Fort Edmonton Parkin Photos (part 2)

Heading back into 1905, things got a little simpler.

The Bank of Montreal

The branch office of the Bank of Montreal as it appeared in 1905. Notice the false front which makes the building look more imposing. (The lettering on the window announces that the Bank of Montreal has assets worth $14,000,000! Quite a sizable sub in 1905.)

Post Office, Telephone Office and Lawyer's Office

That new fangled telephone made its way into central Alberta early in the 1900s. Notice the wires up on the roof. Each one rang off to one party line. Remember those?

Craftsman house on the 1905 Street.

Plans for homes were available via catalog. Sears even sold kits that included all the plans and lumber necessary to construct a home. Many early 1900 homes have the same styling and they are still just as charming as when they were first erected.

Tent City.

Early in the 1900s Edmonton found itself with a severe housing shortage. Many new arrivals had to live in tents like these--sometimes for months or even a year. Winter could not have been terribly comfortable. Even a sod house would have been more protection against the cold than these thin canvas walls.

Tent City abode.

If the signs are any indicator, there might have been a shortage of females, too.

Turn the corner again and you're strolling down the 1885 Street. (...to be continued.)