An early trading post was situated 2-3 miles northwest of the hamlet's current site, directly on a well-used ford of the Battle River.

The trading post was a key point for exchange between the First Nations people, fur traders, and the Hudson's Bay Company.

[4] A church was built in 1883 for the service of Father Bellevaire, and was visited by Bishop Grandin, who named the settlement after Joseph-Thomas Duhamel.

In 1910, Duhamel moved to its present location on the newly constructed Grand Trunk Pacific rail line from Tofield to Calgary.

A farmer by the name of Schielke discovered the strange occurrence on Saturday, August 5, 1967, after a night of heavy rains.