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Help
add a little history to
the Arches project
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Paul Cowley) September 19, 2009
The Central Alberta Historical Society is looking for help on a
major downtown project to honour the city's past.
Eight arches are in place at Centennial Park Plaza and the final
phase of the roughly $240,000 project involves the placement of 27
plaques on the nine pillars supporting the arches that surround a
historic fountain.
Sheila Bannerman, president of the historical society, said
constructing the arches in the new park at 48th Street and 52nd
Avenue cost more than expected so the society is turning to the
community to sponsor the plaques on the feature meant to evoke a
railway roundhouse.
"We will be looking to sell subscriptions through the Arches Fund
that will help cover the cost of the plaques. We are working on
putting together a pamphlet that will be presenting to various
individuals and organizations to see if they would like to donate."
Each subscription will be for one plaque. And as that subscription
come in, that plaque will be done and mounted on the arches.
"We're kind of looking at it as a representative walking tour of Red
Deer history. Each plaque will represent a significant era."
A committee has been set up to work out designs and content of the
etched metal plaques and to set prices. Exactly what will go on each
panel has not been determined. They may feature historical photos or
artists' impressions of Red Deer of yesteryear, or both.
"It's pretty much in the exploratory stages for that. We're trying
to stay away from representations of individuals because it would be
basically impossible to represent all of the important individuals
in Red Deer history."
How long it takes to finish off the project will depend on the
success of the subscription drive.
"Basically, it's something that will be a good long-term project, in
terms of both history and art. We don't want to rush it. We want to
make sure, because it's going to be there for a long time, that it
will be really worth going and having a look at."
City parks superintendent Trevor Poth said tenders have just gone
out on concrete work for the site and if all goes well, landscaping
can be completed and the fountain hooked up by the end of October.
It is estimated that work will cost $75,000 to $100,000.
The Arches project has been funded through local donations,
contributions from the city and grants from the province and CP
Rail.
News articles related to Calgary & Edmonton Railway / Canadian
Pacific in Central Alberta:
News article: Penhold man remembers day of the
train
(Innisfail Province Dec.2013)
News article: Arches mark influence of
railroad on city
(Red Deer
Advocate Oct.2013)
News article: CP's heritage train rolls through region
(Mountain View Gazette Aug.2011)
News
article: Historic significance of concrete obelisk preserved in
mural (Red Deer Advocate Oct.2008)
News article: A new face for the old
station
(Red Deer Life July 1996)
Calgary and Edmonton Railway (CPR)
Calgary and Edmonton Railway at Red Deer (CPR)
Alberta Central Railway (CPR)
- Red Deer to Rocky
Mountain House
Canadian Northern Western Railway Brazeau sub (CNR)
- Mirror to Red Deer and
Nordegg
Railway Stations Were Once the Focal Point of Western Canadian
Communities
Mackenzie and Mann influenced Central
Alberta's first railway stations
- C&ER Combination Stations
Most communities once had portable stations
for a time
Red Deer once had four railway stations
Canadian Pacific Railway Stations in Central Alberta
Red Deer 1910 CPR station 'jewel' still
dominates Ross Street
Downtown Red Deer Ground Transportation Themes
Railway Icons of City of Red Deer
Rise and Fall of Passenger Rail in the C&E Corridor
Jubilee
4-4-4
3001 'The Chinook'
History of Railway Locomotive Power in Central Alberta
History of Railway Structures Used in Central Alberta
Michael Dawe articles related to Calgary & Edmonton Railway /
CPR heritage:
An early
community landmark - the Michener Fountain
(Red Deer Express June 2011)
CPR
Station Park once shining jewel of Red Deer
(Red Deer Express June 2009)
Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge now 100 years old
(Red Deer Advocate June 2009)
The history of Red Deer's CPR station
(Red Deer Express April 2007)
Red Deer becomes a divisional point for CPR
(Red Deer Advocate Special March 2007)
The Michener Fountain
(Red Deer Express July 2005)
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