Alexo, Alberta facts for kids
Alexo is a fascinating ghost town located in Alberta, Canada. It was once a busy place built for coal mining. You can find it in the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies. It sits about 1,260 meters (4,134 feet) high.
Alexo is near the David Thompson Highway. It is between the towns of Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House. Today, the old townsite has been turned into a fun summer camp called Camp Alexo. This camp is run by YouthHQ from Red Deer, Alberta. Two rivers, Shunda Creek and the North Saskatchewan River, flow south of Alexo.
Contents
History of Alexo
Early Access and Mining Beginnings
Before 1913, it was hard to get to the Alexo area. Things changed when a railway line opened. This line, called the Brazeau Branch, went to a coal mine in Nordegg. It was part of the Canadian Northern Railway. This railway later became part of the Canadian National Railway.
The new railway made it easier to sell coal. Soon, other mining companies started near the tracks. The mine at Alexo was one of these new ventures. It was named after the Alexo Coal Company. Other mines also opened nearby, like those at Saunders Creek and Harlech.
Life in the Mining Town
The Alexo mine started working in 1920. By 1948, it was producing about 33,000 tonnes of coal each year. Around 70 people worked there, with 30 of them being miners. Alexo was a small but complete town.
It had a hotel where people could stay. There was also a cookhouse for meals. A bunkhouse provided beds for workers. The town had a store for supplies. About 30 small cottages were homes for the miners and their families.
How Coal Was Mined
The coal in Alexo was found in a layer called the Coalspur Formation. This coal was a type called "high-volatile C bituminous." It was good for making steam. The mine worked on one main layer of coal. This layer was usually about 1.5 meters (5 feet) thick.
Miners used a method called "room and pillar" mining. This meant they dug out large rooms and left pillars of coal to support the roof. By 1948, the main tunnel went down 824 meters (2,703 feet). Other tunnels stretched out from it for 2,012 meters (6,601 feet). The coal from Alexo produced a lot of heat, about 11,633 British Thermal Units per pound.
The End of the Mine
The Alexo mine closed in 1955. This happened because there was less demand for "steam coal." Trains, which used to run on steam, started using diesel engines instead. This change meant fewer buyers for Alexo's coal.
When the mine closed, the town was taken apart. In total, the Alexo mine produced 764,600 tonnes of coal.
Alexo Today: A Summer Camp
Even though the mine closed, Alexo's story didn't end. As of 2016, the government leases most of the old townsite. It is now home to Camp Alexo. This summer camp is run by the Youth and Volunteer Centre of Red Deer, Alberta. It gives young people a chance to enjoy the outdoors where a busy mining town once stood.
