With school being out now until September, the Old-Time Dance Club and quilting is over now until fall, summer is officially here, so now comes the summer work for farmers and gardeners. These clubs would like to thank everyone for supporting them all year and hoping to see everyone back in the fall.
The activities that will continue journeying the summer are Bingo evenings, every second Wednesday, next one being July 8, starting at 7:15 p.m. at the seniors’ centre. Then, every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. is coffee hour, floor curling Wednesday and Thursday afternoons starting at 1 p.m. So, please take a break away from your busy schedule and come out and join them.
The Botha Playground Program, if you’re wondering, might not be running this year due to lack of interest last year, but I will keep you posted if this great program starts up again this summer. If you would like to see this program run again this year, please post something under the Botha playground program, talk to someone from the village office or a BCC Committee member.
A big thank you to everyone who volunteered to help out at the Red Deer Casino this year in Red Deer. Your help was great appreciated.
Seeing it’s summer break and some things are really slow around our little village, let’s look back on some more history of this little village; first the elevators located in our area.
One of the most important businesses to start up after the rail came in was the elevators (the grain handling system). The first grain was shipped directly through grain cars with Riggs and White Company first doing this. CH Riggs, Manager of Canadian Grains and Produce had shipped 20 carloads of grain by January 1910.
Botha farmers formed a company in 1909, but no history is available as to directors, etc unfortunately at that time. The foundation was completed on November 22, 1911, where the Alberta Wheat Pool stood until it was moved. When Botha farmers' sold to the Alberta Wheat Pool, the first records showed they purchased the elevator and located it east of the original Botha Farmers elevator and operated it until the early 30s. Mr. Jack MacKay and his wife moved to Botha in December 1911, and built a new house and Jack ran the elevator from the building of the elevator in 1912, until it was purchased from the Wheat Pool in 1927.
Immediately after the elevator was purchased by the Wheat Pool, it was moved closer to the farmers’ elevator. After the Botha Farmers' elevator than closed up shop and then was taken over by the Pocock Grain Company, which was turned again and sold to the Midland Pacific Grain Company. Mel Groves was the assistant from the fall of 1926 till the fall of 1927. We will look up more history about these two families later this summer, to find out more information on these two gentleman (Jack and Mel).
Let's close off here and take a closer look at the elevators again in the next column of our paper, so please keep an eye open for more information.
Seeing today is July 1, Happy Canada Day and hopefully everyone can get out and celebrate on this special day.