Ghost Story

Take a moment. Clear your mind. Let me tell you a story.

Imagine a tiny hamlet nestled in the foothills of the legendary Rocky Mountains in the mid-20th-century. Its population peaks out at about 2500 nearing 1940, the majority of whom are employed in the local coal mining industry. By the early 1950's, however, there have been a number of accidents, and despite the rebuild of the mines and plants, government debt and the introduction of the steam engine precipitate the decline of the town.

Fast forward to the year 2018.

An adventurous photographer sets out to explore a new part of her surroundings, and despite having never heard of this place previously, Nordegg, Alberta comes up three different times in her quest for suggestions for something new to see. Three hours' drive from her home in Edmonton, she arrives in the hamlet - current population: 200.

Current status: Ghost town.

Let's take a walk.

The old church is still used by the hamlet's few residents. A sign invites all to Sunday morning services and the building itself is immaculately restored to its original and somewhat Sleepy Hollow-esque glory.

The windows of the other buildings on the main road of the hamlet are artisticly painted in black and white to create the illusion of days gone by.

Further out from the main pass, the substantially more ghostly feel is palpable.

Of course, what would a proper ghost town be without a cemetery? A short path into the woods and through a wrought-iron gate brings a visitor to the 'piece de resistance' for any tale of spirits and restless dead.

This one does not disappoint in the least.

There is so much more to explore of this magnificent piece of history, and at least a full day is needed to cover all that Nordegg has to offer. My visit was a relatively short one, and only touched on the basic premise of the hamlet that stands welcoming visitors and standing as a legacy to those who once toiled and laboured at the base of the mountain range.