Alta Crook: Gracious Hostess and Gatherer of Community

• Alta Crook lived in Brooks with her husband Wesley, and the pair of them helped elevate society in Brooks. 

• Alta was an avid artist and photographer and helped form the Brooks Library. 

• It annoyed her that at Lake Newell, people could bring their boats to shore right where everyone was swimming, so she took it upon herself to have buoys installed to partition off the swimming from the boating, 

• She often hosted EID guests and dignitaries at the Brooks CPR house, where she lived, which was greatly appreciated.  

• Alta Crook kept society lively. She was always game for social events and even brought in the Stratford Theatre from Ontario to Brooks once. 

• Alta held a monthly tea at her home for the sorority group Beta Phi Kappa, where she brought out her fine China for the ladies of Brooks. In recalling these events, Blanche Coultis quivered as she described the wonderful times they had and the generosity of Alta. 

• After leaving the CPR House, Alta was devastated to watch the renovations that, in her opinion, ruined the place. She declared that it should have been made a historical site.  

• Alta Crook had a large influence on Brooks, not just in the building of libraries, but also in the building of community.  

Bibliography 

 Brooks, Between the Red Deer and the Bow. Delday, Eva. Brooks, Alberta, 1975. Print.