Duhamel, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Duhamel is a hamlet
in the central Alberta
, Canada
within Camrose County. It is located on Highway 21, approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southeast of Edmonton
and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southwest of Camrose
, Duhamel's closest major trading centre.
. Around 1886, the post was moved to the site where Highway 21 now crosses the river (name=Duhamel Crossing°52′57"N 112°58′W).
The trading post was a key point for exchange between the First Nations people, the fur traders, and the Hudson's Bay Company
.
In 1910, Duhamel moved to its present location on the newly constructed Grand Trunk Pacific rail line from Tofield
to Calgary
. The Duhamel/Battle River rail bridge was one of the largest wooden rail bridges ever constructed, at 3,972 feet (1210 m) in length and 120 feet (32 m) in height.
A farmer by the name of Schielke discovered the strange occurrence on Saturday, August 5, 1967, after a night of heavy rains. This was the first time he had been to his fields in weeks, so the circles could have appeared at any time during that period. The circles were composed of four circular marks approximately 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter. Mr. Schielke always stressed that the marks could not have been made by his equipment, and he did not believe in UFOs.
The marks varied from five to seven inches wide, and the smallest circular mark was 31 ft., 9 in. in diameter. Three of the rings were essentially circular, with the largest mark being slightly elliptical, varying from 34 ft., 5 in. to 36 ft., 3 in. There were no exhaust
blasts, scorch marks or disturbances of the soil, and vegetation within the circles had apparently been removed by the object that made the marks. The official investigation report implies that the marks were most likely left by a 135-ton aircraft
or spacecraft
.
This case is described as "unsolved" by Canada's Department of National Defence
.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the central Alberta
Central Alberta
Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
within Camrose County. It is located on Highway 21, approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southeast of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southwest of Camrose
Camrose, Alberta
Camrose is a city in central Alberta, Canada, amid some of the richest farmland in the prairies. It is a relatively small city which originally grew up along a railroad and now grows along Highway 13. Camrose is a scenic community with many parks, leading to its moniker "The Rose City"...
, Duhamel's closest major trading centre.
Early history
The early trading post of Duhamel was situated 2-3 miles northwest of the hamlet's current site, directly on the main local fording of the Battle RiverBattle River (Canada)
Battle River is a river in central Alberta and western Saskatchewan. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.The Battle River flows for and has a total drainage area of...
. Around 1886, the post was moved to the site where Highway 21 now crosses the river (name=Duhamel Crossing°52′57"N 112°58′W).
The trading post was a key point for exchange between the First Nations people, the fur traders, and the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
.
In 1910, Duhamel moved to its present location on the newly constructed Grand Trunk Pacific rail line from Tofield
Tofield, Alberta
Tofield is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Edmonton at the junction of Highway 14, Highway 834, and Highway 626. Beaverhill Lake lies immediately north-east of the community....
to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. The Duhamel/Battle River rail bridge was one of the largest wooden rail bridges ever constructed, at 3,972 feet (1210 m) in length and 120 feet (32 m) in height.
Demographics
The population of Duhamel according to Camrose County's 2008 municipal census is 31.Crop circles
Crop circles appeared in a farmer's field in Duhamel in 1967. At the time, crop circles were virtually unknown. The discovery of the circles was preceded by reports of UFO sightings around the town.A farmer by the name of Schielke discovered the strange occurrence on Saturday, August 5, 1967, after a night of heavy rains. This was the first time he had been to his fields in weeks, so the circles could have appeared at any time during that period. The circles were composed of four circular marks approximately 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter. Mr. Schielke always stressed that the marks could not have been made by his equipment, and he did not believe in UFOs.
The marks varied from five to seven inches wide, and the smallest circular mark was 31 ft., 9 in. in diameter. Three of the rings were essentially circular, with the largest mark being slightly elliptical, varying from 34 ft., 5 in. to 36 ft., 3 in. There were no exhaust
Exhaust system
An exhaust system is usually tubing used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes...
blasts, scorch marks or disturbances of the soil, and vegetation within the circles had apparently been removed by the object that made the marks. The official investigation report implies that the marks were most likely left by a 135-ton aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
or spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
.
This case is described as "unsolved" by Canada's Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
.
Geography
Nearby communities include:- New NorwayNew Norway, AlbertaNew Norway is a small rural village located in the central prairies of Alberta, Canada. Named in 1895 and properly established in 1909, it is located on Hwy 21, approximately 100 kilometres SSE of Edmonton and 22 kilometres SW of Camrose, the closest major trading center.With a population of over...
- FerintoshFerintosh, AlbertaFerintosh is a small village in central Alberta, Canada located about south of Camrose, and southeast of Edmonton. The town itself is situated on Little Beaver Lake....
- CamroseCamrose, AlbertaCamrose is a city in central Alberta, Canada, amid some of the richest farmland in the prairies. It is a relatively small city which originally grew up along a railroad and now grows along Highway 13. Camrose is a scenic community with many parks, leading to its moniker "The Rose City"...
- Bittern LakeBittern Lake, AlbertaBittern Lake is a village in central Alberta, Canada. It is located between Camrose and Wetaskiwin, on Highway 13.The lake itself is not accessible by road, and is not recommended for boating or fishing due to its high counts of alkali and its shallow waters.Locals enjoy the scenic walking trails...