Key Number:	HS 19659
Site Name:	Old Bezanson Townsite
Other Names:
Site Type:	1802 - Town

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			71	2	6

Address:
Number:
Street:
Avenue:
Other:
Town:
Near Town:	Grande Prairie

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:
Storeys:
Foundation:
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:
Exterior:	N/A
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Located on a high level terrace above the Smoky River, the original Bezanson townsite consists of several building remains revealed by building pads, linear mound outlines, cellar depression and pit features. Although overgrown, the building sites have not been disturbed since abandonment.
Condition:	N/A
Alterations:	N/A

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Established townsite	1908/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
N/A
Owner:	Owner Date:
County of Grande Prairie No. 1	1986/11/03

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Historical Significance: A.M. Bezanson was a significant promoter and booster of the Peace River country who encouraged settlement and economic development of the area. By 1908, he had established a townsite which he hoped would become an important community based on an anticipated rail crossing of the river at that location. The railroad crossed elsewhere, the townsite fell into decline and was abandoned by about 1915. Archaeological Significance: The site exhibited a good diversity of remains. Among the buildings located were Bezanson's house, Morrison's store, a residence, town livery stables, a barn, two unidentified structures and several possible privies. Most of the structures had good geographic separation and associated refuse deposits of good archaeological potential. * * * A.M. Bezanson, The Peace River Country, 1914. Bezanson is not a subdivision; it is a townsite. It is beautivully situated upon a bench at an elevation of about 120 feet above the river, of which it commands a magnificent view. Had the location been planned and modeled by the hand of man, it could not have been made more suitable for the purpose for which Nature intended it. * * * Historic Bezanson... Dating back nearly 85 years, the original settlement of Bezanson could soon be a designated historic site. First settled in 1906 on the flats near the meeting place of the Smoky and Simonette rivers, it was abandoned in 1923 for the higher ground of present-day Bezanson. If all goes well, says an enthused Janet Sarmaga of the Bezanson Agricultural Society, there could eventually be a day-use campground, hiking trails and more at the old site. The society has applied to Alberta Culture for the designation, the county (owners of the land) have given their nod to the idea and plans are already underway for designing displays, finding old building sites and clearing the land after spring run-off. Neat idea. * * * Original Townsite Bezanson Registered as Historic Resource The original Bezanson Townsite has been designated a Registered Historic, announced Dennis Anderson, Minister of Culture. The original Bezanson Townsite was established by Ancel Maynard Bezanson in 1906. In January 1913, he registered an official townsite plan prepared by W.G. McFarlane. At the height of its development, the town's 14 buildings included a balcksmith shop, pool hall, rooming house, flour mill, two livery stables, and a general store and post office. The development of this townsite was closely linked to the development of the south Peace area prior to the arrival of the Edmonton Dunvegan and British Columbia railroad. It was on the route followed by intending settlers who came into the region via the Edson Trail and was a stopping point for the river boats operating on the Smoky and Peace Rivers. A.M. Bezanson, born in Halifax in 1878, was an active Peace River country booster before the First World War. His first trip into the region in 1906, via the Athabasca and Slave Rivers, Grouard, Peace River Crossing, Dunvegan, Fort St. John, and Hudson Hope, led him to publish a pamphlet in 1970 entitled Peace River Trail. He later prepared more pamphlets and books dealing with the development of the Peace River region. The main focus of Bezanson's attention was his townsite. He chose the location near the confluence at the Smoky and Simonette Rivers in anticipation of the railway construction by the Canadian Northern Railway Company. His hopes were dashed when the Canadian Northern Railway abandoned this route and the Edmonton Dunvegan and British Columbia reailway was subsequently completed south from Spirit River to Grande Prairie. The site displays the remains of several buildings, including Bezanson's original house, all of which have good archaeological potential. As a Registered Historic Resource, the Bezanson Townsite will be eligible for consultative assistance from Alberta Culture.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: