Brighton: Memories of an Edmonton neighbourhood: 1948 - 2003, by Ronnie Morris
Date: 1948-2003
About fifty-five years ago the new subdivision of Brighton was launched. My next-door neighbor was one of the first to buy. One of the enticements to settle here south of 101 Ave. was the promise by the developer, "the old combo garage, gas stations, and coffee shop" directly across from his house, was scheduled to be demolished. Another promise was a paved main thoroughfare and bus route, between old Forest Heights and the all new Brighton.
We moved into the corner house next to Ralph and Noreen the summer of 1961 and it's been a slice! A gregarious individual, he knew everyone in the neighborhood. Noreen and Edna became fast friends. Their five kids and our four, roughly the same age, accepted each other as neighborhood pals real quick.
Ralph immediately apprised me of the promise that he got when he bought, "that the old garage across the street was scheduled to be demolished." Actually, I thought the service across the street was a very convenient one.
The original objection to the old garage was it might reduce values of the new homes in the new development of Brighton. My neighbor worried needlessly. The homes were ten years old and most people very happy. The whole area matured. Forest Heights and Brighton became very desirable locales, very few moved on. In the meantime house values rose modestly, the big rise was yet to come.
Ralph still related the promised demolition of the garage across the street to any one who'd listen. Well some who came looking for people about to retire and willing to sell, often did.
I think the garage story had become something of a legend with Ralph, after all a promise is a promise. Besides, during all the years he'd been a regular customer of mechanical services it offered and bought his gas there. Obviously he had nothing against the leasees, 'twas the owners of the real estate that put him off.
The two years ago, the last leasee/owner, a well-known oil company, shut it down. Ralph was not overly jubilant, it has been generally publicized, and former gas stations were obliged to clean up the site where the business was located upon vacating. Geologists argued the clean up could take years.
Ed the mechanic operating the garage in back, decided to move his operation. Business slowed when the gas sales stopped. Ed was told he could stay, but when the owners begin to demolish the site, he's gonzo!
With such long-term tenure guaranteed??? Ed found a suitable location, only blocks away in a matter of weeks. The old garage across the street was completely shut down. Ralph's comments had the same familiar theme, "Well it's about time. I've been waiting for that friggin' garage to be demolished for fifty years, I guess I can put up with a short wait till the deed is done."
The old garage had been repainted when the well-known oil company took over. They had it painted a nice clean white, with the roof overhang a bright blue. But that plain white side of the windowless wall, well it was a challenge to nocturnal graffiti Picassos. Huge stylistic letters and cartoon like impressionistic figures appeared in increasing numbers.
For months a lone employee came once a week to check the gauges, the fan, and pipes embedded in the soil. All of which purportedly released the underground gas contamination. Ernie, the man monitoring the apparatus, befriended Ralph, and kept him up to date on the progress.
One night a couple of weeks ago, beset by an urgent urge to relieve myself, I happened to look out at the montage on the wall across the street, and just about soiled my pyjama bottoms.
Geez!!! I thought I saw a dinosaur through the lace curtain. It was a giant Back Hoe, with its bucket raised over the old garage, ready to strike. It was still on the flat be trailer that obviously delivered it for next morning's work.
I thought about phoning Ralph, but decided naw, he'll get such more kick outa calling me. I went back to bed, but it was a while before I slept!
p.s. Brighton is south from 101 st Ave and east from 84 St. to 81 St. Really only about two and a half blocks. St. Kevin's School and playground took up west side of 84 Street. All the homes were built by developers Dickenson and Johnson, as a subdivision of only five models. A two story, an bungalow, a split lever, a 2 nd two story, a 2 nd bungalow, then repeated on the existing available lots.
Our tax notices till recently listed the area as Brighton. It's likely morphed into Forest Heights, no doubt because of its size.
But don't try to tell that to the denizens!