1

"It was fun. We were all a community, it was a nice community."

- Helen (Fishman) Goldenberg

2

What was it like to play under the light of the flares?
Filmed in 2008
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

3

Despite the possibility of danger, constant light and unpleasant odours, people who grew up in Little Chicago have very fond memories of their time there. The community was small, diverse and extremely supportive. A house fire one day would be met by a fundraising dance the next.

Children saw Little Chicago as a grand location for play. The big slough was a place to test boat building skills and soak younger siblings. Kids enjoyed movies in the theatre, dances in the hall, and an ice carnival in February. There was a skating rink set up for wintertime activities. The kids could brag that they had the best ice surface around because it was made smoother by hot boiler water.

The kids liked to play around under the flares, and often scared their mothers by testing how high they could climb on the derricks. While the children played, parents formed recreational clubs, getting together for games of bridge, hockey games, knitting circles and maybe even getting into a little trouble themselves.

4

Main street of Little Chicago looking north - derricks in view and twin pipelines to the horizon
Circa 1940s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood, 985.022.004

5

Some after school flirting
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

6

The Mt. View Theatre and the local cafe
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

7

Playing Thursday at the Mt. View Theatre is "Nice Girl?" starring Winnipeg born Deanna Durbin
Circa 1941
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

8

The town movie theatre featuring the film "Mother Carey's Chickens"
Circa 1938
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

9

Ice Carnival Advertisement
3 February 1938
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood
The High River Times

10

The Ice Carnival, an event put on by the residents of Little Chicago
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

11

The Little Chicago Skating Rink
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

12

The Little Chicago girls hockey team
Circa 1940s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

13

Joking around at the skating rink, a favorite pastime for residents of Little Chicago
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood

14

Enjoying some skating near the Little Chicago oil derricks
Circa 1930s
Little Chicago / Royalties, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Museum of the Highwood