1885 Street
A Place of Faith in the Future
In 1885, Edmonton was a hardscrabble place, dusty or muddy
depending on the season, and, in economic and social terms, quiet
as the grave. And yet, there were signs that this wasn't just any
small town, and there was still a feeling that this place was
destined to be the star of the new Canadian Northwest.
Despite being passed over by the Canadian Pacific railway as a
destination and economic hard times, the settlement had three
flourishing hotels, one of them the only brick building west of
Winnipeg; a jewelry store, several blacksmiths, a drugstore as big
as you would see in Montreal, and a hardware store with plaster
walls. In 1885, it didn't hurt to be a bit of a dreamer, and people
here dreamed big and the rest is, as they say, is history.
Things you can do on 1885 Street:
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Stop in at Lauder's Bakery for a snack of something freshly
baked.
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Visit the blacksmith and wheelwright.
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Tour Kenneth McDonald house and pump some water for tea.
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See what it was like to be a North West Mounted Policeman.
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Check out the livery stables and see if you can hitch a ride to
another period in time.