There used to be a lot of lakes around here, lakes, not sloughs. Lakes where you could go swimming and boating, and families would have picnics and a day of summer fun.
Hamilton Lake seemed to have been a fairly large one. This lake was just south of Throne, between Throne and the McComish, (now known as Riverbend) ranch. The community used this lake for quite a few sporting events, and there was a big boat race there in 1956.
June 21, 1956
“Big Day Looms For Boat Race Fans
“47 Boats to Contest Honors Hamilton Lake Sun
“Coronation Firemen in co-operation with the coronation Boating Club are looking forward to a record breaking event at their second annual Boat Races to be held at Hamilton Lake on Sunday afternoon.
“Expected contestants will include 47 boats, 20 from the Edmonton Boat Club, 15 from various outside places and the 12 local entrants.
“A feature of the day, besides the high powered speed boats (one of which will be driven by Alberta’s speed boat champion from Lethbridge) will be the ramp jump for the first time in Alberta. This feat will be performed by Gale Mah Poy, president of the local club, who speeds his boat up so fast that when it hits the two-three foot ramp rising out of the water his boat flies through the air many yards before landing on the water again.
“ The racing commences at 1:30 sharp with classes for all types of boats, and cash prizes.”
That lake and many others are gone now. I had been wondering how a big lake could just disappear, and how long would it take to do that?
I was stunned when I got the answer in June of 1959.
June 4, 1959
“Throne Notes
“The long spell of dry weather has had a serious effect on the water situation in pastures. Sloughs that have had water for many years are completely dry and large clouds of alkali are to be seen blowing with the least bit of wind.
“Hamilton Lake that was so full of water for quite a few years is almost as dry as the dry thirties, and some folks are seeding grain there. It is to be hoped that some good will come out of the dry lake.”
1957 was a fairly dry year, and they were still having activities out at Hamilton Lake. 1958 was a very dry year, but it still amazes me that it only took two dry years to make a lake disappear.

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