Ratepayers of the Town of Irricana

Vignette’s of the Past

Short stories of people and events in Irricana’s Past

13 Comments

13 responses so far ↓

  • Annette Culp // Friday, February 20, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    One of the greatest memories I have growing up in such a small town is that parents would just kick kids out to play. We rarely spent time in another’s home, but rather learned to socialize and develop on our own. With so few kids, we all had to get along with one another if we wanted to have fun.

    We had to make the best of what was available.

    In the summer, there was only one playground on 3rd Street behind the Telus property. In the winter, there was the skating rink which was east of the Rec. Centre, complete with a heated skate shack. I can still remember the smell of wool socks on the stove!

    Kids would naturally congregate at either location and then plans would be made.

    If we were truly adventurous in the winter, we would “borrow” some of the cardboard inserts used in the railway grain boxcars to create makeshift toboggans to use on the creek’s banks. You made sure you didn’t fall off because the brambles would produce evidence (mainly scratches) that you fell off!

    In the summer, we had the run of what is now Founders’ Park. The rodeo grounds dominated the entire east side complete with shutes on both ends and an elevated commentator’s booth.

    The boys would dominate this side and dictate the “work” to be done to make it their own. There were plenty of makeshift tree houses in the same poplars still standing. They would get irked if we tried to “decorate” in any way, sooo…

    girls would take the west side wth the cookhouse and pool their meager allowances to buy “provisions” down at the Co-Op for a make-shift meal. Drinks were provided by hands under the pump jack at the cookhouse.

    We also had two abandoned train stations in which to “play”.

    When the role playing work was done, we would usually play hide and seek as a means to work our way back home into town.

    I knew if I had missed my curfew when I heard my dad whistle……it could be heard all over town! He later called our horses up that way….which is another story.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Remember when there were several sidings along the old CPR track line?
    It was a place to shuttle grain cars to the elevators, but was also used to store old cars that were destined to be demolished.
    Some of them stayed there for a couple of years and was an inviting place for kids (and older kids) to explore.
    Once, one of the cars had a rip roaring fire going and after the fire department put it out, it was discovered that a few young kids had been in a boxcar that had remains of sulpher in it.

    When these kids were approached by the RCMP, in front of their parents, they got various answers from the kids.
    From, no we were not there, to yes but it was someone else who started it…. and then the final answer that was…. Yes, we did it… but…. it was not me it was him… I had a much smaller match to light the fire….
    I think the constable had to control his emotions to that one.
    Anyway the kids were not prosecuted (nor their parents).
    Life moves on and it becomes a story from the past.
    DL

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    One of the first people we met in Irricana was Pat Patterson.
    Pat owned and operated the Gas Station where Tall Taylor (Rockyview Weekly is now). It was one of 3 garages in town in 1973.
    Pat was pretty laid back.. and he was also the Mayor, and had been for many years.
    There were only 3 on council at that time, Pat, Johnny Steel, and Neil Hay (who also owned a garage in Town).

    So, we had come out from Calgary and stopped by the Patterson’s gas station. He came out and pumped us some gas (they did that in those days – also asked to check the oil and the tires, and always washed the windshield for you).

    Now, at the time we had a mobile home located in Calgary in Greenwood Village (Bowness) and we were looking for a lot that we could park it on. Most Villages had Mobile Home Parks, like Beiseker, and would not allow trailers to be parked on actual lots.

    But, not Irricana… in fact there were so many lots to chose from at $50.00 for a 25 foot lot, that our heads spun.

    Pat, directed us to several places that we could look at; beside the Presbeterian church on 5th Steet (where the current tot lot is), many properties on 3rd street, and also some of 4th street.

    However, he also said,”Why not look at buying an older house”. So we said “Where is one”? He said, “Well, if you drive up this street to 5th, you will see a house near the widow who has the magnificent garden!”.

    So, we did, and checked it out.. the widow was Maxine Thatcher and she opened her heart to us.
    We purchased the house from the Blockers, negociating the deal in a nursing home, from Mel Blockers dad.
    He was a hard negociator (not really), but in the end he gave us the house for a very small amount. Final price was less than $1500.00, for a house and 3 lots (we added one later for $50.00)

    Pat Patterson, inspired us to locate in Irricana. Over the years, he was always helpful to us and loaned us his old tractor with the bucket on the front in order to clear the mountain of dirt we had accumulated when we excavated the full basement.

    Pat is shown in the old KIK Country book turning on the gas that was piped into Irricana in 1959.

    DL

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    In the early days two old-timers, who frequented the Irricana Hotel, has a bit of an argument and decided to step outside to settle the matter.

    At that time, of course, there were no paved streets and there were horses with buggies tied up the the posts in front of the hotel.
    So, the story goes, that these two ‘drunks’ decided to fight in the middle of the street because that was the dryest part of the road.
    A crowd gathered and there was a lot of encouragement from both sides and the two of them started exchanging blows.
    It was not long before they were both knocked down and they started rolling around on the street with a circle of fans egging them on.
    All of a sudden one cried out in real agony..
    The other had bitten his ear off and then he promptly spit the ear into the dust on the street.
    After a lot of fuss the patrons of the Bar went back in with the winner and the other poor guy had to deal with the blood and deciding what he could do with his missing ear.

    DL

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Friday, July 3, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Until just a few years ago, the annual parade (held on Sport’s Day)always went around Town twice.
    This was done because there were never enough floats, etc. in the Parade, but it also gave everyone a chance to see the other side of the floats.
    After the fire truck went by the first time around, everyone hurried across Main street to position themselves for the return of the parade.

    One year, Benny Chierchio, an elderly gentleman who lived on a piece of property just north of Town (now Bennie’s Gravel Pit) happened to drive his old pickup into Town the day the Parade was on.
    He then accidently drove down Main street between the floats while everyone madly waved at him. He was concentrating so much on driving that I don’t think he saw anybody.

    Another year the Greyhound bus, which stopped to pickup people on it’s way from Saskatoon to Calgary was also in the parade, much to the delight of everyone.

    Remember Joe Mason, and his one man band, perched on a platform in front of his motorhome while his wife drove. He could pay drums, harmonica, banjo all at the same time and sometimes was the lone ‘band’ in the parade. He came to Town to entertain for many years.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 8:14 am

    Remember when the firetruck was parked in the back of the heritage building in the old add on garage.
    You had to be an expert to back that baby through the doors as there was about an inch clearance on each side of the mirrors and you had to avoid backing into the wall.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 8:26 am

    Remember the old Co-op store which was in the heritage building. With it’s high office overlooking the shoppers in the store.
    It was managed by Mrs Gorrell and one of the employees I believe was Glenda Borson (who I just found out also managed the store for awhile)
    The entrance door was in front east corner of the building.
    A great little store that operated from 1964 until about 1979 with former managers Jen Iverson and Nora Howden being there before Mrs. Gorrell.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10:15 pm

    One day Ted Walker, who lived with Dorothy on Booth Crescent, saw two large dogs running at large. Now this was a regular occurance for these dogs and Ted was worried about the small kids so he phoned the Village office to complain.
    Next thing he knew two councillors (Fred Beardsley and Ernie Tobias) came along to try to round up the animals.

    Ted and Dorothy were watching as the two of them were chasing these dogs with a rope swirling over Ernie’s head as he tried to lasso them.

    When Fred thought he had one cornered, Ernie threw the rope, but caught nothing but thin air. This went on for quite sometime, until Ted went out and finally caught the dog’s himself.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Don McKillop was a resident of Irricana, who moved into Town from his farm in 1971. He bought an older house from Charlie Garbutt (this house has been demolished and has been replaced by the ‘Castle’, on 4th Street).

    When we used to walk down 2nd Avenue, we could hear him playing his bagpipes almost every day. Sometimes he would invite us over to listen. Slightly off key sometimes, he was a determined player and we encouraged him (sometimes too much).

    Don looked after the dump site for many years until he was found dead one day while locking up at the gate.
    A great man who lived in the area since 1953.

    DL

  • Dave L. // Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    When we first moved to the Village in 1973 we bought the old Blocker house on 5th Street and then started a massive renovation.
    We build on at the back by tearing off an old add on kitchen and then constructing a basement out of cement blocks, followed by the two stories.
    All this was done from a handy-man’s construction book, as I had never had experience before in this field.

    Anyway, one of our neighbors was Steve Kindred. who, together with his wife resided at the corner house (2nd Ave and 5th Street) for about 4 years while we were there.

    Steve was always busy in one of the two sheds at the back and he also had a large garden south of the property where he raised the best strawberries I have ever tasted.

    Steve had an old wagon and would load it up with garbage from around town (for a few dollars) and then haul it out to the dump, where Donald and him would off load it every week.

    Now in those days on garbage day there was always a rip roaring fire going on in the pit and you had to be careful when you backed up to it, making sure you did not get too close to the fire.

    Well, one day Steve returned with just his truck and I asked the obvious “What happened to your wagon”. Steve shook his head and said that Donald told him to keep backing up, as he usually did, until he was right on the edge of the pit (easier to off load you see).

    The only thing was that Donald told him to back up where the fire was, and guess what? Yep, the back end of the wagon quickly caught fire. So they quickly unhooked it and it fell into the inferno in the pit.

    That was the last time that he hauled any garbage for the town except in the back of his truck.
    He left the Village shortly there after and moved to Carbon.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    Upon arrival in Irricana in 1973, I attempted to find the local cemetary. It was so overgrown with carragana bushes and weeds that it was very difficult to see the grave markers.
    So, being a concerned citizen, (even then) I went up there with my trusty swedish saw and ‘killex’ and tried to get things in order.
    It is interesting that a lot of the markers that were there at the time have disappeared and nothing is in there place.

    I guess that is why there is a stone which lists many previous residents who’s final resting places are lost.

    Many lost stories, many lost memories.

    Dave L.

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Some of us remember when the new water and sewer system was installed in the original part of Town.
    Up until that time we had a plastic water line, which serviced our needs, but did not provide much water, and there was no sewer system.
    We had to contend with the cold trips to the outhouse at the back of the property, or bucket toilets installed in the basements.

    Then came Don Mathews who designed the water system for the Town. Our house had a full basement and when the line went by the house of 5th street it was quite shallow. So, we had the luxury of having a floor sump pump to pump any problem water into the sewer which was 2 feet up the outside wall of our basement.

    Mr. Mathews said it was not his problem, we had built our basement too low.

    DL

  • Irricana Ratepayers // Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 12:22 am

    Mel Brown was a long time citizen of Irricana who frequented the Irricana Hotel. He was originally a cowhand and he always wore an old cowboy hat and played the harmonica.
    He would give almost everyone a pleasant wave and ‘gesture’ while be sat at his favorite table for hours in the tavern.
    However, if he did not like you he could make life very uncomfortable as was seen by one of the past Administrator’s of the Town.
    Later Mel was seen picking up paper wrappers which were dropped by the kids, and for a few years he was the guest of honor on the Town Float.
    One of the last things that Mel did before he died was to pay for a bronze horse, which was placed in front of the Irricana Hotel. He wanted it there as it was his favorite place in Town.
    Mel had a portion of the walking trail named after him, and he was present to see it’s dedication.
    A great man – who is sadly missed.

Leave a Comment