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The history of the Village of
Sylvan Lake
reprinted from Red Deer Express January 9, 2013
The year of 1912 was a very exciting one for Sylvan Lake.
The community was enjoying one of the greatest booms in its history.
Two railroads, the Alberta Central and the Canadian Northern
Western, were building rail lines through the area on their way to
the rich coalfields west of Rocky Mountain House.
All of the rail construction meant that there were lots of good
paying jobs. Farmers had a great local market for their hay, produce
and livestock.
New settlers began to flood into the community to start new farms
and businesses.
According to a news report of the time: "The clatter of hammers is
most deafening. You can see piles of lumber anywhere you look which
is soon tackled by carpenters. The next time you look, you see a new
building going up. The place is full of tradesmen, merchants and
manufacturers of all kinds looking for one of Sylvan Lake's best
spots. With hardly an exception, they say they believe that Sylvan
Lake is destined to be one of the principal cities of the northwest
in the near future."
In addition to all the new residents moving into the community, the
number of summer tourists surged as well. New cottages were
constructed in Upper and Lower Camps. New lakeshore subdivisions for
further cottage developments were created at Jarvis Bay, Northey's
Point and Whitewold Beach.
The community boasted a large new hotel, the Alexander, which had
all the modern conveniences including gasoline lighting.
The older Sylvan Lake Hotel underwent extensive renovations and
several more rooms were added. Soon, there was also a local opera
house, two public halls, two pool rooms and a number of restaurants.
There was talk of a large moving picture theatre being built. There
was even talk of the C.N.R. constructing a mammoth summer hotel,
similar to the ones which had been built by the C.P.R. at Banff and
Lake Louise.
With the free-wheeling pastimes often associated with a summer
resort, Father Henri Voisin, the head of the Roman Catholic Priests
of Ste. Marie of Tinchebray, wrote that "The time had come to
enliven the completely materialistic atmosphere by the salutary
presence of a church."
Consequently, Sylvan Lake's first church, Our Lady of the
Assumption, was constructed in the summer of 1912.
Attention was also paid to the educational needs of the growing
number of children in the community. Previously, children on the
east side of Sylvan Lake went to the Finland School, while those on
the west side went to Kuusamo School.
Now, a new school, Sylvan Dell, was constructed in the burgeoning
hamlet. When the school opened on Sept. 23, 1912, there were 27
students listed on the register.
As the fall progressed, there was increasing consideration given to
having the community incorporated as a village.
A petition was circulated and sent to Edmonton. Approval for
incorporation was granted by the Provincial Government on Dec. 30,
1912.
The start of 1913 was celebrated with a large New Year's Eve dance
at Heenan's Opera House. Despite bad weather, the hall was packed
and the evening was judged an outstanding success.
The first elections for the village were held on Jan. 20, 1913. Earl
Grimson was elected mayor with Alexandre Loiselle and Albert A.
Godden as councilors. R.P. Jones acted as both returning officer and
the first secretary treasurer. Jones had also been both the first
secretary treasurer of the Sylvan Dell School District and the first
passenger to ride on the new C.N.R. train into Sylvan Lake.
By March, Sylvan Lake acquired its first newspaper The Sylvan
Lake Times. Because of the large numbers of Francophones living
in the community, The Times was published half in French and
half in English.
A
look back at the Alberta Central Railway
(Red Deer Express Sept.2014)
A look at
the Canadian Northern Railway
(Red Deer Express Jan.2011)
Mintlaw Bridge essential to region's railroad
heritage
(Red Deer Express March 2010)
Region celebrating century of railroad
heritage
(Red Deer Express March 2010)
Alberta Central Railway helped open region
(Red Deer Advocate Special March 2007)
Alberta Central Railway (CPR)
- Red Deer to Rocky
Mountain House
Canadian Northern Western Railway Brazeau sub (CNR)
- Mirror to Red Deer and
Nordegg
Canadian Pacific Railway Stations in Central Alberta
Canadian National Railway Stations in Central Alberta
Multiple Station Communities
ACR/CPR Mintlaw Steel Trestle
News article: Relic caboose gets new home
(Red Deer Advocate May 2013)
News article: Benalto Train Station returned
to hamlet after lengthy journey
(Sylvan Lake News May 2013)
News article: Benalto train station to return
home after 42-year absence
(Sylvan Lake News Feb.2013)
News article: Red Deer County seeks partners
to afford bridge access
(Mountain View Gazette Apr.2012)
News article: County council looks at bridge
as tourist attraction
(Red Deer Advocate April 2012)
News article: Plans for Mintlaw Bridge waiting
on public feedback
(Mountain View Gazette Feb.2012)
News article: Stay busy, stay young: Fred
Freschette
(Red Deer Advocate Nov.2010)
News article: A work in two golden ages: Ernie
Beskowiney
(Red Deer Advocate July 2010)
News article: Building trails to paradise
(Red Deer Advocate March 2009)
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