Stories, laughs and songs at Diamond Valley homecoming

A group photo of some of the participants in the Diamond Valley Homecoming 2022 at the Turner Valley Legion on Sept. 10.
Marv Garriot sings during a homecoming celebration for past, and present, residents of the Black Diamond area at the Turner Valley Legion on Sept 10. The Homecoming was a chance for people who grew up in the area in the 1940's and 50's to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances.
A cake marked the occasion at the Turner Valley Legion, where a homecoming get-together and banquet was held on Sept. 10.

A special event was held in Diamond Valley over the weekend. 

Gwenn Smith said it was a homecoming for anybody born in the High Country in the 1940s or 1950s, and who lived in the Millarville, Longview, Black Diamond,  Turner Valley or Hartell areas going back decades.  

“It was an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with with old time past,” Smith said. 

The homecoming celebration included a meet-and greet at the Black Diamond Hotel on Friday night and a breakfast at the Turner Valley Legion on Sunday morning, but the main event was a banquet held on Saturday at the Turner Valley Legion, complete with a DJ. 

“We had over 150 people attend the Legion banquet,” Smith said. “It was just a great time.” 

Marv Garriott, owner of Marv’s Soda Shop in Black Diamond, sang a few songs as well. 

"Last time there was a terrific amount of dancing," Smith said. "But the Legion was a smaller venue, there wasn't a lot of room."

“It's a wonderful thing to do and tell stories on each other and have some great laughs,” she said. 

Return to Western Wheel