Road trip to Alberta - part II

A few miles from the farm lies the little community of Dickson. A cemetery, a church, the old high school (now a municipal building), a general store, and a few houses comprise the town.

The general store is the crown jewel of the town for it is now a museum. This is the very general store that the Raun family patronized during Ellen's growing up years!

Much of it remains exactly as it was when Ellen was a child. The cash register, Post Office cubicles, cheese cutter, and coffee mill were likely touched by Raun hands. How my fingers were itching to caress every item in that store! (Signs abound warning 'Please do not touch.') There is even a record keeping system which tells what was bought by whom and who owes what on credit. Ellen was in her element, pointing out items she remembers as a child.



The Campbell Soup company made these labels specifically for the museum. Oxtail soup and Mock Turtle Soup are no longer offered!


Remember Mrs. Olsen, the snooty shop owner of the general store in Little House on the Prairie? Well, apparently the family that owned the Dickson general store 'put on airs' also. They lived above the store and it wasn't until the general store became a museum that Ellen was able to peek into their upstairs home. Some items are genuine, having been donated by the Christiansen family. Others are simply period pieces.


Regardless of their social status, it was a small home to raise a family of four children.

We continued our 'tour' of Dickson by visiting the cemetery where Ellen's dad, Neils, is buried along with one of her brothers, Adolf.
Last, we ate lunch at the Danish Canadian National Museum and Gardens, a gem in the middle of nowhere! I ordered Rullepolse, spicy rolled pork on rye bread. And look at our gorgeous desserts. I must say, my Danish genes stood up & took notice as I ate this delicious food!



The round balls are Ebelskiver, spherical shaped Danish pancakes. Elda bought Glynn a couple of Ebelskiver pans. Come to our home one weekend morning for a Danish breakfast!

Stay tuned for more travel commentary in Road trip to Alberta - part III, coming soon!