Alston Scout Park is a lovely park with flowering trees and 84 evergreen trees, one for each year Louisa Alston lived, benches, and nice walking paths. It is surrounded by natural stone walls, at the corner of which is a stone 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. The cairn itself takes the shape of a truncated obelisk about seven feet in height, consisting of nearly boulder sized mortared stones. Atop is a flat cap stone, while each side bears a bronze plaque.
Backing the cairn 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.
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