A story about Edmonton's "Rat Hole" -- a memorable Edmonton Underpass, by Nan Morrison

Date: 1927

The Rat Hole was built, starting in 1927. At the time of planning, the Clark Lumber company willingly donated a sliver of land off their north east corner of property in order that the first tunnel could be built at an angle; from south of 104th Ave. below the CNR tracks to 105th Ave.

Pictures available at Edmonton Archives, #EA 75 192 and EA 75 2, both show the W. H. Clark and Co. Ltd. Building adjacent to the building of the 109th St. Subway.

It was not uncommon, for employees of W. H. Clarke Lumber Co. Ltd. to occasionally see a large truck enter from the south entrance, and hit the overhead cement abutment. In no time flat, traffic would be backed up. Eventually a tow truck might be needed.

The Clark Lumber yard horse, an 1800 lb. Belgium stallion, would saunter out the company yard gate about once a year - stopping and surprising traffic as they came out of the Rat Hole.

The Rat Hole was not a pleasant place for ladies to walk in. Traditionally cars honked, startling myself. As after I was married, I lived on 111 St. and 108 Ave. and certainly used the Rat Hole for a route to walk to and from on Saturday morning during hunting season when my husband and father would be out hunting. Ladies in that era always wore nylons and dresses. After a heavy rain, passing cars would splash mud on my dress and nylons. Many years later, a raised curb was installed to somewhat reduce the damage from cars splashing the pedestrians. I was never at ease walking through the rat hole!

A few Saturday mornings, I chose not to enter the Rat Hole, and instead, crossed over the CNR tracks, anywhere from 111 St. to 109 St., zig sagging along the eleven different sets of tracks railway cars sat on. The odd time, (after determining the rail cars were stopped) I would dart under the rail cars, - to the next line to cross. I found this easier than walking to work Saturday mornings through the rat hole.