Early Minutes of town council

ELK POINT GOVERNMENT

AND HOW IT GREW (From the minutes)

by Velma Andrishak and Anna May Warren

A casual glance at the minutes of the first meeting of the newly incorporated village of Elk Point would give one the impression that the drive to get beyond the designation of hamlet was for the purpose of curbing curs.

On June 27, 1938, By-law No.1 was enacted as follows:

A by-law to Impose a Tax on Dogs~A11 owners, possessors, or harbourers of dogs within the Village of Elk Point shall pay an annual tax of ten dollars for each bitch and three dollars for each dog. Any dog running unlicensed shall be destroyed after the owner has been duly notified. Considering the economy of 1938, these license fees seem pretty steep, when one finds that in the current Dog Control By-law the license fee is seven dollars for a female, and three dollars for a male or spayed female. Even the language is more benign. And, almost forty years later, the battle between dog lovers and dog detractors is still being waged.

The hamlet of Elk Point was ready for incorporation in 1938. There was an active business community and Board of Trade, schools and a hospital. Taxes were being paid to two municipalities, with very little return in the way of improvement to those living and working in Elk Point.

The first petition circulated by the Board of Trade was signed by all but two residents, who refused on the grounds that their taxes would be raised. The Department of Municipal Affairs did not act on the petition as presented, stating that they preferred to receive an indication of unanimous support. Undaunted, the Board of Trade again circulated the petition, and were able to this time get one hundred per cent of the people to sign.

So, by a Ministerial Order dated May 31, 1938, "All those portions of the West half of Section six (6), Township Fifty-seven (57), Range Six (6), W.4th and all those portions of the East half of Section One (1), Township Fifty-seven (57), Range Seven (7), W.4th in the Province of Alberta, described as follows: Commencing at the point of intersection of the West boundary of the said East half of Section One (1) with the southerly limit of the station grounds of the Canadian National Railway of record in the Land Titles Office for Northern Alberta Land Registration District as Railway Plan 5746 C.L.; thence Easterly along the said Southerly limit and its production Easterly to the West boundary of the said West half of Section Six (6); thence Northerly along the said West boundary of the West half of Section Six (6) to its point of intersection with the Southerly limit of the right-of-way to the west boundary of Legal Subdivision Five (5), in the said Section Six (6), thence Northerly along the said Eastern boundary of Legal Subdivision Five (5) and along the West boundary of Legal Subdivision Twelve (12) in the said Section Six (6) to the northeast corner of said Legal Subdivision Twelve (12); thence Westerly along the North boundary of said Legal Subdivision Twelve (12); and its production Westerly to the East boundary of said Section One (1); thence Southerly along the said West boundary of Section One (1) to a point thereon distant twenty (20) rods Northerly from the Northerly Limit of the surveyed roadway of record in the said Land Titles Office as Road Plan 7738 Y; thence Westerly and parallel with the said Northerly limit of roadway the said West boundary of the East half of Section One (1); thence Southerly along the said West boundary of the East half of Section One (1); thence Southerly along the said West boundary to the point of commencement: Be and is hereby withdrawn from the Municipal District of Lincoln No. 542 and the Municipal District of Laurier No.543 and erected into a Village to be known by the name of Elk Point.

It is further ordered that a nomination meeting for the first election of a council be held between the hours of Eleven o'clock and Twelve o'clock in the forenoon, at the office of the Hayward Lumber Company in Elk Point, on the second Monday in June, A.D. 1938, for the purpose of receiving names of candidates for the office of councillors.

It is further ordered that Lawrence W. Sumpton, Esq., Agent Mc Cabe Bros. Elevator, Elk Point, Alberta, be and is hereby appointed to act as Returning Officer at the said nomination meeting, and if an election is necessary that it be held in the third Monday in June, A.D. 1938, and the said Lawrence Sumpton conduct the election in accordance with the provisions of The Town and Village Act in that behalf, and that the first meeting of the new Council be held on the fourth Monday in June, A.D. 1938. Signed: Lucien Maynard, Minister of Municipal Affairs."

And when the above Ministerial Order was forwarded to Mr. Jensen, secretary-treasurer of the Elk Point Board of Trade, the letter from the Municipal Inspections Branch also mentioned that a copy had been forwarded to the King's Printer for publication in the Alberta Gazette, and copies also were forwarded to the secretary-treasurers of the M.D.'s of Linc~n and Laurier.

There was some dispute immediately with the M.D. of Lincoln with regard to the boundaries set out. It seemed, quote: that the M.D. of Lincoln has got the idea that it should run 40 rods east and the same north, unquote, with reference to how far the boundary lines of the village ran in-to Legal Subdivision 12, Section 6, and Subdivision 5 in Section 6.

The reply from the Municipal Inspections Branch to the new secretary-treasurer, Mr. Hugh McQufflen, of the new village advised that: "There are sixteen (16) legal subdivisions in a section of land. A legal subdivision is approximately eighty (80) rods East and West and eighty (80) rods North and South. Starting at the West Boundary of Section Six (6) and following the South boundary of the Railway Right-of-way in an Easterly direction, the village boundary should run eighty (80) rods Westerly through Legal Subdivision Five (5). The boundary then turns North to the North boundary of Legal Subdivision Five (5), which is the line dividing the North half of Section Six (6) and the South half of Section Six (6), which then continues North from that point approximately eighty (80) rods to the North-west corner of Legal Subdivision Twelve (12), which is on the West boundary of Section Six (6).

So the independent Elk Pointers who wanted to collect and spend their own tax dollars as they saw fit had their first experience with red tape, which securely encircled them in the corporate limits of the Village of Elk Point.  Nomination Day resulted in three poeple being persuaded to serve on the first town council. There was some reluctance, for no one had had previous experience in municipal administration. But a council was created, consisting of D.C. Nelson, Dr. A.G. Ross, and J.C. Jensen. They held their first meeting on June 17, 1938, in the high school at 8:00 p.m. D.C. Nelson was elected Reeve, and Hugh McQuillen appointed secretary-treasurer at a salary of $150 per year. T. Johnson was appointed assessor, and W. Wolfe auditor. It was moved that the council hold meetings on the third Monday of each month in the high school.

Jas. Abraham was appointed as town constable, "to be paid according to the work he does, at the rate of 25 cents per trip to the pound with stock and $1.00 per night if and when notified by the council and for each dog licensed or destroyed the fee is 50 cents." Dr. F.G. Miller was appointed Health Officer.

Thirteen by-laws were passed at that first meeting. Mention was made at the outset of By4aw No.1 to impose a tax on dogs. But of course the founding fathers had really more important things in mind. By-law No. 2 prohibited the placing of any obstruction on streets, lanes, or in public places. Provision for the erection of street lights "in the most needful places at the option of council" was the basis of Bylaw No.3. No.4 was short and to the point: No bicycle or wagon shall be ridden on any sidewalk. The other by4aws set out rules for store hours, parking, domestic animals, penalties for infractions of the village by-laws, building permits, an electric franchise with Dr.F.G. Miller, condemning buildings dangerous to public health, and license fees for transient traders.

No council meeting in the almost forty years from this first organizational meeting would have such an impact on the history of the town. At this meeting the councillors spelled out succinctly the rules by which the people of the village would work and live together in harmony, good health, and safety.

The first Financial Statement was prepared by Mr. W.F. Wolfe for the year ending December 31, 1938, and its Balance Sheet and Statement of Assets and Liabilities are rather startling in view of the present day's government spending, even at the municipal level.

BALANCE SHEET 1938

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

Should anyone care to check, he or she might find an error in the above, but municipal inspectors weren't so pain-staking as now, it would seem, and didn't have electronic calculators.

The first annual meeting of ratepayers was held on the evening of January 23, 1940, at the hour of 8:00 o'clock. It was noted that there was a poor attendance due to other attractions, a condition that was to apply in the succeeding years. Undoubtedly there was a curling game of some import on that same night, and to all Elk Pointers good and true the commitment to the sport was total.

Mr. D.C. Nelson, Reeve, gave a good account of what had happened in the village since its incorporation. He recounted the number of by-laws that had been passed, and the effort to work in harmony with the towns in the surrounding area. By-laws that had proved to be unpopular had been rescinded, e.g. centre parking was changed to curb parking.

In the fall of 1938 trees had been ordered and in the spring of 1939 some three hundred were planted. The hope was expressed that people would take care of the trees planted near their property. In 1939 Main Street had been gravelled, and a drag constructed to keep it smooth. The east side of Main Street had been tiled and filled.

Two lots were purchased and fenced, a well was dug, and a pump and trough provided for the convenience of friends (or customers? ) from the country. It can be assumed, though it was not stated, that these amenities were for horses.  The point was stressed that the improvements provided by the village council were at least three times what could have been expected from the municipalities, and at a mill rate (20 mills) lower than had been previously paid.

And to prove that this was not a one-horse town that rolled up its sidewalks at seven o'clock each evening, the mayor proudly remarked on the more than a dozen street lights installed, with all-night service, "so that no matter what kind of a party you are at or what time it is over, these lights will always show you the way to go home".

A decade had come to an end. What had it meant to Elk Point?    Incorporation of the village of Elk Point had been the highlight, and autonomy in its own affairs.

But events far from the village were to occupy peoples' minds as one decade finished and another began. It was with regret that the resignation of two of the first councillors, Dr. A.G. Ross, and Mr. Jack Jensen were accepted, as they left to join the Canadian Armed Forces to serve in World War II.

The early 1940's then were characterized as the war years, with all the young men and many of the young women away to war or jobs. Rationing caused several commodities to be in short supply, yet suddenly people had more money, so businesses managed to keep afloat. The village's original assessment of $86,305 slowly increased, as businesses added warehouses, gas pumps, or new premises. Not too many building permits were issued, however.

At war's end, when it became possible to get building materials, some construction got under way. The largest undertaking was Dr. Miller's new clinic. Of interest might be the permit for a house valued at $2,500, and built in 1946. The same house sold in 1976 for $25,000.

Fortunately, most of the boys, whose pictures had adorned the clinic walls, came back from war to take up their former lives. But they also wanted a memorial, and with the financial assistance of the business community, and a donation of land from the village, constructed a Legion Hall in 1946.

The biggest event of the late forties to occur within the village of Elk Point was the formation by local entrepreneurs of Elk Point Gas Ltd. to provide the village with a convenient and economical means of cooking meals, and heating water, homes, and businesses. Exploration by oil companies from all over Alberta, following Leduc No.1, had proven that in this area there was an abundance of natural gas, and the forward-thinking business men saw in this yet another boost in their efforts to keep Elk Point abreast of the times.

The village council concurred, and on October 26, 1948, granted a permit to the company to lay pipelines. On April 13, 1949, they set the fee for gas installations and electric wiring at fifteen dollars a year, and on December 12, 1949, appointed William Soldan inspector for all gas installations.

Late in the decade, it would appear almost simultaneously with getting natural gas service, the village entered into a franchise agreement with Canadian Utilities to provide electricity.

At the same time, council was making every effort to attract more business to the village. Incentives were offered in the form of tax concessions if the C.N.R. would put a round house in Elk Point, and a similar offer was made to Alberta Salt Company in a vain effort to have their large plant built in Elk Point. Advertisements were placed in newspapers, to try to bring to Elk Point someone who would establish a bakery, set up a lawyer's or accountant's office, or have a shop for repair of appliances.

Council during the forties was not too busy with by-laws, passing only twelve in the ten year period. There was a new Early Closing By-law, and two with regard to domestic animals. At that time there were still people keeping cows and chickens, but the by-law prohibited the livestock running at large. It was still possible to keep a store open on Saturday night until eleven o'clock, but no "boy or girl actually or apparently under the age of fifteen years could loiter in a public place after nine o'clock during the winter months, or after ten o'clock during the summer. In token support of cultural and recreational activities, the council gave from time to time small donations to the library, and operated an open-air skating rink.

Public toilets became an issue in 1945, and councillor Sumpton was asked to find a spot for same. Mr. Roseberry, town constable, built the toilets, and appropriate signs were af~rxed. The minutes of the May, 1950 meeting recorded that "the toilets had been tipped over, and it wasn't even Hallowe'en" . . The village constable was instructed to set them aright and keep an eye on them. In 1954, when Dr. Weigerinck was Health Officer, the toilets were ordered removed.

The mayors of the forties were S.B. Macdonald from 1941 to 1945, followed by L.W. Sumpton who served until 1949, then Carl Nissen for a short time toward the end of the same year. The decade ended and the next began with Mr. Harry Ramsbottom in the mayor's chair.

What should be the priorities for Elk Point in the fifties? Well, there was water and sewer to consider. If coal pails and ashes were a thing of the past, could shallow wells and outdoor privies be far behind? But what an undertaking, and at what a cost.

Enter something new to the town fathers: long term borrowing. In 1951 and in subsequent years money was obtained through sale of debentures to finance a water distribution and sewage collection system. Once having made the plunge it wasn't so bad after all, but it can be surmised that many people did not take too kindly to a frontage assessment. However, the council had no alternative but to go this route for large capital expenditures.

The Elk Point Wooden Water Tower

In 1951 the whole rateable property of the village according to the last revised assessment was only $494,035, and it had been policy to keep the mill rate as low as possible.

The quality of leadership displayed by its mayors and councillors will determine if a community will go ahead or maintain the status quo. The men who over the years served on council had a vision for Elk Point, and were unflagging in their efforts to attain it. After the untimely death of Mayor Ramsbottom, a young businessman-councillor in the person of Mike Habiak accepted the position of mayor on January 26, 1953. And thus characteristics for the decade of the sixties were established. It was a period of progress.

Elk Point became a town on February 3, 1962, 50 now the person designated as mayor was indeed that, and he had a full council of six. He also had a larger work force on the town's maintenance crew to maintain the services as they increased. Water, which had previously been obtained easily from shallow wells anywhere in town, became a problem when required in quantity. For a few years water was brought from deep wells dug to the west of town, but this was found to be an unstable supply, and worse than that, it was full of rust. So people complained. In the hottest, dryest weather one was told that one couldn't water the garden. Worse than that, it was almost impossible for housewives to get a white wash, or keep the bathtub clean. Use of an electric dishwasher was unthinkable. Everything came out yellow.

So the water reservoir was constructed in 1967 and 1968, just south of the town. It was said to have a capacity for a three-year water supply. A water treatment plant was built, and a storage tank placed underground to the north of town. There was an official opening at the Treatment Plant when all was in readiness to give Elk Point a copious supply of rust-free, chlorinated water. Now people could water the flowers and vegetables to their hearts content.

The volunteer fire department, established some years earlier, and under the capable leadership of Fire Chief Peter Yewchin, were provided with a new truck and pumper. The quality of the equipment and the dedication of the volunteers resulted in a substantial lowering of fire insurance rates.

There had been several town policemen over the years, but most notable was Harry Keck, who somehow had managed to keep services operating simultaneously with serving as a policeman. He did the job well, and had the respect of all. At one annual meeting he declared that the teenagers of Elk Point were the best behaved to be found. In return, the young people held him in high regard, and if they wanted to raise a little cane, did it out of Mr. Keck'sjurisdiction.

But the day of the local policeman ended when the R.C.M.P. established a detachment in Elk Point in 1968. They rented the old Town Hall building and used half for a headquarters, and the other half for a Court Room.

The town entered into an agreement with the Northeast Alberta Health Unit, to provide many free health services to residents, and it also entered into agreements to give financial support to the nursing homes in St. Paul and Bonnyville.

A new curling rink was built in 1961 on town-owned land, four sheets of ice, and in the same block of reserve land the Elks and Royal Purple built a fine community hall. These and the Legion Hall and the open-air skating rink filled one block.

The town Centennial grant, combined with that of Mr. Drobot's division in the County of St. Paul went, at Dr. Weigerinck's request, toward financing a new library, combined with a new town office. Sale of debentures again was the means to finance the balance.

In the realm of education, the town entered the St. Paul School Division, and two new schools were subsequently built, Dr. E.G. Miller, followed by Mr. Paul Stepa, have been Elk Point's representatives on the County School Committee.

Town Council was busy during the sixties, passing ninety-two by4aws. Some of these were mere housekeeping items, done in every year by any local authority, such as adoption of the previous year's assessment, or establishing the current year's mill rate. But the others reflected the changes occurring in the town. By-laws provided for the purchase of equipment needed to maintain services: a digger, a crawler, and a three-ton truck. Some of the by4aws allowed the sale of town-owned land, as in the sale to the County of St. Paul of school sites. Another provided for purchase of land from the C.N.R. Two by-laws were passed to allow Sunday sports, and Sunday movies. Others provided for grants to churches by way of tax discounts.

The day of the milk cow in the back yard was long past, but now it became necessary to decree that raw milk delivered by local dairies had to go as well. So a by-law was passed that only pasteurized milk could be sold in the town of Elk Point.

Flooding had at times been a problem in the spring. The creek whose tree-lined banks provided a beautiful setting for the town, would at times go on a rampage, resulting in flood conditions. As well, flooding would occur on the west side of town, and along the highway. The little creek might have been rebelling at having been manipulated and rerouted to make a left-hand turn along Second Avenue, and then make a quick right-hand turn, continue straight down Second Street West, then turn left again at Railway Avenue, just when it was getting a running start. By redirecting the creek's course it was possible to develop a residential subdivision where once had been the ball park. In any event, Elk Point was subject to floods. The Water Resources Branch was brought in, to be told by mayor and council that most of the water was coming from a source miles beyond the corporate limits of the town of Elk Point, and that they would help to resolve the problem. This resulted in a larger culvert being placed under the bridge on Railway Avenue, and the water being allowed to pass under Highway 41 on to the John Slywka farm. An Easement Agreement was drawn and signed with Mr. Slywka.

And let's never forget that two more bylaws were passed for the control of dogs.

Annual meetings, when held, did not draw large and enthusiastic crowds. Few looked at the section of the Financial Statement which reflected the debenture debt of the town. They came to talk about dogs. Those who were happy with the administration of the town and the provision of services didn't bother to attend.

Now that the Town of Elk Point is nearing the end of the 1970's, this decade might be considered the most important of all, for in it the steps have been taken to ensure that the town will endure, and not go the way of so many small towns, into oblivion.

When the Alberta Government created the Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation to encourage all municipalities to provide cultural and recreational programs and facilities, the town of Elk Point passed the necessary by4aw to establish a Recreation Board. From this has come many worthwhile recreational programs for adults as well as young people, and eventually a fine arena.

When citizens of the town felt the need of a counseling service, which could be obtained if the town had a Preventive Social Services Board and Director, council acceded to this citizen input, and entered into an agreement with the town of St. Paul to provide this service. After one year it was decided to go it on their own, and so Elk Point became the smallest community in Alberta to have Preventive Social Services. It started with the Director's Project and the Teen Centre Project, but has grown to include Pioneer Circle, Meals on Wheels, Parent Nursery, Industrial and Economic Development, and Home Care.

Town Office, Elk Point, Constructed 1967.

One of the best deals Mayor Habiak and his council got for the town of Elk Point was the paving of the streets in 1972. A paving company from Calgary was in the area to pave a highway east of Elk Point to the Salt Plant. So this seemed the ideal time to get the long-sought-after pavement. How fine it would be to be rid of spring pot holes, and summer dust. The result of the agreement with the paving company was the paving of almost five miles of streets. Throughout the duration of the work the people were in a festive mood. All came out to watch when their street was being done. Several old timers were sidewalk superintendents during the whole process. A long-time resident exclaimed, "Suddenly it's exciting to live here!

So now the town had most of the services to meet all the needs for peoples' comfort, health, welfare, and recreational pursuits. But over the years the population had not increased to the degree necessary to maintain all these services. It was then decided that council must set out to get more residents.

It was suggested that Elk Point should become a "people town", and the idea caught on. Attracting secondary industries, other than tourism, did not seem entirely feasible, but attracting people did. Three new subdivisions were developed, with a total of 105 lots, and land and services were sold at cost. The result of this decision exceeded all expectations. All the lots have been sold, and most have a new home on them, and new families in those homes. A development control by-law ensures that the purchaser develops his lot in a given time. Many young professional families have been attracted to the town, and have built beautiful and lasting homes. Others have built houses for re-sale, and are having no difficulty in disposing of them. The result as of the time of this writing is that the town's assessment has risen to $1,967,500, a fairly substantial tax base from which to work. All industrial and commercial lands are sold as well.

The speed with which lots sold during 1975 and 1976 has left the town with the problem of nowhere else to go. Application was made in 1976 for an annexation of three hundred and twenty acres of land for residential development. Recently the Annexation Hearing was held in Elk Point, conducted by the Chairman of the Local Authorities Board, but the outcome of the hearing may not be known for some time.

This year of 1977 will probably see the town building a new lift station and sewage outflow line, to a two-stage disposal system, capable of serving a population of six thousand. Efforts are underway to get a Court House, and to attract at least one more financial institution. Through persistant effort Mayor Habiak, still in the chair after twenty-five years, has obtained a special grant to pave Railway Avenue to highway's standards.

Who did all this on behalf of, or at the bequest of' the people of Elk Point? The towns mayors to date have been mentioned. But there were also the councillors: Peter Yewchin, Frank Miller, Dr. K.C. Miller, Jack Zarowny, Harry Shewchuk, Ralph Riemer, Nick Bochon, Ronald Barwick, Dr. David Didow, Edward Buck, Oron Davis, Jim Ramsbottom, Fred Kryvenchuk, Donald Conrad, Joe Tredger, Paul Stepa, Velma Andrishak, Edward Pankiw, & Alphonse Hurtubise. And in the town office have been Hugh McQuillen, W.E. Wolfe, Alfred Ham, Peter Yewchin, Paul Petrosky, Emil Mudryk, and Velma Andrishak.

No less important have been the town's work force, for many years under the supervision of Mr. Harry Keck. In 1956 William Tokar was hired as Town Maintainance Man. In 1962 Will Knuff was hired to haul garbage, at the rate of fifty cents per household per month. He provided an exemplary service, and was appreciated by all. The children especially loved him, for he would give them rides on his little tractor as he made his appointed rounds.

Cliff Willmer was employed from 1962 to 1965, to be replaced by Frank Johns, who says he came to Elk Point for a visit, was asked to help out with a problem at the water wells for a couple of days, and somehow got lured into a job that has kept him busy day and night since. Later John Zaperniuk joined the crew, and he and Frank worked most amicably together. Mr. Calvin Laughlin also worked for a time.

At present Frank Johns is foreman, and Larry Lecopoy, assistant-foreman, and they have two full-time aides, Roy Scott and Ross Maas. There are many occasions when it is necessary to hire extra men to look after garbage collection, for in 1975 the town bought a truck and garbage compaction unit, and collecting garbage has become another responsibility of the maintenance crew.

The town office is a very pleasant place to work, or to visit, as each householder must do at least once a month. Municipal Administration has become complex to the degree that a staff of two full-time employees is needed. Gone are the days when the secretary-treasurer - for seventeen years, Paul Petrosky - sat in a cold and cramped office with no amenities. Town employees now enjoy the benefits of adequate wages, health care and a pension plan.

The only negative aspect of administration of the town's affairs that comes to mind is the issue of fluoridation. Ten years have passed since the plebiscite, all the engineering work and installation have been completed, and it will probably come about before this book goes to press. But no one is taking bets.

Although much has changed, yet some things remain the same. Those trees planted in 1939 still stand, and surely the desire for beauty with which they were implanted has had an influence on all Elk Point residents since. Almost every home, however modest, is well kept, and yards and gardens are beautiful.

One of the newest sections of Elk Point. Homes,

LEFT TO RIGHT: Canadian Salt Co. house, M. Borowsky, Toronto-Dominion Bank house, P. Stepa.

Mayor Habiak, officiating at the opening of Buckingham House, Oct.29, 1975.

What started in 1939 and became a tradition is the placing of a large Christmas tree on Main Street in early December, gaily bedecked with colored lights. And colored lights span Main Street and Second Avenue. Recent councils have discussed buying commercial Christmas street lighting, but there is a growing feeling that we like things as they are and have been.

The first by-laws passed are now history, replaced by more modern versions. Old No.18 is still on the books, "prohibiting breach by-laws", and No. 37 remains to remind people that they can't keep turkeys, geese, chickens and other fowl in town. By4aw No.48, at the suggestion of the Director of Advisory Services, Alberta Municipal Affairs is kept as a "conversation piece", for it "prohibits unseemly conduct, obscene or offensive language on the streets, dis. charging of guns or other fire arms, setting off fire balls, squibs, crackers, or other fireworks within the village". With or without this by4aw it is unimaginable that the friendly folk of Elk Point would go after one another with guns, and if there were a really memorable occasion where fireworks would be appropriate, a permit could be obtained. But just in case anyone comes across a squib, and can identify same, and develops an uncontrollable urge to fire it, well remember good old No.48.

All in all, the town of Elk Point, the people of Elk Point, secure in the knowledge that they have developed a unique town, and that it has real potential can truly say that this is only the end of the first chapter.

Images: 

 

William Knuff

Spring Flood 1962