Buried Treasures

Elnora, a village in central Alberta, was first organized on January 2, 1908. Originally named “Stewartville” after the first settlers, it was renamed to Elnora, a combination of the names Elinor and Nora, the wives of the postmasters. The opening of a post office the following year required a unique name, leading to the change. Today, Elnora is a peaceful hamlet with a population of 288, according to the 2021 Census.

Pine Lake, an unincorporated community in Red Deer County, got its name from the adjacent lake. The lake was originally known as Ghost Pine Lake due to a native legend. The Pine Lake post office opened in 1895, and telephone lines arrived in 1912. On July 14, 2000, Pine Lake was hit by a devastating F3 tornado. Today, Pine Lake is home to several campgrounds and cottages, making it a popular destination for summer activities.

Huxley is a hamlet located approximately 160 km northeast of Calgary. The first school, named Ashcroft, was built in 1907, named after John Courtland Ash, the area’s first rancher. The community was named after Thomas Henry Huxley, an English biologist. Today, Huxley is a small hamlet with a population of 75, according to the 2021 Census.