Page 26 - The Weekly Anchor Newspaper
P. 26
final trim
Expanding the network of hiking and mountain biking trails at Willmore Park near Edson.
A Historical Perspective:
To advertise in the 2017 Visitor’s Guide
Contact Sue-Ann at 780-723-5787 Pocahontas
25 PHONE: by Stuart Taylor telegraph office, and an RCMP post.
25
Years of Service
Years of Service
The mining town of Pocahontas used to
SALES REP.
ANCHOR 5040 3 AVE, the turn-off to Miette Hot Springs, where upper town to Punchbowl Falls.
THE WEEKLY Common 780.723.5787 be just inside Jasper National Park near Workers used to walk up and down a
covered stairway that reached from the
Fax: 780.723.5725
Sue-Ann
WWW.WEEKLYANCHOR.COM
ANCHORWK@TELUSPLANET.NET
the Pocahontas Bungalows are located
BOX 6870
At one time, Pocahontas had as many as
AWNA MEMBER NEWSPAPER
EDSON, AB
today. It was named after a coal town in
T7E 1V2
Virginia, which had, in turn, been named
street and modern electric lights. Some
after the Indian princess. 300 people. There were water taps in the
people kept a few cows and chickens.
The first coal claim in the area was filed In the evenings, the miners and their
in 1908. By 1910, work had started on the families would sit on their porches or visit
mine, with supplies packed over the Old in the street. Punchbowl Falls was a
Jasper Trail. That same year, the Grand favourite place. Many would go by
Trunk Pacific laid track up the valley. The horseback or walk up the Fiddle Valley to
Pocahontas coal was too crumbly to burn soak at the hot springs.
in locomotives, but it was suitable for The town even had soccer and baseball
powering ships during World War I. It teams that travelled to Jasper and Brule
burned with very little smoke. to compete. The train that carried them
The Pocahontas post office opened in ran between Jasper and Pocahontas, and
1911 and closed in 1937. The earliest was known as “The Bed Bug Flyer.”
postmaster was a fellow named In the early 1920s, the mine closed due
Chadwick. The last postmaster was to low market prices and poor-quality
Robert Stone. coal. Since then, no further mining has
Pocahontas had an upper town and a ever been allowed in Jasper National
lower town. In the upper town, you could Park. The original mine entrance has
find the homes—about seventy of them. been sealed, but can still be identified.
In the lower town, you could find a tipple If you walk the Coal Mine Trail today,
for loading coal cars, a power house, a you'll find some old buildings and a few
mine and post office, and a playing field. abandoned concrete foundations.
The town also had a church, a school, a
Expanding the network of hiking and mountain biking trails at Willmore Park near Edson.
A Historical Perspective:
To advertise in the 2017 Visitor’s Guide
Contact Sue-Ann at 780-723-5787 Pocahontas
25 PHONE: by Stuart Taylor telegraph office, and an RCMP post.
25
Years of Service
Years of Service
The mining town of Pocahontas used to
SALES REP.
ANCHOR 5040 3 AVE, the turn-off to Miette Hot Springs, where upper town to Punchbowl Falls.
THE WEEKLY Common 780.723.5787 be just inside Jasper National Park near Workers used to walk up and down a
covered stairway that reached from the
Fax: 780.723.5725
Sue-Ann
WWW.WEEKLYANCHOR.COM
ANCHORWK@TELUSPLANET.NET
the Pocahontas Bungalows are located
BOX 6870
At one time, Pocahontas had as many as
AWNA MEMBER NEWSPAPER
EDSON, AB
today. It was named after a coal town in
T7E 1V2
Virginia, which had, in turn, been named
street and modern electric lights. Some
after the Indian princess. 300 people. There were water taps in the
people kept a few cows and chickens.
The first coal claim in the area was filed In the evenings, the miners and their
in 1908. By 1910, work had started on the families would sit on their porches or visit
mine, with supplies packed over the Old in the street. Punchbowl Falls was a
Jasper Trail. That same year, the Grand favourite place. Many would go by
Trunk Pacific laid track up the valley. The horseback or walk up the Fiddle Valley to
Pocahontas coal was too crumbly to burn soak at the hot springs.
in locomotives, but it was suitable for The town even had soccer and baseball
powering ships during World War I. It teams that travelled to Jasper and Brule
burned with very little smoke. to compete. The train that carried them
The Pocahontas post office opened in ran between Jasper and Pocahontas, and
1911 and closed in 1937. The earliest was known as “The Bed Bug Flyer.”
postmaster was a fellow named In the early 1920s, the mine closed due
Chadwick. The last postmaster was to low market prices and poor-quality
Robert Stone. coal. Since then, no further mining has
Pocahontas had an upper town and a ever been allowed in Jasper National
lower town. In the upper town, you could Park. The original mine entrance has
find the homes—about seventy of them. been sealed, but can still be identified.
In the lower town, you could find a tipple If you walk the Coal Mine Trail today,
for loading coal cars, a power house, a you'll find some old buildings and a few
mine and post office, and a playing field. abandoned concrete foundations.
The town also had a church, a school, a
