History of Magrath… Telling the Story

Magrath

"You can find Magrath in any good atlas, but the real Magrath is not a dot on the map-it is a place in the heart. The history of Magrath cannot be told in a litany of official events and statistics.  It is told in the lives of its people, of those who live here or have lived here.”  (David Bly, author of “Power of a Dream”) 

Taking on the perspective of historians we examined the history of Magrath and wrote a story, “By the Kids, For the Kids.” We also re-told the story of  Magrath as told by “David Bly”  in “Power of  the Dream”, a collection of photographs and stories of Magrath through the 20th century. 

 

Magrath A story by The Kids for The Kids

Magrath the Garden City was once a “bald spot” but was soon transformed with trees, flowers, lawns and gardens. Mormon settlers from Ohio and Idaho settled Magrath in 1899; they set up the irrigation system along the Pothole Creek. Pothole Creek started out as a steam, and was widened with the greater need of water. Magrath was named after Charles A. Magrath an instrumental part in the creation of the irrigation system. They Canadian Northwest Irrigation Company, organized in 1892 by E.T. Galt of Lethbridge first conceived the St. Mary’s irrigation project as a commercial venture.

The railway was a very important part of Magrath’s history. Workers hired by Charles A. Magrath worked hard on the Pothole Spur built through the town of Magrath in  November of 1990. Grain elevators were soon added along the railway. Magrath still has 5 elevators, but sadly the 1918 Parrish and Heimbecker elevator was demolished in July 2006. Magrath would not be here if it weren’t for agriculture. The McIntyre Ranch is the largest deeded Ranch in Canada (77 000 acres) and the oldest ranch in  Magrath area.

When visiting Magrath by sure to check out the museum. Once located in the basement of the Magrath Public Library which was built in 1997, it now has it’s own location on Main Street. The Museum is a place of history and heritage. In the museum you will find many historical treasures.

The bell that hangs over the library has been apart of Magrath for over 100 years.