The CAMROSE BOOSTER August 9, 2011
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Graveyard tour Saturday evening By Dan Jensen
Newly-married Bernard and Edith Pedersen in front of their first greenhouse in 1935.
Our roots go deep into Camrose Some 70 years ago, the Pedersen family began putting roots down in Camrose – literally, by starting a little greenhouse on what is now 58 Street. Today we’re still into roots, and petals, and plants … well, you get the idea. But most importantly, we believe in the future of our community and we enjoy being a part of it. We’re proud of Camrose and its rich heritage. We hope to see you downtown during Founders Days and invite you to stop in for a visit.
Pedersen’s Florists Next to Duff Layton’s 4936-50 St., Camrose Ph. 672-2553 Visit our website: www.pedersensflorists.com Email: orders@pedersensflorists.com
Working at the car wash The Camrose Children's Centre Summer Program had a fundraising car wash to raise money for a special summer end trip. The children will be voting on what they would like to do for this special trip in the next few weeks. The car wash raised $100 to go towards the trip.
How interesting can a cemetery really be? You'll be able to discover the answer to that question this Saturday night when John Person conducts his yearly Camrose Founders Days graveyard tour. Person will provide fascinating facts about the Camrose cemetery, as well as point out the resting places of some of the city's more illustrious citizens. "He'll point out the gravestones of the founders we are celebrating this year," said Camrose Founders Days organizer Janine Carroll. "He'll also talk a bit about the history of graves and gravestones." The one-hour tour will begin at 7 p.m. from the Camrose cemetery entrance at 43 Avenue and 50 Street. Ghost walk
A Camrose Founders Days
ghost walk starting from the Camrose Railway Station at 8:30 Saturday evening will be a chance to hear stories about local ghosts as told by Glenys Smith. The walk will include a visit to main street, a popular hang-out for ghosts since a young boy was killed in a horse race on 50 Avenue in the early 1900s and a mysterious baby death at the former Windsor Hotel in 1910. One of the most well-known stories about ghosts in Camrose comes from the former Wildrose Arena. City staff are adamant they saw an older person and a child frequenting the arena on several occasions. Other stops on the walk will include the Camrose Public Library, the Camrose and District Centennial Museum, and Camrose Railway Station. "There are two people we
know about who experienced the spirit of a former railway engineer," stated Smith, who is volunteer curator at the station. "I'm hoping that particular ghost will be at the station when we do the walk." The walk is expected to take approximately one hour to complete. "It should be a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about the history of our community," said Smith. "It fits well with what we are trying to accomplish with Founders Days." Ghost tours have been popular in several other communities across Canada, where they are held on an annual basis. "I have participated in ghost walks in both Halifax and Ottawa," said Smith. "The one in Halifax went to many of the oldest parts of the city."
Camrose Ski Club 100 years old The Camrose Ski Club has been a very important part of the heritage of Camrose. The ski jump itself has been replaced but is still in the same spot. This year, 2011, is the hundredth anniversary of Camrose Ski Club. Camrose skiers were tops of many North American tournaments. The Servold brothers were winners in many classes,
but mostly in Nordic skiing, that is, jumping and cross-country combined. The first leaders in the Camrose club were even responsible for getting the Revelstoke and Edmonton clubs active and interested. Tournaments were held in Camrose in the early years. The Sunday of this event could see hundreds of locals flock to the ski hill area to watch the jumping. It was thrilling to watch!
The reputation of the Camrose skiers followed them wherever they went. Clarence Servold was invited to attend four years of college at Denver, Colorado, to improve the Denver ski program. Clarence and his brother, Irvin were top skiers in North America. This is due to the strong influence of the Camrose Ski Club and the ski jump.
Residents receive power, water By Glenys Smith (history)
Ladies and gentlemen, I am engineer Maxwell. I want to acquaint you with the marvellous progress we are making in Camrose in regard to supplying water and power to the people of Camrose. Mayor Layton, Councillor Duggan and I made a train trip in January to Alberta and Saskatchewan points on Saturday night. Aside from the cold weather and the unsatisfactory train service, the trip was pleasant and profitable. We all returned with greater enthusiasm for Camrose and its future. We had started to think we may purchase some real estate in some of the growing centres of the West, but didn’t do so, as we all came to the conclusion that there is no place like Camrose. Other cities are green with envy when we tell them we have three railway lines. We made them aware of the illimitable coal supplies, the pleasure resorts which the neighbouring lakes afford and of the soft water which we draw from our wells. I want to assure you the new power plant that we have installed on the north shore of Mirror Lake will change your quality of life. For the first year electricity will be available during the day time with electricity produced from the steam generating plant. Thank heaven for that local supply of coal we need. By October visitors or local people will no longer have to light their hotel rooms or homes by candle light. During the winter months the plant will be operating from darkness to dawn. Folks, you can soon look forward to a water supply to your
homes. We need to thank the C.P.R. for building the dam in 1905 on Stoney Creek and for laying a pipe line to the water tank on the north side of town. The town has recently sunk eleven wells and water will flow from the reservoirs through the pipes to the Water Tower that will be erected later this year by the Canadian Fairbanks Company and will flow back to the main business and residential parts of town. Take a walk along the south end of Stoney Creek and you will see our new pumping Station. I know some of you are unhappy that we will have to delay laying of the sidewalks just a bit longer so we can have the sewer and water service connections completed prior to the sidewalk laying. With respect to the water works, 5,000 feet of pipe has been laid and tested for leaks. We wanted to be sure of this before we connect the pipe line of the boiler feeder pumps at the electric light house. With good weather the connection will be made by November. By the end of November we hope to have all the sewer and water pipes laid. Laying sewer pipe is the heaviest part of the work. We have to dig a trench up Sullivan Street and South Avenue that is 23 feet deep as it will receive waste from the creamery and future extensions of buildings on Mirror Lake. Water Works
The population of Camrose and other communities in the area grew substantially in 1911. The railways served to connect populations, and this increased the growth of Camrose. As the town grew, it was necessary for
proper electrical, water, and sewer systems to be put in place, and these needs were fulfilled in 1911. In 1911, Mr. M.A. Maxwell was appointed to be the engineer for the Camrose water works. He focused on installing water lines and the correct placement of wells. Under his direction, Camrose successfully built its water tower and developed a system to transport water from surrounding reservoirs to the water tower using gravity. From the water tower, water was piped back to businesses and households. Camrose’s water system was efficiently operated, and the labor involved was credited to Mr. M.A. Maxwell. The waterworks ensured that there was a supply of clean water for those living in Camrose. The sewage system was also built in conjunction with the waterworks, and helped keep the city clean and with good sanitation. In 1911 this system cost $100,000. It served to keep the town from outbreaks of diseases like typhoid. When the Camrose Board of Health made its 1911 reports on the town, it stated that: “The year just closed has been conspicuous by the absence of any infectious outbreak; our past precaution as a clean town has again been verified by the absence of any cases of typhoid originating in the town. With our past facilities for the care and disposal of sewage, we consider this state of affairs very satisfactory from a health standpoint. The completion of the new system of waterworks will contribute to even a better condition of affairs pertaining to the sanitary state of the town.”