Mystery Solved!

Larry, a blog reader from Minnesota, has identified the "Mystery" School in the previous post.  It was named Creekside School and built 1914.  Thank you Larry!

Photographed on November 25, 2018.

"Mystery" School

A "mystery" country school in Forthun Township, North Dakota.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota has done an excellent job of documenting their past but there seems to be no record of this school ever existing.  It's a mystery!

The building sits less than five miles south of the Saskatchewan/North Dakota border.

Forthun Township is thirty-six square miles of flat prairie farm land with a population of ten people, give or take.

Photographed on November 25, 2018.

Inside Saint Nicholas

An inside view of Saint Nicholas Church in the Qu'Appelle Valley.  Simple and spartan, charming and warm.

Look up...

The open beam rafters are the dominant indoor feature.

A plain plywood altar covered in deep green velvet.

A small and time-worn hand woven tapestry wall hanging above the pump organ.

This little country church is a "must see."

Photographed near Kennell, Saskatchewan on March 17, 2020.

Saint Nicholas near Kennell

One of Saskatchewan's most photographed historic churches.  Saint Nicholas sits on the south slope of the picturesque Qu'Appelle Valley.

The church was built in 1900 but due to many parishioners moving away from the area it way dismantled and reconstructed about six miles southwest of its original location in 1910-11.

The cemetery is on the upward slope of the church grounds.

Three ascending rooftop crosses from back to front.

Although built as an Anglican church, it now serves and welcomes a much more diverse community.  Nice place to be baptized, married or laid to rest.

Photographed near Kennell, Saskatchewan on March 21, 2020.

Leader

A few of my last shots of the grain elevator in Leader, Saskatchewan.  It was demolished soon afterwards.

Photographed on February 26, 2018.

Sunshine and Snow

Sunshine and snow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Ryley, Alberta.

Photographed on February 24, 2020.

Січ-Коломея

A wintertime visit to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Dormition of Saint Mary of Sich-Kolomea.  (My tour guide can be seen on the lower right of the church.)

The church was built in 1926 after fire destroyed the congregation's first church.

There is one large central onion dome with a smaller dome on each gable of the cruciform design.

Each of the domes is topped by a wrought-iron Orthodox cross.

The church is listed in The Alberta Register of Historic Places.

The sunburst pediment above the front doors is an attractive feature often incorporated in Ukrainian churches.  The open-frame bell tower was added in 1963.

The name "Sich-Kolomea" was taken from the two country schools closest to the church.  Sich School was a mile to the east and Kolomea School was four miles south.

Photographed near Warwick, Alberta on February 24, 2020.

Tour Guide

Wait for it...

...wait for it...

"Hi!"

She lived at the farm next to Saint Mary's Church of Sich-Kolomea.  After a friendly greeting she took me on a tour of the church grounds.

Photographed near Warwick, Alberta on February 24, 2020.

North Prairie Scandinavian Lutheran Church

North Prairie Scandinavian Lutheran Church and Cemetery is near Hinchcliffe, Saskatchewan.

The steeple is very elaborate in design with multi faceted angles and arches.  There are pinnacles on each corner of the bell tower and also on each gable peak for a total of twelve (which is four more than I've ever seen before on a Lutheran church).

The cemetery is a collection of souls from the past hundred years plus.

I love the tall narrow obelisk headstone on the right.

The interior of the church appears to be mostly original and in great condition.

Standing in front of the altar and looking down the centre aisle.

An annex on the north side of the church.

Many pointed-arch windows allow the sunshine in.

A closer look at the gothically designed kneeling altar.

The church is a designated Municipal Heritage Property.  It was built in 1918 and is the oldest public building in the surrounding area.

Photographed on March 19,2020.

Вічная Память

Вічная Память (Vichnaya Pamyat) translates as "Memory Eternal" and is an exclamation often used at the conclusion of an Eastern Orthodox funeral.  Eternal memory is a remembrance by God rather than the living...a somewhat different sentiment than is common in the western world.

The Orthodox cross rising above a red rose and the intricate "embroidery work" along the base of the heart-shaped stone is a culturally attractive design element...I'm sure Mister Solonynko is pleased.

Photographed at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery at Tarnopol, Saskatchewan on August 5, 2020.