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Arches mark influence of
railroad on city
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Crystal Rhyno) October 19, 2013
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Red Deer's historic arches were unveiled during a ceremony
Friday at 52 Avenue and 45 Street.
Photo by
Jeff Stokoe, Red Deer Advocate
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 The Historic Arches project
was unveiled at Centennial Plaza Park in Red Deer on Friday after
nearly 20 years in the making.
The nine-pillar arches near Alexander Way and 52nd Avenue celebrate
the influence of transportation and the railways in the development
of the city.
Bill MacKay, president of the Central Alberta Historical Society,
said the arches record the history of the railroad and its impact on
the residents.
"Really it's the social issue of Red Deer because it has to do with
people," said MacKay.
"People coming and going and settling and finding homesteads. It has
to do with the coal mines, the Depression and why the rail was
important for the coal mines."
The Arches project has been in the works since about 1999. They were
erected a few years ago and the historic Michener Fountain, also in
the park, was moved to the site in 2005.
Resembling roundhouse doors, the arches feature 27 plaques with
little-seen-before historical photos on nine pillars. The
photographs showcase a part of the rail history including
transportation before and after the railroad, the role of the Metis
people, and other milestones.
The permanent plaques will go up in the next few weeks while QR
codes linking to the society's website will likely be operational by
January.
MacKay said the society wants to keep up with technology and to give
residents access to Red Deer history in the ways people are
accessing information today.
This year the project went full steam ahead as a legacy project for
the city's centennial.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling was involved with the project since the
early days. As one of his final acts as mayor, Flewwelling said it
was fitting to see the project complete with the unveiling on
Friday.
With an estimated $225,000 price tag, the Arches project was funded
through local donations, contributions from the city and grants from
the province.
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: CP's heritage train rolls through region
(Mountain View Gazette Aug.2011)
News
article: Help add a little history to Arches project
(Red Deer Advocate Sep.2009)
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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