We continue our trip from Strathmore on the Trans Canada Highway east to highway number 21 where we hang a left and head north.
Travelling on highway 21 is a test of your gas mileage, if you didn’t fill up in Strathmore, as there is not much in the way of services along the road.
The first community we get to is the town of Three Hills.
Three Hills was named after the larger than usual three hills that surround the community of around 3000 people.
Three Hills dates back to 1904 and was established as a ranching and farming community.
With the rich soil in the area it soon became a centre for wheat growing.
Three Hills was established on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad line between Tolfield and Calgary.
The Prairie Bible Institute was established in 1922 which helped to increase the population of the town. The named changed into Prairie College and became a very large school with excellent facilities that at one time Three Hills was home to Canada’s largest religious auditorium, The Maxwell Tabernacle, that operated from 1953 until its demolition in 2005 was a 4200 seat facility and hosted many large Christian concerts and events.
Three Hills is a full service community and with the developments of nearby methane fields Three Hills has grown considerably in the last few years.
Just outside Three Hills is a very unique “Glamping Experience”, where you can stay in a luxurious tent and be treated to Medieval Experience that takes you back in time. They offer archery and sword fighting along with many craft workshops. The operating season is from May to September.
On another side of Three Hills is “Ghostpine Creek” which flows from Pine Lake to the Red Deer River and from Folklore comes from the Cree word Minihik and as the story goes when the wind howls among the trees you can hear the cries of murdered Cree who still haunt Pine Lake.
Interesting area I must say, after a short stay we continue east on highway number 27 and then turns into highway number 9.
We pass by some small communities like the community of Delia, which has a population of arpound 150 people.
Delia was named after the wife of a local merchant, Delia Davis.
Delia was the first community in Alberta to goverened by a female Reeve, Violet Barss, she was selected and appointed by her colleagues on the Village Council.
For such a small community Delia puts on a number of events throughout the year.
Another community we pass by is the community of Craigmyle with a population of around 75.
Craigmyle was named by the Canadian Northern Railway from a Scottish estate. Craigmyle is almost a ghost town as most services are gone and the hamlet was dissolved in the early 70’s.
Stay tuned for more on the Saskatchewan Traveller…