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Reflections of Ponoka: Amazing tales from the wild, wild west of Ponoka

There is no doubt our early pioneers worked hard and faced many challenges as they strived to make their mark on the prairies
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Many of us over the years have learned never to take our lazy old Battle River for granted. These 1948 photos feature one of the worst spring floods ever to hit Ponoka

There is no doubt our early pioneers worked hard and faced many challenges as they strived to make their mark on the prairies, but along the way they always tried to have a little fun, while also leaving a proud and exciting legacy of successes and milestones we will always enjoy and appreciate.

The pristine Blindman River Valley has always been known as one of the prettiest and most natural areas of the rolling countryside in west-central Alberta, and was the scene of some of the most active and early settlements of this region, beginning in the late 1800s.

The Blindman River and its many tributaries has been wandering through this area for many centuries, with humble beginnings in the northwest near Winfield, slowly meandering its way to the southeast before eventually joining the Red Deer River near Blackfalds. Early settlements that took advantage of these waterways over many decades included Montgreenan, Riverview, Bluffton, Medicine Lake, Hoadley, Iola, Lavesta, Western Sunset, Blindman River and Willisden Green which soon became flourishing farming areas and communities. With the publication of the delightful Tributaries of the Blindman History Book in 1973, pioneer families were able to share their colorful adventures and milestones and we take pleasure in passing some of them on to you.

The Blindman River Bachelors

It was written that in the early and active settlement of this rugged west countryside many bachelors arrived seeking work on the farms, and a fine young lady and settle down with to raise a family. This delightful 1945 poem was written by a pair of school gals as a tribute, all in fun, to some of those eligible, colorful and rambunctious young gentleman.

In this land of bachelors we thought what fun it would be,

To name them as they came to mind, with each his oddity!

We hope that no feelings will be hurt, as we mean it just in jest.

Remember that there are others too, if your verse is not the best.

Dan Matthew of himself is proud, and really cuts a dash in any crowd.

Alvin Steeves is much the same, and casts longing looks at pretty dames.

Rueben Odenbach thinks that cute girls are dovey, and thus sold his farm to the fair Miss Lovey.

Horace Besse has a little log house, would he be scared of a little mouse?

He’s single, he’s handsome, he’s pleasing, he’s good, and I’ve heard the ladies say all that of Harry Mahood.

Ed Peterson has many cats, they flip through the air like monstrous bats.

Jim Peterson’s a neighbour true, his work would earn enough for two.

Harry Johnson’s a west woods man, but goes to town whenever he can.

Earl Wager bought a cab in fashion, to drive to town to buy his ration.

Andy McKenzie is not bad for looks, but he can’t even read out of little kid’s books.

Martin Blondin’s good at trapping, but he can’t figure out why his dogs keep yapping.

Hank Wagar would ask us to dance of course, but he let us all know that his love is his horse!

Ace Bond keeps a flock of sheep, and plans on buying himself a jeep.

Dick White sent money to buy us candy, and we all think that Dick is a dandy.

George Beattie is a kind old man, he helps his neighbours all he can.

August Belter lives just west of the school, he’s busy gathering his winter fuel.

Freddie Shutz is not so very slow when the time came around for him to grow.

Allan Shutz came home on leave, with silver wings and three stripes on his sleeve.

Alder Solberg went to a dance, next day he lit in a ditch by chance.

Elton Aldrich is deemed good looking, but I warn you, never try his cooking!

A toast to active Levi Bessee, who is a cheerful 82, no less.

Our youngest bachelor is Darleigh Long, he serenades us with sweet love songs.

Dan can sure entertain them can’t he? Have you heard of their session of Penny-Ante?

Now in closing these gay mental labors, let us say we’re all proud of our bachelor neighbours!

A rabbit bonanza

During the winters of 1926 and 1927 the rabbit population in the Blindman Valley had reached a peak and the bush was practically alive with them. The men of the district usually went out to shoot them while the woman helped at home with the skinning, stretching, drying and packing of the critters. Buyers would come around right to the individual homes to buy the rabbit pelts, paying from five to 14 cents apiece, while many of the carcasses were used as feed for the chickens and pigs.

Some individuals would shoot up to 100 rabbits a day, skinning them with a knife while they were still warm. In the winter of 1927 one chap is said to have shot 4,400 rabbits, realizing the first sign of prosperity he has ever known, but this “bunny bonanza” soon came to end in the spring, as they became scarce, and would not revitalize their numbers until 1935.

The wild blizzard of 1951

One of the worst and wildest blizzards in the history of the west hit Alberta on March 16, 1951 after the Edmonton Weather Office had issued warnings on March 15 to be prepared for the worst blizzard of the century, with spring only one week away.

During the night the temperature dropped well below zero, winds reached more than 80 mph, whipping heavy snow throughout the district; by the next morning all roads in Alberta and Saskatchewan were blocked and all forms of transportation were grounded. Miraculously, the telephone lines remained only a few inches above the hard packed 10-foot-plus drifts and the municipal Caterpillar tractor had to finally give up trying to clear the roads. A few days later it took an oil company 14 hours to clear a quarter-mile stretch of road from Bluffton to the main highway.

Although many folks and vehicles were stranded for a few days, the horses and riders were able to get over the big drifts to tend to emergencies and no accidents or casualties were reported after this terrible snowstorm. The weather improved, the mail got through in a couple of weeks, spring thaw came quickly and spirits soared as a new season of hard work and spring socializing would soon begin in earnest.