Little Gem

This is Saint Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery near Fosston, Saskatchewan.

The cemetery is just north of the church...

...and was surrounded by a backdrop of ripening wheat.  

A grouping of wooden, marble and granite headstones...

...that memorialize church founders as well as many children.

A look inside reveals an inviting and comfortable country church. 

The balcony above the front doors...

...and tiny white-painted pews.

Traditionally, music in Ukrainian churches was provided only by the sound of voices without the accompaniment of any musical instruments.  This would have been their view while singing their praises.

In my book, Saint Michael's is a little gem on the prairie.

One hundred and ten years and counting.

More photos from a bitterly cold and windy winter day (now doesn't that sound inviting!): "M"

Photographed on July 29, 2021.

Nicholas

Nicholas' photograph reminds me of those stylish and debonair actors one sees in old black and white films.

Photographed at Tombovka Cemetery near Côté, Saskatchewan on July 28, 2021.

Thingvalla Church

Thingvalla Icelandic Lutheran Church was built in 1910.

The simple swing gates along the north side on the grounds...

...and the gate sign at the entrance.

The cemetery was established in 1887...

...predating the church by twenty-seven years.

An infant's grave marker.

The reddish-coloured pews look solid and heavy against the baby blue wainscoting and creamy yellow walls.

The hand-carved chancel rail, altar, lectern and pulpit are painted pure white with gold-coloured accents.

Shadows at play.

The cemetery sign at the turnoff from the main road.

Thingvalla Church and Cemetery are near Churchbridge, Saskatchewan.

Information courtesy of Canada's Historic Places.

Photographed on October 10, 2020.

Thingvalla S.D. No. 108

The sign at the original site of the first (and second) Thingvalla School.

A huge stone monument at the site of the third Thingvalla School.

I had spent the better part of the day visiting the sites around Churchbridge, Saskatchewan...and lucky for me I met a couple of local fellows who gave me directions to a few spots that I would have otherwise missed.  They were humble and unassuming (to say the least) but as we talked I soon realized they were responsible for not only the acknowledgement but the upkeep of the historical sites in the area.  My heart goes out to those who keep our history alive.  Good on 'em!

Photographed on October 10, 2020.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Black and white all around.

A monument marking the site of the first church.  The congregation was organized in 1900 and officially established 1909.

Several headstones had recently received a fresh coat of paint.

Many of the children's graves are situated by the aspen trees along the outer edge of the cemetery. 

The white headstones are brilliant against the autumn leaves.

A long shot of the grounds.

The addition to the back of the bell tower is a community hall (where I'll bet the highlight of most get-togethers was a meal of perogies and sausages).  

 

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is near MacNutt, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on October 10, 2020.

Alexander Plain S.D. No. 1029

Heavy frost on the Alexander Plain School sign. 

It was even colder than the photos suggest.

Twenty-one months earlier to the day it looked like this.  

Alexander Plain School was a few miles east of Burstall, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on November 22, 2020 (Photos #1 and #2) and February 22, 2019 (Photo #3).

Fairy Tale House

Saw this simply by chance during my last road trip...a recently built but unfinished and abandoned stone house.

A look inside.

And a look up...

...where all the ducks are in a row.

The roof was meant to be finished with thatch.

The garage.

The "picture window" on the beveled corner of the house.

Fairy Tale House is in Togo, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on July 28, 2021.

Summer Flowers

Some summer flowers blooming in Pat's garden.

Photographed on July 18, 2021.

Wartime Water Tower

Not many of these still standing.  Enjoy!

Originally built in 1914 to supply water to steam locomotives.

And still in use today but now supplies domestic water to people in the surrounding area.

Photographed at Wartime, Saskatchewan on July 31, 2021.