Medicine Hat, Alberta Then & Now: Part 2

A continuation of my "Then & Now" photo series of Medicine Hat, Alberta featuring archival and modern day images in side by side comparisons.

1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street

2nd Street decorated with banners and ribbons leading up to Canada's 45th birthday in 1912.

1912 & 2017 - Connaught School

The Duke of Connaught, member of the Royal Family and Governor General of Canada, helps to lay the cornerstone at a ceremony during the construction of Connaught School. More than a century on, Connaught School is still operating and the cornerstone is still in place.

1953 & 2017 - North Railway Street

Quite a few subtle changes along North Railway.

1970s & 2017 - Courthouse

While the courthouse looks pretty much the same, you'll notice that in addition to some landscaping, the back end of the building was actually expanded.

1913 & 2017 - Downtown

You might think that I used Finlay Bridge to line up these two shots, but it's actually Fifth Avenue Church (in the centre of both images) that really showcases the surrounding change.

1912 & 2017 - Fifth Avenue Church

Construction and modern day.

1912 & 2017 - 2nd Street

2nd Street decorated with banners and ribbons leading up to Canada's 45th birthday in 1912.

1910 & 2017 - Hotel Redcliff

The original structure is still visible in the modern day image, however it's clear that a lot has changed with this hotel in Redcliff, Alberta over the last century.

1936 & 2017 - Train Station

A passenger train prepares to load at the Medicine Hat train station in 1936. Not only has passenger service since ended, this area of the train station is now part of the parking lot in 2017.

Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee

Opened in 1950 by rock & roll pioneer Sam Phillips, Sun Studio is an iconic Memphis, Tennessee landmark. Originally known as the Memphis Recording Service, the building was also shared by Phillips' independent Sun Records label. Sun was the first company to record Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash, earning this small studio its legendary status for rock & roll, country, rockabilly, and blues fans around the globe.

Touring this studio, not unlike Motown in Detroit or FAME in Muscle Shoals, you're instantly overwhelmed by the history connected to such an unassuming space. To stand where Elvis, and numerous others, recorded their first singles makes the early days of rock & roll look so humble. And yet, you only need to drive a few miles to Graceland to see what a difference a few decades made. Memphis's Sun Studio is an incredible slice of music history to explore.  

"Million Dollar Quartet". An impromptu jam session broke out between Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash at Sun Studio on December 4, 1956. Often noted as a seminal moment in rock & roll history, the session was recorded and captured four artists together who were radically changing the landscape of popular music in the 1950s.

Inside the iconic studio.

Front office of Sun Studio.

Hiking To The Top of Medicine Hat's Cliffs

For years I've thought about doing this hike, but the truth is that despite being incredibly visible, these cliffs overlooking Police Point Park and the South Saskatchewan River aren't exactly the easiest place to get to in Medicine Hat, Alberta. There are giant gaps, coulees, fences, no trespassing signs, and no actual trails that lead here. But, when you've documented almost every other view in your hometown, you do what needs to be done. The extra effort proved to be worth the reward as I don't know that there's a more impressive place to see Medicine Hat from.