Eamon’s Garage Historical Society
Rodeo Grounds T0L 0A0 High River, AB, Canada

"Eamon was very frugal. He never bought anything he didn’t think he had to. All the old stuff we moved out of the bungalows, dishes, cutlery, he used himself until he moved out of there. Even the old hot water tank kept going until his foot went through the floor above the crawl space in bungalow number 6 where the tank was located. It was a central tank for all the bungalows". Jim Cheetham former Eamon’s Bungalow Camp Employee Photo - Courtesy of Jim Cheetham

Stormont County Ontario, where Roy Wyatt Eamon was born.

New Services were appearing to provide comforts to these rolling homes (cars) and it was to this need that Roy Eamon stepped forward. He officially opened Calgary’s drive-in on September 10, 1949. Although it was 7 miles from the city limits, Roy Eamon recognized that Calgarians would use their new personal mobility to come to his restaurant. Source Eamon’s Service Station, A Historical Analysis of the Age of Optimism, Kimberly Haskell, 1995. Photo Courtesy Avenue Calgary Magazine

According to Kimberley Haskell, in her paper "Eamon's Service Station- A Historical Analysis of the Age of Optimism" (1995), the Eamon's Bungalow Property was purchased by the Northwest Family church in the early 1990's. The church address is: 10307 Eamon Rd. N.W, Calgary. Anyone up for a Sunday Drive?

Research day for the book. I have other "to do's" on my list (such as setting up some telephone interviews with people who worked at the garage). Today, I've been making notes from these two books: Jack Peach's "Days Gone By" and "Cowtown" by Tom Ward. Both will help me to create the backdrop for our story. I've also found some information about Texaco (they bought the garage from Roy Eamon). I believe that having too much information, when writing a book such as this one, is better than not enough! As long as I have a steady supply of coffee, I am good to go!

Photos of the renovated interior of the Eamon's garage located in High River, Alberta, Courtesy of Ray Bouillet.

In a city that has changed and expanded so much in the last 45 years, Eamon’s Service Station is a sentry to Calgary’s recent past. It is more than a monument of Calgary’s change from the small sandstone city to the suburb-ringed expanse of today. It speaks of a time when a Sunday afternoon outing was a family drive in the countryside. It also speaks of the fascination with cars and the expansion of life that it gave to people. Eamon’s Service Station A Historical Analy...sis of the Age of Optimism, by Kimberly Haskell. 1995. (Photo: Courtesy of Jim Cheetham, Calgary, AB) Were you one of those who took in a family drive on a Sunday afternoon and stopped for gas at the Eamon’s garage? Or perhaps you had a meal at the restaurant or stayed in the bungalows. If so, would you be interested in contributing your story for our book about Roy Wyatt Eamon and the Eamon’s garage and Bungalow Camp? Please email your stories and photos to: [email protected] See more

"I remember our family stopping at Eamon's on the Banff Coach Road in the fifties on our summer vacations. We traveled from Olds to Banff and Jasper. It was a highlight, us kids would shout there’s Eamon"s when in came in view, loved it a lot!" -Jim Mair (Photo - Taken while Eamon's garage was undergoing renovations in HIgh River, Alberta - Courtesy of Lillian Shavalier)

The tourist centre served more than travelers, it was a focus for the Rockyview area. This area was still rural, herds of antelope and deer could be watched from the restaurant windows. Indians from the Stoney band would camp on the adjoining land. The tourist centre also served as a bank as Roy Eamon would cash cheques for the local farm hands. - Kimberly Haskell, author Eamon’s Service Station A Historical Analysis of the Age of Optimism 1995. Photo: Courtesy of Alan Zakrison

"When asked about what the Eamon’s garage journey of bringing it to High River meant to him, Councilor Jamie Kinghorn said, For me it was about being part of a project that restored a building from the past that will be in High River’s future for many years to come. It is a symbol of the resilience of High River and area. (Photo: Courtesy of Lillian Shavalier)

From the Calgary Sun Article published on July 26, 2018. Quin Shaw was interviewed about the fundraising event she was organizing. Our hope (is) once we’ve completed the building, we’ll have it staged as kind of like a music/event centre, so if people want to rent it out they certainly can, but it’ll also be a tribute to the glory days of the building, she said. The site (former Eamon’s garage) has always been a staple for people in the Calgary area, Shaw said. So many ...people have memories of, on their way out to Kananaskis on their camping trips, they stopped there to fill up with gas, grab a bite to eat . . . so it’s a very well-recognized building and it has quite the following. (Photo - courtesy of Marilee Manz) See more

Many thanks to Marilee Manz for sharing with us - her photos of the Eamon's sign which has found a home at the Tuscany C-Train Station in Calgary.