We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and mostly it's for the community we have been able to build this first year. In January we were able to receive a community vibrancy grant from the City of Medicine Hat. We used it to create an evening of entertainment and education at the Monarch Theatre. On September 15th we invited some local historians to speak with Brian about the history of Medicine Hat. They shared some fantastic stories about our city and our audience was very interested in what they had to say. Sit back and relax as we present some of the facinating stories of notable figures, historical artifacts and intriguing tales that connect our community and our citizens.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and guests
00:30 The story of Mayor Brown and his controversial history
01:00 The discovery and significance of the Benwell Tablet
01:29 Research into Major Benwell's military service and controversies
01:51 The story of Nancy the grizzly bear and local family tales
02:21 Connections between Jesse James and Medicine Hat
02:50 The story of Lord Beresford and the ranching history
03:20 Family stories of early settlers and explorers
03:50 The history of local brickyards and industry
03:58 Closing remarks and upcoming publications


The Tale of Mervyn Brown
Sally shares an unexpected story about Mayor Mervyn Brown, who served from 1918 to 1921. Initially depicted as an exceptional leader, further research revealed a darker side. After his death, it was discovered that Brown had been involved in serious allegations while living in England, including assaults on chambermaids, which were hushed up by influential friends.
"This is a case of a man who did not seem as he appeared," Sally reflects, highlighting the complexities of historical figures.

The Benwell Tablet
Next, William introduces us to Major Ernest George Benwell, who commissioned a memorial tablet honouring the men of the Third Canadian Mounted Rifles during World War I. Despite its noble beginnings, controversy surrounded the tablet’s display due to accusations against Benwell, leading to its eventual placement at City Hall instead of the originally intended church.
"When lawyers get involved, you know you're in trouble," William quips, emphasizing the tangled web of community dynamics.

The Early Days of Medicine Hat
Malcolm introduces us to the beginnings of Medicine Hat through his family stories of his Great Grandfather James Hargrave who took the train from Portage la Prairie to Maple Creek. From there, he rode out to Medicine Hat Coulee where surveyors were looking to build a bridge. As Malcolm says "I heard bits and pieces of it, and actually when I went to university and studied history of Western Canada, it started to click that, hmm, my family's actually in this."

These stories are apart of the history of Medicine Hat and made the city we call home today. We invite you to watch and listen to the whole live show recorded in front of an audience of enthusiastic history buffs. We want to thank the City of Medicine Hat, The Medicine Hat Historical Society, and the Monarch Theatre for their contributions to helping us create this special live event.

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