Introduction
by Len D’Albertanson Just when the actual genesis of Camp Wainwright occurred is a bit hard to ascertain. Since that time, it has gone through many transitions. The original heroes may well have been the hardy groups, of about ten people each, who traversed the prairies, first running the 49th parallel westward, the meridians northward, and dividing the land between into townships and sections. Provisions were made in this survey for the road allowances which were spaced every two miles North and South and every mile East and West. Transporting an immense number of metal stakes to mark the corners of sections, they worked northward from the international border, impeded by hills, lakes, rivers and forest areas, by inclement weather, and occasionally perhaps, herds of buffalo. The surveyors had to be fed and sheltered, living partly off the land, doing without the medical services, sources of supply of every kind; and no pubs for Saturday night relaxation! They accomplished their mission using accurate surveying equipment, so precise that they could focus on a bright star or planet iin daytime - if it were not too close to the sun. At the same time they maintained a detailed diary of soil conditions and other relevant information, this being sent to government records in Ottawa. That this had been buffalo country for many years was clearly attested to in the early years of settlement during the first decade of the century. Vast numbers of buffalo wallows, skulls and other bones across the prairies confirmed their existence in these areas. Many of the skulls were in marshy places where it is possible the animals found themselves mired and unable to escape. Wainwright Buffalo Park was not the first place chosen to maintain a herd of this now almost extinct king of the prairies, once reported to have numbered eighty million strong. It appears an attempt was made to develop a herd near Banff, Alberta, our first National Mountain Park. However, they were found to be not adapted to that region and it is reported that disease and deep snow which made winter feeding difficult, were causes to abandon this experiment. Initial information seems to be somewhat lacking, but the choice was a wise one. The bison along with other native animals found themselves at home with appropriate grazing and shelter in the bluffs and hills of the Battle River area. The water supply was adequate in sloughs, springs and creeks. Buffalo Park was a valuable asset to Wainwright, enticing visitors and providing jobs for a number of people. It received wide publicity when the film - makers of Hollywood found it worthy of recording on celluloid and a couple of films were made depicting buffalo herds and the men who looked after them.