Medicine Hat turns 115 years old on Sunday

“As a frontier settlement where railway met river on top of a prolific natural gas field, Medicine Hat’s humble beginnings form the foundation of grit, perseverance, ingenuity and strength which has seen our community prosper for the last 115 years,” says city manager Bob Nicolay.

Mayor Ted Clugston says nods of Medicine hat’s history can be seen across the city.

Aspects of our heritage are reflected today in places like Medalta, the Stampede, our historical downtown, and the Esplanade,” he says. “We have a duty to honour the foresight of those who came before us, but also a duty to innovate and propel us further forward. This weekend, I celebrate the last 115 years and look forward to what the future holds.”

The city was rich in natural gas, coal, clay and farmland, and soon became industrialized. It was touted in newspaper columns in Toronto and Chicago as “The New Denver” and the “Pittsburgh of the West.”

“There was, no doubt, a sense of optimism during the time of incorporation,” says archivist Philip Pype. “Population had almost doubled from 1901 to 1906 to 3,020 people. There was talk of four major railroads converging through town (which never did happen). Ranchers and dryland farmers were enjoying good prices and good weather and had new brick and stone churches to attend on Sunday. Hospitals and schools went up. Theatres, libraries, factories and stadiums were built. And of course, Medicine Hat was already famous for its abundance of gas, owned by the city, that would help pay for it all.”

A commemorative history in celebration of the city’s 115 anniversary is viewable online on the city’s website.

by Chris Brown

Medicine Hat turns 115 years old on Sunday

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