Alberta Pioneer Heritage

by Ken Fouts of Ardrossan, AB, Canada

Irricanna (Alberta) Pioneer Historical Park preserves a period in history of the early prairie settlers of Western Canada. From tours of the big two story farm home to antique cars, trucks, farm machinery to the working carpenter shop, boiler room, and blacksmith shop there is lots to see.

In 1999 this park celebrated its thirtieth anniversary by driving a thirty horse hitch, three consecutive days in August. There were twelve Belgians and eighteen Percherons driven by three drivers pulling five grain tanks. The turns to bring the hitch past the seating area were very challenging. The pictures show the hookup from the wagons forward. There was one man for every two horses.

That weekend there were all kinds of activities demonstrated as shown in the pictures plus many more. Of the acres of antique tractors, many of them running, to the Women’s World displays, it attracted throngs of people under sunny skies.