From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on September 24, 2026 by admin

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

September 19, 1890 – The Times (Moose Jaw)

According to social etiquette of New York, a hostess must pay a visit to each of her proposed guests before sending a dinner invitation to them – provided she owes them calls – and it is obligatory that each person who receives a request to dine, whether accepted or declined, must make a call upon the hostess within ten days, except where grief or illness has been mentioned as the reason for sending a regret. 

Banff has been treated to a great variety of weather in the last few days. It started with two days of rain, which then altered into a snowstorm. After twelve hours, the snow lay a foot deep on the ground. Warm winds blew in off the coast and all the snow melted and now we are back to warm and clear days. 

Stable and manure heaps still disfigure the banks of the spring coulee. We hear repeated complaints from residents of that part of town regarding the offensive smell. The late heavy rains have washed the manure into the stream, making it unfit for the use of cattle and horses. The health committee should look after this matter without delay. 

September 20, 1900 – The Outcrop (Canterbury, BC)

Will some croaker or percent money lender who thrives on the ready circulating cash of mining camps and who is everlastingly cautioning people to beware of wildcat mines, please have the good grace to define the term. Is it a wildcat when the stock is selling at a nominal figure? If so, then Granite Mountain was a wildcat as its stock sold for less than 10 cents a share yet paid over $13 million in dividends. The fact is a mine is only a wildcat when development shows it cannot be made a mine. Yet, it had great promise and was worth the expenditures to attempt to make it a mine. 

The Windermere District Hospital rejoices in the possession of the very latest improved Piper hospital bed. It arrived last week and was carried free of charge by the CPR and local railways, who have generously carried all hospital supplies gratis. 

It has been given out that an order of lumber has been made so that a jail can be erected at Athalmer within the next few days. 

A rancher who has extensive property on the eastern shore of Windermere Lake brought into this office yesterday the largest cauliflower we’ve ever seen.

September 19, 1907 – The Advertiser and Central Alberta News (Lacombe)

Just after midnight on Friday a fire was discovered at the back of Reed’s barber shop in the Russel block, formerly known as the Queen’s Hotel block. The volunteer fire brigade answered the alarm promptly and had two streams of water flowing and a volunteer bucket brigade was also in action. The fire was initially confined to the back room and seemed to be under control. Once it started to spread, it did so quickly, engulfing the Switzer store building. For a time, it seemed the adjoining buildings were also in danger and all stock was removed, but the tireless efforts of all volunteers brought the blaze under control. 

Widows exist in all countries, thereby counterbalancing the matrimonial decadence that might otherwise result from timid men. It is considered generally unlucky to meet a widow on a dark piazza by the light of the moon. In many countries, to be kissed by a widow means endless trouble. It has been said to beware of widows, but this is unnecessary for no man can really help himself. 

Judge Bole of New Westminster in BC sentenced John Wilson, who came from the USA and is a convicted burglar, to 15 years imprisonment on three separate charges. He will also receive 36 lashes, 18 now and 18 at the end of the year. This is the most severe sentence ever handed down in Canada for this offense.