![\"Hart2\"](\"http:\/\/mixhart.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Hart2.jpg\")
<\/a>Standing Bill Hart, far right is my grandfather Edward Ambrose Hart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Edward’s parents were from Ireland. They immigrated to Canada at a time when Canadians were not very kind to the Irish. My great-grandparents were given the worst rocky land to try and farm in Northern Ontario. Edward was born in 1879; he was one of (at least 11) children (they were Irish Catholics).<\/p>\n
The Hart Brothers General Store<\/h4>\n![\"hartstore\"](\"http:\/\/mixhart.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/hartstore.jpg\")
<\/a>The Hart Brothers General Store, Youngstown, Alberta. My grandfather is the man standing in the group on the right, he is the man that’s farthest left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn order to make a life for himself, Edward left home as a young teen and moved to U.S.A., finding work along his travels. He eventually crossed back up into Canada and homesteaded land in Saskatchewan. His farming attempts were successful and he made good money for himself but realized his ambitions were more in business than farming. After WW I, he opened two general stores in Youngstown and Hanna, Alberta. Business was booming; he sent for 3 of his brothers to come out west and help him run the stores: Tom, Mike and Bill. It was during this time that he met a young woman named Lydia Mix (a recent immigrant from Bessarabia\u2014 and first homesteader in Alberta\u2014her ancestors descend from Slavic, Prussian, & Norse tribes on the Baltic Sea). Despite the fact that Edward was over twenty years older than Lydia, they married and eventually had 5 children. My father was the 5th born, the baby of the family, John Edward. Edward Ambrose was 57 years old when my father was born. I never met my grandfather (who died before my birth) but I have been told by many people that he was a kind and gentle man.<\/p>\n![\"Hartbro3\"](\"http:\/\/mixhart.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Hartbro3.jpg\")
<\/a>3 of Edward’s brothers: L-R Tom Hart, Mike Hart, Bill Hart–
sharp dressed men.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWestern Canada was wealthy in grain and the stores were great successes. Edward decided to expand his empire and travel around Western Canada to determine where the best place to build a hotel would be. He built a hotel in Cold Lake, Alberta and then considered building a second hotel in either Banff of Stettler. He chose Stettler because, at the time, the town was booming. Edward and Lydia raised their family in Stettler. For many years the Hart Hotel was the only hotel in town and also had the only bar in town\u2014business was good. Eventually, Edward built a third hotel, also in Alberta. Edward lived part time in Arizona U.S.A. due to his sensitive lungs.<\/p>\n
My father grew up having a milkshake at the hotel restaurant each morning. The Harts of Stettler were also patrons that helped design (Lydia) and build a Catholic church that still stands in Stettler today\u2014its design is unique. Here is a link to it on google maps. Click on the centre of the map and you’ll be right there in Stettler:<\/p>\n
<\/a>In order to make a life for himself, Edward left home as a young teen and moved to U.S.A., finding work along his travels. He eventually crossed back up into Canada and homesteaded land in Saskatchewan. His farming attempts were successful and he made good money for himself but realized his ambitions were more in business than farming. After WW I, he opened two general stores in Youngstown and Hanna, Alberta. Business was booming; he sent for 3 of his brothers to come out west and help him run the stores: Tom, Mike and Bill. It was during this time that he met a young woman named Lydia Mix (a recent immigrant from Bessarabia\u2014 and first homesteader in Alberta\u2014her ancestors descend from Slavic, Prussian, & Norse tribes on the Baltic Sea). Despite the fact that Edward was over twenty years older than Lydia, they married and eventually had 5 children. My father was the 5th born, the baby of the family, John Edward. Edward Ambrose was 57 years old when my father was born. I never met my grandfather (who died before my birth) but I have been told by many people that he was a kind and gentle man.<\/p>\n Western Canada was wealthy in grain and the stores were great successes. Edward decided to expand his empire and travel around Western Canada to determine where the best place to build a hotel would be. He built a hotel in Cold Lake, Alberta and then considered building a second hotel in either Banff of Stettler. He chose Stettler because, at the time, the town was booming. Edward and Lydia raised their family in Stettler. For many years the Hart Hotel was the only hotel in town and also had the only bar in town\u2014business was good. Eventually, Edward built a third hotel, also in Alberta. Edward lived part time in Arizona U.S.A. due to his sensitive lungs.<\/p>\n My father grew up having a milkshake at the hotel restaurant each morning. The Harts of Stettler were also patrons that helped design (Lydia) and build a Catholic church that still stands in Stettler today\u2014its design is unique. Here is a link to it on google maps. Click on the centre of the map and you’ll be right there in Stettler:<\/p>\n<\/a>
sharp dressed men.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n