This page will provide some insite into how the Town got it’s name.
Also, the names behind the streets, families who lived here in the past, and of course we will try to answer your questions on history.
Editor’s Note: It appears that the Town has now started to put the “names behind the streets” on their website, so we will provide other bits of information.
DL
11 Comments
Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 12:20 am
Irricana became a Village on June 9th, 1911. As you probably know the name was derived from the words Irrigation and Canal.
As was the practice in those days, Irricana was probably named by the early settlers in the district.
During 1905 and 1916 the CPR built 900 miles of branch track throughout the area.
The original Village site plan came from standard Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR) designs. All lots were 25 ft. x 130 ft. There was also plans to build on the west side of the tracks near the coulee.
All streets from 1st Street to 5th Street still reflect these lot sizes. The plan was to continue south to 9th street.
The CPR had a line through Irricana from Langdon which went as far as Acme. It was opened for traffic on March 17, 1910. This line continued on to the Drumheller Valley between 1921 and 1927
The CPR also had a line from Irricana to Standard which opened on July 20, 1911. This track continued to Bassano on November of 1912.
The CPR line was abandoned in the 1990’s and the land sold to the Trail Net Society.
The current line through Irricana belongs to the Canadian National Railroad (CNR). They bought out the original builders of the line, which was the Grand Trunk Pacific Branch Lines Company.
This company built a line from Edmonton through Tofield to Calgary. The portion between Beiseker and Calgary was built in 1913 and the Full Line was opened for business on June 9th. 1914.
Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Another note of interest (unconfirmed), is that the same man who named Irricana also named Kathyrn, and couldn’t spell, it was supposed to be Kathryn, after a daughter of a rich land baron who gave land up for what is now Dinosaur Provincial Park. He asked that towns in the area around the park be named for his 7 daughters (one of which was Kathyrn). The same CPR man confused Bow Island, and the town next to it Grassy Lake, Grassy Lake has an island with a bow in it, and Bow Island is a grassy lake… or so I’ve been told.
Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 9:15 am
Irrigation was life to this part of Alberta. Immigrants were enticed to come with pamphlets distributed throughout the US in 1908-1909.
You could purchase non-irrigated land for $13.00 per acre and irrigated land for $30.00. With terms and 6% interest it was quite attractive.
In 1906 the irrigation system was extended east from Calgary to a reservoir (which is now called Chestermere Lake. Then 3 systems were built A,B, and C. The one to the Keoma District was built in 1910, and the closest canal to Irricana was about 4 miles away. (still in existance)
Friday, January 25, 2008 at 6:44 pm
The Irricana Hotel was constructed in about 1909 by Mr. Padget. The original building had 3 stories and and many rooms for rent.
The front of the hotel included balconies where patrons could look over the hustle and bustle of Irricana’s main street.
I those days most of the traffic was horse’s and buggies, and there were many visitors coming to Irricana to shop and pick up and drop off family and friends at one of the two railroad stations.
The lower floor of the Hotel had a lobby which held a reception area and access to a bar.
In those days there was a separate entrance and area for men, and another for ladies and escorts. It was frowned on for ladies to go to the bar by themselves.
The hotel prospered until a plebiscite from the Residents of Alberta decided on prohibition, coming into effect on July 1st, 1916 and the bar was closed until another plebiscite was passed in late 1923. However, Mr. Hiltz took over the downstairs and opened a grocery store and also rented out the rooms.
The telephone office came to Town and was located in a portion of the building. The operator was Flora Ewin and she remained there until a new phone office was opened a couple of doors down.
A dining area was also on the main floor until the late 1920’s.
After it became legal to consume alcohol the main floor was converted back to a bar by Mr. Ralph Stone.
It is unsure when the top floor was removed, but it was probably because of disrepair. The balconies were removed about the same time.
This hotel, which has been closed again for many years, is about to enter into 100 years of existance.
The questions are, Will it make the 2009 celebration in style, or will it become another derelict building that has to be torn down.
DL
Friday, February 15, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Just to embellish on how Irricana got its name….my Aunt Mary Culp explained to me that her Dad, Percy Hallum, was a councillor for the Village of Irricana when it was first incorporated. At the time, most places were named by those prominent or influencial people (or their family members like Kathyrn) who pioneered in an area. One of the names proposed for this town was Hallum. Percy declined the notion and felt that a more regional name which was more representative of the area be more appropriate.
In regard to the third story of the hotel, as explained to me by one who helped tear it down, the building was oviously not designed for indoor plumbing. As the need for so many rooms declined, and the fact that anyone occupying them had to utilize outdoor facilities to relieve themselves, economic viability dictated that it was time to downsize. Most of the lumber was recycled within the community and indoor plumbing then only had to be extended to a second floor.
Monday, February 18, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thanks Annette, that is really interesting.
Now does anyone know when the last dance was held in the Heritage Buidling?
Also, what were the circumstances for the upstairs being shut down?
DL
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I just learned more about the town that me and my family hold so dear in 2 minutes than I have in my whole life.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 3:13 pm
There has been a lot of discussion on the original name of the Irricana Supplies Building.
This is the building on Main Street that is being renovated for council chambers etc.
According to the KIK book, the first building on that site was the Irricana Trading Company Building, which was in operation in 1909 and it ran until 1928 when it was burned down along with other buildings in the area. The business was run by Hugh Miller, who rebuilt it in 1929 and ran it for a short time.
It has held several businesses since that time, but the only mention of another name was the Irricana Co-op which was started in 1964 and operated until about 1980.
There is no mention of the dance hall and theatre above it, or any history of that.
There was a building to the east of that which was the I.O.O.F building which was constructed in 1910 or 1911 by Jim Stout. The lower floor was a barbershop and poolroom and the upstairs had a dance hall where the oddfellows also held their meetings. That building also burned down, so that is probably why the 1929 building was constructed with a dance hall in mind.
So…. the original building on this site was called the Irricana Trading Company, and this present building was built under that name also.
DL
Friday, January 9, 2009 at 9:50 am
With regards to the original name of Irricana’s Historical Building I may be able to shine a bit of light on this. A few years ago Mary Culp brought in a beautiful old promotiojnal plate with a picture of a grouse on it. At the bottom there was also the inscription” Hugh Miller, Irricana Supply Building” (no date) but as we have copies of the historical land titles on this building and Mr Miller was the original owner I believe that his proves what the original name was. I believe the name went through several changes after this. I hope this helps shine some light on the name of the building.
Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Thanks Brenda for the comment.
It appears that old Bruce Hay may have been a bit wrong in his thoughts about the history.
However, I do like the Irricana Trading Company name…. it has a ring to it…
Can’t we accept his thoughts?
Trading company…. sounds like the Hudson Bay with colorful blankets and furs.
Supply company sounds like flour, stove pipes, and saddles.
DL
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:48 pm
With the recent celebration of the 90th anniversary of the United Church building (and the 100th anniversary of the formation of the congregation, formerly the Brethern out of the US), it was revealed that the same man who was responsible for wiring up the church was the same man for wiring up the hotel.