14 GO Yellowhead 2016
after the First World War that people began
to conceive of a car-worthy road in its place.
In 1921, a CNR surveyor and the president of
the Edmonton Automobile Association formed
a committee to lobby for the creation of the
Yellowhead Highway. Both believed that the
abandoned railway bed would be the ideal
foundation for the road.
As automobile popularity was rising, and
travelling the Yellowhead Trail was difficult
for the average car, the two decided to offer
a challenge to Westerners — anyone who
could traverse the entire road by car would
be offered a prize similar to the one sought
by Cariboo Gold Rush hopefuls: a gold medal.
So on June 17, 1922, Charles Neiymer and
Frank Silverthorne departed in a 4x4 and, the
following