Photo courtesy of Sandra Brown
With its rich heritage and historic downtown, Wainwright is a charming town with a welcoming community spirit.
There are a variety of well-maintained parks to explore and beautiful flower displays.
Standing reverently in the centre of Main Street is the Memorial Clock Tower, which was built in 1925 to honour those who lost their lives in The First World War.
Eventually, its recognition also included those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country in other wars and during peacekeeping missions.
Historically, it was the only structure that remained standing after a fire in the summer of 1929 ravaged the town destroying the business sector.
This fieldstone monument is a visible reminder for all of us Lest We Forget.
Located at the end of Main Street in the Canadian National Railway Station is the home of the Wainwright and District Museum. It is also home to the Information Centre, a restaurant and a gift shop.
The self-tour guide binder held a treasure of historical information at my fingertips and led me through each themed room.
Most notably, this museum not only focuses on gathering artifacts that share the history of the town and area; it also has an abundance of written information including text panels, collection binders, and photos to browse through.
The second-floor Reading Room houses an extensive collection of Eaton’s catalogues, and area history books, including railway reference resources.
As with many early settlements, Wainwright was a direct result of relocating an existing townsite, in this case, Denwood, which had originated in 1906 between the Battle River and Ribstone Creek.
In 1908, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) surveyed a new townsite a short distance away. The established buildings in Denwood were moved by wagon to this new townsite.
It took six weeks for horses to slowly move the two-storey hotel on skids to its waiting foundation 2.5 miles away.
The new townsite was named after William Wainwright, who was the second vice-president of the GTPR. With a bustling population of 450 folks at the end of 1908, lots were selling as high as $500.
The construction train arrived in 1908 to link the east to the west, which was completed in 1909.
In 1912, a board of trade publication was issued to attract settlers to the area. It indicated the Alberta sun shines 300 days a year, snow seldom gets deeper than one foot and the average yield of wheat is higher than in any other province or state on earth.
“Wainwright also has the largest herd of buffalo in the world, a $10,000 opera house, roller skating rink, $15,000 ice rink and a moving picture show,” it stated.
Additional columns will soon follow about the oil and gas industry, Buffalo National Park, and Internment Camp 135 as I journey back in time to share a glimpse of what life was like in Wainwright’s early days. This is a scenic Alberta town where agriculture, the oil and gas industry, friendly folks, and history blend so well together.
By Sandra Brown
