Gas Arrives In Vermilion

While the Second World War was raging in June 1941, Vermilion was getting ready to celebrate as a gas line was coming towards the community.

Earlier in the year, a well had been dug about 20 kilometers south of the community. Once the gas well was found, work began to bring the gas toward the community.

The work involved 80 men trenching and laying pipe as soon as the ditch was dug. While those men were doing their work, there was another crew behind them who were working hard to put enamel on the pipe to lengthen the life of the pipeline underground.

At the same time, there was another crew who were ahead of the diggers that were clearing the brush so that the diggers could bring in the trench, followed by the rest of the crews for the pipeline. It was everyone working together to bring the line towards Vermilion.

The gas franchise in the community was held by Franco Public Service. J.K. Swanson was in the community to direct the work with Herbert Davis, an engineer out of Buffalo, New York.

It was expected that the gas line would arrive in Vermilion in July. The community was already ready for the gas line as a distribution system had been built the previous fall. The harsh winter had prevented laying any pipe until the spring.

Everyone in Vermilion was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the line.

Everything went to schedule and on July 31, 1941, natural gas was running in Vermilion. A huge celebration was held with Mayor J.W.G. Morrison officiating a ceremony on behalf of the Franco Public Service Company. The ceremony took place in front of hundreds of residents and visitors from Edmonton and Saskatoon.

A series of flares were arranged in the park in town so that they would burst with flames, including one in the centre that was several metres tall, once the gas was turned on.

Contact Craig at craig@canadaehx.com. Support Craig by donating at www.canadaehx.com (Click Donate)

Listen to his podcast Canadian History Ehx on all podcast platforms