Fond Calgary memories for the youngins'!

[Frank the Tank]

Although I don't consider myself old (34), every time I come back to Calgary, I am astounded at how much and how fast it has changed. So it got me to thinking....what are some things I remember as a kid that have changed the most.

For me: One of my earliest memories is playing at the fence to the farmers field when I was about three, feeding the cows and such. Not a big deal? I grew up on Lake Twintree Drive, a few blocks from Lake Bonavista Drive at the top of the hill there. We used to live at the EDGE OF THE CITY. I was stunned last time I was in Calgary at how far I had to drive to visit some friends.

Various other little things, like playing hockey outdoors because there weren't that many community centres. (Started playing at 4 on the outdoor rink at Andrew Sibbald) Also, I remember a Calgary without the Deerfoot Trail and a zoo that kept its animals in shoebox sized cages.

Useless topic, I know, but I find it interesting to see how things have changed.

[RougeUnderoos]

I remember when Midnapore was another town. Rumor has it, though I don't remember this, that there was a drive-in theater where Anderson Station now sits.

Frank-specifically, they tore down the 7-11 across from Nickle Junior High and put in a medical center. They call this progress?

Do you remember when there was just one Banker's Hall O_o

[Table 5]

I remember when we last made the playof....err, never mind.

[albertGQ]

Don't be too surprised if one day Airdrie and/or Chestermere become part of Calgary!

[JD]

Not everything has changed a lot... 20 years ago I was growing up in Abbeydale. We would ride our bikes along the railroad tracks to the farmers fields just beyond our neighborhood. Lo and behold, Abbeydale is still the last neighborhood before the city limits.

I remember when Nose Hill was as far north as the city went... I can vaguely recall the downtown being the Tower and a couple skyscrapers and that was it... I remember 36th Street before there were C-Trains going through the middle of it, before Sunridge Mall was there...

It all kinda makes me excited to see what else will change over the next 10-20 years.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jan 12 2005, 03:47 PM
Do you remember when there was just one Banker's Hall O_o

although im not a fan of Calgary's inability to part from twin towers, i really think Bankers Hall is a natural as two. I barely remember it being one tower, yet it was only about 4 years ago.

[Agamemnon]

Not that long ago, but I recall the horse/field that was on the West side of 14th Street around Heritage Drive. Never could figure out what the deal was w/ the land and horse, but my Mom said the horse had been there for a loooong time. Pretty sure its gone now.

[RougeUnderoos]

And about the zoo -- remember when that brontosaurus was the biggest thing going. Damn I thought that was great.

Now it's tucked into a corner (though it's still in the same place) and you won't even notice it unless you are looking. I don't remember the shoebox cages but that zoo is pretty impressive now.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jan 12 2005, 03:59 PM
I don't remember the shoebox cages but that zoo is pretty impressive now.

I dunno, I think the new editions to the zoo are a little too Disneyfied for my tastes. Its a great thing for the visitors, but I dont really think those were built in the best interest of the animals as much as perhaps they should have been.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jan 12 2005, 08:47 PM
I remember when Midnapore was another town. Rumor has it, though I don't remember this, that there was a drive-in theater where Anderson Station now sits.

Frank-specifically, they tore down the 7-11 across from Nickle Junior High and put in a medical center. They call this progress?

Do you remember when there was just one Banker's Hall O_o

No way!! I used to spend a whole lunch hour in line waiting to get a slurpee! Is this fairly recent? I seem to recall it still being there 3 or 4 years ago?

[Tron_fdc]

I remember there being a big hill just south of Midnapore that had a bunch of spruce trees on it, and every Christmas the city would put Christmas lights on it. It was the highlight of my drive to the city (I grew up in Okotoks).

I also remember seeing the "Indian circles" (stone circles the the indians left behind whenever they would put up or take down a tipi) just off Sarcee and Bow Trail. I'm gonna say that was about 20 years ago.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jan 12 2005, 08:47 PM
I remember when Midnapore was another town. Rumor has it, though I don't remember this, that there was a drive-in theater where Anderson Station now sits.

Frank-specifically, they tore down the 7-11 across from Nickle Junior High and put in a medical center. They call this progress?

Do you remember when there was just one Banker's Hall O_o

What!!! I used to bike to that 7-11 through the alleys (no alleys in TO) I used to live behind Sam Livingston PS. Bought the first of 6600 comics there.

There was indeed a Drive-in where Anderson Stn now stands. My parents took me in their old oldsmobile stationwagon.

I remember biking through the trailer park off MacLeod. It seems the signs along MacLeod change every time I'm there.

Apperantly Glenmore & Elbow is now a huge mess - I try to avoid Elbow when I am there so I am not sure.


That Horse field was at 14th and 90th.

[Tron_fdc]

Anybody remember Funky Punkers on 8th ave? Man, how I wanted to get Batman logos airbrushed onto my Converse Cons.......

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos@Jan 12 2005, 08:59 PM
And about the zoo -- remember when that brontosaurus was the biggest thing going. Damn I thought that was great.

Now it's tucked into a corner (though it's still in the same place) and you won't even notice it unless you are looking. I don't remember the shoebox cages but that zoo is pretty impressive now.

I remember that being the "big attraction" at the zoo. They have made massive improvements to that place since I was a kid.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Table 5@Jan 12 2005, 02:03 PM
but I dont really think those were built in the best interest of the animals as much as perhaps they should have been.

Maybe, but I really wouldn't know. Would they do something like that in this day and age? I mean it's not like they have two large mammals living in the centre of a shopping mall.

Anyway, that was an interesting comment about Calgary's affinity for the twin towers. I never really thought about it but yeah, talk about overdoing it. How many are there?

Banker's Hall
Petro-Canada
Husky
Shell...

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by Tron_fdc@Jan 12 2005, 09:11 PM
Anybody remember Funky Punkers on 8th ave? Man, how I wanted to get Batman logos airbrushed onto my Converse Cons.......

Hahahaa! Oh man, do I ever! You sir, have a fantastic memory!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Bleeding Red@Jan 12 2005, 03:09 PM

What!!! I used to bike to that 7-11 through the alleys (no alleys in TO) I used to live behind Sam Livingston PS. Bought the first of 6600 comics there.

Odd peice of useless trivia here. One of the writers on King of the Hill lived in Calgary for an extended period of time, during the scenes where Hank, Bill, Dale, Boomhauher are talking in the alley he says he writes alot of that about his experiance in his back alley and hanging out with friends in Calgary. I beleive he wrote the episode where Hank found a couch back there and fixed it up.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally posted by Frank the Tank+Jan 12 2005, 09:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Frank the Tank @ Jan 12 2005, 09:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Tron_fdc@Jan 12 2005, 09:11 PM
Anybody remember Funky Punkers on 8th ave? Man, how I wanted to get Batman logos airbrushed onto my Converse Cons.......

Hahahaa! Oh man, do I ever! You sir, have a fantastic memory! [/b][/quote]
I only remember it because they sold glow in the dark Ghostbuster T-shirts, and because my mom would ditch me for hours down there while she cleaned out Arnold Churgin whenever they had a shoe sale.

What was the name of that head shop down there? I used to buy indian smokes when I was 13 from them. I think it's still there, actually.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally posted by MrMastodonFarm+Jan 12 2005, 09:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MrMastodonFarm @ Jan 12 2005, 09:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Bleeding Red@Jan 12 2005, 03:09 PM

What!!! I used to bike to that 7-11 through the alleys (no alleys in TO) I used to live behind Sam Livingston PS. Bought the first of 6600 comics there.

Odd peice of useless trivia here. One of the writers on King of the Hill lived in Calgary for an extended period of time, during the scenes where Hank, Bill, Dale, Boomhauher are talking in the alley he says he writes alot of that about his experiance in his back alley and hanging out with friends in Calgary. I beleive he wrote the episode where Hank found a couch back there and fixed it up. [/b][/quote]
I Remember when my alley wasn't paved - just rocks & gravel.

I also remember the tire parks, I think most schools got rid of them.

[moon]

All this talk of old school Calgary is making want to move back.