Saunders Creek, Alberta facts for kids

Saunders Creek is a ghost town in west-central Alberta, Canada. It was built as a coal mining community and was active from 1913 to 1954. You can find it in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies near the David Thompson Highway, about 55 km west of Rocky Mountain House. The town was named after Saunders Creek, a small stream nearby. The North Saskatchewan River also flows close by to the south.

History of Saunders Creek

Before 1913, getting to the Saunders Creek area was tough. People used trails with horses or traveled on the North Saskatchewan River. They used sledges when the river was frozen and canoes when it wasn't.

The Railway and New Towns

Things changed when the Brazeau Branch rail line opened in 1913. This railway was part of the Canadian Northern Railway (which later became part of the Canadian National Railway). Its main job was to carry coal from the mine in Nordegg to other places. Because of this new railway, towns like Saunders Creek, Alexo, and Harlech quickly grew up near the tracks. These towns helped support more coal mines.

Life in Saunders Creek

Saunders Creek was a busy little town. It had its own railway station, a school, a hotel, and even a union hall. There were about 35 small houses for families, plus buildings for the mine. For fun, people had tennis courts, a skating rink, and a baseball field. The town even had its own hockey and baseball teams! The mine used steam boilers and made electricity, so all the buildings in town had electric lights and running water.

Coal and Fossils

The coal found near Saunders Creek was a good quality type called "high-volatile bituminous C." It came from a rock layer called the Coalspur Formation, which formed during the early Paleocene period. Scientists have even found fossils from this time near Saunders Creek, including old leaves and a possible tooth from an ancient animal called a pantodont.

How the Mine Worked

The mine at Saunders Creek was run by a company called Bighorn and Saunders Creek Collieries, Ltd. Miners worked in one main coal layer that was about 1.4 to 1.5 meters (about 4.5 to 5.0 feet) thick. They used different ways to dig out the coal. From 1926 to 1940, they used a method called longwall mining, which was very efficient. The mine produced a lot of coal each day, usually between 180 to 320 tonnes (about 200 to 350 short tons). This coal was sold mainly in the Prairie Provinces and western Ontario. Over its lifetime, the mine produced a huge amount of coal: 853,100 tonnes!

The End of the Town

The demand for coal started to drop when railroads began using diesel engines instead of steam locomotives. Because of this, the mine at Saunders Creek closed in 1954. The town was then abandoned. The buildings were either sold and moved away or taken apart.

Saunders Creek Today

As of 2016, you won't find any buildings left at the Saunders Creek townsite. However, it's a popular place for camping. Many former residents and their families still visit and hold reunions there in the summer. There's an information poster at the site that shares some fun memories from the people who lived there:

• "The stairs next to the hotel were a popular place for tobogganing in the winter."
• "Every July 1, a greased pig was hung from a light pole near the store. Men coming from the mine would try to climb up and over it. No one knows why!"
• "Vera Water's horse, Pat, was hit by a train on the 'silver bridge' in 1931. Pat didn't survive."
• "The culvert was a popular spot for winter fun. Skating through the dark tunnel was a common sport for brave people."
• "Gate Night, the night before Halloween, involved people trying to take down yard gates without the owners noticing."

Images for kids

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  Historical information poster at Saunders Creek