Calgary as you've never heard it

This story was originally published Dec. 26, 2015

Interested a little historical gold?

Well, we've hit the motherlode.

While digging around in our archives, we here at Calgary at a Crossroads ran across a treasure trove of audio recordings:Jack Peach's Calgary.

The grandfather of Calgary historians made several dozen recordings that ran on CBC's CalgaryEyeopener in the 1970s.

Peach, who was born in Calgary in 1913and died here in 1993,wrote many historical books on the city and its institutions, as well as a column in the Calgary Herald.

(not applicable)0:01Early residents in Calgary

Early residents in Calgary

What makes these broadcasts so specialare Peach's voiceand the wealth of personal anecdote, which brings our city's history to life.

To understand who we are as Calgarians today, we need to understand who we were, and how our city developed its unique character.Peach'srecordings do just that.

(not applicable)0:01A look at Eighth Avenue

A look at Eighth Avenue

Peach had a way about him akind of presentation orway of speaking thathas itself become history.

(not applicable)0:01Calgary in the '20s

Calgary in the '20s

It's the kind of Calgary voice you imagine coming out of an old wooden radio powered by vacuum tubes. When the rumble of street cars was part of our city's symphony.

• 7 names for Calgary before it became Calgary
• ANALYSIS |What's in a name? Calgary's history written in asphalt

Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn, alook at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.