Alston Scout Park is a lovely park with flowering trees and 84 evergreen trees, for how many years Louisa Alston lived, benches, and nice walking paths. It is surrounded by natural stone walls, at the corner is a memorial cairn with several plaques including: Park Symbols, Louisa Alston Timeline and Family History and Designers, Bill and Susan Alston, William Thomas Aston (architect) and Wade and Glora Alston (architect) and a plaque with the contributors. There are flags of America, Canada, Britain, Alberta and the Scout flag.
The park is dedicated and named after Louisa Grant Alston for her accomplishments and establishing the first Scout Troop in Magrath.
LOUISA GRANT ALSTON FAMILY
Louisa Grant Alston - born Oct. 15, 1861, in Whillenhall Staffordshire, England, to William and Harriet (Foster) Grand - died, Oct. 28, 1945 in Magrath, Alberta.
Married, Apr. 20, 1882, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Joseph Alston Jr. who was born
Sept. 22, 1861 in American Fork, Utah to Joseph Altson and Margaret (Hall) Alston died Dec. 31, 1924, at McIntyre Ranch south of Magrath, Alberta.
ELEVEN CHILDREN
Sarah (Seth Thomas)
Harriet (S.B. Haycock)
Margaret (Ira Fletcher)
Joseph W. (Beulah Bacon), (Norma Woolley)
Louise (Ray Smith)
Susie - died at age 7
Albert and Lissie - twins who died at birth
Celestia (Chester Asplund)
Leona (John Baxter, (Tom Findley)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF LOUISA GRANT ALSTON’S LIFE
Moved to Magrath as a result of a L.D.S. Church call from Pres. Lorenzo Snow to help pioneer the area. Louisa and 8 children arrived on June 11, 1900.
Joseph had come earlier, purchased a “way-station” shack that the N.W.M. Police were using on the St. Mary’s River. He drug it into Magrath as their first home.
That 2 ½ acre, “Alston Plot” is now directly west of Alston Scout Park.
Louisa was the first Primary Presidency in Magrath, an organization which teaches Christian values to children.
Louisa brought the first organ to Magrath and played for the first church meetings and concerts to the area.
Louisa organized the first marching band in Magrath, which was a drum, fife and bugle corp.
Louisa helped support her husband, Joseph, Alson Jr., as he served a L.D.S. mission (Northern States - 1907 - 1913).
Louisa helped support her son, Joseph W. Alston as he< served a L.D.S. mission (Central States 1911 - 1913).
Louisa taught piano, organ, violin, vocal and band lessons to hundreds of youth from 1900 - 1940.
Transcribed from plaque
Timeline of Louisa Grant Alston
1914 - helped create Magrath’s FIRST Scout Troop.
1914 - 1924 - Magrath’s FIRST female Scoutmaster.
1914 - 1924 - Alberta’s FIRST female Scoutmaster.
1914 - 1924 - Canada’s FIRST female Scoutmaster.
June 17, 1917 - appointed Canada’s First Female Scout Commissioner
by the Duke of Devonshire, the Governor General of Canada.
June 28, 1939 - awarded Scouts Canada, ”Gold Medal Of Merit”,
by Lt. Gov. W.S. Backman on behalf of Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir.