1905 - Advertising to Develop Pigeon Lake

A 1905 pamphlet described the Pigeon Lake area as “being close to good live towns,” with “a fast railway service to Edmonton.” Other reported virtues included fertile soil, successful cattle raising or growing grain. Lumber was “available at $12 to $15 per thousand,” or you could “cut your own.” The promotional material said there were “good schools” and “good roads to market.” Some of the 1905 claims were true, others were a bit distorted. For example, although the brochures were published in 1905, the first area school wasn’t opened until 1908 and the first Alberta government appropriations for road improvements weren’t made until 1913. It didn’t take long for small farms to soon dot the area and the lack of schools was addressed by farm families themselves. Mr. Knut Hauge’s family donated land to the south of the current Lakedell school, while Mr. Carl Norstrum built the foundation using large rocks and mortar. Other families cut and hewed logs or donated equipment. In 1908, the area’s first school opened as Pigeon Lake School District 1601. The new school met provincial regulations that required a minimum of seven students in order to be designated a school district.