Icelandic Cemetery

Just outside of Kandahar, Saskatchewan...

...over one hundred and fifty people of mostly Icelandic heritage are buried in this country cemetery.

Photographed on January 21, 2021.

No Service when Colder than -30°C

Saint Thomas Anglican Church is nestled into the woods near Perryvale, Alberta.

Look closely...no service when colder than -30°C (that seems more than reasonable).

The church is one of four in The Parish of Northern Lights.

A white church with green trim always looks homey and inviting.

A welcoming homemade sign on the front of the church.

Photographed on February 18, 2021.

Rothbury Lutheran Cemetery

My first visit to Rothbury Lutheran Cemetery.

Looking over the double gate and just behind the small fenced cemetery you'll see...

...this bunch (they look like a pretty tough crowd!).  When I arrived at the cemetery they were all grazing in the neighbouring pasture but as soon as I started walking around their curiosity got the best of them.  That said, they were quite shy to say the least.

A shot from inside the cemetery.  Other than the two large spruce trees, this is truly a prairie scene.

Photographed near Churchbridge, Saskatchewan on October 10, 2020.

A Prairie Adventure

On a road trip last fall I met a couple of local fellows who gave me directions to Dressler Cemetery.  Go a few miles up the range road...

...turn left at the abandoned homestead...

...follow the prairie trail...

...across the little bridge...

...up the hill and there you are: Dressler Cemetery!  An adventure on the prairies.

A gate sign on the south side of the cemetery.

Some history:

"1891 - Dressler Centennial - 1991

"This marker commemorates 100 years since Christian Dressler and his family arrived in Canada.

"In 1884 Christian Dressler (1859-1932) married Elizabeth Kendall (1863-1948) in Landestren - a dorf in Galicia, Austria.  Christian and Elizabeth's ancestors had moved to Galicia from their ancient homeland in southwest Germany.

"In 1891 Christian, Elizabeth and their three children emigrated from Landestren to Langenburg District, Assiniboia, Northwest Territories, Canada.  They crossed the Atlantic aboard S.S. Sardinia arriving in Quebec City on April 27.  On May 10 Christian applied for entry to the Dressler homestead on NE 26-23-32 W1st.

"This marker was erected in 2002 by Christian Dressler's descendants."

The grounds are well kept and the headstones are still upright thanks to the boys who gave me directions.  A huge "thank you" to them for keeping our history alive and well.

The view to the east over the creek.  This is a natural and undisturbed wetland that I'm sure the wild animals and birds appreciate.  They need a place to call home as do we all.

Photographed near Churchbridge, Saskatchewan on October 10, 2020.

Slither

A garter snake near the site of the old Chinook School in southwestern Saskatchewan.

They really are quite attractive with their shiny yellow, orange and black stripes.

Photographed on June 12, 2020.

Сім хрестів

Seven Crosses I found outstanding each in their own way.

Saint Andrew's Orthodox Church/

Saints Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church

Canora, Saskatchewan

December 17, 2019

Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Bell Tower

Saint Michael, Alberta

December 17, 2020

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Alvena Farms, Saskatchewan

November 25, 2020

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity

Calmar, Alberta

February 17, 2021

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Dormition of Saint Mary of Sich-Kolomea

Warwick, Alberta

February 24, 2020

Our Lady of the Atonement Roman Catholic Church

Smoky Lake, Alberta

December 21, 2020

Ascension of Jesus Christ Ukrainian Catholic Parish at Kopernick

Holden, Alberta

February 24, 2020

Naples

About a month ago I had the pleasure of visiting Naples...Naples, Alberta that is.

Here is Naples Catholic Church and Cemetery.

A well aged sign mounted on the outer front wall.

Stepping into the porch I discovered the church is also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

All of the windows are split with the glass in the lower half of each being a soft green.

The greenish hue is reflected throughout the interior of the church.

A shot from the balcony...

...and the view from the cemetery.

A plaque inside the church gives a brief history:

"This site was originally the northwest corner of the 1906 Rusconi family homestead.  Brothers Carlo and Francesco Rusconi of Valmadrera and their brides of 1913, sisters Sofia and Carolina Farinati of Lecco, all came to Canada from the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. 

"In the 1920's Carlo and his family immigrated to California and the family donated this site for use as a church and cemetery.  This church was completed by the Naples community in 1932. 

"The Rusconi Descendants - September 2009"

Photographed on February 18, 2021.

Mazeppa

Late afternoon sunlight gives the church a warm and welcoming appearance.  A tiny but bright three quarter moon is on the rise.

Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church at Mazeppa dates back to 1926.

A white budded Orthodox cross stands alone at the edge of the churchyard. 

The church sign bears the colours of the Ukrainian flag...blue for the sky, yellow for the wheat fields.

The associated cemetery is Sliding Hills Christian Cemetery which predates the church by nine years.

This is a large country cemetery with well over two hundred and fifty burials.

The bell tower for the church sits in one corner of the cemetery.  The sun had all but set.

Photographed near Donwell, Saskatchewan on January 7, 2020.

Schmidt Family Cemetary

This tiny cemetary is just north of Many Island Lake...

...on a hillside in a shallow valley...

...near a long flat rock pile.

Small crosses made of rebar mark the graves and define the borders.

The sign is only about three by four inches in size.  Someone remembered.

There are five members of the Schimdt family buried here including the children who succumbed to the flu epidemic in 1918.  After much hardship and heartbreak the remaining family moved to points unknown in the U.S.A.

Information courtesy of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society.

Photographed in southeastern Alberta on May 27, 2017.