Charles and Annie Crook and their dog stand proudly in front of the pump at their Imperial Gas Station in Kootenay National Park in 1939, in the area now called Crooks Meadows. Mr. Crooks homestead was established in the summer of 1911, when Charles Crook, Everett Bogardus and Percy Lake, all from Athalmer, camped in the meadow. The land was open for preemption filing, but hadnt been surveyed. The prospective homesteaders had to make a rough survey using lariat ropes tied together to make up one 66 feet (20 metres) long. Three quarter sections were measured out in the heavily forested area. Mr. Crook chose this area as it had two small meadows and a small creek. The meadows provided feed for the horses, which was a big factor in the days of trail travel. Photo A1379 courtesy of the Windermere District Historical Society

Charles and Annie Crook and their dog stand proudly in front of the pump at their Imperial Gas Station in Kootenay National Park in 1939, in the area now called Crooks Meadows. Mr. Crooks homestead was established in the summer of 1911, when Charles Crook, Everett Bogardus and Percy Lake, all from Athalmer, camped in the meadow. The land was open for preemption filing, but hadnt been surveyed. The prospective homesteaders had to make a rough survey using lariat ropes tied together to make up one 66 feet (20 metres) long.Three quarter sections were measured out in the heavily forested area. Mr. Crook chose this area as it had two small meadows and a small creek. The meadows provided feed for the horses, which was a big factor in the days of trail travel.Photo A1379 courtesy of theWindermere District Historical Society