It has been 10 years since the publishing of ‘Chestermere a Home for All Seasons’. Though it is doubtful that another book of that type will be published on Chestermere it is important that all the great stories that have happened in the past or are happening right be documented. History is happening now! At the Chestermere Historical Foundation booth at the Craft Fair last weekend, many people came by to share a recollection about their experiences in Chestermere either now or years gone by. Perhaps it was seeing the history book for sale, but whatever the reason their little vignette or remembrance is part of what makes a place a community. As well, a committee of CHF will be setting up longer interviews of people who have lived here all, or most of their lives. These recordings, possibly with video, will be kept to record what life was like here in the past.
The photo that accompanies this article is of the little pink cabin on my parent’s leased WID lot on the east shores of Chestermere back in 1967. When my husband and I bought the property, we tore down the cabin. Our neighbour Fred Phillips (we called him Grandpa Fred) asked if he could have the wood, we were happy to have it taken away. Fred hired Reno Carlina and his nephew Scott Phillips to take out the nails. Later that summer, what appeared in Fred’s back yard but a pink shed! Fred never threw anything out, and as we lived next door raising our family and fixing up our yard, there was never a time that we could not borrow or get from Grandpa Fred just what we would need or he thought we might need, from nuts and bolts of all sizes to a big fridge box for the kids to play in.
If you have a story to tell, even as simple as this, something that you think describes what it is like to live in and around Chestermere, or makes personal an event that has happened here, please contact us at the CHF via our webpage. We will try to publish as many stories as we can on the webpage under ‘Chestermere Stories’. You can go there today and read Del and George Hampton’s story of their cabin, the first story. Or if you know of someone who is a long-time resident and would be willing to be interviewed, please let CHF know. Go to www.chestermerehistory.org to send in a short vignette, or to suggest someone for the longer interview call Audrey 403 272 9280.
