Stirling Agricultural Village

Stirling Agricultural Village
National Historic Site of Canada

Replica pioneer home and Bishop's Storehouse to the left
Province Alberta
Elevation 935 m (3,068 ft)
Area 2.64 km2 (1.02 sq mi)
Designated as a NHSC 1997
Origin of name John A. Stirling
Founder -Theodore Brandley
-LDS Church
Architect Theodore Brandley
Established 1899
Year built 1899
Architectural style -Plat of Zion
-Victorian
Important events Stirling Settler Days
Website Village of Stirling

Stirling Agricultural Village is a National Historic Site of Canada, and was listed as one of only three communities in Canada designated as a National Historic Site because of the community’s well preserved settlement pattern that follows the Plat of Zion model.[1] The Michelsen Farmstead was the focus of the community, and is now a totally restored museum, listed as a Provincial Historic Site in 2001.[2] The Galt Historic Railway Park is another popular museum located in this historic site.

History

1938 Parade float celebrating Settler Days, commemorating the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The 2nd LDS chapel in the background.

Stirling was founded on May 5, 1899 by Theodore Brandley. The village was one of two communities that owed its existence to a partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Charles A. Magrath of the North Western Coal and Navigation Company,[3] and is one of only three communities designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Stirling was named after John A. Stirling, Managing Director of The Trusts, Executors and Securities Corporation of London, which owned shares in the Alberta Coal and Railway Company.

After arriving at the Stirling siding, Theodore Brandley quickly started planning the lay-out of the village. The townsite was made up of one square mile (640 acres), then divided into lots of 10 acres (40,000 m2); each with a surveyed road around the entire area with a lane running north and south, dividing it into two parcels. The parcels were then again divided, east and west, making four lots, each 2.5 acres (10,000 m2), giving the residents room to build homes, barns and shelters for animals, with large gardens. Theodore planned the townsite after the Plat of Zion,[4] which Stirling still follows today, and is recognized as the most well-preserved, Canadian example of the Plat of Zion. For this reason, Stirling is known as Stirling Agricultural Village[5]

Museums and attractions

Michelsen Farmstead a Provincial Historic Site of Alberta & museum, located in the village.

On the east entrance of Main Street is a newly built Information Kiosk made to replicate that of an older Victorian style Pioneer home found throughout Stirling and area. In the kiosk are historical markers and a map that shows many sites of interest throughout the National Historic Site of Stirling.[6]

Museums

Local attractions

Events

See also

References

  1. Parks Canada (June 2007). "Village of Stirling National Historic Site". Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  2. Village of Stirling. "Michelsen Farmstead". Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  3. North Western Coal and Navigation Company Retrieved on 2007-08-02
  4. Plat Zion of the city of Zion, by Joseph Smith, Jr. Retrieved on 2007-08-02
  5. Parks Canada Village of Stirling National Historic Site of Canada, Parks Canada, accessed 2008-02-26.
  6. Parks Canada-Village of Stirling http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/ab/sites/stirling_e.asp
  7. Galt Historic Railway Park http://www.galtrailway.com/
  8. Michelsen Farm http://waltonfeed.com/stirling/history/vtour/mfarm.html
  9. William T. Ogden House Stirling Haunted Mansion. Retrieved on 2007-08-02
  10. William T. Ogden House Lost Frontier Mini-Railway. Retrieved on 2007-08-02

External links