Western Grain Elevator at Gravelbourg

Of the nine grain elevators originally in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan there are two still standing.  To the west is the Pioneer Grain Company Elevator. 

And to the east, and shown here, is the Western Elevator Company Limited built in 1915. Beside the elevator stands a caboose painted with a mural depicting the early days in Gravelbourg.  The elevator was restored by and is part of The Gravelbourg & District Museum. 

Photographed in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan on Hallowe'en Day, 2025.

Old Hillside Cemetery

Old Hillside Cemetery was established on six acres of land along Seven Persons Creek in 1884 by Saint Barnabas Anglican Church.  Five years later a section of this parcel of land became the Roman Catholic Cemetery.  Burials here continued until 1919 (Catholic) and 1923 (Anglican) and was officially closed in 1934 at which time The City of Medicine Hat took charge of the cemetery.  All further interments were at the New Hillside Cemetery, located west of town, which is still in use to this day.  As with all things historical...exact dates vary from one source to another.  

And then there's that goose that kept an eye on me while I took photos...most likely looking for a place to build a nest.

Thanks to the Saint Barnabas Anglican 

Church Archives.

Photographed on April 22, 2017.

Milk River Valley Church of the Brethren

One of my favourite abandoned churches that's way out in the middle of nowhere.

The Milk River Valley Church of the Brethren is located northwest of Kremlin, Montana and west of the Fresno Reservoir in Hill County.  It is also known as the Kremlin-Gildford Church of the Brethren and has long been abandoned.

For those who aren't familiar with the area, this church is less than forty miles southeast of Comrey Cemetery in southeastern  Alberta.  And I'm sure everyone knows where Comrey is, right?!  

The inside-looking-out window views in the two photographs directly above are views of the cemetery across the road from the church and what may have been a parsonage.  The original parsonage burned down during the construction of the church between 1915 and 1918 and I believe this may have been its replacement.  Other than that, I could find no other online information about the church or cemetery.

Enjoyed my trip into the wilds of Montana that day and seeing this old abandoned church, well...made my day!

Photographed on May 21, 2017.

Quiet Nook School

The following quote is from William Peter Baergen's "Pioneering with a Piece of Chalk - The One-Room Country Schools of Alberta 1885–1982"

"The descriptive, poetic name was suggested by

Mrs. Perley, who said that, except for the occasional 

squeal of red river carts over the Victoria

Trail, or the shrill whistle of a steamboat on the

river, it was a relatively quiet nook. Opened in

fall 1912 in this cosmopolitan mix by Mr.

Coyne, who did not finish the term. Mr. Perley,

a trustee who had taught in the United States,

finished the term on a permit, as he had no

Canadian certificate. A two-room school was

built on NE 6 and the original one-room was

sold for use as a community centre. Closed in

1957 and the children were bussed to Vilna. It

also became part of the Quiet Nook

Community Centre. In 1964, it was donated to

the Shandro Museum of artifacts for its final resting 

place."

Photographed at The Historical Village and Pioneer Museum (now closed) near Shandro, Alberta on November 09, 2024. 

Post Office in Monitor

The abandoned post office building in Monitor, Alberta.  I love the facade and that the lettering is still legible after all these years.

Photographed on November 6, 2024.

Saint Margaret's Church

New front steps, wheelchair ramp, door and window sills and window frames were installed at Saint Margaret's Church this past summer and fall.  Thanks to everyone who donated their time, money and effort to keep the little church in the hills looking good.

Photographed on October 16, 2025 near Eagle Butte, Alberta.

Ogema B.A. Gas Station

A vintage service station in Ogema, Saskatchewan that I've had the pleasure to visit over the years, and hopefully for many more years to come.  

Photographed on October 26, 2017.

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church

This is Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

During my visit here on July 23, 2022 I met Ernie, the fellow in charge of the restoration and general maintenance of the church and grounds.  He and his crew have done a remarkable job of returning the church to its former glory.   

The church was built 1921 and is located in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin.  There is also a bell house on the church grounds and the associated cemetery is just a couple of miles down the road.

While the exterior of the church has been extensively restored, the interior has been left virtually untouched and just as it was over one hundred years ago.

Kudos to everyone involved in keeping our history alive. 

Photographed on July 23, 2022.

Kirkpatrick Grain Elevator

The Kirkpatrick grain elevator was originally built as an Alberta Pacific Grain Company elevator in 1924.  In the late 1960s it was purchased by Federal Grain Limited who in turn sold it to the Alberta Wheat Pool in the early 1970s.  Some time in the 1980s is was sold again to an independent farmer.  

And the good news is...all these years later it is still in use.

Photographed in Kirkpatrick, Alberta on October 23, 2025.

Щасливого Різдва!

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate according to the Julian calendar.

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church was photographed near Insinger, Saskatchewan on January 6, 2020.

Святвечір

Enjoy your Orthodox Christmas Eve tonight! 

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church was photographed near Sheho, Saskatchewan on January 6, 2020.

Merry Christmas

Have a good one.

All Saints' Anglican Church and Cemetery were photographed at Cannington Manor, Saskatchewan on December 17, 2018.

Wintertime at Peace Lutheran Church

Peace Lutheran Church was photographed near Lakenheath, Saskatchewan on January 27, 2022.

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Saints Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church and Bell Tower were photographed near Lakenheath, Saskatchewan on January 27, 2022.

Bethlehem Lutheran at Dalum

A handsome Danish-style church I ran across just by chance.  It's in wonderful condition and looks to still be in use.

The building behind the church is most likely a hall for pot luck suppers and wedding receptions.

The cornerstone.

The cemetery is right next door to the church...

...and most of the headstones bear Scandinavian names.

A commemoration plaque celebrating the centennial.

Photographed at Dalum, Alberta on October 22, 2025.