Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres
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Re: Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres
The Crowsnest area was the energy source for CP Rail when the trans Canada rail line was completed in 1886. Mining started there a few years later once the spur line to the mainline was completed. The anthracite was all underground and mined. After WW2 the demand for rail transportation increased significantly and the pass was buzzling with activity, entertainment was needed and these surplus "hangers" were available, hence the theater. By the late fifties when locomotives switched over to diesel, the mining came to halt and by the earlier seventies the last bit of anthracite that was still used also for home heating stopped. Further to the west, in the Sparwood area, the surface mining of the metallurgical coke coal was started and the work force moved west leaving the Crowsnest pass area. It wasn't until the late nineties/early 2000 the pass gained renewed interest but now for tourism, weekend homes and retirement. The early economic roots of the pass are still very visible and a well worth stop to check out the history and the museum's.
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Re: Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres
I believe we have a quonset theatre here in Salmon Arm BC
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Re: Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres
The society decided to build a modern movie house. There was a lot available down the street on Alexander. Plans were drawn up that incorporated a familiar Second World War surplus-style Quonset Hhut for the seating area, fronted by an elegant Art Deco lobby.