In that sense, it echoed the lives of many former human inhabitants of those environs, who found that life was possible where it seemed hopeless. Many of Alberta's ghost towns exist as a result of a number of failed coal mining operations in the area during the early 20th century. Well, walking along them, in any event.

Top Alberta Ghost Towns: See reviews and photos of ghost towns in Alberta, Canada on Tripadvisor. Each quarter section had its own little pile along the road, something that is actually pretty rare to see on the prairie nowadays, at least in such close proximity to each other. I was pleased to see that when I looked later, it had found a way to extricate itself from certain death. Built for the Superintendent of Fort Calgary, the home has seen stabbings, suicides, and peculiar deadly accidents over the years. The fresh ground allowed me to find a number of artifacts, including a couple of “Dog Tax 1913″ and 1914 tags.

For a village already in the doldrums due to drought, this calamity accelerated its irreversable decline. Hilda, AB 2017. Skiff, AB - 2017.

Think "rustic charm ". The landscape was as powdery fine as the suface of the moon, punctuated by fresh new grass which shows that nature keeps its course, despite the follies of mankind.An erie spilling and scattering of nails lay about foundations where crumbling roofs and walls recently stood. Here are some of my favorite ghost towns I have explored in Alberta since 2003. So, in the eerily quiet atmosphere of this ghost town, you'll be able to explore the boarded up buildings and abandoned grain elevators. Chances are Boyd Stevens will be there.Thanks to Mark Hume of the Globe and Mail for the opportunity to talk about Alberta’s ghost communities, and why it is important to remember them.Comments from myself and Dr. David C. Jones appeared in the article, “Ghost towns reveal forgotten past”, which ran in the March 1st Alberta print edition of the Globe and Mail.Mr. Ghost Towns Of Alberta. The state of Alderson today also stands in stark contrast with what I found there in late July, when abundant overgrowth had overtaken and obscured the entire townsite.With the bones of this bygone village now exposed, I sincerely hope it will not be besieged by pickers and plunderers, rooting for souvenirs within the newly scorched earth. The land there is so poor that it seemingly couldn’t even grow rocks well, or maybe the glaciers had pity on the land, knowing that future humans would struggle on it as it was without them being further burdened by glacial till.I am saddened that my first trip to the town was after all of the structures had been burnt down. The British were nothing if not organized.I also found a Merry Widows condom tin, which on it stated that three lasses named Agnes, Beckie and Mable were possibly going to be conquested by some enterprising male.Thanks, Jon, for your writing. All they had to do was move the hell away.According to some accounts online, the fire seems to It’s interesting to note this was far from the first time fire had gutted Carlstadt and Alderson. While Germany’s forces on the Western Front were nearing defeat by October 1918, another deadly foe  was emerging from the east, this one closer to home.A photo posted by Jonathan Koch (@forgotten_alberta) on If you’re ever passing by Orion, Alberta, be sure to stop in at Stevens Hardware and Garage. I cannot pass by on the number 1 highway without thinking of the poor souls who bought the hucksterism of the early 1900s hook, line and sinker.While approaching the town along Range Road 104, I could not help but notice the stone piles that early homesteaders created. The province of Alberta has several ghost towns that have been completely or partially abandoned. A photo posted by Jonathan Koch (@forgotten_alberta) on John Harold Fenton reported for duty on June 10, 1918. Mr. Hume has kindly permitted me to reproduce those comments below: Continue reading Globe and Mail: Ghost towns reveal forgotten past → Alderson Carlstadt Ghost town. There have been reports of apparitions, strange noises, and hollow footsteps attributed to a construction worker that died during the facility’s construction.There are multiple ghosts haunting the Banff Springs Hotel, if the stories are to be believed. Comments from myself and Dr. David C. Jones appeared in the article, “Ghost towns reveal forgotten past”, which ran in the March 1st Alberta print edition of the Globe and Mail. Of course, this designation preceded the publication of To me, there are many reasons for seeking some sort of protection and recognition for this site, and the recent prairie fire underscores the need even further.The experiences of the people here helped shape our province. I could picture the home guard whirling and about facing with vigour, as so eloquently stated in “Empire of Dust” by David Jones. David C. Jones describes the events of the day in Events such as this underscore the urgency to experience and preserve southeastern Alberta history before it’s gone. By Chris Attrell Farrow, AB 2003. From a bride in a full wedding gown – who died on her wedding day by breaking her neck in the hotel – to the retired bellhop, Sam Macauley, who haunts the floors in full uniform.The nearly 100-year-old building is apparently haunted by multiple ghosts, including a spirit of a teacher from the 1960s and Al Gersbach, who is said to haunt the Francis Frazier Constock Theatre Building and occasionally appear on random playbills.Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive content, contests, and perks direct to youDaily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content.

A town is an urban municipality status type used in the Canadian province of Alberta.Alberta towns are created when communities with populations of at least 1,000 people, where a majority of their buildings are on parcels of land smaller than 1,850 m 2, apply to Alberta Municipal Affairs for town status under the authority of the Municipal Government Act. Possibly driven by patriotism, a desire for adventure, or the need to escape the dusty desolation of the drybelt, Private Fenton signed up just as the Great War was drawing to a close. Kirkcaldy, AB 2009. In 2006, this town had a whopping population of two people.

Rayley, AB - 2004. Retlaw, AB - 2017 .