This Day in Journal History

[North Guy66]

When the Edmonton Journal revamped their style recently, it introduced a new feature on page A2 called This Day in Journal history. It reprints a news story on this particular day that happened decades ago.

I love this feauture because it brings back memories and recalls Edmonton's history.

I will start with April 8, 1963:

$11 flights to Calgary

Pacific Western Airlines’ air-bus service between Edmonton and Calgary costs travellers $11 one-way.

The new PWA service offered a minimum of frills for the passengers.
They had to carry their own luggage aboard, buy tickets during the one-hour flight from a ticket agent/cabin attendant, and move quickly through a 10-minute airport check-in time.

PWA flights departed from Edmonton Municipal Airport.

Officials said the reduction in driving time and check-in time for travellers would reduce serious objections to air travel.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/trave...546/story.html

If it costs $11 to fly to Calgary, imagine how less the cost of gasoline was back in 1963??

[howie]

I'm just curious about what were the "serious objections to air travel" that's mentioned. It was long before I arrived here, but well before 1963 I don't recall any objections to air travel back in the UK. In fact, it was a time when inexpensive package holidays to various continental resorts were really beginning to ramp up.

[KC]

Originally Posted by howie

I'm just curious about what were the "serious objections to air travel" that's mentioned. It was long before I arrived here, but well before 1963 I don't recall any objections to air travel back in the UK. In fact, it was a time when inexpensive package holidays to various continental resorts were really beginning to ramp up.

Good question. Maybe hurting small communities between the cities? Safety or noise pollution?

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Here's the full index of This Day in Journal History stories:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/history/index.html


* New City Hall in the 1950s:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...974/story.html

* Hey, remember when Edmonton had powerful representation in the House of Commons? Thanks, Anne McLellan:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...512/story.html

* Oh noes! 2% Alberta sales tax!
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...442/story.html

[howie]

Originally Posted by KC

Good question. Maybe hurting small communities between the cities? Safety or noise pollution?

Hi KC. I can't see those suggestions as being impediments to air travel then or now. Still plenty of small rural communities. Safety and noise pollution really only come into play in fairly close proximity to airports. Commercial aviation had been around 40 years or so prior to 1963. Surely it wasn't viewed by the general public as some kind of new fangled thing. Still scratching my head about this.

Mr. Hinderks, any ideas about this "objections" business?

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by howie

Hi KC. I can't see those suggestions as being impediments to air travel then or now. Still plenty of small rural communities. Safety and noise pollution really only come into play in fairly close proximity to airports. Commercial aviation had been around 40 years or so prior to 1963. Surely it wasn't viewed by the general public as some kind of new fangled thing. Still scratching my head about this.

Mr. Hinderks, any ideas about this "objections" business?

Tell you what I know.

Bear in mind the Jet age of air travel was just dawning, the speed, comfort, reliability of the aircraft and scheduling was no where near what it was to be even 10years later.

As a percentage of income cost where fairly high and passenger capacity low by today's standards.

Fly on a piston engine airliner...it's darn noisy! Heat, too much or too little this was long before jet engines provided "bleed air" heating and AC was not on the plate yet.

The top A/C of the day were ether Second World War designs or derivatives of them. Narrow, low ceilings, loud.

You were flying basically 1/2 the height you do today at best...so you were not going over the weather...you were going through, rough, nasty.

Accidents, while not common, were not unheard of compared to today where its a major deal if there is a minor incident.

In this environment the AirBus was a big break through.

Cheap, easy and a short flight geared to the business traveler that needed to hit Edmonton and get home.

PWA did an amazing job of creating the current system of domestic travel with the AirBus and as the equipment improved (Turbo props, Jets, wide fuselages) it just worked better and the increasing volume meant the prices stayed low, routes expanded first Provincially then Western region and eventually beyond.

Remember at that time Edmonton was the Provincial powerhouse and the traffic was coming here and returning.

Neat stuff

[howie]

Well, I can see some pretty valid reasons in there, Tom, but expectations were less then. The first flight I ever took was in 1967 on a (long gone British Eagle airine) Vickers Viscount and I thought it was wonderful. That said, I wonder if I'd feel the same way now. And all that booming UK-continent business was conducted on turboprops of one sort or another, so I still don't fully get the slow start to the business here.

BTW, is that a Viscount pictured in the Journal article? Looks pretty similar to this lay eye.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by howie

Well, I can see some pretty valid reasons in there, Tom, but expectations were less then. The first flight I ever took was in 1967 on a (long gone British Eagle airine) Vickers Viscount and I thought it was wonderful. That said, I wonder if I'd feel the same way now. And all that booming UK-continent business was conducted on turboprops of one sort or another, so I still don't fully get the slow start to the business here.

BTW, is that a Viscount pictured in the Journal article? Looks pretty similar to this lay eye.

DC-4 in the Journal pic...some might think a DC-6 but the windows give it away.

Howie
By 1967 the game had already changed dramatically with the penetration of both Turbo props and Jets into the travel market.

I flew the Viscount as a kid and had the chance to do it again in the 80s, much more like flying today than flying in the 40s, 50s and early 60s.

Look up an AVRO Lancasterian on the internet or an AVRO Tudor it will give you a Viscount equivalent built in England.

Air Canada was the big user of the Viscount in North America BTW.

And all that booming UK-continent business was conducted on turboprops of one sort or another, so I still don't fully get the slow start to the business here.

Wasn't a slow start here, Canada was hauling more freight and passengers than Europe but Turbo Props and Jets were not as easy to adapt to our market and the availability of Piston engine airliners, ground equipment and spares was much easier here for the big pistons than turbines.

Traveling was because you had too...not for fun.

- Our distances were greater
- Temperatures more extreme
- Runways shorter and very often rougher if paved at all up North

These factor meant expensive

Europe is
- Pretty much short haul
- Great runways
- More temperate

Made transition to Turbo props and Jets easier and short haul high load made it easier for the tourist market sooner.

So while we didn't get to the high volume tourism till later Canada was hauling Cargo and moving people like crazy for other reasons.

Look up the "Distant Early Warning Line" or "The Pine Tree Line" huge projects all air supported, crews moved that way too!

[howie]

Cheers, Tom. I'm always impressed with your depth in this subject.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Thanks

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hinderks

DC-4 in the Journal pic...some might think a DC-6 but the windows give it away.

Actually, that's a DC-6 in the Journal pic.

The DC-4 has round windows, but the DC-6 has square windows. That plane in the pic has square windows.

I was tempted to say DC-7 (PWA did have a few of those in its fleet), but the DC-7 has four-bladed props, while the DC-6 has only three-bladed props. Once again, the plane shown in the pic has only three blades per prop.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Actually, that's a DC-6 in the Journal pic.

The DC-4 has round windows, but the DC-6 has square windows. That plane in the pic has square windows.

I was tempted to say DC-7 (PWA did have a few of those in its fleet), but the DC-7 has four-bladed props, while the DC-6 has only three-bladed props. Once again, the plane shown in the pic has only three blades per prop.

Mike

I beg to differ, you are right on the window change but have the aircraft mixed up I do believe.

The DC-4 was unpressurized and had the square windows.

The DC-6 was pressurized and had the rounded windows.
The reason was to eliminate the sharp corners on the windows as they were a point where fatigue cracks would start (discovered in the DH Comet accidents.) on pressurized aircraft, and why today's airliners still have rounded windows not square.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hinderks

Mike

I beg to differ, you are right on the window change but have the aircraft mixed up I do believe.

The DC-4 was unpressurized and had the square windows.

The DC-6 was pressurized and had the rounded windows.
The reason was to eliminate the sharp corners on the windows as they were a point where fatigue cracks would start (discovered in the DH Comet accidents.) on pressurized aircraft, and why today's airliners still have rounded windows not square.

No, I do not have the aircraft types mixed up at all when it comes to the windows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-6

PWA DC-4: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Pacif...30ffebf939c9c7

PWA DC-6: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Pacif...7dc872bfb8e517

Also, the fuselage of the plane in the Journal pic is a little too long to be that of a DC-4. In fact, it's a DC-6B, an all-passenger variant with no cargo doors and a slightly lengthened fuselage at 105 ft 7 in - this is actually slightly longer than the 737-200 or even the 737-600! PWA had at least a few of both aircaft types in its fleet.

However, it is stated in PWA's reunion site (http://www.pwareunion.com/) that the DC-4 was used on the Airbus route between Edmonton and Calgary, but I think also that the DC-6 was likely also often used on that route. There are several pics of the DC-6 in a.net showing the DC-6B at YXD (in fact, all of them!). You will also find pics of both the DC-4 and the DC-6 in the Aircraft section of pwareunion.com site as well.

But you're right in that the DC-6 was pressurized, while the DC-4 was not.

I've definitely heard about the De Havilland Comet disasters off Italy in 1954 and how they led to the changes towards windows with rounded corners as is the case with many modern aircraft, or sticking to ovoid windows like with the Fokker F28.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Mike K

My error....at least I was right someone had them mixed!

PWA used both 4s and 6s from here even after the 737s hit.
Eldorado even longer
Buffalo still uses them today

A number of our members flew 4s and 6s for PWA and then on to Hercs and 737s

Amazing stuff

[Sonic Death Monkey]

So if you guys are now finished arguing about airplanes, some more interesting entries:

Muttart opens in 1976:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...026/story.html

Principal Plaza (now CWB tower) opens in 1981:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...837/story.html

Agricom opens in 1984:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...746/story.html

[KC]

I love this addition to the Journal.

I don't subscribe but might buy more copies if the front page referenced some of these stories.

or even a teaser - What happened on ____ 1976?

[North Guy66]

Remember how great we felt when the LRT was up and running?

April 22, 1978: Edmonton’s LRT off and running

The new LRT began running, making Edmonton the first city in North America with a metropolitan population of fewer than one million to build a modern light rail transit system.

The original line was 6.9 kilometres long, running from Belvedere Station to Central Station.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...700/story.html

[Sonic Death Monkey]

April 25, 1906...Battle of Alberta begins...

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...753/story.html

After a lengthy debate in the legislature, Edmonton was named the permanent capital city of Alberta, an honour that had provisionally been granted by Parliament.

Premier Alexander Rutherford stated that, under the Alberta Act, Edmonton was to be the capital until the legislature decided otherwise, and promised that he would see that the House would have a chance to decide the issue during this session.

The Hon. Mr. Cushing raised the motion that the capital be transferred to Calgary and said: “That in the opinion of this house, the seat of government of the province should be fixed permanently at the city of Calgary. Calgary has been and is now the largest business centre in the province and will continue to be.”

Cushing’s motion was seconded for the capital to be moved, but only for half the distance — to Red Deer. No one rose to second the amendment. Banff was also put forward as a candidate, but to no avail.

When the motion was put to a vote, eight members voted for Calgary and 16 for Edmonton. Red Deer and Banff received no votes.

[North Guy66]

^ Imagine how the makeup of Alberta would be now if Calgary was named the capital city back in 1906?

[PJC]

^ Calgary would probably be right behind Vancouver in terms of size and Edmonton would be the third-largest city on the prairies after Winnipeg. MAYBE a half million people.

Sure glad it didn't happen.

[jizzaldo]

“That in the opinion of this house, the seat of government of the province should be fixed permanently at the city of Calgary. Calgary has been and is now the largest business centre in the province and will continue to be.”

Was this true? Have they always been "the largest business centre in the province" even through the 50's/60's/70's?

[Sonic Death Monkey]

April 24, 1950: Alberta signs on Trans-Canada Highway
Edmontonians lobby for Yellowhead route
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...861/story.html

April 26, 1974: Mayor Dent hails provincial plan for comprehensive river valley recreation park
Capital City Park from legislature to Beverly Bridge
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...905/story.html

[North Guy66]

May 9, 1989: Getty redeems himself in Stettler weeks after losing city riding

Premier Don Getty swept to victory in a byelection in Stettler just weeks after suffering a humiliating loss in his former Edmonton riding during the provincial election.

On March 20, Getty lost to Liberal Percy Wickman in the Edmonton-Whitemud riding, a Tory stronghold for 18 years.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/1989+...917/story.html

This was the first time I voted in a provincial election.

In hindsight, what was Getty thinking to be running against the popular former city councilor Percy Wickman?

[JamesL]

LOL, Getty on attempt #2:

“The other parties came in here and brought their big guns and we stomped them,” Getty said.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^^ Are you joking? Getty was the Edmonton-Whitemud MLA since 1967 until then. Did you really expect him to switch ridings because the opposition ran a strong candidate against him?

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by North Guy66

In hindsight, what was Getty thinking to be running against the popular former city councilor Percy Wickman?

Wickman was a great candidate, no doubt, but did Getty really have a choice? He won Edmonton-Whitemud by 60%-21% over the NDP candidate when he returned to politics in 1985, and won re-election a year later by 58%-30%. It would've been quite the sign of weakness for him to abandon his constituency for higher ground in advance of the 1989 vote.

Also, that was kind of a fascinating general election result, with the Liberals and NDP clocking in at 29% and 26% province-wide, respectively.

Here's some archival election night footage from CBC (worth a watch!): http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categorie...for-getty.html

[North Guy66]

Okay, my bad. For some reason I thought Wickman was the incumbent.

[North Guy66]

Getty was the Edmonton-Whitemud MLA since 1967 until then. Did you really expect him to switch ridings because the opposition ran a strong candidate against him?

Also, that was kind of a fascinating general election result, with the Liberals and NDP clocking in at 29% and 26% province-wide, respectively.

Whitemud was a Tory stronghold for 18 years. You'll figure Getty, as the PC Party leader, would win slamdunk in 1989. Something must of soured in Whitemud.

Was Percy Wickman that much more of a better candidate? Why did the voters of Whitemud reject electing Alberta's next premier as their representative?

[JamesL]

Getty was never all that popular of a dude, and the economy was pretty weak under his reign. Wickman just seemed to capture voter disgust pretty well. One stunt in particular is memorable: Wickman famously held a mock "debate" against a giant rubber chicken after Getty refused to debate him: http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...irl-flashback/

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Here's an interesting one:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...380/story.html

June 12, 1981: City doubles size by expanding boundaries

The provincial cabinet came to a decision that more than doubled Edmonton's size, making it Canada's largest city in area.

The new boundaries expanded in all directions: about five kilometres to the south, four kilometres to the west, plus a large section to the northeast, between Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan.

Edmonton gained control of parts of Strathcona County's major industrial area, but not the entire refinery row area.

St. Albert and Sherwood Park retained their independence, while a metropolitan planning commission was created.

Mayor Cec Purves reacted to the decision, saying: "I'm pleased the government has addressed the issue and we can all get on with planning for the future.

"The government has recognized the need for more land and has given us enough for the next 40 or 50 years.

"That's what we set out to achieve, and we're very happy with that."

"It cost the taxpayers $10 million and the democratic process was circumvented," Social Credit MLA Walter Buck said.

Buck felt that premier Peter Lougheed should have sat down with representatives from the affected municipalities years earlier to iron out a decision.

The boundary changes took effect Jan. 1, 1982.

[Kitlope]

I always wondered how and when Edmonton's city boundaries became what they are today...

[Sonic Death Monkey]

June 15, 1993: Klein Tories win big majority

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...867/story.html

Edmonton voters snubbed the ruling Conservatives and embraced the opposition. The Liberals, led by former Edmonton mayor Laurence Decore, won all 18 Edmonton ridings.

“We didn’t lose Edmonton, we came close to winning it, and I will always support Edmonton,” Klein said. “This city will always be a very, very important part of our province.”

[overoceans]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

Here's an interesting one:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...380/story.html

June 12, 1981: City doubles size by expanding boundaries

I remember one summer shortly after the boundary change, attending a youth-camp sorta thing with kids from all over the province, and those of us from the Edmonton area were being bussed home. We passed some piece of land near St Albert, and a kid who was from St. Albert said "This land here used to be a real mess, until Edmonton annexed it and then it got cleaned up".

I always thought that must've been kind of an embarrassing thing for someone from St. Albert to admit.

[North Guy66]

June 16, 1926: City gets Canada's first municipal airport

The federal government issued a licence authorizing the city to open Canada's first municipal airport.

Licence No. 1 was issued to Blatchford Field, a meadow at the far end of what is Kingsway. The land was named for then mayor Kenneth Blatchford, who had negotiated the deal.

It cost the city $400 to clear the brush and create two grass runways.

Care of the land was entrusted to Mary Watt, who regularly cut the grass.

Edmonton's top pilot, Wilfred (Wop) May, had lobbied for many years for a proper airfield in the city.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...836/story.html

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by North Guy66

June 16, 1926: City gets Canada's first municipal airport

Yes indeed today was the day the paperwork was issued...

But Blatchford Field had yet to be named and the first flight did not touch down till January 1927 when Flight Lieutenant "Punch" Dickens touched down in his Armstrong Whitworth Siskin Bi Plane Fighter!


Tom

[Sonic Death Monkey]

June 22, 1983: $82-million Shaw Conference Centre opens

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...902/story.html

Ed Leger complaining about the Shaw being a burden on taxpayers...he must have been the Scott Hennig of his time, eh?

[kkozoriz]

Scott Henning had NOTHING on Ed Ledger.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...911/story.html

June 26, 1972: Chief justice given gold key to new Law Courts Building

Premier Peter Lougheed officially opened Edmonton’s new Law Courts Building in Sir Winston Churchill Square.

About 1,000 guests in the large ground-floor mezzanine watched as Chief Justice S. Bruce Smith accepted a gold key to the building from the province.

Lougheed, himself a lawyer, described the Law Courts as “magnificent,” but added “the spirit of the people” working in the building is more important.

Smith, Alberta’s chief justice since 1961, outlined the history of the building.

“About 1964 the Edmonton courthouse was becoming increasingly overcrowded. About that time I visited the then premier, the honorable E.C. Manning, to suggest that probably the time was ripe for the construction of a new courthouse.”

The old courthouse, which would be demolished to make way for expansion of a Woodward’s store, was built in 1912.

Smith described an initial meeting between the Law Courts expediting committee and architect Jock Bell in 1966: “When Mr. Bell asked us what a courthouse should look like, I am afraid we had to tell him that we didn’t quite know.”

Commenting on the interior of the building, the chief justice said prisoners would be handled in a more humane way than in the old building, never coming into contact with the public.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

June 28, 1915: Flood sweeps away 50 homes

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...755/story.html

[MJ]

Aug. 1, 1926: Elephants stampede through Edmonton

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...677/story.html

[Sonic Death Monkey]

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...896/story.html

Aug. 17, 1964: Edmonton brings Jasper Place into the capital’s fold

The largest town in Canada, Jasper Place, became part of Edmonton.

The city takes over Jasper Place’s bonded indebtedness of about $8.2 million and assumed all public services such as water and transportation.

The town’s 38,000 residents became Edmontonians, bringing the city’s population near the 350,000 mark.

Since the town passed a night shopping bylaw in 1953, Jasper Place became famous as the place where night shopping “is the law.”

Even with amalgamation, stores in the town will be able to remain open six nights a week until 9 o’clock for the next three years.

Recent years have seen major housing and shopping centre projects throughout the town, including in the communities of Rio Terrace and Meadowlark Park.

A joint Edmonton-Jasper Place parade marked the demise of the town known as the “Young Giant.”

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Oh noes...snow in August, 1992!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...667/story.html

[MrOilers]

I remember that miserable snowy August day. I had to deliver newspapers.

[Kitlope]

Yup me too. I was 18 and we were partying all night at buddie's place, someone looked out the blinds at about 6 am and it was snowing!

[Dialog]

I was in Montreal, which was overcast and +18 that day. I thought the weather was sucking there... until I got back!

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

Oh noes...snow in August, 1992!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...667/story.html

I was a patient of the Cross Cancer then...nearing the completion of a rather lengthy inpatient stay...measured in months and full of painkillers...

I went to sleep to a nice green warm evening....work up to snow...thought I was put into a coma and woke up in December...remember...heavy painkillers...

I don't know why I remember it...probably the minor meltdown I had on the staff...

[ctzn-Ed]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

Oh noes...snow in August, 1992!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...667/story.html

I actually have vivid memories of that. My buddy had it recorded as he did a drive from Montreal to Ed. and was just outside Sherwood on highway 16 east lol. OMG that was two decades ago! Was that not the year we also had +29 degree Nov.31? Anyone old enough remembered that?

[ctzn-Ed]

Originally Posted by Kitlope

Yup me too. I was 18 and we were partying all night at buddie's place, someone looked out the blinds at about 6 am and it was snowing!

Buddy's above where the floc clothing boutique building.Actually, right beside on right hand side. For fcuk sakes, im old lol!

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Aug. 23, 1978: Clarke Stadium closes on a winning note

Aug. 31, 1989: LRT system opens new Grandin Station

Sept. 3, 1976: Muttart Conservatory opens in Edmonton river valley

Sept. 7, 1992: Snow puts a chill on first Big Valley concert

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Sept. 10, 1985: Opening of West Edmonton Mall, Phase III
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...792/story.html

“It’s as big and impressive as the Ghermezians said it would be,” said Mayor Laurence Decore.

“Nobody living in the Western Hemisphere will have to go to Europe anymore,” said Nader Ghermezian. “I can’t believe myself what we’ve built. When you come to West Edmonton Mall, it’s a world by itself — a world within a world.”

Cec Purves, who was mayor when the mall was first approved, said it “exceeded all expectations. People are going to be flabbergasted. There’s no doubt about it, it’s the central attraction in northwest Canada.”

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Thankfully, nobody had to shell out thousands of dollars to see this big name!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/trave...160/story.html

[Thomas Hinderks]

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...950/story.html

Edmonton's first airshow!

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Sept. 22, 1960: The sky’s the limit as mayor opens Queen Elizabeth Planetarium

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Oct 4, 1994: Mick, Keef, Charlie and Woody...schedule your next Edmonton gig during the summer, please
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...723/story.html

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Oct. 11, 1971: Edmonton travel made easier as James MacDonald Bridge opens

Oct. 7, 1913: Government House opens after more than $300,000 spent on construction

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Nov. 3, 1976: St. Albert becomes a city as of the following year

Oct. 30, 1913: Edmonton's first downtown arena burns down

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Nov. 18, 1971: Symphony’s recording with rock band Procol Harum puts Edmonton on the musical map

[howie]

LOL. Ye gods, the "on the map" is still being bandied about forty years on. Are we there yet?

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Nov. 26, 1980: Mayor Cec Purves unveils 18-storey Continental Bank Building

I believe this is the HSBC building north of City Centre Mall west.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Very interesting bit of history...

Nov. 28, 1979: Voters overwhelmingly endorse trade and convention centre at Grierson Hill

EDMONTON - A decade of political hurdles and frustration ended for city council with an overwhelming public vote in favour of building the controversial trade and convention centre on the side of the riverbank.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Dec. 30, 1961: One-time coal-mining town of Beverly swallowed up by Edmonton

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Feb. 5, 1908: Newly opened YMCA aimed at keeping men out of Edmonton saloons

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...452/story.html

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^ Anyone know where exactly this was located?

[TerryH]

Fortunate enough to find the Bulletin story from the old "100 years ago" thread. From the Saturday, September 14, 1907 edition, the story mentioned the building was to be situated at "the head of Howard Street" (100A Street), Not sure if that meant 102A Avenue, although it would make sense. http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/newsp...e=N01P0628.JPG

[AShetsen]

Indeed 100A Street extended to and ended at 102A Avenue before the Edmonton Centre complex was built (see for example the 1924 aerial photo series sheet CA 74-14).

That's exactly where the "old" pre Wheaton-family YMCA building still is. I'll it was built sometime in the 1960's on the site of the brick YMCA pictured in SDM's post 62.

[TerryH]

"Work on the construction of the new building addition began in 1951. This basement and fourstorey unit was built in front of, and incorporated, the original 1907 building. Facilities included a boiler room large enough for the entire new building when it was completed, boys’ game room and lounge, senior lounge, all purpose rooms - Alberta Room and Edmonton Room, health club, reception desk and two floors of residence rooms. A week of open house occurred
during the last week of April, 1952 to celebrate the completion of the new unit. The Y had to
float a bond issue to provide the funds required to complete the unit."

- "YMCA OF EDMONTON THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS" Page 73

http://www.edmonton.ymca.ca/Portals/...eb_version.pdf

[North Guy66]

May 22, 1963: PWA begins regular Airbus service between Edmonton and Calgary

The 64-passenger DC-4 left Edmonton on the inaugural flight at 1 p.m. Upon arrival, the group was transported downtown for a reception at the Calgary Petroleum Club.

By using the facilities of the Edmonton Municipal Airport and eliminating advance ticket-processing, check-ins and baggage disposal, an hour of travel time was saved.

The one-way fare of $11 compared with $13 for flights from Edmonton International Airport, and there were three flights each to Calgary each day and three return flights to Edmonton.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by North Guy66

May 22, 1963: PWA begins regular Airbus service between Edmonton and Calgary

We have been cheering this one all day but didn't think it would be appreciated on the forum.

That said I sure miss the service.

The poor old DC-4s....

50 years later they are still fighting fires and hauling cargo and some passengers across the North and in other parts of the world.

Wish we could have got one...but no room and no time now.

In my highly biased personal opinion

[McBoo]

Cool. And if you Google DC-4, then go to Wiki, you get a photo of guess what, guess where?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-4

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by McBoo

Cool. And if you Google DC-4, then go to Wiki, you get a photo of guess what, guess where?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-4

Yep

And that's North West Industries (now Northgate Trailer) in the background

IIRCC