North of the River celebrates its 100th year with a birthday bash later this month.
The Riverside Meadows Community Association hosts the 2011 Village of North Red Deer centennial event on Aug. 27 at the North Cottage School and Koinonia Christian School at 5704 60th St.
Centennial committee chairwoman Shirley Hocken said the party is geared to bring the community together while retaining some of the history of the area.
Before amalgamating with the City of Red Deer in 1949, North Red Deer was a village from 1911 to 1947. Today’s communities of Riverside Meadows, Fairview, Oriole Park and Highland Green were part of the village.
Local historian Michael Dawe said North Red Deer has always been a little different from the south, with industrial roots. In the early days, the large northside employers were the Great West Lumber Co. and the Canadian Pacific Railway.
“It was kind of a working man’s community,” said Dawe. “There was a lot of hard-working, down-to-earth people there. There was not much in the way of what you called retail businesses north of Red Deer. There were a few but not the numbers you would have seen in downtown Red Deer.”
Dawe said the north continues to have its own flavour from the rest of the city. He said there is a strong sense of a neighbourhood.
“People are actively interested in their community,” he said, noting the Riverside Meadows Community Association is one of the strongest neighbourhood groups in Red Deer.
Dawe will share history and anecdotes as the master of ceremonies at the party at 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the North Cottage School. Following the speeches, there will be birthday cake, musical entertainment and children’s activities.
The North Cottage School also marks its 100 year anniversary in 2011. The old school will be open to the public during the festivities.
“It will be treated like a picture museum,” said Hocken. “There will be pictures on display from the early days.”
Events start at 1 p.m. and run until 5 p.m. Parking is limited on site.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com