Paging through the history books

By Jamie Rieger

I love reading the Classics. Shakespeare, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, and the list goes on and on.

I haven’t picked up a book for pleasure reading in a long time. Kinda sad, isn’t it, especially for somebody who always had her nose in a book growing up. In fact, I read before bed and tuck the book under my pillow before falling asleep. Sometimes,, there would be two or three books under there. Maybe that’s why I was always a light sleeper and early riser!

Anyway, I was flipping through another historical book the other day. Not a novel, but a community history book. I think this is on e of the last ones for southeast Alberta for me to read. Wagon Trails and Pioneer Tales, from Bowell to Bowmanton is what I am poring over now.

I have flipped through it in the past, but had never actually sat down and read more than one or two family histories.

This time, I’m giving it a thorough read and thus far, am really enjoying it; especially the histories of the early settlers whose namesakes are still living in the area.

All of the other similar books for the region I have found as equally fascinating. Must be the history buff in me!

The best parts of these books for me, are the stories of the settlers, the early industry, and the building of the community; how everybody pitched in to get a job done in ways we do not often see today.

Man, we complain about putting in a hard day’s work! We have no idea how hard they worked to break the fields…and their steeds.

So, tonight, maybe while I watch my ball game, I will be curled up on the couch, paging through a bit more of local history.

I doubt whether this book will end up under my pillow though. It is about the size of an encyclopedia…Britannica even.

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