East Coulee School Museum
East Coulee, Alberta
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Building a Good Life in the Badlands
Flood of 1948
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serv.focus(); } //--> </script> </head> <body leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"> <div id="stChild"> <div class="sc" id="sc1"> <h4 class="float-left">1</h4> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> Flood of 1948 - Spring damages the Bridge<br /> <br /> In the spring of 1948 the ice flows on the Red Deer River created a barrier as they got stuck on the supports for the road and railway bridge at East Coulee. The waters backed up and caused a terrible mess including flooding but also there were huge blocks of ice pushed up onto the streets and yeards of the houses in many towns up river from the bridge. East Coulee was closest to the source of the problem and suffered serious flooding. Many of the homes were partially submerged in water and some people used small rowboats rather cars to get around. The structural integrity of the bridge was being undermined by the crushing force of the ice as it pressed more and more on the supports. This was big problem and the miners thought they had a solution.<br /> <br /> Along with other people living upstream in the valley, they decided to use dynamite to unblock the ice jam. Work proceeded and the charges were laid in the ice and when everyone was clear they set off the dynamite. Unfortunately, their experience with dynamite was in the mines where it took quite a load to break up the rock. Ice and wood was not nearly as strong and did not require much explosive power. So when the dynamite was detonated it broke up the alright, but, it also blew up the bridge itself ! Part of the third span floated off down stream some distance. The other span was percariously leaning while the first span appeared to be OK. This over-enthusiastic attempt to solve the problem created an even bigger one - the road and rail link to the south side of the river was severed completely. <br /> <br /> Hence, the bridge, originally completted in 1936 had to be rebuilt. This was expensive but there was no choice and the work started as soon as conditions would permit. There was also a tragic death as a result of the explosion. Everyone was told when the dynamite would be detonated and that they should stay in their homes until after this appointed time. However, one woman decided to open her front door and see what the state of affiars was. At the same instant, the dynamite went off and she was struck by a large piece of wood hurled through the air by the explosion and she died from her injuries. <br /> <br /> This bridge was an important link in the town as it connected not only the mines on the south side of the river but also to the town of West Monarch which was situated just east of East Coulee. When this town was adandoned after the mines closed many of the people moved to East Coulee. Some of the businesses moved as well. The Repas family operated the general store West Monarch and decided to buy a new bulding and reopen in East Coulee. The store and house they owned and operated still stands and the store has been used for music shows and as a gift shop.<br /> <br /> Currently, this bridge continues to span the river but it has fallen into disrepair and has an uncertain future. It is one of the last of its kind in Canada and has heritage value but like other old structures would require large amounts of money to refurbish. Only time will tell but the bridge literally help build the Good Life in the Badlands. </span> </div> <div class="sc" id="sc2"> <h4 class="float-right">2</h4> <span class="cmStoryLine"> Spring Break(s) up the Bridge (1)<br />1 May 1948<br /> East Coulee, Alberta, Canada<br /> </span> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> </span> <br /> <br /> <a href="#2" onClick="window.open('pm_v2.php?id=display_original&lg=English&fl=0&rd=69474','CM', 'toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=no,width=800,height=600')"><span class="topNavWhite"><img src="CommunityMemories2/AACP/0001/image/storycard/AACP0001007b.jpg" ></span></a> <span class="cmStoryLineText">Credits:<br />Unknown<br></span> </div> <div class="sc" id="sc3"> <h4 class="float-left">3</h4> <span class="cmStoryLine"> Spring Break(s) up the Bridge (2)<br />1 May 1948<br /> East Coulee, Alberta, Canada<br /> </span> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> </span> <br /> <br /> <a href="#3" onClick="window.open('pm_v2.php?id=display_original&lg=English&fl=0&rd=69475','CM', 'toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=no,width=598,height=600')"><span class="topNavWhite"><img src="CommunityMemories2/AACP/0001/image/storycard/AACP0001007c.jpg" ></span></a> <span class="cmStoryLineText">Credits:<br />Unknown<br></span> </div> <div class="sc" id="sc4"> <h4 class="float-right">4</h4> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> And the Miners Finish it Off !<br /> <br /> The men who worked with dynamite in the mines, along with other people living upstream in the valley, decided to use dynamite to unblock the ice jam. Work proceeded and the charges were laid in the ice and when everyone was clear they set off the dynamite. Unfortunately, their experience with dynamite was in the mines where it took quite a load to break up the rock. Ice and wood was not nearly as strong and did not require much explosive power. So when the dynamite was detonated it broke up the alright, but, it also blew up the bridge itself ! Part of the third span floated off down stream some distance. The other span was percariously leaning while the first span appeared to be OK. This over-enthusiastic attempt to solve the problem created an even bigger one - the road and rail link to the south side of the river was severed completely. <br /> <br /> Hence, the bridge, originally completted in 1936 had to be rebuilt. This was expensive but there was no choice and the work started as soon as conditions would permit. There was also a tragic death as a result of the explosion. Everyone was told when the dynamite would be detonated and that they should stay in their homes until after this appointed time. However, one woman decided to open her front door and see what the state of affiars was. At the same instant, the dynamite went off and she was struck by a large piece of wood hurled through the air by the explosion and she died from her injuries. </span> </div> <div class="sc" id="sc5"> <h4 class="float-left">5</h4> <span class="cmStoryLine"> Dynamite the Ice (and the bridge)<br />1 May 1948<br /> East Coulee, Alberta, Canada<br /> </span> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> </span> <br /> <br /> <a href="#5" onClick="window.open('pm_v2.php?id=display_original&lg=English&fl=0&rd=69461','CM', 'toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=no,width=535,height=600')"><span class="topNavWhite"><img src="CommunityMemories2/AACP/0001/image/storycard/AACP0001006e.jpg" ></span></a> <span class="cmStoryLineText">Credits:<br />Unknown<br></span> </div> <div class="sc" id="sc6"> <h4 class="float-right">6</h4> <span class="cmStoryLineText"> Legacy from the Past<br /> <br /> <br /> This bridge was an important link in the town as it connected not only the mines on the south side of the river but also to the town of West Monarch which was situated just east of East Coulee. When this town was adandoned after the mines closed many of the people moved to East Coulee. Some of the businesses moved as well. The Repas family operated the general store West Monarch and decided to buy a new bulding and reopen in East Coulee. The store and house they owned and operated still stands and the store has been used for music shows and as a gift shop.<br /> <br /> Currently, this bridge continues to span the river but it has fallen into disrepair and has an uncertain future. It is one of the last of its kind in Canada and has heritage value but like other old structures would require large amounts of money to refurbish. Only time will tell but the bridge did literally help build the Good Life in the Badlands. </span> </div> <table id="scNav"><tr> <td width="172" style="text-align:left;"><a href="pm_v2.php?id=story_line_child&fl=&lg=English&ex=00000297&sl=1361&pos=1&scpos=1" id="scJumpFirst" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_start.gif" width="10" height="9" /></a></td> <td width="170" style="text-align:right;"><a href="javascript:;" onClick="flip(this.id, 0, 1, 6);" id="scPrev" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_prev.gif" width="9" height="9"></a><a href="pm_v2.php?id=story_line_child&fl=&lg=English&ex=00000297&sl=1361&pos=1&scpos=0" id="scJumpPrev" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_prev.gif" width="9" height="9" /></a></td> <td width="174" style="text-align:left;"><a href="javascript:;" onClick="flip(this.id, 0, 1, 6);" id="scNext" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_next.gif" width="9" height="9"></a><a href="pm_v2.php?id=story_line_child&fl=&lg=English&ex=00000297&sl=1361&pos=1&scpos=1" id="scJumpNext" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_next.gif" width="9" height="9" /></a></td> <td width="172" style="text-align:right;"><a href="pm_v2.php?id=story_line_child&fl=&lg=English&ex=00000297&sl=1361&pos=5&scpos=1" id="scJumpLast" class="scLink"><img src="English/CommunityMemories2/cm_images/sc_last.gif" width="10" height="9" /></a></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div class="scSplit" id="scSplit" /> </body> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> var scCount = 6; var scShowing = []; flip("scPos", 1, 1, 6); </script>
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