1

Though development of Didsbury was slow during the 1890's the swell in settlement with the turn of the century made it an instant community. Where in 1898 a lone store had stood, by 1901 there were three general stores, a hardware, a hotel, a boarding house, and a full complement of the various services necessary in the era of horses. Didsbury was rapidly becoming the centre of a well settled and increasingly prosperous faming district. During this period the establishment of a Feed Mill was very important to the development of the town and a necessity for the rural community.

2

Main Street Didsbury, Alberta 1905
Circa 1905
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

3

Station and Elevators Didsbury
Circa 1912
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

4

D.M. Sinclair Blacksmith in Didsbury, Alberta
Circa early 1900s
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

5

Alberta Livery
Circa 1910
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

6

McCormick & Cockshutt Implements
Circa early 1900s
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

7

B.J. Smith Dry Goods and Grocries
Circa early 1900s
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

8

Liesmer & Studer Store
Circa Early 1900s
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

9

Dray Load of Williams` Shoes delivered to J.V. Berscht
Circa 1914
Didsbury, Alberta, Canada

Credits:
Didsbury Museum Archives

10

THE GOLE FAMILY

Allen Stoltz Gole was born in Breslau, Ontario (1894-1975) and came to Didsbury in 1921. His parents were George and Mary Whitner Gole & his paternal grandparents were Solomen & Sophia Birnstihl Gole.

His wife Annie Main Dougan was born in Calgary, Alberta (1907-1989). Her parents Kathryn and Samuel Dougan, emigrated from Scotland in 1906 and Annie was the first white child to live in the Bergen area. She had seven siblings, Kathryn, Bessie, Sarah (Sally), William, James, Samantha and Allen.

Allen and Annie were married in 1927. They had 6 children, Grace, Stanley, Ruth, Herbert & James (twins) and Barbara.

11

Solomen & Sophia Birnstihl Gole
Circa 1800s

12

Solomen & Sophie Gole's Family
Circa 1800s

13

Anne Gole
Circa early 1900s

14

THE GROWTH OF THE FEED BUSINESS

In 1921 Allen came west to work with his uncle Manesseh Weber who owned the Rosebud Flour Mill, as a steam engineer. Manesseh Weber was the son of Andrew Weber & Veronica Shantz Weber. The original flour mill was burnt down in 1910 and rebuilt in 1911.