The Past That Moves

The towns in the Crowsnest Pass are so very close together that it can be hard to keep track of which one you are in. They have guided walking tours that take you through the local spots of historical interest. These self guided walks are perfect for a beautiful fall day, when some of the high season events aren't running. There are numerous places to pull off the highway at "Points of Interest". This day started at Lundbreck Falls and took me all the way to Sparwood, BC. I Stretched my legs at Leitch Collieries and found the most marvelous store in Bellevue (I think) where I finished my Christmas shopping.

It was a sobering day. Some history is filled with tragedy and the Crowsnest Pass has had more than it's fair share. In the space of a few years, only a few miles apart, were the deadliest rock slide and the deadliest mine disaster ever seen in Canada. The effects of the Frank Slide in 1903 and the Hillcrest Mine Disaster in 1914 are still felt, over a century later. It's important to learn, study and remember events like these. These events occurred before there were modern safety standards, scientific monitoring of mountains and mines, regulations to protect workers and modern communications equipment.

Turtle Mountain is still unstable. The Indigenous people of the region called it the Mountain That Moves. 

I have been at these sites in the past, in my youth. I wouldn't say I was blasé about the destruction and loss at the time, but I didn't have a full appreciation for it either. Now the stories of individuals touch me deeply and the artifacts are poignant. 

I found myself thinking about the survivors and the people left behind. Were they crippled by the effects of great trauma? Did they go on to live their lives to the fullest to honour the gift of life they were given? How does a community rebuild?

The museums and interpretive centers in the area are fantastic facilities. The Frank Slide interpretive center has interactive exhibits. Voice recordings, newspapers, letters and dioramas throughout, immerse visitors in a time before Alberta was even a province. When they thought Frank, NWT was going to be the new Pittsburgh, bringing industry and prosperity to the Canadian West. There are two short dramatic re-enactments in the theater to bring to life the events of those terrible days.

The museum in Coleman is all encompassing for the community's history. While there is a large exhibit dedicated to the Hillcrest Mine, there are also exhibits honouring the early life of the area. Artifacts showing the daily life of settlers who built the West from scratch.

One of the most notorious events covers the prohibition era murder of Alberta Provincial Police Constable Thomas. It has all the hallmarks of a novel; rum runners, revenge, police chases, a femme fatale, a shootout on the street and a criminal kingpin who, in his arrogance, actually referred to himself as "Emperor".

The actual barracks, that Constable Thomas worked from and his family lived in, has been preserved and turned into a museum exhibit dedicated to this horrific crime.

The Alberta Provincial Police Barracks are set up like a crime scene investigation. Each room takes you through the events, from introducing the people involved all the way to the appeal and aftermath for the families.

  

They also run an Escape Room Event called "Escape the Barracks" (which, par for the course, is done for the season!)

I had lunch at a local pub, call the Rum Runner. One of the best burgers I ever had. 

A day immersed in tragedy, of one kind and other, has a lingering effect. It took a couple of days to absorb and reflect on what I had experienced before I could write about it. 

I had started the day by visiting the Lundbreck Falls, perhaps it would have been wiser to take a cup of tea and end the day there. 

If you haven't visited my other pages on the blog, I have a few. They are primarily photo albums by subject; wildlife, maps and now, waterfalls. There is also a virtual "bookshelf" of what I'm reading as I go.