Grovedale, Alberta

History

• 1928: William and Mary Gabler settle in Grovedale.
• 1934: Ferry service commences by donations. T.E. Cooke owned and operated the ferry. A ferryman's house was built on the bank and occupied by Otto Sorely from 1934 to 1945. He was paid with food and supplies from the people who used the ferry, as there was no government wage.
• 1939: Post office and general store open. Farmers start growing alfalfa in their fields.
• 1945: First school opened with a class of 14 children.
• 1954: O'Brien Provincial Park was created and named after Dr. L.J. O'Brien, Grovedale's first forest ranger in 1932.
• 1958: Electrical lines reach Grovedale.
• 1958: Bridge crossing the Wapiti River opens. Ribbon cutting was held on November 28, 1958. Lumber companies had erected bridges in the past, but each spring they were swept away. Proponents of the bridge promoted the importance of it in the development a short truck-route link with Vancouver and the United States.
• 1963: Another school comes to Grovedale, from a small community 9 kilometres south of Grovedale.
• 1960: A new two room school was built on the present site.
• 1967: The two room school was enlarged and renamed Penson Elementary School.
• 1970s: Natural gas lines reach Grovedale.
• 1975: Grovedale Community Centre was built.
• 1976: Landry Heights subdivision was approved.

  Climate