What a Shame

Another one gone.

I just learned that the beautiful Saint Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church at Boian, Alberta burned down this past summer.  What a shame...and what a great loss to the community.  Saint Mary's will forever be missed.

The church had been blessed in 1905 making it one hundred and eighteen years old at the time of the fire.  It was an electrical problem that caused the fire.    

There are plans to rebuild.

I was fortunate to have met Father Panciuk on a visit to the church a couple of summers ago at which time he invited me in to see the interior of this lovely country church.   The links below show Saint Mary's as it was at the time of my visit:

Saint Mary's of Boian - Part One

Saint Mary's of Boian - Part Two

Saint Mary's of Boian - Part Three

Saint Mary's in the snow was photographed on February 26, 2022.

"З Днем Святого Миколая!"

"Happy Saint Nicholas Day!" from Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Photographed near Keld, Manitoba on August 23, 2022.

Near Madison

Was on my way home after being on the road for a few days.

Fall was here but it was warm, there was no wind, the sun was painting the sky and all that was ahead of me was the open prairie...a lovely place to be.

Photographed near Madison, Saskatchewan on October 25, 2018.

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.

Mister Brocke

Mister Brocke died too young but his headstone is unusually handsome.  

Looks like the stone was originally part of something that was much, much older.

Photographed at North Park Pioneer Cemetery near Lea Park, Alberta on July 17, 2023.

Viking Park

Viking Park has been developed only over the past couple of years and I have to say that those manning the ship are doing a marvellous job.  Much of the planting has been done just this past year.  

(Hmmm...would you mess with this guy?!  I thought not.)

Stop by for a visit next time you're in Gimli, Manitoba.

Photographed on September 21, 2023.

The Mystery Bell

Saint Andrew's-Trinity Anglican Lutheran Church.

The plaque reads:

'After a fire destroyed the original St. Andrews Anglican Church in 1918, a new church was built at 402 Main Street.  This bell was installed in the steeple in 1923 and was replaced in 1929 due to a crack.  This bell had no value and was used as a flower pot in the yard across the street from the church then disappeared.  In 1959, a mysterious bell was found during the excavation for the Rosetown Co-op store at the corner of Main Street and 3rd Avenue West.  The Mystery Bell was moved to the town storage yard.

'In 1978, the history of the bell came to light but there was no use for the cracked bell so it remained in storage.  St. Andrews Trinity Anglican Lutheran Church celebrated 100 years in 2009.  To commemorate this anniversary, the original bell, also known as the Mystery Bell, returned to the church yard and acts as a monument to both St. Andrews Church and the Town of Rosetown.

'"May the inspiration fostered by our pioneers be continued with God's guidance"'

Above is a photo of the long lost Mystery Bell which now holds a place of historical distinction on the deck beside the church.

At the time of my visit the church was in excellent condition and used regularly.

Photographed in Rosetown, Saskatchewan on October 23, 2018.

Daisy

Can't believe it's already been over six weeks since I finished up gardening in Daisy's yard for the season.  

Time flies.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on October 7, 2023.

New Home Township School

Late afternoon on a lovely spring day...I really wanted to see this one before I called it a day. 

The building has a striking design with a pyramidal bell tower above the entryway, glass block windows and a full array of windows on the north side providing the perfect light for art classes.  Do you think art was part of the curriculum back in the early-1900's?  I would hope so...maybe, maybe not?  And as if that wasn't enough, there's a big pond filled with clear cold water on the grounds.

I forgot to mention...if you want to see this handsome old school you'll need to walk-in about half a mile down a very overgrown trail.  

And an exhilarating walk it was on a lovely spring day.    

Photographed near Wildrose, North Dakota on June 20, 2023.