Visitors
A Bit of History...
As you travel west from Lacombe some twenty kilometres and skirting the south shore of beautiful Gull Lake, you break over the crest of the height of land just west of the lake into the Gateway of the famous Blindman Valley. There, before you, lies the Town of Bentley. In the distance you see the Sunset Hills, known to the Indians as the Medicine Hills. On a clear day, approximately 120 kilometres further west, loom the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains. When you view this site, you will understand why our pioneers decided to settle here.
In 1899, Major Wm. B. McPherson, a veteran of the American Civil War and his sons filed on land in Township 40, the present site of the Town of Bentley. The centre point of the four quarters is 50th Avenue and 50th Street and is a continuation of Highway 12 as it passes west through the Town. Major McPherson built the first store in Bentley in the early 1900's. With this start, the community began to grow.
1916 saw a disastrous fire that destroyed all buildings on the south side of the community. The centre roadway was made 36 metres wide and new buildings could not be constructed inside that area. In 1930, a centre boulevard was constructed for fire protection and street lights installed. This wide main street has been and continues to be the pride of Bentley.
If you wish to have more information on the history of Bentley, visit the Bentley Museum at 4929 - 51 Avenue. They have a complete history of our community plus a vast array of artifacts, all from local donors. You can also contact the Bentley Municipal Library at 5014 - 49 Avenue or by e-mail at bentleylibrary@prl.ab.ca. They have available the Bentley History Book which gives much detail on our history of the community. A population profile for Bentley can be found by visiting here
2023 Council Meeting Calendar.pdf
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