Founding and early establishment: 1911–1929 The hamlet began as an offshoot of a nearby settlement named Sounding Lake. By 1911, Jack Deadmarsh operated a
general store near Sounding Lake, neighboured by a
butcher, Hugh McCarron. These businesses were
squatting on land owned by C. W. Beesley. Crisp recommended that the CPR's planned railroad should be built alongside the unnamed settlement, so the CPR tried to buy the lot from C. W. Beesley, intending to create a town. However, Beesley stipulated that he would only sell the land if the new township was named "Beesleyville," and no
hotel would be opened. Businesses on Beesley's lot, including those run by Deadmarsh and McCarron, subsequently relocated to available land nearby. The church, which is today an entry into the Alberta Register of Historic Places, was also utilized as a place of worship by Monitor's
Methodist and
Lutheran congregations, and also served as a temporary
schoolhouse. 318 men from Monitor and surrounding areas
fought for Canada in the
First World War. In 1920, fields surrounding Monitor were prospected for
oil. By then, Monitor's population of 275 residents was served by five
grain elevators, three
general stores, two
restaurants, and a
pharmacy, as well as recreational facilities including a
pool room. During the
Second World War, Monitor's association for WWI veterans became a branch of the
Royal Canadian Legion. Members raised money for the
war effort. Their efforts led to Monitor receiving electricity in 1954, followed by connection to
natural gas services in 1958. Monitor's population stood at 77 in 1974, of which roughly a quarter were
retirees; six commercial ventures operated in the area. Monitor had a population of around 60 in 1993. In September 2024, the society organized a
service at the church to fundraise for the building's upkeep. It was attended by Danielle Kurek, wife of
Damien Kurek, as well as descendants of Monitor's early settlers. == Demographics ==