Travers, Alberta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Travers
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 Travers, Alberta
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 5 |
| Municipal district | County of Vulcan |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Population
(2007)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code span |
T0L 1G0
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| Area code(s) | +1-403 |
Travers is a small community called a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located within Vulcan County. Travers is about 59 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Highway 1. It is also about 59 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of the town of Brooks.
Contents
A Look Back at Travers' Past
Travers was once a busy community. It was located along the Canadian Pacific Railway line. This railway connected Medicine Hat and Aldersyde. Travers got its name from a railway surveyor in 1914.
Who Were the First Settlers?
The first people to settle in the Travers area included Pete Brodie and William Dunlop. Other early settlers were A. Keene, Tom Emelson, Fred VanHolm, J.W. Murphy, and Sidney Thurlow. They helped build the community.
Grain Elevators and Mail Delivery
Travers' first grain elevator was built in 1914. It was next to the new railway by Home Elevator Co. Soon after, Ogilvie and United Grain Growers also built elevators.
At first, settlers had to get their mail far away. They picked it up in Sundial, which was 24.1 km (15 miles) southwest. In 1909, George Shirley opened a post office 6.4 km (4 miles) north of Travers. Another post office opened at a store in Rosemead, 4.8 km (3 miles) southwest.
How the Railway Changed Travers
When the railway arrived, the Rosemead post office and store moved to Travers. The railway brought many new businesses to the hamlet. Travers soon had a bank, a barber shop, and a butcher shop. There were also two hardware stores and two lumber yards.
Other businesses included two blacksmiths and two livery barns. People could find restaurants, boarding houses, and garages. There were also machine dealers, three grocery stores, and a pool room. Travers even had a men's clothing store, a hotel, and a real estate office. It was a thriving place!
What Remains Today?
Very little is left from Travers' early days. The last two grain elevators were taken down on January 29, 1989. You can still see many old foundations along the quiet main street. The old bank vault is also still there. As of the year 2000, only one person lived in Travers.
Population Information
According to a count done by Vulcan County in 2007, the population of Travers was 0.
