Reading these old newspapers and “going back in time” is really making me see a lot of things with a new perspective.
For instance, when I am travelling and see a town with nothing but a few houses and maybe a gas station at the most, I used to think “Man, who would want to live there?”
Now I wonder what it used to be like, and what happened to bring it down.
What really catches my interest now are the buildings, or what’s left of them.
The old Talbot store is one old building that makes me sad, since I have been reading about the wonderful spirit of the people of the area.
What gets me really curious is when there are no buildings.
I have learned that every highway sign with the name of a town on it means that at one time there was at least a village there.
A village where people would build homes and businesses’ with dreams of a bright future; so, when I can’t see any old buildings I feel sad and curious.
Where did all the buildings go?
I am into the Fifties now, and I think this is when a lot of the buildings are starting to disappear so, I am getting some answers.
Apparently a lot of the buildings would get torn down and the material would be used for new buildings, which makes me feel a little better.
This article from 1954 is one example.

March 11, 1954
“Auction Mart For Coronation
“Severing Last Link With “Horse and Buggy Days”
“Work commenced Wednesday on the dismantling of the livery barn, a landmark in Coronation for the past 42 years, having been built in 1912, by Henderson.
“At that time many barns were built in town to shelter the work and driving horses of the farmers, but with the passing of the “horse and buggy days” most of them were burned or torn down until this one only remained and until its sale recently was maintained by the Community Board of Trade to service the occasional team or if a winter of heavy snow came along to serve many.
“Mr. D.A. Marchand of Forestburg recently purchased the building with plans to operate an auction mart.
“From what has been learned from various sources the barn is to be torn down and rebuilt in a suitable form for a mart with ample seating and storage capacity.”

I think they knew they were indeed severing links with the past, but felt it was what they needed to do to build for the future.

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