1922
March 1 / 22 ELK POINT SWEPT BY FIRE DAMAGE-2 ST0RES, BANK, & HALL BURNED
CIGARETTE BUTT DROPPED AT CONCERT
On Feb. 27 2 large store premises, the Canadian Bank of Commerce building, and the Veteran's hall were completely destroyed by fire at Elk Point, a village 40 miles north of Vermilion on the North Saskatchewan river. Shortly after 6 o’clock Saturday morning, causing a loss of nearly $20,000 practically all covered by insurance. The buildings burned were the hardware store of Charles Hood with contents including the Post Office and government telephone office, the new bank building of the Canadian Bank of Commerce with all the fixtures, the implement warehouse of Charles J. Markstad with contents comprising farm implements and repairs. The Caskey hotel which stood in the way of the fire with only a short break between it and Markstad's warehouse was scorched but saved from being destroyed by the organization of a bucket brigade. It was desperately cold with a high wind and that the building was saved was a miracle.
The fire started in the Veteran’s hall as near as can be judged from the stage. There was a dance and play there the evening before and the stage was covered with matting and paraphernalia used by the amateur players, and it is believed some one dropped a cigarette butt and that it smoldered there until it broke out.
When the fire was discovered it had already made considerable progress and in about an hour and a half had swept along the street until it was checked by the gap east of Markstad’s store and the effective work done on the Caskey Hotel. The advance of the fire was so rapid that little or nothing was saved from any of the buildings. Hood lived in the store premises and succeeded in saving a few household effects but nothing out of the store. It was stocked with a complete line of hardware. A good deal of mail was also destroyed.
Owing to the telephone office being burnt out it was impossible to get particulars to outside points until late in the afternoon when communication was re-established. The losses were as follows: Charles Hood $8000.00 partially covered; Canadian Bank of Commerce $5000.00, insured for $1500.00; C.J. Markstad $5000.00 partially covered; Caskey Hotel probably $200.00. The Veterans' Hall was owned by the Elk Point branch of the G.W.IZ.A. and was held in trust for them by a board of five trustees. It was the only place for entertainment and public gatherings in the village. The branch will re-build as soon as they can complete arrangements to that effect.
In addition to the main buildings the village loses the plank sidewalk along the burnt area and all the out-buildings were also destroyed. The Bank will occupy temporary premises Monday and re-build at once.
March 15, 1922 - ELK POINT RISING FROM RUINS
The Bank of Commerce has opened up temporary offices in the Dave O'Meara pool hall and is again doing business. D. Hood has a small building nearly completed for use as a post office and will begin work on his new hardware building in the early spring. C.J. Markstad has the material on the premises ready to built a new implement and harness store as soon as possible.
Sept. 13/22 - Elk Point - Threshing is in full swing.
S. J. Markstad and family motored to Camrose on Saturday. The Misses Esther and Ila remained and will attend school
Someone broke into the Caskey garage recently and helped themselves to some tires and Chev. repairs.
J. H. Millar of Calgary has purchased the C.J. Markstad homestead and will move his family here at once.
Rev. Lorenson contemplates erecting a bungalow soon.
Mrs. Chester of Angle Lake visited friends here the past week.
