We first saw Briar Hill in January 1953, when we drove to the Glenco Construction Sales Office which was located on 16th Ave and 20th St. We ordered our house from the sales representative, Mel Cranford. After much dickering about lot construction information and costly extras, we made a deal. We gave him a down payment of $2000 and had a huge mortgage of $8000. Even our lost was $300 extra due to Mr. Penderson who owned all of Briar Hill originally, but held back eight lots. One of them was ours.
Genco Construction had their lumber yard and pre-fab shop where Briar Hill School is now.
The started our house in March, 1953, but did not have it completed until June 30, 1953. During construction, we visited our new home but had to park where Motel Village is now, put on rubber boots and slop through the mid to check out house.
When we moved in, there was no 16th Ave., no Trans Canada Highway, no Motel Village, no McMahon Stadium, no North Hill Shopping Center. The closest pay hone to us was at 16th Ave and 21st St.
Our daughter Laurie was born September 15, 1953. As she grew up, she attended kindergarten at the Briar Hill Community Center. We tried to get traffic lights at 19th St and 14th Ave but the city said too much money. Next she went to Briar Hill School, then Branton Junior High and William Aberhard High School, finally Holy Cross Hospital to become a nurse.
She also attended Brownies and Girl Guides at the Briar Hill Community Center. Jean was laso a Brownie then a Guide leader at the community. She then became commission for north west Calgary.
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