Here's something you drove over this morning without knowing it.

Lethbridge once ran its own streetcar system, and it nearly broke the city. Mayor George Hatch opened the first 17 km of track on August 17, 1912 — a town already $1.45 million in debt spending half a million more on it. Amber-and-cream cars with "Lethbridge Municipal Railway" painted down the sides. Three lines, all fanning out from the corner of what's now Galt Gardens.

The opening went great. In the first three days, 64,000 riders. By year end, red ink.

It needed 5,000 fares a day and the town just wasn't big enough. The downtown loop was cut almost immediately. The electric heaters came out, replaced by a coal stove in the brakeman's cabin. Staff were let go in 1914, then rehired for less.

The last car ran September 8, 1947. The tracks were buried under the road by 1949 — until the 3 Avenue South reconstruction dug part of them back up in 2020.

Still down there. Under your tires.