The village of Dorothy, which never grew beyond 100 residents, is considered one of Alberta’s classic pioneer communities, serving as a popular social centre in the first half of the 20th century in the heart of the province’s famed Badlands Country.Dorothy is located about 15 miles southeast of Drumheller in a flat valley bottom. A few years after the turn of the 20th century, Percy McBeath, a store keeper living in the immediate area, applied to have a post office and wanted to name the site Percyville. However, the district post office inspector decided instead to name the site Dorothy, after the daughter of Jack Wilson, and early rancher who first arrived in the area in 1900. The Dorothy post office officially opened in 1908.The hamlet grew modestly and enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the late 1920s, shortly after a railway line was built through the area.At one time the village had three elevators, the Alberta Wheat Pool, the Alberta Pacific and the United Grain Growers, a grocery store, a butcher shop, pool room, telephone office, restaurant and a machine agency. A school was opened in 1937 and lasted in the hamlet until 1960. The village also supported two churches — a United Church from 1932 to 1961 and a Roman Catholic church from 1944 to 1967. The two churches were considered the focal point for the entire region’s important social events. They still stand today, but are gradually being withered away by time and the elements.Less than a dozen residents live in the hamlet today. One grain elevator, long closed down, still evades being torn down. A community hall still serves residents of the area. For visitors, there is also a small museum to inspect pieces of the once vibrant lifestyle of this unique part of Alberta. For more information on Dorothy, the curious can also go to Drumheller’s public library and browse through Hazel B. Roen’s book of the area, “The Grass Roots of Dorothy 1895-1970. The 354-page book, published in 1971, offers a touching portrait of the Dorothy region and its people. Submitted by Johnnie Bachusky. Submitted by: Johnnie Bachusky

John Percy McBeath was the first Storekeeper and Postmaster and ran the ferry at Dorothy during that time.
His youngest son James McBeath was born in Dorothy in 1914. That’s my husband’s father, the father of R.D. McBeath.
The McBeath family lived there from 1911 – 1916 and only then moved to Delia, Alberta because there was no school for the children in Dorothy.

An abandoned car lies just off the side of the road near Dorothy's Main Street. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

Dorothy's Catholic Church has been abandoned for three decades. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

The hamlet's old community hall still serves residents in the Badlands Country. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

Three grain elevators used to serve Dorothy but now only this long abandoned building still stands. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

There are many abandoned houses in and around Dorothy. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

The hamlet has only about a dozen residents left but there is still a sign along the nearby highway to greet visitors. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

This store has long shut its doors to long-time customers. Photo courtesy Johnnie Bachusky.

Dorothy
Courtesy Dan Overes

Dorothy
Courtesy Dan Overes

Dorothy
Courtesy Dan Overes

Dorothy
Courtesy Dan Overes