Return Ghost Towns of AlbertaMARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
One early spring day in 1910 Mr. Rickmyer came
rumbling into Cardston on a train. He had left his wife in
Lethbridge for three days while he got things settled. He
had two carloads of possessions, among them being 16
horses but no cattle. Mr. Henry Champney was with Mr.
Rickmyer and he also had some things with him. They
came from Cardston with horse and wagon for the train
only came to Woolford once a month.
There were no fences except around the township.
The only buildings in this township was the Owendale
place, where Mr. Orene Hansen lives, and a small shack
where John Carlson lives, Drake place. Mr. and Mrs.
Rickmyer stayed with the Drakes while building a house.
Their new mansion was a 12' x 16' building, half of
which was used for chickens. In their little house lived
four people. Mr. and Mrs. Rickmyer, Mr. Champney.
and their daughter Alice. Curtains hung to divide
bedrooms, and mattresses placed about the floor were
their sleeping places on a 12 x 8 floor.
The fuel they used for heat was cow chips. There was
lots of them for cattle had roamed the prairie. In winter
very poor coal was obtained from Kimball coal mine.
All the land was just prairie grass which they broke
with a one furrow plow. It was a good, hard day's work
to break two acres. They used six horses.
There were no schools. Mrs. Rickmyer taught her
daughter for the first year. The following fall the little
church on the corner was built. It was used for a school
till 1912 when the little old Jefferson school was built
right between Mr. Champney's and Brown's places. To
this school went eight students, one girl and seven hoys.
Alice Rickmyer and Jack Wright were two of the
students. The old benches down in the United Church
were used for student's desks. They had a board across
the back for students to write on. They were nailed down
so they wouldn't tip over.
In the same year (1910) Rob Dawson, Nays and Bill
Roberts came to settle in Owendale. At that time their
only way to travel was by horse and wagon after which
the wealthiest got a democrat.
The lights were kerosene lamps and years later gas
lamps. At night Mr. Rickmyer hung a lantern out so peo-
ple traveling could tell where they were. There was a light
over in Aetna that Mr. Rickmyer could see from his
place.
The mail was brought from Cardston to Rickmyer
where it was distributed to 16 families. Their cream was
picked up and one person would head across the prairie
to Cardston with it.
In 1914 the telephone helped communication, and as
the years sped by things improved. The grain was hauled
to Woolford for years. The main (road) trail went right
past Rickmyers place as far as Del Bonita and to
Woolford.
Around 1929 things really boomed. The Railroad
came to Jefferson. Paul Beitz built a little store and post
office. In 1930's tractors started coming into our district.
In 1937 Mr. Rickmyer got his first tractor. Since then
things have gradually become more modern and con-
vement.
The little church on the corner of which she speaks
was used for many years. After the United Church was
built, right in Jefferson, the little church was bought by
the Catholic Church and moved to Whiskey Gap where
they used it for a few years. It still stands there but is no
longer in use.
The old Jefferson school built in 1912 was purchased
by Elmo Wolsey and moved to Jefferson where it was
remodeled and used as their home, with a store and post
office in the front. It was later purchased by Lynn
\Voodward where it continued to serve as their dwelling,
store and post office. It has since been remodeled and is
now their home.
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