Ghost Reservoir

Ha, ha, I just HAVE to post this today! Everyone's feelings about our insane, endless winter.

youtu.be/MoYrxmxFnio

My intention on 4 October 2017, had been to drive some of the back roads a bit further north of where I have been two or three times before, almost as far as Olds. However, after finding myself on a couple of muddy, slushy, potholed country roads caused by our recent snow storm, I decided not to risk driving on any others. I ended up stopping and photographing a couple of my absolute favourite barns that I had seen a couple of times before, and was happy to see again. I first discovered the old barn in this photo - or is it a homestead? - on 28 October 2014.

My final stopping point towards the end of a day of driving N and NW of the city, was at the site where the McDougall Memorial United Church had stood. On 22 May 2017, this beautiful, historic church was burned to the ground by an arsonist. Such a very sad loss! A very sad sight to see the burnt outer walls, knowing that that was all that was left of this special little church that was almost as old as Canada itself. I loved this little country church, especially the long, photogenic fence line leading up to it from the parking lot. The church was built in Carpenter's Gothic style of architecture. A sign had the following words on it:

"The historic church at the end of this pathway was constructed in 1875. At that time, native people were still hunting bison on the prairies. The young nation of Canada was only eight years old; the Canadian Pacific Railway still nine years in the future. And this church would become the heart of a thriving community, Morleyville, and for a time the largest settlement in what would be southern Alberta.

The story of this church is really the story of Rev. George McDougall who moved to western Canada with his family in 1862 to minister to the fur traders and native people. In 1873, the McDougalls established the first mission in the region and built this church. In doing so, they wrote an important chapter of Alberta's settlement history".

After George McDougall's tragic death in a snowstorm, his body was brought back to the church at Morleyville and laid to rest.

www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8788

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morley,_Alberta

An enjoyable day out - a barn day, not a birding/wildlife day. I think the only birds I noticed were the usual Ravens. Seeing that snow was once again in our forecast in a few more days, I wanted to get this drive done while the weather was still decent.