Drayton Valley, Alberta, experienced a boom that rivalled Dawson City during the Klondike gold rush. The town emerged from humble hay fields in a quiet farming community nestled in the foothills of the Rockies, 90 miles southwest of Edmonton. This wasn't just any rush; around 5,000 people flocked to the area, marking the most intense case of oil fever in Canadian history.

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Prior to the oil boom, Drayton Valley was a quiet community centred around two modest churches, a quaint post office, and a humble two-classroom school. These institutions served as the heart of the town, where families gathered for worship, exchanged letters, and educated their children. Life moved at a leisurely pace, and the community thrived in its simplicity.

 

Back in the day, when gas was 20c a gallon, the average home was under $20,000; the oil patch was where the action was. With the sudden surge of oil exploration and the influx of eager workers, Drayton Valley underwent a dramatic transformation practically overnight. As word spread of opportunities for work and quick cash, young farmers and immigrants flocked to the oilfields, ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.

 

The once-cozy churches found themselves overflowing with new faces, the post office was inundated with letters from afar, and the school could barely contain the swelling number of students seeking education in this newfound land of opportunity. Overnight, it seemed, the sleepy hamlet was overrun with newcomers. The mud became a constant companion. It was considered stickier than anywhere else and clung stubbornly to boots and buildings alike.

 

The town's infrastructure struggled to keep pace with the influx of people. Most people had nowhere else to live; some slept wherever they could. Even before the new hotel officially opened, men slept in the partially finished beer parlour while others slept in unfinished washrooms and the bank vault. Skid shacks popped up like mushrooms after rain, offering shelter to those who had come seeking their fortune. Yet despite the chaos, there was an undeniable sense of excitement in the air, a feeling that anything was possible in this new frontier.

 

In the face of challenges, Drayton Valley flourished. It became a self-governing town by 1958 and boasted the highest population in the province. By 1959, the town's future looked promising, as the Pembina field was projected to yield oil for the next forty to fifty years. Drayton Valley is not merely a town; it represents a significant chapter in our history, characterized by pioneering spirit, muddy streets, and the thrilling pursuit of oil wealth.