There are some neighbours who are special–they engage you, they help you, they wave when you pass, they always have a smile and a great story to tell. George Hampton fits that description . After WWII where he served on a frigate George worked as an undertaker for a time at the Little Chapel on the Corner, often ‘frightening’ his mom by parking the ‘loaded’ hearse in the driveway at lunchtime. He married Del in 1948 and was employed by her father Lloyd Schram, building and working at a service station in Exshaw on the 1A highway. Moving back to Calgary in 1950 George built their house in Parkdale finishing his working career as a driver for Calgary Transit.
In 1956, invited by Art McMann (friend of a friend), George and Del came out to have a look at the lake. They fell in love and bought Lot #158 SE complete with a one room ‘shack.’ No boat? No worries. George built a 12′ boat from a pattern in Popular Mechanics in the basement of their Parkdale home in Calgary, and when it was finished, took out the stair case and the landing to get it out of the house. Good thing he is an expert carpenter. The 1960 photo shows Del and George in their new boat with a 35 HP Evinrude and the ‘shack’ in the background. George recalls that two doors north, Shaws had a big 6 cylinder Evinrude on their boat. One day they decided to take out 8 skiers. George says he was the last one up and that rope was really moving — he nearly flew out of his skis! For daughters Bonnie and Sharon, he built a sail board using his own plan (who knew how far ahead of his time George would be!). Later he constructed two sailboats from, guess where, Popular Mechanics. In 1977 they tore down the ‘shack,’ saving the wood for George to build their first house. Del and George decided to move to Chestermere permanently in 1981, but the house was a bit small. York Shaw lifted the house onto blocks and George added a lower floor. They lived in the upper part for three months until the lower area was framed in. George recalls that it would often sway and there were waves in the toilet!
Many of you recall seeing Del and George on their bikes or walking hand in hand to get the mail, smiling and enjoying each other and the joy of living out here at Chestermere Lake. The Hamptons were good friends of Sally and Joe Wilton who also lived on East Chestermere Drive. Though Del and Joe have passed on, Sally and George have remained friends, and Sally (also Gr 1 classmate of George’s at Colonel Walker School) was in attendance on October 18th for a 90th birthday tea party in George’s honour. With thanks to Maggie and Brian Piechotta for hosting, neighbours enjoyed Prosecco and a slice of Maggie’s Red Ribbon prize winning carrot cake. (Clockwise from left Maggie, Sally, Lesley, Trish, Jen, Sandy, Stephen, Bill, Steve, Julie, Brian, George and Jill)
If a tall, handsome, grey haired gentleman gives you a wave and a smile as you drive down East Chestermere Drive, good chance it is George. He might be driving, walking, biking or on his motor scooter. You can also find him out with his drone – there is not much of interest that gets past George. One friend gave him a plaque saying ” Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you have to keep moving.” That’s George. Happy 90th and here’s to many more years of being a great citizen of Chestermere!
