Elkhorn Township School #4

The largest of the four schools in Elkhorn Township and it's a real beauty.  The design is one of the grandest I've seen in all of northern North Dakota.

This handsome old school is only about four miles southeast of the third schoolhouse.  And, to see all four schools is only a seven mile trip through the countryside...and a beautiful countryside it is.  Time well spent.  

Little school out on the prairie...

...and bales.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota has done an excellent job of documenting the past, making their website invaluable when it comes to research.  I've spent countless hours "finding" new spots to visit on my road trips.  "Thank you" for all your dedicated work in keeping history alive.   

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #3

As with the previous two Elkhorn schools, this one stands just to the side of the road in a lush green pasture.

The original building was quite small though obviously there was an addition at some point in time.  Doesn't really look like a purpose-built schoolhouse, does it?  In fact, on my trip through the area in 2017, I drove right past thinking it was probably an old homestead.  Further research a couple of years later revealed it to truly be an historical school.  

Elkhorn Township School #3 is only about a mile southwest of the second one.  

Some prairie roses blooming on the east side of the building.  Yes, I did stop to smell the roses. 

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #2

The second Elkhorn School stands barely three miles west of the first one.

I love the design of both schools...small but elegant  And here the bell tower is still upright, just as it was when I visited in the fall of 2017. 

East facing windows meant lots of morning light for the kids early classes.  

The many ponds and sloughs all through North Dakota were full from spring runoff and rain so this red-winged blackbird must have felt right at home.

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Elkhorn Township School #1

Some photos from a spring road trip through parts of North Dakota last year.   

Elkhorn Township is in the extreme northwest corner of the state, and while researching the area, discovered there had been four schools built over the years for the ever growing population in the early days on the frontier.  

I couldn't find any specific dates as to when they were built or how long they were in service but was happy to find that all four were still standing...some in better condition than others.  This is Elkhorn Township School #1...ravaged by time but still holding on.  

This part of the world was settled mostly by people of Scandinavian descent, and going to school here was where all their youngsters learned to speak English...who in turn taught their parents.  Most everyone still living here are direct descendants of those Northern Europeans who originally settled the area.  In many ways, not much here has changed for well over a hundred years.  

Photographed in Elkhorn Township, North Dakota on June 18, 2023.

Aldag S.D. No. 1361

A monument at the former location of a one-room schoolhouse in southern Saskatchewan.

"Construction of the Aldag School began in 1912 - completed in 1913.  Enrollment varied from 7 to 35 pupils.  The building was used for church services, dances, card parties and public meetings.  On June 10, 1966 a decision was made to close the school.  The students were bussed to Gull Lake."

As an aside...I grew up on a small farm near the town of Midale in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan.  Through the years the one-room school there was replaced first by a two storey brick building, then by a modern school built circa 1960.  I started school in the new building in 1962 and completed Grade 12 in 1974 in the new wing that had been added circa 1967 to the modern school.  And, believe it or not, the school is still thriving to this day.  A rare thing indeed in this day and age.  Midale has a population of about five hundred and fifty people.      

Photographed near Gull Lake, Saskatchewan on June 17, 2023.

"Simply Ideal"

Photographed south of Vegreville, Alberta on January 5, 2019.

Madoc School

The former school in Madoc, Montana.

Had a nice visit with a father and son who were repairing a truck in their garage a little ways down the street.  

There's not much left in Madoc; some abandoned buildings, vehicles and machinery, a pair of old grain elevators, the train hasn't passed through town in decades...and that's just the way they like it.

I took my leave just as they were being called in for lunch by the head of the house.

Photographed on September 16, 2023.

Two Weeks in September

My end-of-the-year post focuses on one two week long trip from this past September...one photo from each day of the trip.  Enjoy!

September 12, 2023

Windcrest S.D. No. 3938 near Crestwynd, Saskatchewan.

This abandoned schoolhouse always seemed to be a little elusive on previous road trips but "today was the day," as they say, so I went a little out of the way for a look.  It's been a long time since anyone went to school here but it still looks pretty handsome out on the open prairie. 

September 13, 2023

Federal Grain Elevator at Moreland, Saskatchewan.

Built by the Golden West Company in 1916-17 and later operated by Federal Grain.  At the time of my visit it had been closed for sixty years...several years longer than it had been in service.  

September 14, 2023

Tonset Church and Cemetery near Lignite, North Dakota.

I'd stopped here some years ago but relished the idea of once again traveling the winding one-lane road through the countryside for another visit.  I liked this photo of the church partially hidden by trees and shrubs, lending it to a slightly mysterious air.  The church and cemetery served the area from 1916-1968...and are both still lovingly cared for.   

    

September 15, 2023

Ralph Allen Railway Museum in Oxbow, Saskatchewan.

Heading east from Estevan on an overcast and cool Saturday morning, a cup of coffee in the cupholder and no particular place to go.  Along the way I passed through the Town of Oxbow where I found this fine old train station on main drag.  I wish they could all be as well-kept as this one which now serves as an historical museum.   

September 16, 2023

Salem Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Kelvin, North Dakota.

Had spent the better part of the day exploring north-central North Dakota, an area rich in Scandinavian pioneer history.  But, before crossing the border into Manitoba for the night, I wanted to make one last stop to see this lovely country church in the Turtle Mountains.  The church was originally built at another location in 1914 but years later when the highway was established it was moved  to its present location in 1939 for easier access by the church parishioners.  Looks ever so good in the early evening light.               

September 17, 2023

A threshing machine on a hill overlooking some cows by a pond near East McHenry, North Dakota.

Another day out seeing the sights in north-central North Dakota.  Ample amounts of winter snow, spring rain and summer showers kept the landscape green and lush well into fall.  Lots for the domestic and wild animals to eat and drink...good for them.  Sometimes a simple view like this really does make my day. 

     

September 18, 2023

Stone and concrete sculptures near Brandon, Manitoba. 

Saw these last year but just had to take a few more photos of them.  As it turned out, this was my only photo stop of the day as I spent the remainder of it visiting my sister in Brandon.

September 19, 2023

Old Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery near Gardenton, Manitoba.

A revisit I had been looking forward to since I first saw it last fall.  Old Saint Michael's was built 1897-1899 and was the first Ukrainian Greek Church in all of Canada.  My previous visit had been in the morning so, in order to get a different view of things, this time I stopped by for a late afternoon perspective.  A beautiful historic site that looks good anytime.      

September 20, 2023

Old Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Cemetery and Bell House at Sirko, Manitoba.

Deep in southeast Manitoba, only a mile north of the border, stands Old Saint Elias Church.  As well as the log church built circa 1908, there is a log bell house of traditional design and a large cemetery on the grounds.  It is said that the church is one of the best examples of Bukovynian architecture in all of Canada.  Definitely a "must-see" when traveling along Sunbeam School Road.   

September 21, 2023

Saint Peter Dynevor Anglican Church and Cemetery near East Selkirk, Manitoba.

A huge stone church built 1853-1854 on the eastern bank of the Red River that replaced a smaller church built nearby in 1836.  The new church faces towards the river, which would have been the main thoroughfare of the day.  Chief Peguis called this his home church.

  

September 22, 2023

Beach scene near Camp Veselka, Manitoba.

I had a few hours to explore the Gimli area before lunch with a friend in Winnipeg Beach.  My first stop was just north of town at a summer camp where there was an old church.  After taking some pictures I traveled a little further east where I could hear water splashing.  Soon a beach scene came into view...I was on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. 

     

September 23, 2023

Saint Michael's of Archangels Roman Catholic Church near Meleb, Manitoba.

A country church built in 1917-1918 by Polish settlers.  The church was named after the chief builder, Michael Gottfried and all the other pioneers named Michael.  That was a very popular name at the time.  The church closed to regular services in 1960 but is still maintained by a heritage committee.

September 24, 2023

Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Maryville, Saskatchewan.

It seems I can't get enough of this old beauty.  Anytime I'm within a hundred miles of it I'll gladly make the detour to see it once again.  Mysterious, lonely, magnificent, solemn, abandoned...and all but forgotten.  

 

September 25, 2023

Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Carrot River, Saskatchewan.

The last photo stop of my trip...only about a mile off the main highway was this spartan but welcoming country church in a lovely autumnal setting.  Regular services every Sunday morning at 11:00.  Then I was on my way home.        

Happy trails to you!

Feldman Lake School

A red-brick one-room schoolhouse near Woolchester, Alberta.

It was just a short detour off Eagle Butte Road on my way to Saint Margaret's so I thought I'd stop by to see it first hand.

Very few historical brick schools still standing in Alberta and this one is still in pretty nice condition.

Photographed on September 12, 2023.

Kingsley Church, Cemetery and School

An early-afternoon stop at Kingsley, Manitoba where I discovered a red brick school next door to a small country church and cemetery.

Brick schoolhouses are always a little special here in the prairie provinces...there aren't many of them.  This one was built in 1907 and operated until 1968.

And as luck would have it, the school is being renovated to its former glory.

Near the school is the unassuming Kingsley United Church which dates back to 1882.

The interior is frugal...

...but the pews are rich in colour (and history).

One must have to stoop pretty low to "remove" a bible from a church.

Just a little north of the wood-frame church is the cemetery that is bordered with a post and chain fence.

There are well over one hundred burials here.

Information courtesy of the Manitoba Historical Society and Find A Grave.

Photographed on August 17, 2022.

Boule Creek S.D. No. 3314

A handsome little schoolhouse near Cadillac, Saskatchewan.  

Kids in the area went to school here for fifty years from 1914-1963.  

An old swing set near the hedge.

The grass in the schoolyard was thick and dense.

And the flagpole still straight as an arrow.

This is the front door where the kids would enter the school every week day.  

The white acrylic sign is looking pretty washed out but the taller black metal sign is holding its own.

The road past the little school on the Saskatchewan prairie...a road which goes ever on.

Photographed on June 17, 2023.