Église de Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc

An abandoned Roman Catholic church in Dollard, Saskatchewan.

The area was predominantly settled by French speaking pioneers in the early 1900's.

I've photographed the church on a number of occasions but not until this visit did I get the photos that I thought "captured the spirit."

The church faces north so in order to get some light on the subject (I mean that literally) I got up early in the morning and hoped for the best.  "The best" was captured in these photos.

The clouds were like a pillow of winds above the sunlit structure...really beautiful.

Photographed on July 12, 2019.

Children of Pioneers

Sacred Heart Cemetery is south of Bow Island, Alberta.

A memorial listing the names of those buried here is situated on the eastern side of the cemetery and bears the inscription: "Here Lies Children of Pioneers."

Only three of the eight graves have identifying headstones, the remaining five are marked with white painted steel crosses.

I thought it looked quite lovely against the bright blue sky and the fresh green grass.

It's a very silent and peaceful place.   

               

Photographed on May 29, 2019.

Winchasta-J'usina

I found this headstone at the Big Warm Cemetery near Lodge Pole, Montana.

This has to be one of the most striking full-colour ceramic photographs I've seen in my travels.  Lovely memorial.

Photographed on October 10, 2018.

The Church at Edson

A small abandoned church north of Kenmare, North Dakota.

Almost looks like the lights are turned on inside the church.

Winter sunsets really make my day.

Photographed on December 15, 2018.

Square Butte School

The Square Butte School in Montana was opened for classes in 1918 and served the community until 1967.  A previously built school (similar to the one shown in these photos) had been completed in the summer of 1917 but only two months later an arsonist burned it to the ground.

In the spring of 1921, Charles Lindbergh was barnstorming through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana for flight practice and to make a dollar.  He charged $5.00 per flight but no one in Square Butte had the money to take advantage of his offer.

The town was looking forward to a prosperous future for the area but widespread drought soon dashed those hopes.

Enrollment hit a peak of thirty-five students in 1936 and a low of only eighteen in 1959.  Over the forty-nine years the school was open it averaged only twenty students per year.

The square butte after which the town and school are named.  There are lots of interesting rock formations throughout the area.

A pair of horses in a pasture just north of the school.  One was curious, the other not so much.

Another interesting site in Square Butte can be seen here:  The Frozen Corpse in the Jail

Historic information for this post courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places Program.

Photographed on April 19, 2018.

Summer Garden

I spend many enjoyable hours gardening in this yard.  I've spent the better part of the past week pruning the shrubs and making sure everything looks its best.

Above: the front yard is full of ferns, vines and shrubs of all kinds.

Welcome to the back yard.  The round fountain in the red brick circle is a solid piece of carved granite.  It makes just the best noise (and it's one of the cat's favourite spot for a drink).

Great place for a bar-b-que.

Great place for a glass of wine or a beer.

The big tiered fountain in the back makes a big splashing sound.  Birds love to bath in the top tier.

This is Oliver.  He keeps an eye on me when I'm working.  Whenever he thinks I need a rest he comes by for a cuddle (and a treat).  The other cat was inside having a cat-nap.

This is a nicely enclosed area for anyone who wants some privacy.

One last look before it's time to go home.  (Mental note...don't forget to turn off the fountains.)

Photographed on July 4, 2019.

Steeples and Spires

August 8, 2018

Church steeples and spires are one of the first things I notice when out for a drive in the country.  Some can be seen from a distance of many miles, others are easy to miss if you blink.  Here are some favourites from the latter half of 2018.  About half of these were researched locations and the remainder were simply "chance encounters" from the road.

Above: Église de Sainte-Radegonde in Lafleche, Saskatchewan
The spire of the church in the distance was like an invitation to visit.

November 24, 2018

Zion Lutheran Church near Noonan, North Dakota
I've stopped here a few times over the past couple of years.  This time the spire was covered with a heavy frost.  Frost always makes things look somewhat like an illusion.

December 17, 2018

All Saints' Anglican Church in Cannington Manor, Saskatchewan
I hadn't seen the church for over forty years and it was joyous to see that it was still as beautiful as ever.  Love the steeple with its classic Celtic cross.

October 18, 2018

United Methodist Church in Chinook, Montana
The ornamental spire on this church is truly inspirational.

December 18, 2018

Bethel Lutheran Church in Battleview, North Dakota
This steeple is "just what you'd expect" and that's a compliment of the highest order.

December 14, 2018

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Sedley, Saskatchewan
And this is "not what one would expect" of a spire on a church...again, that's a compliment.

October 25, 2018

Saint Andrew's United Church in Eston, Saskatchewan
This three-dimensional metal design is attractive and unusual...comes with a lightning rod.

October 21, 2018

American Lutheran Church in Turner, Montana
This is a large modern church in a small and remote town.  The tall and slender steeple can be seen for miles around.

December 14, 2018

Mission of Our Lady of La Salette in Forget, Saskatchewan
The hammer and tongs of the blacksmith become part of the design in this folded iron cross.  I really like this one!

August 10, 2018

Saint Oliver's Catholic Church in Palmer, Saskatchewan
The church is now literally in someone's backyard.  The long and narrow steeple can be seen from quite a distance.

October 23, 2018

Saint Andrew's - Trinity Anglican Church in Rosetown, Saskatchewan
The higher you go...the four sided belfry becomes an eight sided lantern which in turn becomes a gabled spire with a cross on top.  The late afternoon sunlight makes this one simply glow.

Full-feature photos of these churches will make an appearance on this blog at some point in time.

Half Moon over Gap View Cemetery

A country cemetery north of Forget, Saskatchewan.

I had been out all day taking photos of old cemeteries and churches in the area.  As I headed back to the hotel in Estevan I noticed I had missed this one...so, with the sun quickly setting, I detoured off the highway in hopes of catching it before dark.

When I arrived the half moon was well above the Gap View Cemetery sign and what little sunlight was left was reflected by the snow...twilight time.  This was really beautiful.

Above is the Gap View Cemetery sign with the half moon.  The entire cemetery is enclosed with a very old caragana hedge.

A lone pine tree set amongst the marble headstones.  Notice the hills looking eastward from the cemetery...proof that there are hills in Saskatchewan.

One of many children's headstones in the cemetery.

Outside the cemetery looking south.

Hmmm, not sure what this is all about.

Sunset is nearing a close.

Time to get back to the car.

One last look before getting back on the road...supper and a warm hotel room are just an hour away.  For anyone unfamiliar with the area, Forget is pronounced 'For-jhay."

Photographed of December 16, 2018.

Coultervale School

The original Coultervale School was built west of the Principal Meridian in 1887.  As populations grew it was necessary to build larger schools.  What you see in these photos is the two-room school built by Robert Wyatt in 1914.  It must have been quite a luxury to have "your" school faced with a brick veneer.

After serving as a school for many years it was used as a community hall.  The school became a municipal historical site in 2000.

Information courtesy of the Manitoba Historical Society, Historic Sites of Manitoba and Government of Manitoba websites.

Photographed on December 15, 2018.