I moved to Calgary on May 29th, 1948 to 2424 7 Ave NW. The area Houndsfield Heights – Briar Hill did not exist. It was all wild prairie used as grazing land. The farm was located about 22 St and 9 Ave and the land from 24 St to 19th St and 9 Ave to 16th Ave belonged to the farm. Sumac Rd was a slough created by a stream coming from the University area which ended in a sewer at 22 St and 7th Ave.
The city limits were 24th St and we were called Grand Trunk (19th St – 24th St and 7th Ave to the river. Transportation was a street car we called “The Dinky” and it ran in a loop up 10th St to 5th Ave west to 14th St north to 8th Ave West to 19th St and then made an S bend to 7th Ave then west to 24th St, then South to what is now Kensington Road. It was just prairie there was no name.
Schools were Bow View Elementary grades one to six, now known as Queen Elizabeth, Hillhurst Junior High School is still here on 14th St and 8th Ave. Grand Trunk Elementary which closed in the late 1940’s is still there just off 24th St on 5th Ave. There was a church on the same corner back then, I am not sure whether it was a Baptist or United church.
I can tell you more about the surrounding areas if you would like. My wife and I moved into our present house in 1965. Both of our children attended Briar Hill School and lived here until they married. The biggest changes since moving here were LRT and the present changes to the North Hill Shopping Center.
I have an aerial map of Calgary from 1924 that shows the area pretty well the way it was when I came to Calgary. If there is anything I can tell you please let me know.
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