Amelia School Traditional Cache
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I was in this area geocaching myself when I noticed this obscure little sign placed at the edge of a farmers field facing the road. The sign designates the site where the former Amelia School once stood.
I found the following information in a brochure concerning the Victoria Trail which is an interesting piece of Alberta history. Just east from this spot you will find the Victoria Trail that runs from Highway 38 to the Victoria Settlement Provincial Historic Site. Take the time to explore it.
Samuel Cook arrived in the Partridge Lake district, near Fort Saskatchewan, from New Brunswick in 1894. The next year, he rafted down the North Saskatchewan River to the point where it was joined by a small watercourse, now known as the Redwater River. Here he settled, with his wife Amelia and their family. They carved out a farm from the bush, and when the Dominion Survey was finally completed, he registered their claim and received title to the NE, SE and SW quar- ters of section 36, Township 56, Range 21, West of the 4th Meridian, in 1905.
The Cook family had a considerable impact on the area. In early days, their home was known as a “stopping place”, where travellers could find a hospitable welcome. Sam Cook also operated a ferry service, using a raft to cross back and forth over the North Saskatchewan River. The establishment and naming of a post office at their home in 1907 formalised the local description of the vicinity as “Cookville”. Samuel Cook was the first postmaster. When Sam and Amelia moved to the Redwater area in 1909, the post office was relocated to the home of their daughter Mildred and son-in-law Samuel Hanlon, on section 2-57-21-W4, just to the north-west. The Cookville post office continued in operation until 1925.
Another local name came from the Cook family. Amelia School (1909) was named after Mrs. Cook by Jack Karran, husband of eldest daughter Maggie May Cook and owner of SW 1-57-21-W4, located immediately to the north of the Sam Cook homestead. The general area became known as the Amelia District, with the Amelia Greek Catholic Church (1911, near the school), and the Amelia store (active until the 1990s) perpetuating the name.
Road can be busy and shoulders are narrow. Please park at waypoint shown and make the short walk to the cache.
As always bring something to write with. A pen or pencil should be in every cachers geo-toolbox.
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