Heads turned downtown when they heard the occasional boom! coming from somewhere nearby.
Soon, they discovered it was the sound of a cannon being fired as part of the 4th annual Legion Show on Sept. 14 that attracted a solid crowd of spectators throughout the day.
The event featured plenty of military memorabilia and a chance to share stories while kicking off the celebration of National Legion Week.
John Bishop and his crew of "Yankees" brought his working replica 12-pound Mountain Howitzer to the show. After a test shot, Mayor Jeff Genung got the honours to give it a whirl, followed by others.
"This is our second year here and we've got the biggest collection of civilian-owned artillery in the province," says Bishop.
He says this cannon would have been used from 1847 until about 1900.
"Both sides of the civil war would have had these guys, and it would have been used during the (American) Indian Wars as well."
Mayor Jeff Genung swore he could feel his hair move when firing the cannon. That's saying something for a person who keeps his noggin shaved bald.
"Of all the things I get asked to do, this was never on the list that I would have imagined, but it's pretty cool," says Mayor Genung.
Competing for the loudest noise of the day was the fire-up of a massive 23,150 cubic inch Bristol Hercules engine with 1,650 horsepower. It briefly generated plenty of smoke as they brought it up to low cruise power.
The Bomber Command Museum of Canada, located in Nanton, and the engine were making their first appearance at the annual show.
Curator Karl Kjarsgaard says they are currently piecing together a Halifax bomber to add to their collection and this is one of the four engines that will power it.
"We have acquired 85 per cent of the pieces for a Halifax from all over the world, and now we're assembling it. We have 10 of these engines at Nanton to make four running engines, and this is engine number 2."
The museum is designed to honour all those associated with Bomber Command during the Second World War and commemorating the activities of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It is the only museum in Canada that has a 40-ft. black granite wall with the names of all 10,800 Canadians killed in bombers in the Second World War.
They also have a functioning Lancaster that will be making a special night run on Sept. 20. It is followed by the firing of both a Lancaster Merlin and Bristol Hercules engine at special event on Sept. 21.
Representatives of the Olde West Raiders were making their first appearance at the show.
They specialize in western skits, skills, and shooting demonstrations. We've been fortunate to have them perform at the Great Cochrane Outhouse Race. They also perform regularly at the Calgary Stampede.
"We do mostly charity events throughout the season, explains Rosin, vice-president of the organization that's currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Most of their stagings take place outdoors so they can use louder gunpowder, he explains.
The Prairie Motor Brigade returned for a third year and offered a display both inside and outside of the Legion Hall. In the parking lot was a 1956 135 GMC 6x6 that was a mainstay in the Korean War as a troop carrier and cargo truck and was used up until the 1970s.
President Arlen Bauer says he currently has about 40 vehicles in his collection and they've numbered as many as 60 in the past.
Bauer says he has studied military history from the time he could read and continues to have a keen interest. At one point he had a large gun collection but when the gun regulations stiffened he took a different route.
"We got into the vehicles because we can give kids a ride and they make noise. They like them when you snort and honk at them and do whatever."
It's also a way to raise funds for charity.
"We support the legions museums, we do parades, and a lot of fundraising for the Veterans Association Food Bank."
The brigade is a dedicated group of vintage military vehicle collectors, restorers and maintainers in southern Alberta.
He had hoped to bring a Sea Sica W that was at D-Day to mark its 80th anniversary but ran into some electrical problems. The Big Hill can also be challenging for some of the vintage military vehicles.
The Sea Sica W had spent 30 years of its life in a Belgium museum, before making it back to Oregon and eventually into their hands.
If we're fortunate, perhaps it will be on display next year.
