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Well
known to Ogden residents.......our CP Rail Robot....a true
heavy metal Flames fan
Ogden
was formed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1912
as a town to house the workers of the Ogden Shops. Named
after I.G. Ogden, Vice President of the CPR in 1901, the
small town to the east of Calgary originally consisted
of 12 buildings. The complex included a large freight car
repair facility (up to 500 cars), a foundry, apprentice
classroom, mess hall, paint shop, food services, doctors
offices, volunteer fire department and its own greenhouse
and water tank. On
May 28, 1912 twenty- eight hundred lots were put on the
market adjacent to the Ogden Shops. The lots offered CPR
workers a chance to own their own home. The small town
atmosphere of Ogden was apparent from its formation. Just
outside of Calgary, Ogden had its own banks, general stores,
contractors and markets. 
During
World War II the Ogden Shops were selected to produce
war munitions. At this time, employment reached as high
as 2500 men.
The
first two- room school was constructed in the community
in 1912 located on the land which is now George Moss Park.
With the boom of the railway, a new school was needed and
in 1913 a four room school was completed. This school has
been added to over the years and still stands today as
Ogden School. Sadly, this school now sits empty due to a decision by the Calgary Board of Education to close it this year. Ogden
now has only three schools since Ogden Elementary closed this year. The
Millican- Ogden Community Hall was opened in 1959, one
year after the Millican- Ogden Outdoor Pool was started.
The Jack Setters arena was built in 1974 in response to
a high need for community skating. Today
the community of Millican- Ogden is a vibrant neighbourhood
that has retained its small town atmosphere. Many community
members comment on the quietness of the area and on what
a great neighbourhood it is to raise a family. Today,fifth
generation Ogden residents continue to make their homes
in the community, a testimony to the neighbourhood's appealIf
you have any old photos of Ogden , (40's, 50's, 60's ,
70's etc.) and would like to share them with fellow Ogdenites
, just email us. We can pick them up, scan them, and have
them back to you in one day.Thanks.
