TOWN HALL
In 2009, then Museum volunteer historian Lorna Gabel found what was left of Stony Plain’s original Town Hall, which was built in 1908. It was located on a farmyard adjacent to HWY 628, just west of Genisis on the Lakes subdivision. It was the main floor of a once two-story building. Based on measurements and construction evidence it was determined to be the original Stony Plain Town Hall. It also solved a mystery. There were two conflicting stories about what happened to the building. One said that it burnt down and the other that it was moved to a local farmyard. It turned out both were true. Evidence in the attic showed that the attic floor surface was a finish wood floor and that there was a great deal of fire damage. It turns out the that the second floor had burnt, and the remaining building was taken by a local farmer to use. He put a new roof on it and used it as a pig barn, then eventually as a storage shed.
In 2010, the building was moved to the Museum grounds with the intention of restoring it. Unfortunately, the building was in such poor condition, it couldn’t be saved. Museum volunteers took it apart to save any usable materials for other projects. A new reproduction building was planned and built. A large amount of the materials was used in Legacy Street. Any old looking wood there was from the town hall.
The Town Hall project was a true community one. The museum partnered with students from a local high school to create blueprints of the building based on photographs and known measurements and a local contractor to build the replica. It was completed in 2015 and now houses our oil lamp collection on the main floor and the model train dioramas and train history on the second floor. The model train diorama is the winner of the 2020 Town of Stony Plain’s Award of Creative Excellence
Highlights:
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Two oldest artifacts in the museum are fat/lard lamps, some green lamps were made with radioactive minerals and glow in black light, dual picture of original building beside the replica, booth showing light levels using different lights, model train layout depicting area, model showing how track was laid.
Mabel and Zeke visit the Town Hall
New here? Meet Zeke and Mabel, your unofficial museum guides.
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If you want to hear Zeke tell a story, just ask him about the old Town Hall.
This one’s got a mystery.
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Back in 2009, museum historian Lorna Gabel tracked down what appeared to be the remains of Stony Plain’s original 1908 Town Hall sitting in a farmyard west of town.
For years, two stories had circulated: one said it burned down, and the other said it had been moved to a farm.
Turns out… both were true.
When the old structure was examined, it showed clear evidence that the second storey had burned, while the lower portion had been hauled away and reused as a pig barn, then later a storage shed.
“So the second floor burned,” Zeke said, slapping his knee, “and somebody figured the rest of it was still good lumber.
”Which, if you ask Zeke, is a pretty practical prairie response.
“Honestly,” I said, “it may be the first government office in history to become more useful after retirement.
”In 2010, the remains were moved to the museum. Though the original building was too far gone to save whole, volunteers carefully salvaged what they could — proof that even when the whole building can’t be saved, the story still can.
A new replica Town Hall was built in its place and completed in 2015 with help from local high school students and a contractor who brought the project to life.
Today, the main floor holds the museum’s oil lamp collection, including some of the oldest artifacts on the grounds.
Zeke pointed toward a row of green glass lamps and lowered his voice.“Those ones glow under black light,” he whispered. “Turns out they were made with radioactive minerals.
”I looked at him. “Comforting.
”Upstairs, you’ll find the museum’s award-winning model train exhibit, housed inside a 5-by-25-foot replica rail car.
It shows Parkland County in the early 1900s, after the rail lines arrived and helped open up the area west of Edmonton. Main Street, Stony Plain is recreated in miniature, complete with buildings from 1908 to 1920 — including Miller Bros. General Merchant, Kelly’s Saloon, Opperthauser’s Hardware Store, and the original Royal Hotel.
Every building, figure, and tiny detail was lovingly crafted by the Model Train Committee — and there’s so much to discover that Zeke stood there longer than he’ll ever admit.
Then he said, quiet as can be,
“You know… every one of those tracks helped build this country.”
And for once, he didn’t make a joke.