR
twinned the first four-and-a-half miles of mainline east of Swift
Current. And then the second track diverged northwest at Java toward
Empress, Alta. The first 33 miles out of Java went into operation on
November 2, 1911. The small gap between Mile 33 and Cabri saw traffic on
June 25, 1912. The section between Cabri and Westerham, Sask., went into
operation on September 29, 1913. In the meantime, construction crews were
busy building northeast off of the CPR mainline at Bassano, Alta.,
through the “regal” communities of Countess, Duchess, Princess and
Majestic toward Empress and the Alta./Sask. border. This whole 126-mile
section was completed before World War I and put into operation, from
west of Countess right through to Empress and eight miles beyond across
the provincial border, on June 12, 1914. There was only a missing
16-mile link left to hook it up at Westerham with the secondary main
line out of Swift Current and Java. This went into operation on November
23, 1914.
Empress was the divisional point on this line. East of Empress to Java
(Swift Current) was called the Empress Subdivision. And west of Empress
to Bassano, through Countess, was called the Bassano Subdivision.
But the world changed after World War II. Passenger and small break-bulk
freight traffic went over the road. CPR dieselised its operations in the
1950s to cut operating costs. And CPR’s secondary main line through
Countess toward Empress and the Saskatchewan border became less vital.
CPR abandoned from Leader, Sask., to Empress, Alta., in 1990. And, in
December 1997, CPR closed down the 115.4-mile Empress to Bassano line
through Countess. Only a small stub of this former secondary main line
in Alberta exists today. It juts northeast from near Bassano pointing
toward the former hamlet of Countess and serves as a storage siding.
–Corporate Historian
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.
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!
Countess Chronicle 