Edmonton Historia

This is a 1950's souvenir pin made by Breadner Manufacturing Co. (B.M. Co.), a Canadian company founded around 1900. These souvenir pieces were made of sterling silver, with the horseshoe made of enamel on gold-tone metal. B.M. Co. was the largest producer of made-in-Canada souvenir goods.

The roller coaster was located at today's Borden Park where it once straddled present-day Borden Park Road.

Using Google Maps, this image shows where the former roller coaster was located relative to present-day landmarks. (North ▲)

Nicknamed the 'Green Rattler', it continued operation for the next 2 decades until it was regarded as a safety hazard. In 1935 the demolition of the wooden structure was awarded to a young Merrill Muttart (1903~1970)

View from Borden Park Pool, which opened Jul21, 1924.

📷 CoE Archives EA-160-1002

July 23, 1915 • Roller Coaster Opens On this day, Edmonton's first permanent roller coaster opens at the Exhibition Grounds and East-End Park (Borden Park). Months earlier on April 14, 1915, Edmonton City Council pondered clause by clause, the agreement between the city and the builder / owner, Lynn Welcher of New York. The ride location was given a guarantee by the City of Edmonton in the form of a 20-year lease Start of construction began on the giant $15,000 half-mile track on May 16, 1915 and was completed in time before the opening of the Exhibition that year, which ran from Aug. 9~14. Nicknamed the 'Green Rattler', it continued operation for the next two decades until it was regarded as a safety hazard at the end of the lease. In 1935 the demolition of the wooden structure was awarded to a young Merrill Muttart (1903–1970) - a successful business man and future philanthropist along with Dr. Gladys E. Muttart - originators of the Muttart Foundation (1953). "...By 1935 the main timber frame of the roller coaster began to show the effects of too many exhilarating rides and too much freezing and thawing in the swampy ground of Borden Park. Prudence dictated that the roller coaster come down and Merrill Muttart, who was just starting up in the lumber business was given the contract to finish it off." ~ Tony Cashman September 23, 1976 The roller coaster was located at today's Borden Park and straddled present-day Borden Park Road. See where it was located on the reference Google map I prepared in the 'comments' section. ------------- 📷 Glenbow Archives (na-1328-66561)

July23, 1915 • Roller Coaster Opens

Edmonton's first permanent roller coaster opens on this day at Exhibition Grounds & East-End Park (Borden Park). The $15,000, 1/2 mile track was completed in time before the opening of the Exhibition that year.

📷 Glenbow Archives (na-1328-66561)

July 23, 1975 • LRT Construction

Also taken on this day 50 years ago. LRT construction along Jasper Avenue looking east from 102 Street. Work in 1975 & 1976 involved excavating from 102nd to 100 street to a depth of 45'. LRT Service would begin in July, 1978.

📷 A4417a,b,c (Provincial Archives)

July 23, 1912 • Edmonton Courthouse The Edmonton Courthouse first trial proceedings took place on July 23, 1912. The courthouse was a stately grey sandstone building that stood facing the current site of Sir Winston Churchill Square on the southwest corner of 100th Street and 102A Avenue. The decision to build a suitable building for the Alberta Supreme Court (now Court of King's Bench of Alberta) was made shortly after Alberta became a province in 1905. Two years later, the provincial legislature budgeted $50,000 for its construction. As outlined in the architect’s drawings, the structure consisted of two storeys and a basement of masonry and fireproof construction. It had two main entrances, both of equal importance, and similar in Ionic design, said a Journal story looking back at the building’s history. The public works department described it as having “the general treatment of the exterior and interior so as to produce a purely classic effect and leaving nothing wanting from an architectural standpoint.” Each entrance was reached by a broad flight of granite steps. At the top of the stairs were six granite columns, each 28 feet high and three feet in diameter. Above the columns, the coat of arms or crest of Alberta was carved in the stone. In 1951, five new courtrooms were added at a cost of $700,000. In 1972 the building was sold to Woodward’s stores. 60 years later - almost to the day - the courthouse was crumbling before the wrecker's power shovel and demolished to make way for the construction of the current Edmonton City Centre that now stands in its place. ------------ 📷•"Exterior of courthouse, Edmonton, Alberta.", 1912, (CU152715) by McDermid Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.

July 23, 1912 • Edmonton Courthouse

One of Alberta’s first public buildings was 1st occupied on this day. The Edmonton courthouse was a stately grey sandstone building that stood facing the current site of Sir Winston Churchill Sq. on the SW corner of 100th Street & 102A Ave.

📷•Glenbow Archives

July 23, 1975 • Exhibition Midway This pleasing twilight photo of Edmonton's Exhibition Midway was taken on this day 50 years ago. Klondike Days, now known as K-Days, is a long-standing Edmonton summer celebration with roots in the Edmonton Exhibition, a fair established in 1879. The event evolved from a focus on agriculture and industry to incorporate a Klondike Gold Rush theme in the 1960s. Activities earlier that day (Wednesday), included the 'Fun Tub Derby' - two races, each featuring four gaily decorated bath tubs on castors propelled by two person teams using toilet plungers. Klondike Days/K-Days reflects Edmonton's historical significance as a supply hub and gateway during the Klondike Gold Rush. -------------- 📷 • Provincial Archives of Alberta (PA13272.3)

July 23, 1975 • Exhibition Midway

A twilight photo of Edmonton's Exhibition Midway, taken on this day 50 years ago. Klondike Days (K-Days), is a long-standing Edmonton summer event dating back to 1879. See ALT for more.

📷• Provincial Archives (PA13272.3)

Photo Detail: Imperial Oil's 3 Star gasoline brand was the origin of the naming of three stars at NHL hockey games.

Photo Detail: The Lockheed 5C Vega "Winnie Mae", the airplane flown twice around the world by Wiley Post, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

"Edmonton, Canada" is one of 15 cities listed on the fuselage (right) from the first 'around-the-world' flight.

July 22, 1933 • Wiley Post On this day in Edmonton's history, Wiley Post refuels again in Edmonton as spectators greet him at Blatchford Field. It would be the 2nd time in two years stopping in Edmonton after his first history making 'around-the-world' record flight (June 30th, 1931). When he touched down on the evening of July 22, Wiley Post became the first person to twice circle the earth by aircraft. Winnie Mae's cabin couldn’t be pressurized for high-altitude flight, so Wiley Post wore a pressure suit, created for him by the B.F. Goodrich Company. In the Blatchford photo, "Edmonton, Canada" is one of 15 cities listed on the fuselage (right) from the first (1931) 'around-the-world' flight. His time of just under seven days and 19 hours broke the record that he and Harold Gatty had set two years earlier with the same airplane (Winnie Mae). The Lockheed 5C Vega, is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. 📷 • Provincial Archives (BL137.1)

July 22, 1933 • Wiley Post

On this day, for the 2nd time in two years after his history making 'around-the-world' record flight, Wiley Post again refuels in Edmonton as spectators greet him at Blatchford Field. Post becomes 1st person to circle the earth twice.

📷 Provincial Archives (BL137.1)

July 21, 1890 • C&E Sod Turning Ceremony 135 years ago today, it was a red letter day for citizens of Edmonton & an even bigger day in Calgary, when the first sod was turned to mark the beginning of the construction of the Calgary and Edmonton Railway (C&E). The affair was highlightd by a giant barbecue attended by 'pretty well all of Calgary' (2,500 people) including two pioneers & future Edmontonians, John Rae and G.R.F. Kirkpatrick (Imperial Bank of Canada). The day of the sod-turning ceremony was blistering hot & the colourful crowd in attendance as well as those from the 'Fort Edmonton districts' went on to enjoy an ox-roast at the end of festivities. The actual sod-turning ceremony was carried out by Minister of Interior Edgar Dewdney, a man criticized for his ignoble actions & motives. Construction of the railway continued that summer with the first C&E Railway train (later purchased by CPR) arrivin in the fledgling settlement of South Edmonton (Strathcona) terminal in 1891. The line was the first major transportation connection even close to the isolated Edmonton settlement. The development of the line created many railway towns along the way such as Red Deer and Wetaskiwin. It was built along the route of the Calgary and Edmonton Trail, which it supplanted as the busiest transportation route along the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor. 📷 "Edgar Dewdney turning first sod of Calgary and Edmonton Railway at Calgary, Alberta with crowd watching.", 1890-07-21, (CU192956) by Smyth, S. A.. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary

July 21, 1890 • C&E Railway

On this day 135 years ago, a sod-turning ceremony marked the beginning of the construction of the Calgary & Edmonton Railway (C&E). The first train arrived into the fledgling settlement of South Edmonton (Strathcona) terminal in the fall of 1891.

📷 Glenbow Archives

BTW a great thread on the Rossdale Brewery here: bsky.app/profile/edmo...

Overloaded & partly blocked by hall & debris, the city drainage system temporarily failed. The flood waters filled subways to depths of 7'. Cars were submerged after drivers escaped from their stalled vehicles. View looking south of the flooded 109 St. Subway (aka 'Rathole') 📷 • Provincial Archives - Nick Ochotta (OCH1207)

Overloaded & partly blocked by hall & debris, the city drainage system temporarily failed. The flood waters filled all 4 of its subways to depths of 7'. Cars were submerged after drivers escaped from their stalled vehicles.

View looking south of the flooded 109 St. Subway (aka 'Rathole')

July 16, 1949 • Severe Thunder Storm Over 8M tons of rain & hail that battered Edmonton with lightning and violent winds claimed the lives of two oil workers south of Edmonton. The powerful thunderstorm also ended a record-breaking heat wave. Photo taken in Norwood at the intersection of 111th Ave & 97th Street looking east. "Con's Auto Body Repair" (at 9637-111th Ave) is the site of today's "Fountain Tire". The building in the background (between the 2 centre-of-the-road light standards) was 'Norwood Garage' (at 9613-111th Ave.) which still exists today. 📷 • Provincial Archives - Nick Ochotta (och1460)

Over 8M tons of rain & hail that battered Edmonton with lightning and violent winds claimed the lives of two oil workers south of Edmonton. The powerful thunderstorm also ended a record-breaking heat wave.

Photo taken in Norwood at the intersection of 111th Ave & 97th Street looking east.

July 16, 1949 • Severe Thunder Storm This was the scene along Jasper Ave. near 109 St. on this day over three-quarters of a century ago. The deluge was the city's heaviest short-period rainfall in its history. Cars were left trapped under the CPR underpass, while canoeists paddled their way down Jasper Avenue. This view looking west to the flooded underpass on Jasper Avenue between 109th & 110th Street (CPR Subway) 📷 • Provincial Archives - Nick Ochotta (och1209)

July 16, 1949 • Severe Thunder Storm

This was the scene along Jasper Ave. near 109 St. on this day over three-quarters of a century ago. The deluge was the city's heaviest short-period rainfall in its history. Cars were left trapped while canoeists paddled their way down Jasper Avenue.

July 15, 1939 and Kingsway Officially Becomes Kingsway at Vintage Edmonton:

http://www.vintageed...

#yeg #edmonton #alberta #1930s

Johnny J. Jones - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_...

July 14, 1924 • Johnny J. Jones Exposition "House of Mirth' (right) was part of Johnny J. Jones' exposition at the Edmonton Exhibition, featured here in this century-old photo. The Johnny J. Jones Exposition was a travelling railroad show consisting of carnival rides, games, and amusements that made frequent stops to the Edmonton region in the 1920s Fort Edmonton Park recreated the 1920s style midway on July 1, 2006 and recently added attractions to the midway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_J._Jones ---------------- 📷 "House of Mirth' of Johnny J. Jones' exposition, Edmonton, Alberta.", 1924-07-14 - 1924-07-19, (CU1118103) by McDermid Studio.

July 14, 1924 • Johnny J. Jones Exposition

"House of Mirth' (right) was part of Johnny J. Jones' exposition at Edmonton Exhibition, featured here in this century old photo. Fort Edmonton Park recreated the 1920s style midway on July 1, 2006 & added attractions to the midway.

📷 Glenbow Archives

The collection of buildings on the right were located on the east side of 101 street - beginning with 10531-101 St. They were likely demolished after 1965 and the site has been used as a surface parking lot as long as I can recall.

Reference Map: (North ▲)

July 14, 1925 • North Approach Photo taken on this day 100 years ago. Looking north from 105 avenue, it shows construction of streetcar tracks at the incline near the north approach of the former 101 Street CNR Subway. Construction of the 101 Street CNR Subway began in 1924. The subway and track installation, along with streetcar service would be ready for use by the fall of that year. The subway was removed in 1990. The collection of buildings on the right were located on the east side of 101 street - beginning with 10531-101 Street (far-right). The buildings were likely demolished after 1965. The site has been used as a surface parking lot for as long as I can recall. --------------- 📷 • Provincial Archives (A2374)

July 14, 1925 • North Approach

A century old photo taken on this day showing streetcar track installations at 101 St. & 105 Ave. Also under construction was the 101 St. CNR Subway (1925~1990). Streetcar service was ready for use by the fall of that year.

📷Provincial Archives (A2374)

July 9, 1905 • Electrical Storm

Photographed at 'midnight' on this day 120 years ago. A lightning strike illuminates the night sky behind Edmonton's Firehall No.1 tower. The former Imperial Hotel (left) at 10139-99 Street was located on the present-day site of Sun Life Place.

📷 • Peel Library

Walter Hagen ready to tee-off at the No.2 hole at Edmonton Golf & Country Club.

Final score: Hagen (74) Sutherland (75)

Hagen's tally of 11 professional majors during his career is only third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15)

📷 Glenbow Archives

At the time, Hagen (back row, 2nd from the right) was golf's greatest star. Later that fall he won the PGA Championship. 3 years earlier, in 1922 Hagen became the first native-born American to win The Open Championship, winning the Claret Jug 3 more times.

📷 Glenbow Archives

July 9, 1925 • Walter Hagen Photo taken on this day - 100 years ago - of the "father of professional golf" Walter Hagen (right) with Edmonton golf pro, H.C. Mill (centre) and Duncan Sutherland (left) following an exhibition round at the Edmonton Golf & Country Club. The subject photo appeared in the Edmonton Journal on July 10, 1925. Final score: Hagen (74) Sutherland (75) Three years earlier, in 1922 Hagen became the first native-born American to win The Open Championship, winning the Claret Jug three more times. Hagen would go on to win the PGA Championship later in the fall (September) 1925. Hagen's tally of 11 professional majors is only third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15) ---------------- 📷 "Hagen Sutherland golf match, Edmonton, Alberta.", (CU271840) by McDermid Studio. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary

July 9, 1925 • Walter Hagen

Photo taken on this day -100 years ago- of the "father of professional golf" Walter Hagen (right), with Edmonton golf pro, Duncan Sutherland (left) following an exhibition round at Edmonton Golf & Country Club. 🧵

📷 Glenbow Archives

ca.1950 • Jasper Avenue

Looking west along Jasper Avenue, Edmonton's commercial heart since the 1880s. The thoroughfare was named after Jasper Hawes, manager of a North West Company trading post. The photo was likely taken from the Hotel Macdonald Annex, completed in 1953.

📷 Peel Library

Hotel Selkirk

A recreation of the 1913 version of Selkirk Hotel was constructed in Fort Edmonton Park.

www.fortedmontonpark.ca/book-with-us...

The former Royal Bank and Office Building and how it looks today (Google Street View)

A clipping from the Edmonton Journal (June 6, 1963) featuring the Proposed 'New Bank and Office Building' at the former Selkirk Hotel site (SW corner of 101 Street and Jasper Avenue).

Selkirk Hotel Demolition On June 6, 1963, the Edmonton Journal announces that the landmark Selkirk Hotel, modernized in 1952, was to be demolished to make way for a new $3M Royal Bank and Office Building. Months earlier on December 18, 1962, the Selkirk Hotel was destroyed by a fire that caused $1M in damage. The clock on the corner of the building said 'midnight' when the fire was spotted. Four hours later the historic hotel was in ruins. A decade before that, the Selkirk Hotel underwent a major transformation - modifying its traditional Edwardian exterior to a modern 'sparkling white structure'. It first opened as the Windsor Hotel in 1903 at the SW corner of 'First and Jasper', but under new ownership, its name was changed to Selkirk Hotel in 1913. For half a century, the Selkirk continued to be one of the city's favourite spots at one of Edmonton's busiest intersections. The proposed "Royal Bank and Office Building" was completed in 1965 and still stands today, while a recreation of the 1913 version Selkirk Hotel was constructed at Fort Edmonton Park. 📷 • Selkirk Hotel ca. 1958

1963 Selkirk Hotel Demolition

On June 6, 1963, the Edmonton Journal announces that the landmark Selkirk Hotel will be demolished. Months earlier a fire swept through it causing $1M damage. A 'New Bank & Office Building' was to be built immediately on the hotel's former site, 101st/Jasper

📷 ca.1958

Photo blend of 1929 photo with a recent Google Street View from a similar vantage point.