Albert Canyon, British Columbia, Canada...Ghost Town... Relived by the Schut family 1956

Brief History of Albert Canyon

Approximately half way between Rogers Pass and Revelstoke, was situated the town of Albert Canyon. Little is left of the town it once was. The remains of Albert Canyon are a ghost town situated a short distance south of the present day hot springs pool site.

The village of Albert Canyon, the gorge and the hot springs were all named after Albert Rogers, who undertook many exploration trips in the area, including the discovery of Rogers Pass. Throughout the years of steam locomotives, Albert Canyon was a “pusher station”, with a small roundhouse built in 1916. They built a railway station providing housing for operators, a section gang, and living quarters for the CPR agent upstairs in the station.

The mineral waters of Albert Canyon were allegedly discovered by CPR workmen at the turn of the century. The railway employees dug a pit at the hot springs and lined it with heavy timbers.

The open air "hot tub" was used by visitors and residents for many, many years. Today the Canyon Hot Springs are some distance away, with the water from the hot springs being piped to their pools.

In addition, Albert Canyon had a very active sawmill and logging operation, we can still remember the old WWII truck that used to haul logs to the mill. Nothing remains of the mill now, except our wonderful memories of the times we had there.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Albert Canyon Friends

Not sure what this was all about, but maybe getting ready for a school play?

Below are some pictures of the friends we made, not sure of their names, but hopefully they will find this blog and provide updates ....

Dad, Hank, Mike?, Will and Tony?

I believe this is the Thompson family

Mike and Tony

Not sure but maybe Woolsey family

Irene and her husband (Thompson?)

This must be the parents / teacher group with our Grandparents.

Grandfather Elbertsen, some loggers I think, the cook for the logging company cook house, Dad's mum, and Dad.

This shows mum

My brother and I standing on top to the clothes line, with a couple of neighbor friends. Note the same jacket...
not much choice in those days.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Family members

Here are some photographs taken in 1957 in Albert Canyon...

Well... OK... the first picture is of on the ship that brought us to Canada... then Albert Canyon... :)


the Schut family leaving Holland to immigrate to Canada - 1956, From left to right... Henk, Dad, Will and Mum.

Mum and her boys! showing off her new homemade Indian sweaters!

Grand parents, Dad, friends and Will and I

Mum and Dad just arrived in Albert Canyon

Photo of our Opa & Oma Schut, Mum, Opa Elbertsen, Will and his friend.

Opa & Oma Schut, Dad, Opa Elbertsen, with Will, Henk and a friend in the front

Grandparents standing by the old rail tunnel, next to our log home. This tunnel was the main road / connection to the other side of the tracks. This tunnel has now been filled it.

Dad and his sons

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

We're back, 56 years later

These are a few recent photos of my brother and I, visiting our childhood at Albert Canyon taken in 2011

Hank (Howie) Schut

Will Schut

one of the remaining homes... I can still feel and think about
the times around the now ghost town.
I'm not sure if my dad ghost resides here,
but I can feel his presents of the past times

A passenger train, blocking our exit,
just bringing more memories alive.

A brief outline of our SCHUT family