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Small Town Prairie Treasures
Just about every small town you come across on the Alberta prairies has a museum. They are depositories of the people and history that make each place unique. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being allowed access to the Castor and District Museum while researching my new novel Jessie's Cafe. The building still exits although it is in rough shape but it's stories live on in the minds of many people who call Castor home.
The museum is housed in an old Canadian Pacific railway station. Here you will find many old photos and mementos of bygone days. Butter churns, pottery water coolers, games and needlework. You can visit antique hospital equipment and imagine what a trip to the hairdresser's used to look like.
There are books containing the history of the region and town along with personal accounts from long time residents and those who have passed on, leaving their words to remind us of who they were and what was.
Housed in the basement of the museum are archives of the now defunct Castor Advance newspaper. Dating from the 1900's right up until the paper ceased to exist in 2024. It was such fun to carefully turn the yellowed pages that documented life in the 1900's and then further on into the 20s and 50s. Advertisements for cattle and land, businesses that flourished in Castor during that era. Some for a long time and some gone like prairie smoke in a very short time.
Some places that have ceased to exist are remembered in the pages of the archives. The village of Bulwark was located not far from Castor and the pages of the archives make mention of the comings and goings of those by gone inhabitants. All that remains today is the Bulwark Cemetary still guarding it's occupants on the windswept grasslands.
Just a bit north of Castor is Donalda whose town boasts a huge lantern that is the centre piece of the town. To the south of us Hanna lays claim to a giant cactus which you can find at Cactus Corners on Hay 9. To the east Coronation has a giant crown. Closer to Stettler is Rochon Sands with its giant fishing lure, a nod to nearby Buffalo Lake.
All these and more are prairie treasures quietly waiting for seekers to find them.
Photos below are property of Castor and District Museum. The museum building is in the background of this picture.
Until next month stay well, stay happy.
