history Story by Anne Gafiuk Photos by Don Molyneaux
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Courtesy Okotoks Museum and Archives.
4 From the archives
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“These are another favourite of mine: The Okotoks Review. We have them from 1905 to 1970, on microfiche as well as the original papers themselves. They really capture Okotoks’s history: from who lived here, the weather, how the crops were, businesses, prices of groceries, who was married, births and deaths. The paper documented every aspect of the community, so again, very uniquely Okotoks.”
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“I’ve changed my mind about eight times picking my favourite photograph! One can learn a great deal from a photo. I thought about one that showed an overview of the village from 1902, but instead chose this one taken about 1910. It shows the vibrancy of the town along McRae Street. There are a number of businesses and there is so much happening. There are power lines, wooden sidewalks and dirt roads. There is Herb Carr and his grain wagon, likely going to the grain elevator. There are two horses and wagons. There is a group of men having a conversation outside of Kadey’s blacksmith shop and I wonder what they were talking about! Sadly, all the businesses burned down, but this photo captures a moment in time. It shows an aspect of the town that doesn’t exist anymore.”
s p r i ng 20 1 4 o koto ks Livi n g 13