Eye on the Esplanade: Morning tours beat the heat
By SALLY SEHN on June 15, 2023.
For a second year in a row, we are excited to announce a new historic walking tour is being added to the roster for this summer. There are now three tours available on Saturdays from late June through the end of September. These include Historic First Street SE, the Historic Railroad District and now, Historic First Street SW. This summer’s tours will be starting out in the mornings at 10 a.m. in hopes of cooler temperatures for your sight-seeing experience. The newest addition, Historic First Street SW, will be an extra comfortable stroll thanks to the impressive canopy of old trees shading this historic street. The tour has been in the works for nearly three years and is finally geared up to start on July 8. Participants will meet by the law office at 78 First Street SW. Your guide for the SW is local resident Louisa Smith. Not only is Louisa a member of the Heritage Resources Working Group with the City of Medicine Hat, but she has also resided in one of the historic houses featured on this tour. Having lived in this historic area for many years, she offers a personal insight into the First Street SW neighbourhood. Her passion for heritage homes is so avid that in 2017 she threw a 100th birthday party for her cherished historical residence! Join Louisa to learn about the architecture of the historic homes and about the folks who once lived in them. Discover how these early settlers shaped our community. Hear about the triumphs and tragedies, as well as the scandals and honours. Hear tales of a time when paid truant officers roamed the streets looking for schoolchildren playing hooky, and when unwed mothers-to-be were secretly ushered out of town to discourage shameful gossip. Find out which historic home was constructed for an accomplished English ship builder who gave up the sea to start a new life as a prairie rancher. Medicine Hat can be proud that an Order of Canada recipient lived on this street for most of her life. Each historic walking tour is subtly different as it reflects a tour guide’s unique passion, enthusiasm and memories. For more information and to register, visit tixx.ca. The Walking tours are only $20 and includes a quality souvenir booklet. Sally Sehn is a past Member of the Heritage Resources Committee and a current historical tour guide for Esplanade Experiences and Events, City of Medicine Hat. 10-9
