Pincher Creek, Alberta

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", September 1988, page 17

Pincher Creek in southern Alberta is home to one of Canada's most unique tourist attractions -- a crystal village constructed of discarded glass insulators formerly used on Alberta's telephone poles.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Jim Hercus of Bale d'Urfe, Quebec, found this article in the December, 1987 issue of MERIDIAN magazine. Your editor visited Pincher Creek this spring and can testify to the Crystal Village being a great stop for any vacation to Alberta.

This charming village which consists of twelve buildings, is the work of Bastian (Boss) Zoeteman, a retired farmer, who started the project 15 years ago when he noticed workmen discarding the glass insulators as they installed the telephone lines underground. Originally, he intended only to build a playhouse for his grand children but the unique beauty of the building inspired him to develop others. 

Today, he has used over 100,000 glass insulators (with a stockpile of 100,000 more) to build a small church, a school, an office, a coal shed, a playhouse, and a storage building. There is also a museum which houses a special collection of insulators from 14 different countries and pictures of pioneer farming days.

The village is beautifully landscaped. The little church is made of 5,642 insulators and is complete with pews, a pulpit a cross and a chandelier. It has coloured windows of green insulators, and outside there is a small belfry. By special request, a marriage ceremony can be performed there. The school has a bell mounted outside with a long bell rope, and inside are desks and an antique clock.

In the winter months when the village is closed, Boss and his helpers make insulator candle holders, pen and desk sets and other small items which are available for souvenirs. Future plans for the site are to build a large house and a modern castle.

The Crystal Village is the novel result of recycling an apparent waste material. This delightful tourist attraction can be found at the junction of Highways Three and Six at Pincher Creek in southern Alberta.

In a letter from "Boss Zoeteman to your editor following my visit: "Dad and mother brought their family to Canada from Iowa in 1911. I am the only one left (83years old). I think what keeps me going are the remarks on the guest register, the tourists are the most wonderful people, pleasant and interesting to visit with."