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.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day marks the end of World War One on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

The War Memorial Cenotaph shown here in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan was built during 1925-26 and memorializes all those who gave their lives in the Great War.  At that time a scroll listing the six hundred names of those who enlisted from the town and area was placed inside an empty cavity within the monument.  The cenotaph now also acknowledges those who served in World War II and the Korean War.

Photographed on September 30, 2017.

Long Shot (Saint Margaret's near Eagle Butte)

Was out at Saint Margaret's to plant some fall bulbs in Heather's Garden about three weeks ago.  When finished I decided to head over to Elkwater for a late lunch and captured this shot of the tiny cathedral in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta along the way.

Have a nice weekend!

Photographed on October 16, 2025.

The Biggest of Them All

I believe this is the largest bowstring bridge ever constructed in all of Saskatchewan...and what a treat to see it still standing proud out in the prairie landscape.

Photographed near Scotsguard, Saskatchewan on Hallowe'en Day, 2025.

The Alberta Pacific Grain Co Ltd

It's been more than a few years since I've been through Dorothy, Alberta.  At the time, the grain elevator was in pretty sad condition... 

...but now it has a fresh coat of paint and a new roof.  "Thank you" to all those who gave this prairie sentinel a new lease on life.  In other words, thanks to those who give a damn!

Photographed today at Dorothy, Alberta on October 23, 2025.

Miss Jessie Rowe

"Remember me as you pass by,

As you are now, so once was I,

As I am now, so you must be,

Prepare for death and follow me."

A lone grave on the northern slope of Gold Butte Hill in northwestern Montana.  

She succumbed to tuberculosis when just a teenager.

Photographed near Gold Butte, Montana on October 17, 2025.

Boots

The Great Sandhills is a natural area in southwest Saskatchewan and is the largest set of active sand dunes in all of Canada. The landscape is ever changing.

The Hanging Cowboy Boots Arch is located above the parking area. It was built by local rancher John Both as a display of his appreciation and love of life. He understood this fragile landscape and believed in its preservation. Some of his ashes are spread beneath the arch.

Yes, there are sand dunes in Saskatchewan.

Photographed south of Sceptre, Saskatchewan on October 26, 2024.