ROAD TRIP: A BBM Game

[nova20194]

Andrew, AB

Andrew (2006 Population 465) is a village in central Alberta north of Vegreville. Andrew is most famous as the home of the world's largest duck roadside attraction, part of the Giants of the Prairies.

Ed Stelmach became Alberta's premier-elect to succeed Ralph Klein in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 3, 2006. This was the result of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party's election to pick a new leader. Stelmach had been a third-place contender, but came up the middle to win the race over the favoured frontrunners. He officially became the province's premier on December 15.

[MaineWriter]

Weeping Mary, TX

Weeping Mary is a small, nearly all-Black community, just off Highway 21 in Cherokee County behind the Caddoan Indian Mounds Historic Site. Heading north on Texas 21 toward Alto, after a few miles take a left by the junkyard (a good place to browse for offbeat items and antiques) and the Thomas Chapel Church. The population is a mere 29 people scattered about four or five county roads off of CR-2907, aka Weeping Mary Road.

It is said that the community, which was never incorporated, was formed after the Civil War by freed slaves and named after the weeping of Mary Magdelene at the tomb of Jesus. However, local lore has it that it was named after a matriarch who formed a pact with the area's freed slaves not to sell their lands to white settlers. But when one man sold his plot of land to whites, the matriarch is said to have spent her life weeping for the loss of her community. Another legend has it that gold is buried thoroughout the community, but according to Weeping Mary resident J.L. Skinner - it is simply that: a legend. A local school opened in 1896, but closed sometime after WWII.

The church that was built in Weeping Mary was moved to its current location, which unfortunately is prone to flooding. Resident J.L. Skinner says that the congregation sometimes boats to the front entrance of the church when nearby Bowles Creek floods. The community has many multi-generational families, including the Skinner, Green, and Peyton families, to name a few.

The town has had its fair share of publicity with Photographer Rufus Lovett's There's Something About Weeping Mary feature in Texas Monthly in 1998, a children's murder mystery novel written by Merry Hasell Frels, entitled Simmering Secrets of Weeping Mary, and my own play and independant film entitled The Judgment of Weeping Mary which will be submitted at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in December 2006.

The community does not have a store, museum, or even its own cemetery. Weeping Mary's dead are buried in the Thomas Chapel Cemetery off Highway 21 North. The community has a playground with a single swing set (which was present at the time of my first visit in July 2004 but missing in October 2005), a single park bench and a trash can. A second church is under construction right next to the old one. Even with their small population the community still supports a gospel choir.

written by: Andrew Wilson
Director/Writer/Actor
NYC (formerly of San Antonio)



Leslie

(NB: XYZ rule applies...side trip for the next player!)

[Meryl]

Bronx, WY

(XYZ rule applies)

Twice in one day:  Thanks, Leslie 

[nova20194]

Blackie, AB

Blackie is in the province of Alberta.
The community was named for John Stuart Blackie, author.

Lat: 50:36:25N (50.6068)
Lon: 113:37:08W (-113.6189)

Blackie is the Brokeback Mountain filming location for Ennis' fight scene outside the bar in Riverton on Thanksgiving Day.
Most of Blackie’s unpretentious homes rest on wheels or concrete blocks. Like Rockyford, Dorothy, Crossfield, and other Brokeback towns, Blackie has seen better days, but those are long gone.

[MaineWriter]

Easterly, TX

The name had originally been Acorn in the 1870s when the town was formed.

The post office opened in 1881 with Dan Easterly Sr. as postmaster, but when the railroad came to town (The International-Great Northern) a new post office was formed and the name changed for the new post master (Dan J. Easterly Jr.).

The population had been 700 people before WWI and by 1930 it was down to 250. By the 60s it was down to 200 and currently it is about 61.

Leslie

(NB: another side trip with the XYZ rule!)

[belbbmfan]

Wainwright, AB

Near the Saskatchewan border in Eastern Alberta.

[nova20194]

Tangent, AB

The Village of Tangent is located approximately 30 km west of Falher, Alberta or 65 km south of Peace River. The population is about 50 people.

In 1916 the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway Station opened at this location. In 1928 the settlers started coming. The name "Tangent" comes from how the railway curves and then forms a straight line. It is the Geometric term that inspired the name of the community.

At one time there was a school in Tangent, with up to 200 students. The present Tangent Pit Stop Store was a residence used by the Nuns who taught at the local school in and around the year 1967. Because the amount of students had decreased over the years, the school was finally closed and was torn down in the 1970's. Most were then bussed to Eaglesham, with just a few wanting to go to Falher.

[MaineWriter]

Topsey, TX

One of the few towns in Texas named after a mule, Topsey made its appearance around 1900. The post office was granted in 1901 but closed by 1918. Forty people called Topsey home in 1914 and it reached its peak in the 30s with a population of 100.The population dropped to twenty in the 1980s, where it remains today.

Leslie

(NB: XYZ rule...side trip!)

[Fran]

Jelm, WY

From ePodunk:

Jelm is in Albany County, in the Laramie metro area.

One tradition says the community was named after E.C. Gillem, who provided ties to the railroad in the 1860s; another says the name derives from Scandinavian term for "helmet."

The latitude of Jelm is 41.057N.  The longitude is -106.012W.

It is in the Mountain Standard time zone.  Elevation is 7,579 feet.

[nova20194]

Milo, AB

Milo is a village in southern Alberta, Canada east of the city of Calgary. It is mainly an agricultural service community.

Amenities include a community hall, curling rink, tennis court, walking paths, hotel, library, school, and skating arena. A campground is located in a small park beside nearby McGregor Lake reservoir. The lake, which is a major part of an irrigation system, is popular for fishing, swimming, boating and birdwatching.