Welcome to Mile 978 west of Winnipeg – the name wasn’t exactly a warm welcome to passengers stepping off the train into a breath-taking valley surrounded by never-ending forests, foothills and mountains jutting out of the green off in the distance.

The name changed to Hinton after William Pittman Hinton in March of 1911, and started off the village that, a hundred years later, is celebrating its centennial. 

William Hinton was the general passenger agent for the Grand Trunk Railway. Although he never actually stopped in the village of Hinton for more than a lay-over on a trip to Jasper in 1912, it was customary at that time for newly developed villages along the rail lines to be named after railway managers. Thus, William Hinton’s name was bestowed upon the new village. 

Hinton was incorporated as a town in 1956, and the community celebrated its 50-year celebration of becoming a town in 2006. The 2011 100-year celebration marks the beginnings of the little village that has grown to almost 10,000 citizens. 

Lorraine MacKay, president of the Hinton Historical Tracks and Trails Society says the village boomed with the establishment of the Hinton Collieries in 1927 to 1928. 

The history of coal mining around Hinton is dated back to the 1900s, when local resident Jack Craig’s wife showed him coal deposits around the village. 

Coal became a major industry in the village until a mine disaster claimed the lives of five men on March 30, 1938. At 4:15 p.m. that day, an underground gas explosion killed miners Peitro Phillipino, George Blycha, William Ilecka, Martin Sprela and Tony Patushuk. The Collieries never re-opened, but coal continued to be mined into the 1970s, when three mines were operating. Today two coal mines are still in operation, with plans for a third to open in the next few years.

In 1956 the first pulp mill was established in Hinton, spurring the village to be incorporated as a town. The mill brought many jobs that are still there today. 

Hinton’s first park ranger was Stan Park, who began at his post in 1911. 

Once the pulp mill was established, the forestry industry experienced a boom in the area. Small lumber mills also developed around the village.

MacKay says that throughout all that industry, one has remained constant in the town. 

“One thing that has always kept Hinton going is the guides and outfitters,” she said. That business still flourishes today. 

The rail history of Hinton, although it began in 1911, has continued to this day. The Grand Trunk Pacific was the first railway to push through the Hinton region. It was followed three years later by the Canadian Northern Railway. Between 1919 and 1926 the railway didn’t actually go through Hinton. It instead was routed through the Valley district, which at that time was known as Bliss. In 1926, the federal government took over, amalgamating the two lines into one Canadian National (now CN) line, and re-routed it through the present-day Hinton area. 

MacKay says there are many reminders of Hinton’s past still remaining in the area. A tressel bridge that was constructed between 1910 and 1912 was built in the area that used to be known as Prairie Creek. A small construction camp was built to house workers. 

“The bridge is still used... by CN,” she said. “Amazing, how it was constructed over 100 years ago and it’s still good.”

Some families that were here as Hinton became a village still have present-day descendants in town. The Woodley brothers, for example, came to town in 1912. The two would meet the train every day, and welcome visitors to the community. It’s where Roy Woodley met his future wife, Dora, who had travelled with her friend as far west as they could on the train. 

Another common name is Berry. The family arrived in 1912 as well. The Moberly family still has relatives in Hinton. They homesteaded along what is now Hwy 40. A photo of John Moberly exists with Hinton’s first automobile. 

Perhaps one of the most recognizable names in Hinton is William A. Switzer, a former fighter pilot and pharmacist. He was the town’s first mayor. He began his term in 1957, and went on to become a MLA. Many landmarks in Hinton, including a provincial park, bear his name. While Switzer has long since passed, his family members remain in the area. 

Several businesses in the area remain as staples of the community, such as the IGA, which was owned by the Freson brothers. It arrived in the area in the 1950s, and is still owned by the family. It began as a small butcher shop and grew into the Freson Markets. The local pharmacy, Switzer Drugs, which was run by William A. Switzer, just recently changed into a Rexall Drugs. 

The oldest remaining building in Hinton is the train station. The building was recently removed from CN property and donated to the Historical Tracks and Trails Society. See page 4 for details on the society’s plans for the newly renovated station.

While the history of the town is well documented it isn’t the only record of human travel through the area. The history of Hinton actually goes back well before 1911.

David Thompson may have been one of the first Europeans to pass through. He set up camp near Brule on his journey to the Athabasca Pass. Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors also travelled through the town to plot the course of the railway. Artifacts dating back 4,000 to 8,000 years have been located in the Hinton area and could find a home in a new museum.

CN and VIA Rail still pass through Hinton. Passengers can still get off and enjoy all the community has to offer, and CN cars stop to fill up at the pulp mill and the Obed Mine. 

Hinton’s history has a lot in common with surrounding communities such as Edson, which is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. 

“We’ve got so much common history,” MacKay said. 

Edson was named for Edson J. Chamberlain, the general manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, also in 1911. The town acted as a rail hub for coal cars on their way in and out of the Alberta Coal Branch, as well as a supply hub as the railroad expanded into the west. 

See below for information on what Hinton has planned for the upcoming year to celebrate its 100 year anniversary.  

2011 Hinton Centennial Events

Hinton’s official 100th anniversary is to be celebrated starting in March. The community, in partnership with the Historical Tracks and Trails Society, has a number of events planned to coincide with the anniversary of when the village was named Hinton after William Pittman Hinton in 1911.

February: Hinton’s annual Lantern Festival will celebrate a hundred years in the community this year at Maxwell Lake. The event is to be held on Family Day, which is Feb. 21, when school children will create paper lanterns with flameless candles to display. The Lantern Festival is hosted by the Hinton Committee for Arts and Culture.

April: The Historical Tracks and Trails Society will be having a booth at the annual Home and Leisure show, set for April 29 and 30 at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre.

July: On July 8 and 9, a Trapper’s Rendezvous will be held at the Dr. Duncan Murray Rec Centre. The rendezvous will be a partnership between the Alberta Trapper’s Association and the local Hinton chapter. Hinton was chosen to host the event to commemorate the David Thompson bi-centennial. The event will feature an outdoor man show, trades show and more, all held outside. The Friday evening will have demonstrations, guest speakers and a barbecue. On Saturday there will be a banquet and dance. Organizers say they are hoping to make it a big event this year. 

August: The Athabasca River Voyageur Canoe Brigade will launch from Jasper for a four-day adventure on the river, finally ending in Brule. The Historical Tracks and Trails Society is planning a homecoming for the paddlers in conjunction with the brigade.