Welcome to our history post where I share some history with an old photo and meaningful writing. The historical reflections in my posts aim to convey the profound connection between the past and present, illustrating how God’s presence is interwoven with the passage of time. The rich tapestry of history comes alive, enhancing our awareness of the divine in nature and human experiences. Each post is a testament to the enduring grace and guidance of the divine, drawing us closer to the eternal embrace of faith.
MONDAY POST: Dead Man’s flat is located just East of Canmore and would have been in the Banff National Park at the time. It was originally named Pigeon Mountain Service Centre, but after a gruesome 1904 murder, locals unofficially adopted the name. The Banff National Park holds many tales, each adding depth and character to its natural beauty. From the indigenous traditions woven into the fabric of the park to the more recent events that have shaped its landscapes, the history of this area is a rich tapestry waiting to be explored.
Dead Man’s flat
So, have you ever wondered where a town’s name like “Dead Man’s Flat ” could have come from? Here is one version that many say is the correct one.
Just before the turn of the century, a Frenchman named Jean Marret lived in a little cabin on the flats below Pigeon Mountain. He had taken up a homestead near the river. To supplement his income, he worked part-time in the Canmore coal mines. When he prospered, he sent for his brother Francois, who arrived from France on December 10, 1901. Francois wore his hair in a pompadour style and was a wild-looking little man. The residents of the Canmore area regarded Francois as a little strange.
Francois Marret had a problem! He was convinced that his brother, Jean, had developed an electric machine that was slowly, silently killing him. He searched for the deadly machine, but he never found it. Still, he could hear the machine whirling away somewhere in the mountain darkness at night. Determined, since he could not locate the machine, that he must destroy its creator, he slipped through the woods to the neighboring farm and took their double-sided axe. Returning to their cabin he killed his brother and then lay down beside him to sleep.
When he awoke, a second voice urged him to take his brother to the river and revive him. So he did, but Jean showed no signs of life.
The next day, he realized that with his brother dead, there would be no one to work Jean’s shift in the mine. So Francois went to Canmore and asked to take his brother’s shift explaining that Jean could not work that morning as he had killed him and the river had not yet revived him. It was a wild story that Francois had told. The RCMP from Banff led a party out to recover the battered body.
The trial opened in Calgary, and at its conclusion, Francois was found not guilty because of insanity. He was assigned to the mental hospital in Ponoka, Alberta but never did regain his sanity and eventually died there.
Today, the residents of the little tourist center that sprang up after 1957 below Pigeon Mountain refer to their hamlet as “Dead Man’s Flat” in memory of the strange little Frenchman who killed his brother.
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