Georgetown, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Georgetown is a ghost town
in Alberta
. It is located at the foot of Mount Rundle
, near Banff
.
's coal mining was falling into decline. Floods and further bad luck had plagued the mining operations since the Canadian Anthracite Coal Company closed its mine there in 1890. The Georgetown Coal Company chose to try again in the area around Banff
, and opened a new coal mining seam at the foot of Mount Rundle
. By 1912, the Bow Valley
's newest coal mining community had begun operations.
Conditions at Georgetown were considered good in comparison with other coal mining communities such as Anthracite. The local company store stocked all necessities, and anything which was not in stock could be ordered. However, the company had a monopoly over trade in the town: all miners were forced to purchase their groceries from the company store
. Running water and electricity could be found in homes, but wages were still very low, at only $
3 a day for miners. In addition, indoor toilets were not provided by the company, as they considered them to be luxuries.
However, when the First World War began in 1914, the Georgetown Coal Company's finances began to fall into disarray. Three years after the appearance of the first mine workers, the Georgetown mine closed. Before closing, the town was fully functional, serving as the home to approximately 200 people, as well as cottages, a community hall and a post office. When the mine closed, most miners moved their possessions to nearby Canmore
, Crowsnest Pass
or Drumheller
. Today, the foundations of some of the old town's buildings can still be found. It is possible to visit the site during summer.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. It is located at the foot of Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle is a mountain in Banff National Park overlooking the towns of Banff and Canmore, Alberta. The mountain was named by John Palliser in 1858 after Reverend Robert Rundle, who had visited the Banff area during the 1840s....
, near Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
.
History
In 1901, the town of AnthraciteAnthracite, Alberta
Anthracite is a ghost town located within Banff National Park in southern Alberta, Canada. It is named after the anthracite variety of coal.- History :...
's coal mining was falling into decline. Floods and further bad luck had plagued the mining operations since the Canadian Anthracite Coal Company closed its mine there in 1890. The Georgetown Coal Company chose to try again in the area around Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, and opened a new coal mining seam at the foot of Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle is a mountain in Banff National Park overlooking the towns of Banff and Canmore, Alberta. The mountain was named by John Palliser in 1858 after Reverend Robert Rundle, who had visited the Banff area during the 1840s....
. By 1912, the Bow Valley
Bow Valley
Bow Valley is a valley located along the upper Bow River in Alberta, Canada.The name "Bow" refers to the reeds that grew along its banks and which were used by the local First Nations peoples to make bows; the Peigan name for the river is "Makhabn", meaning "river where bow weeds grow".-Parks:Bow...
's newest coal mining community had begun operations.
Conditions at Georgetown were considered good in comparison with other coal mining communities such as Anthracite. The local company store stocked all necessities, and anything which was not in stock could be ordered. However, the company had a monopoly over trade in the town: all miners were forced to purchase their groceries from the company store
Truck system
A truck system is an arrangement in which employees are paid in commodities or some currency substitute , rather than with standard money. This limits employees' ability to choose how to spend their earnings—generally to the benefit of the employer...
. Running water and electricity could be found in homes, but wages were still very low, at only $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3 a day for miners. In addition, indoor toilets were not provided by the company, as they considered them to be luxuries.
However, when the First World War began in 1914, the Georgetown Coal Company's finances began to fall into disarray. Three years after the appearance of the first mine workers, the Georgetown mine closed. Before closing, the town was fully functional, serving as the home to approximately 200 people, as well as cottages, a community hall and a post office. When the mine closed, most miners moved their possessions to nearby Canmore
Canmore, Alberta
Canmore is a town in Alberta, Canada, located approximately west of the City of Calgary near the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. It is located in the Bow Valley within Alberta's Rockies. The town shares a border with Kananaskis Country to the west and south and the Municipal District of...
, Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass is a high mountain pass across the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies on the Alberta/British Columbia border.-Geography:...
or Drumheller
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary...
. Today, the foundations of some of the old town's buildings can still be found. It is possible to visit the site during summer.