From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

February 11, 1882 – Edmonton Bulletin

Weather is fine, although the snow is deep and travelling without snowshoes is not advised.

First mail of the year arrived yesterday. Can’t say when the next comes, could be days, weeks, or months; yes, maybe even forever. The mail will leave again on Sunday afternoon.

The police stables caught fire the other morning, causing some excitement, but damage is minimal.

The police returned to Fort Saskatchewan on Wednesday as there was no likelihood of further riotous demonstrations. No arrests were made.

On Thursday evening, the police at Fort Saskatchewan gave a minstrel entertainment in the barracks building. Invitations were issued to almost every person in the country and refreshments were served as many came from a distance. The crowd was so dense that all the chairs were given over to the ladies and the men were obliged to stand with many unable to find room inside. Once the performance was over, the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with vigour until daylight.

February 11, 1909 – Macleod Chronicle

A dance and basket social was held at Spring Point schoolhouse in aid of Macleod General Hospital with $109 being raised. We noted that several habitual attendants at like functions were conspicuous by their absence. Although the hospital would have benefited from their attendance, socially their absence was not felt since those who patronized the affair were given an opportunity of enjoying themselves.

If talk will build railroads, then by the holy gasbag we are going to make some hummers. Word now comes from Edmonton that a road will be built to the Arctic Circle with a terminus in Fort McMurray. The Edmonton people are evidently not content with making suburbs north to Athabasca Landing. The Calgary Herald suggested that some of the enterprising Edmonton real estate men should come out with the announcement of “choice residential and business lots for sale in Fort McMurray, the prosperous Edmonton suburb.”

The application of R.C. Edwards, editor of the Calgary Eye Opener, to have his publications readmitted to the mail service has, after several days consideration, been refused by the Postmaster General.

February 15, 1912 – Carlstadt Progress

Conrad Larsen was up before justice of the peace C.H. Wagner and Inspector Parker on Tuesday last. Larsen was arrested for stealing lumber from the C.F. Stone Lumber Company and got off lightly with a fine of $12.50. It wasn’t as unlucky as it could have been for Larsen, who was let down easy for the sake of his family, but the next offender will not get off so well.

A Chicago policeman determined to rescue a woman whose screams were coming from the attic of a burning house, climbed three flights of stairs in blinding smoke to discover the noise was being made by a parrot. The bird had managed to add some choice swear words to its vocabulary.

In keeping others alive, physicians seem to lose their own lives. Of all professional men, their lives are the shortest. On average, doctors die between the ages of 45 to 65.