An interesting coin, used exclusively in Drumheller took a long road back to the valley.
    inSide Drumheller received an e-mail from Vera Smith, a 91-year old woman in Mechanicsville VA. She had found an article online about the historic buildings in Drumheller, in particular the Elks Lodge.
    Why this piqued her curiosity was because she had a rare coin. On the obverse it has an image of a Tyrannosaurus Rex surrounded by hills. Across the top it says “The Dinosaur Valley,” and on the bottom it says “Drumheller, Alberta.”
    On the reverse, the top states “A Prehistoric Past, A Golden Future.” Spelled out on the coin was that it was worth 50 cents in trade at any cooperating business in the Drumheller district, or redeemable at face value at the BPO Elks #54 until December 31, 1963.
    She told inSide Drumheller she found it in a collection of coins, along with some other rare finds including a token from the 1962 American Space Age Fair in Seattle.

Barney Popovich shows off a couple of rare coins from Drumheller service clubs. Above is a coin sent to inSide Drumheller by Vera Smith dating back to 1963.

    Vera was born in Washington State. She left in 1934 and returned in 1966. She lived there until 1980, and still has family in the area. She figures it was when she was living in Washington that she acquired the coin. Both she and her husband, who has since passed away, were Elks members in Florida and Washington.
    She mailed the coin to inSide Drumheller.
    “You can decide what to do with it … if the lodge is still active, they may want it as a part of history,” she writes.
    inSide Drumheller began inquiring with local members of the Elks as to the origin of the coin, but the Elks contacted were not members in the valley at the time, or only had vague recollections of it.
    That was until inSide Drumheller spoke with Barney Popovich. He is a lifetime member and recently received his 55-year membership pin.
    “I remember them being passed around,” said Popovich. “I might even have one myself.”
    In fact, he dug a similar coin out from his collection, but it was from the 1970’s and featured a different sponsoring service club.
    He said he doesn’t recall any members travelling to Washington, but said it is entirely possible a member from Washington could have picked one up in their travels.
    He recalls this is was a fundraising endeavour by the club in which they produced a set number of coins. Residents could purchase the coins and use them as tender at participating businesses. He said the number that people acquired but did not spend was profit for the club.
    “I kind of remember another group put them out for one year and then we kind of took them over and produced them for the next year,” said Popovich. “If everyone took one as change at the stores and never showed up with them again that was profit.”
    inSide Drumheller would like to hear if anyone else remembers these coins or has an example. Contact inSide Drumheller at 403-823-2580.

Mrs. Ada Benedict, who celebrates her 87th birthday this week, will be the Guest of Honour opening the 98th Hand Hills Lake Stampede running May 30, 31 and June 1.
    “I was married to a cowboy out in the Hills. I spent 46 years out there,” said Mrs. Benedict.
    Ada married Don Benedict and moved to the farm in the Hand Hills in 1945.
    They raised three boys - two are still at the farm - and two daughters.
    Don was in the rodeo in the 40s - Ada said he was a steer rider and bareback rider - and one year he was a chuckwagon outrider for the Flett brothers at the Calgary Stampede.
    Ada worked at the food booth for the Hand Hills  Stampede for a number of years, then was a regular stampede attendee.
    “Maybe the last few years I’ve missed some of them.”
    Ada’s family is still involved with the stampede, selling tickets and helping in the booth, and one of her grandsons is building a new outhouse for the grounds this year.
    Ada’s impressed by all the people who have worked hard to keep the Hand Hills Stampede running and improve the venue.
    “I’m so pleased with the way the young people are taking over.”
    She’s hoping to see some familiar faces when she opens the Stampede Saturday.
    I’m not sure how many I’ll see, old neighbours...and even the young people I enjoy who are still out in that area.”
    “I really enjoy the people out there.”
    Don and Ada moved to Hanna a number of years ago, and Don passed away in 1997.
    “I made the circle - I left Hanna and came back,” Ada said.
    Ada will open the Hand Hills Stampede Saturday, June 1 at noon.
    The Stampede is running a pancake breakfast all three mornings, Friday at 9 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m., and after breakfast on Sunday at 10 a.m. is the Cowboy Church Service on the Calgary Stampede Stage.
    Day Lenfesty said Friday is the day to wear red as a an troops, and Sunday is the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign to support the fight against cancer.
    Both the beer gardens and the trade show in the community hall open at noon on Friday.
    Also Friday at noon, the Stampede starts working through the rodeo events, including the sixty plus ladies barrel racers, and ending with the bull riders.
    The rodeo starts on Saturday and Sunday with the Wild Horse Races running at 11:45 a.m.
    The high action chuckwagons and chariot races start at 6 p.m.    
    Up and coming country  music artist Drew Gregory from Standard is the Friday night entertainment, and the Cat Country Cougar Hunters take to the stage Saturday.
    The majority of Hand Hills’ big stock comes from one of  the Calgary Stampede ranches, which is 10 to 15 kilometers southeast of the Hand Hills grounds.
    Lenfesty said the Calgary Stampede stock get sent to Hand Hills Stampede to try them out.
    This will be the sixth year the Stewart family from Standard will perform their Hearts of the West trick rodeo show.
    Visit the Hand Hills Lake Stampede website at www.handhills.ab.ca.