I can't be the only one to find abandoned buildings fascinating. Doesn't everyone feel the draw?
Let your imagination wander for a while, through possibilities of a life once lived.... Stories told, hopes elevated, expectation unbounded, in walls now relegated to solitary monuments to the unrelenting march of time.
Let your imagination wander for a while, through possibilities of a life once lived.... Stories told, hopes elevated, expectation unbounded, in walls now relegated to solitary monuments to the unrelenting march of time.
Coal Connections:
The structure below, was once occupied by coal mine labourers who were family members of local resident, Ed Rostaing. If you feel the need to wonder about the happenings in this place in person, go to Hwy 56 to Secondary # 609 Follow pavement east past Double Dam Golf Course to Range Rd 184.
The Violin Maker's House:
Do you see the curves of a violin in the roof line below? Word has it that the owner & builder, Mr. Langbell. mirrored his passion in the roof line of his home. Local resident, author and activist, Jane Ross has fond memories of playing here as a child. One of the three families who've crossed this threshold as home, was that of Aritha Van Herk, author of Judith, Tent Peg, Maverick and more. Built in 1919, this fir construction stood as a testament to craftsmanship and the vernacular style of architecture; completely salvageable until the 90's. Since then, it has languished in what now resembles its own private wilderness; tractors its only passers-by.
Boom Town Trail:
Donalda is a prime example of Boom Town architecture, common in the early 1900's. The fronts of buildings were constructed in a way to give them a more prominent visual weight than their actual construction might require. The town suffered with the invention of the supermarket in the sixties. Chain store shopping and the pull of urbanization took its toll, until the eighties saw most of the Main Street empty. If you're looking for more thought on the demise of the corner store, even if it is from a decidedly urban perspective, check this out: http://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2016/07/05/remembering-the-corner-store/. Vacancies or not, the town of Donalda is anything but dead. The colourful landscapes of both the coulee it rests beside, and the colourful corners at every turn are simply ready and waiting for their ultimate redemption and rejuvenation. It is undoubtedly on its way!
