Midlandvale, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Midlandvale was a small mining town in the south of Alberta
, Canada
. Most of what remains of the town has been absorbed by the nearby town of Drumheller
, of a population of nearly 8,000.
During the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1919-20, sufferers were isolated in areas such as the basement of the Drumheller
People's Bakery. In this particular isolation unit, only three of the eleven sufferers survived. It is known that the mines continued operation until the late 1950s, although the crippling Great Depression
slowed trade. In one year during the 1930s, the coal mine at Midlandvale only operated for 52 days during the year.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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...
. Most of what remains of the town has been absorbed by the nearby town of Drumheller
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary...
, of a population of nearly 8,000.
History
Midlandvale once served as host to a community of mine workers from Midland No. 1, Midland No. 2, Western Gem and Brilliant Mines. The town's population was well over 600 people, and 400 worked in the mines. Midlandvale had a thriving community culture, featuring frequent games of baseball and soccer in the summer, and hockey in the winter. Sport was utilised by various members of the community to further their aims. Mine operators used sports games to promote their products, whilst unions believed that team sports promoted the ideal that a band of miners could fight for better working conditions than individual miners.During the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1919-20, sufferers were isolated in areas such as the basement of the Drumheller
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary...
People's Bakery. In this particular isolation unit, only three of the eleven sufferers survived. It is known that the mines continued operation until the late 1950s, although the crippling Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
slowed trade. In one year during the 1930s, the coal mine at Midlandvale only operated for 52 days during the year.