Andy McCracken, a septuagenarian, takes a moment before dialing his late father’s number on an old rotary telephone one sunny day in July. Standing by a disconnected landline in a small wooden structure near a graveyard in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills, he engages in a one-way conversation with his deceased loved one through a symbolic “wind phone.” This unique communication device allows visitors to connect with the departed.
Located at Mountain Park Cemetery in Yellowhead County, the highest elevation burial ground in Canada, this site now boasts the highest elevation wind phone in North America, sitting at nearly 1,900 meters above sea level. Yellowhead County recently installed the wind phone at Mountain Park.
Andy and Anne McCracken, residing in Edson, Alberta, have selected a plot at Mountain Park Cemetery for their final resting place. Andy’s birth in a Coal Branch town near Mountain Park and his father’s role as the mine doctor make them eligible for burial at this scenic location.
Mountain Park was founded in 1911 as the terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line, which ceased operations in 1950 when the coal mine shut down permanently. At its peak, the community housed around 1,000 residents in 100 homes. Today, only the cemetery remains, hosting 269 documented burials dating back to 1913.
During an interview at the cemetery, Madison Sharman, Yellowhead County’s heritage coordinator, highlighted the town’s historical reliance on the railway as its lifeline. The train served as the sole connection to the outside world, with traveling freight cars doubling as mobile stores selling essential goods to the residents.
Despite the allure of a secluded life in the subalpine region, the cemetery at Mountain Park reveals the harsh realities of frontier existence. Pat Rausch, a frequent visitor since 1963, noted the poignant presence of infant burial sites, reflecting the challenges faced by early residents.
Tragedies such as the Spanish flu pandemic and mining accidents have left a somber mark on the cemetery’s history. Despite the hardships, volunteers like Mary Salzsauler have worked tirelessly to restore and maintain the cemetery, preserving the legacy of those laid to rest.
As the McCrackens look forward to their eventual interment at Mountain Park, they find solace and joy in the thought of resting in such a picturesque setting. With Yellowhead County now overseeing the cemetery’s management, the history and heritage of the area are preserved for future generations.
The wind phone at Mountain Park, featuring a poem by Sharman, serves as a poignant reminder that love transcends time and that every story shared into the wind becomes a part of the landscape once more.