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Redwater main street. Before the bowling alley and the Roxy theatre were built.
Circa 1949
Redwater, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
N. Woycenko and J.N. Woycenko
With permission from George and Edward Woycenko, sons of J. N. Woycenko

23

Development was moving at a very quick pace. On September 26, 1950 it was reported that 635 oil wells were now active in Redwater. Just a short time later, on October 10, 1950 that number had grown to 665 oil wells operating. Even the Town of Redwater was not off limits in the insatiable quest for oil. Rigs soon invaded the community and oil wells were drilled in all corners of Redwater. All over town producing wells sprang up and rigs could be seen everywhere. Mable Cook, commented on the impact this had on the community and so eloquently captured the essense of the oil boom.

"There were oil wells everywhere, when you went out at night the sky was lit up with flares from all the oil derricks; there was even an oil derrick in the schoolyard! I could count 6 derricks just standing outside my door in every direction. It was exciting but scary. It was great for the people selling land and making profit and progress."